City Council - 05/01/2018 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 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 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. ASPIRE EDEN PRAIRIE 2040
City Planner, Julie Klima, presented an overview of the draft Aspire Comprehensive Plan.
The Housing, Transportation, and Special Study Areas are still being finalized. Changes and
feedback from previous Council workshops have been reflected in this draft document.
John Houseal, Houseal Lavigne Associates consultant, stated the City is working with SRF
Consulting Group for the transportation chapter. Throughout the draft there are highlighted
sections in blue that discuss considerations and best practices within the chapters.
Klima stated the formatting may change slightly as the plan is finalized. In the Land Use
chapter, the Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA),remains consistent with what is
showing in the 2030 plan. The City did receive a request from some property owners asking
that their property be included within the MUSA. Staff recommends that each property be
addressed on a case by case basis. In the instance of septic system failures on properties
outside of the MUSA, staff is working with the Metropolitan Council to address the ability to
connect to the municipal services for environmental considerations.
Klima stated they intend to have the Transportation and Special Study Areas chapters
available in the following weeks. The Special Study Areas are located at Industrial Drive
south of T.H. 62 and Martin Drive north of T.H. 5 on Mitchell Road.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens stated the energy action plan should be included in the list of past plans
and reports on pages 12 and 13. Additionally, she is looking for clarity in the population
increase estimate for 2021 housing. Instead of including 1960 in the trending years, the focus
should be on the last ten to twenty years. Council Member Nelson recommended not
referencing further than 1985 since the City truly began developing around then.
Tyra-Lukens inquired about the need for two sources referencing employment figures.
Getschow replied some studies count the jobs differently, and the two sources provide better
context. Additionally, one or both of the studies may not count the home-based businesses.
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May 1, 2018
Page 2
Nelson asked why the percentages for high-tech jobs appear lower than industrial jobs. Does
the 20 percent total industrial jobs include high-tech firms and research and development
rather than solely manufacturing of products? Getschow responded it likely includes research
and development and not solely fabrication.
Tyra-Lukens would like the highlighted sections to incorporate more goals and strategies of
the City within the chapters, such as sustainability in the parks, bee friendly initiatives, and
designated un-mowed grass lands and natural habitats.
Planning Commissioner Michael DeSanctis inquired if Flying Cloud Airport was the only
property considered for Eco Innovation.
Planning Commissioner Ed Farr inquired about the documents electronic format and whether
links will be utilized. Houseal responded that they will consider putting those links in for
online users.
Nelson would like more narrative included on the innovation of the City and its goals for the
future
Tyra-Lukens found the land use maps to be confusing for the general public and the colors
too close to distinguish between. Consider indicating the changes and provide a key for the
map.
Housing and Community Services Manager, Molly Koivumaki, stated they are looking to get
feedback on two primary topics: inclusionary housing and projects with 100 percent
affordability.
There is a need for affordable housing across housing types and income levels due to the
desire of residents to stay in Eden Prairie. A subgroup of the Southwest Light Rail Transit
(SWLRT) Housing Corridor is working on a policy guidebook to assist with development,
specifically inclusionary housing policy, along the light rail. Other local inclusionary housing
policies are in place in St. Louis Park, Edina, and Minneapolis.
Tyra-Lukens inquired if these policies address multi-family housing only and no single
family neighborhoods. Koivumaki responded yes and stated the policy would be considered
for rental and ownership units, including senior. The minimum starting point would require
ten percent of units as affordable. Tyra-Lukens liked the approach of St. Louis Park to
increase the amount of required affordable units if the ten percent required are not at 50
percent area median income (AMI).
Nelson inquired about Payment in lieu of affordable units. Koivumaki responded it is when
the developer chooses to not participate in providing affordable units and pays a set amount
to the City per unit of less than the required minimum. Case inquired what the fund would
then be used for. Koivumaki added it would be up to the City to decide. A potential use could
be preserving affordable housing.
