City Council - 02/05/2019 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Brad Aho, Kathy Nelson, Mark
Freiberg, and PG Narayanan
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Greg Weber, Interim Fire Chief Kevin
Schmieg, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah,
Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose,
Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Katie O'Connor
GUESTS: School Board Members Elaine Larabee, Holly Link, Adam Seidel, Lauren Crandall,
Terri Swartout, Karla Bratrud; Superintendent Josh Swanson, Assistant Superintendent Stacie
Stanley, Director of Community Education Shawn Hoffman-Bram, Senior Director of Student
Support Services Christina Bemboom, Executive Director of Business Services Jason
Mutzenberger, Executive Director of Human Resources Thomas May, Senior Director of
Communications and Community Relations Brett Johnson, Senior Director of Personalized
Learning Michelle Ament
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and H(5:30)
I. JOINT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Mayor Case introduced the agenda. City Manager Getschow noted a joint meeting between
the School Board and City Council happens annually.
School Superintendent Swanson presented Eden Prairie School's mission led plans based on
inspiring each student. The school's core planning team identified and narrowed down its
strategies: engagement, achievement disparities, and personalized learning. Engagement
includes the community,parents, students, staff, and stakeholders. By 2030 they will
eliminate achievement disparities by being responsive to students and their learning. By 2030
they will personalize learning to achieve their mission.
Swanson presented the Designing Pathways three-year timeline of planning and input. The
process included facilities planning, academic design process through design teams, input
sessions, online input and parent surveys, facilities design recommendation, leadership
review and discussion, community survey, superintendent recommendation, and School
Board approval of a $39.9 million ballot request for the May 14 election.
Swanson stated the request is for bond funding rather than the operating levy request that
happened in 2014. Bond funding is used specifically for building. The proposed changes are
to move four-year-old preschoolers to the neighborhood elementary, offer bus transportation
to all preschool families, move sixth graders to Central Middle School, increase flexible
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February 5, 2019
Page 2
learning spaces, make significant classroom updates, improve traffic flow, and improve
security at all eight schools. Specific improvements to Central Middle School include a
theatre addition, cafeteria and gymnasium expansion, classroom updates, security updates,
and bus traffic flow improvements.
Swanson stated classroom updates will be implemented at all schools. Teachers often use
small group formats for learning. The classroom design concept will take these formats into
consideration for small group and resource space while still allowing for supervision. The
average total tax impact for a median value home is $6.50 per month. Currently, the Eden
Prairie School District tax impact is below the state average. In 2018, the enrollment went up
for Eden Prairie Schools for the first time in ten years.
Council Member Narayanan inquired how long the bond term is. Swanson responded the
bond is for 20 years, $79 per year on the median value home. Narayanan inquired how the
change in demographics has impacted teaching methods and academics. Swanson responded
Eden Prairie Schools wants to have an environment where kids feel safe and connected,
including retaining highly profecient, culturally competent teachers in classrooms. These
values are reflected in their strategies which are guided by their mission.
Council Member Nelson inquired if Central Middle School will still have the team model
when sixth grade moves in. Swanson stated the improvements will likely strengthen the team
model. Updates with podded environments and resource areas will strengthen the team
concept.
Case inquired about the traffic flow and management issue, specifically by Oak Point
Elementary. Swanson stated the school has been reviewing parking redesign to help
eliminate some traffic congestion at Oak Point. Initial bids for a redesign were extremely
high. City staff has been helpful throughout the redesign process. Executive Director of
Business Services Mutzenberger stated on normal weather days there is less traffic
congestion. Staff on site assist with directing traffic during pick up and drop off.
Case inquired if the school district has plans to restore the walls in the historic gym.
Mutzenberger responded school staff can look into the upkeep of the walls. The floor was
restored about five years ago.
Narayanan inquired how the School is incorporating sustainability in their building updates.
Mutzenberger stated the school district has been a leader in solar and about 65 percent of its
energy consumption is through solar. The school district utilizes solar on its rooftops, as well
as through three solar garden subscriptions. The school district will be environmentally
conscious in its new additions. Case added the City is incorporating solar on all of the City
building rooftops. 100 percent of the City dollars spent on electricity will go to solar.
Nelson stated there is a lot of negativity around the school district on Next Door, and the
schools media presence needs to be considered. Director of Communications and Community
Relations Johnson responded the school has not moved into the Next Door platform yet,but
he will take it into consideration.
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February 5, 2019
Page 3
Council Member Aho inquired how the City can be of benefit to the school district. School
Board Member Link responded she appreciates the changes in senior housing, such as the
cooperative condo style. The City is creating attractive senior housing and the additional
housing helps with the school tax base. Aho added, as a community, we could do better to
mentor students whose path is not college. There is a high need for skilled employees and in
technical fields. School Board Chair Larabee stated there will be a job fair at the high school
for local businesses in cooperation with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. Assistant
Superintendent Stanley stated the school district is working to hold a business round table at
the high school. The school district considers how it can serve the needs of all the students.
Swanson added the school often promotes a minimum of a two year degree.
Link stated Board Members toured the schools, and students are working on real world
applications with two and three dimentional drawing and printers. She encourages City
Council to take a tour of the schools.
Narayanan stated it would be good to collaborate on communcations between the school and
City. Johnson stated he has connected with communications, and they intend to meet.
Aho stated school is one of the biggest reasons people move to the community. The message
is mixed in the real estate community. There is a monthly realtor's forum a school
representative could attend to increase awareness.
School Board Member Swartout thanks the Council and previous Mayor for passing Tobacco
21. She stated the student survey and the quality of life survey could be collaborated on and
utilized by each entity.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. SCOT ADAMS —EDEN PRAIRIE CITIZENS' CLIMATE LOBBY
Scot Adams, 7169 Arbor Glen Drive, stated radiation detection has developed
throughout the years. Levels have increased in recent years. He encourages the
Council to pass a resolution, in conjunction with other Minnesota cities, calling
for national action on climate change.
Zach Spears, 9727 Marshall Road, stated he is an Eden Prairie High School
student, an officer of Tree Huggers Club, and was a part of the iMatter youth team
that helped draft a climate inheritance resolution last year. Net zero green house
gas emissions by 2040 and 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
Julianna Deibel, 7105 Park View Lane, stated she is an Eden Prairie High School
student and the president of the school Tree Huggers Club. They support this
resolution because it ties to the climate inheritance resolution on a national level.
The goal is to move towards clean energy.
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February 5, 2019
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Rod Fisher, 16820 South Shore Lane, stated the goal is to start a diolgue about an
important issue for the City. He asks the Council to pass a resolution endorsing
the United States Congress to address climate risks and take a stand on national
legislation. There are many consequences to not moving forward.
Case responded he would like to continue this conversation, possibly in a Council
workshop format. Getschow added the City Sustainability Specialist connected
with Deibel, Spears, and Conservation Commission student Commissioner
Govind Makaram. The Tree Huggers and Matter students will be attending the
next Conservation Commission meeting to have further discussion on the topic,
and Partners in Energy may attend as well.
Nelson noted the City Council has already supported the Paris Accord. At the end
of the year, the City's buildings will have solar and 100 percent of those dollars
will be going towards renewable energy. The City has also been working with
businesses to see how they can become more sustainable and save energy.
III. ADJOURNMENT