City Council - 03/06/2018 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher
Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief James DeMann, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah,
Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City
Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Katie O'Connor
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and H(5:30)
I. 2017-2018 WORK PLANS/CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND INITIATIVES
City Manager Getschow reviewed work plan accomplishments and goals for each
department. Getschow shared the Eden Prairie Promise, Shared Expectations, were updated
with five new values: collaboration, innovation, integrity, performance, and relationships.
Getschow stated the Parks and Recreation Department has done park renovations at Riley
Lake, Cedar Hills Park, and Staring Lake Outdoor Center with upcoming renovations at
Staring Lake. Public art will be implemented into parks. There have been hundreds of trees
planted, and diseased trees have been inventoried. There will be an updated Diseased Tree
Ordinance. Overall the City has been enhancing community-wide events.
Getschow stated the Public Works Department has done seal coating, worked on attaining
funding for quiet zones, managed utility rates, implemented neighborhood sump pump
collection systems, and been innovative with water reuse. The Hidden Ponds water tower
will be repainted. Contracts will be awarded for Duck Lake Road and Preserve Boulevard
reconstruction, and bids will open in May for Southwest Light Rail Transit(SWLRT).
Council Member Aho asked about SWLRT since the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
said it would not be funded. Getschow responded we are still uncertain what will happen.
FTA funding is close to a year behind the bids, and history has shown these projects have
continued to be funded. Public Works Director Ellis added we would not execute a change
order to include Town Center Station into the project until there is a full-funded grant
agreement. We would have to commit to acquisition of right-of-way,but it would not be a
lost cause since we would need that for construction of the streets.
Getschow stated the Fire Department has 50 percent more use of ePermit, and Escheduling
has been implemented. Insurance Service Office (ISO) ratings have improved from a 4 to a 3.
This saves the home owners on their insurance premiums. Fire Chief Esbensen noted some of
this is attributed to duty crew, the records management system for training, extra 911 center
staffing, hydrant water supply, and response times. Last year there were more Minnesota Fire
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March 6, 2018
Page 2
Grants available for training. Getschow stated there will be an upgrade to IP Based City
cameras. Wellness and wellness screenings have also been a priority.
Getschow stated the Community Development Department has completed the Strategic Plan
for Housing and Economic Development. Additionally, the City Entry Monument signs are
underway, with one completed. The City has released with the Daycare center. Some other
new projects are Scheels and Prairie Bluffs Senior Living.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked what the delay is with Prairie Bluffs. City Planner Klima replied
the transitional care licensing was under review. It looks like they will begin in the spring.
Getschow stated there has also been a lot of involvement in Aspire. Other projects that
occurred are FedEx at Windsor Plaza, Park Nicollet off Flying Cloud Drive, and approval for
Elevate. The Assessing Division valued over 22,705 properties. Market value is up, and the
2018 market value is up an additional three percent. There is also potential for development.
Getschow stated the Police Department implemented all-in-one handheld communication
devices and have worked on enhancing their street crimes unit. They now own a mobile
camera trailer with the intent to deter crime, they are developing a text-to-911 program, and
they are looking for foundations, groups, and organizations to help provide scholarships for
treatment and recovery of opioid addiction.
Getschow stated the Administration Department looked at updating the records management
system and has worked on a ten year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) update. Liquor sales
were down but better than expected, and they are looking into delivery options.
Communications did a redesign to the Life in the Prairie magazine. The IT Division worked
on a lot of upgrades and employee network security training. Aho asked if employees are
doing a lot of network security training. Getschow responded there was a phishing test to all
employees and ten percent of employees are required to be retested.
Aho mentioned he would like to see a way to attract economic development from the
business community. COCO is a program to consider for bringing entrepreneurial business
startups to the community.
Butcher Wickstrom stated a healthy City is multi-generational. She is aware there has been a
big focus on seniors in the community,but she is concerned about how we attract millennials
and gen-x aged people to this community and have them continue to come back. It would be
good to have more businesses to attract young people. She is aware of the high price point,
but this should be continually considered when making decisions. Butcher Wickstrom would
also like for the City to document its prehistory,protohistory,history and current days,
whether in book form or dramatic presentation. This story needs to be told more fully. Grant
opportunities could be sought.
Council Member Case would like to see a direct tie with municipality's efforts to combat
climate change. The City could label its initiatives to get more buy-in and passion on the
issue of sustainability. Case also commented Flying Cloud Airport has been in a lull and
there is a need to prepare for future requests to increase the weight limit.
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March 6, 2018
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Case commended the community diversity celebration and its emphasis. Case suggested
Council meetings be held in different locations and possibly tied to the topic. Another
consideration is the Senior Issues Task Force as it was last visited in 2006.
Tyra-Lukens mentioned she would like to insure as a community that we do not allow our
strip malls to turn into gun shops, pawn shops, and adult entertainment. A plan needs to be in
place to be proactive about this. Tyra-Lukens also stated, in line with the sustalnability goals,
is there something residents can do to opt into alerts of higher water usage? This would be
something the City could look into.
Tyra-Lukens inquired if we can make better use of the app Next Door to establish a better
sense of community. This has a lot of potential to drive people to events or inform people of
alerts in their neighborhood. Case mentioned the police regularly post on Next Door.
Communications Manager Lorenz mentioned the City does targeted messaging to
neighborhoods, but those neighborhood boundaries are already set up by Next Door.
Getschow added Next Door has been helpful to receive feedback from the community as
well, but the City's account cannot see other comment threads.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. CHRISTINE COUGHLIN—HUMANE PET STORE ORDINANCE (6:40)
Christine Coughlin, Minnesota State Director of the Humane Society, encouraged
the City to consider passing the Humane Pet Store Ordinance. Coughlin stated the
Humane Pet Store Ordinance prevents the pet store sale of dogs and cats from
puppy mills. Over 200 local jurisdictions across the nation have adopted this
ordinance. Coughlin noted businesses in Eden Prairie are already partnering with
rescues to do adoption. This ordinance will prevent other pet stores from moving
into the city, it is a great reflection of community values, and it celebrates the
businesses that are doing it right.
Case inquired about distinguishing from a puppy mill versus a small scale humane
breeder. To be clear, no breeder could sell a puppy or cat through a pet store?
Coughlin replied yes, this prevents small scale responsible breeders from selling
at a pet store.
B. MARIE HANSON - PICKLE BALL
Marie Hanson, Vice President of Pickle Ball Club, said she is very thankful for
the time, energy, and efforts of staff on the courts project. She thanked the
Council and Jay. Hanson noted Jerry Moss also worked very hard on this project
and had recently passed away.
III. ADJOURNMENT