Tyra-Lukens stated, based on a recent article she read, payment in lieu can make it difficult
to begin implementing affordable initiatives until the fund builds. Houseal noted a
community in Illinois utilizes the funds to buy homes and make them affordable.
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May 1, 2018
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Farr asked if the City is matching the Metropolitan Council's target for affordable units.
Koivumaki stated we are making progress towards this need.
Farr asked if the policy could be retroactive for development that have been approved
without affordable units. Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah stated St. Louis
Park is requiring affordable units for developments doing rehabs. We do not want to
discourage rehabs, but we also want to discourage displacing people by drastically increasing
rent.
Nelson stated there are three groups we should work toward housing: seniors and retirees,
children of residents, people employed in Eden Prairie.
Koivumaki stated when waivers are initially requested by developers, the percentage of
affordable units can be negotiated to increase. Tyra-Lukens asked if St. Louis Park and
Minneapolis follow this policy strictly, or do they allow developers to appeal. Koivumaki
stated we continue to learn from other communities policies. Getschow added Edina recently
included the $100,000 fee for payment in lieu of units.
Tyra-Lukens asked if the cities that have implemented these policies have been strict or have
allowed for appeals. Koivumaki responded she was not certain if they have an appeal
process,but staff will continue to look at these policies.
Council Member Case asked if the funds could be used to buy down the price to make it
affordable and could common space be subsidized so it does not elevate in price. City
Attorney, Ric Rosow, stated there were some restrictions in resale so affordability is not lost.
Nelson inquired about the affordability of the homes by the co-op and how they manage to
stay at a reasonable rate. Rosow stated the co-op is a different model of ownership and they
buy into the stock of the co-op. Houseal added he will look into examples of different models
Koivumaki stated the tax credit for affordability is very difficult to obtain unless developers
are providing 100 percent affordability. With the potential of 100 percent affordable, there
were discussions on having that comprised of mixed income or market rate units. Tyra-
Lukens inquired if it is a requirement for 100 percent affordability for the tax credit program
or if due to the competitiveness,people are only receiving the credit if it is 100 percent
affordable. Koivumaki responded it is the latter.
Koivumaki recommends there be some considerations in place for 100 percent affordable.
Case inquired about clustering 100 percent affordable and whether affordable is also
including section eight. Koivumaki responded section eight is considered affordable, but
units do not have to be section eight to be affordable. Columbine Townhomes and Purgatory
Creek are section 42 and 100 percent affordable at 50 percent AMI.
Tyra-Lukens stated, moving forward, we would want to work to reduce the stigma of living
in a 100 percent affordable location. Koivumaki responded the considerations for 100 percent
affordable would make this successful with a holistic approach with services and access to
those services.
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May 1, 2018
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Houseal used the terminology of workforce housing for mixed income affordable housing.
Jeremiah stated the 100 percent affordability would have varying incomes, potentially 30-80
percent AMI which could allow for some section eight at 30 percent AMI and potentially 50
percent AMI if the housing accepts vouchers.
Getschow provided an update on the Arrive apartments. The fire inspectors have been in all
eight units, and orders were issued for problematic areas. Fire inspectors will follow up on
inspections in May. An order of correction had been issued previously for vermin issues. City
staff is planning a meeting in the next ten days with the committee and Arrive members.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. STEVE DAVIES —TREE HOUSE (6:40)
Steve Davies, 18290 Dove Court, stated while in the process of building a tree
house he received a letter in the mail from the City Forester stating it was built on
City property and would need to be removed. In September 2002 there was a case
that went before the Council of a resident appealing to build a tree fort in a
conservation area. He is requesting an appeal to allow the tree house to remain. It
is built on an ash tree,but he would agree to pay for the treatment of the tree. He
also would agree to remove the treehouse if he sells the home or once his children
turn 18.
Tyra-Lukens stated she appreciates the presentation, and Getschow will be in
touch.
III. ADJOURNMENT