Board and Commission Banquet

May 17, 2012 – 8:11 am

Last Wednesday evening we celebrated the work of our volunteer Board and Commission members. Each May, we bring all of the outgoing and current Eden Prairie Board and Commission members together for an annual banquet to show appreciation for their service to our community.

We have nine Boards and Commissions, if you include our Senior Advisory Committee who are also a part of the event.  These advisory groups all provide regular input and feedback into many of the important policy issues facing our community. 

The agenda for the annual banquet each year is very similar. Following a social hour and meal, we recognize the outgoing Commission members on an individual basis for their volunteer service to the City. We then recognize the high school students that serve on our Commissions as part of the “Students on Commisisons” program (by the way, we are accepting applications through May 25 for students who will serve next school year). Finally, we have a keynote speaker who typically speaks on a topic related to public service. 

Pictured (L to R): Council Members Brad Aho and Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Justice Anderson, and Council Members Ron Case and Kathy Nelson

This year, we were very pleased to land Eden Prairie’s own Supreme Court Justice Paul H. Anderson. A 1961 graduate of Eden Prairie High School, Justice Anderson shared several stories about his recollections of growing up in his hometown a few decades back. He then provided an excellent message for us on the important lessons of leadership. 

All in all, a successful event. It won’t be long until we begin planning the 2013 banquet.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Community Conversations

May 9, 2012 – 10:58 am

Last week I attended a summary and wrap-up session for the Community Conversation series that was conducted by the Leauge of Minnestoa Cities (LMC) in Eden Prairie.  In the 2011, the LMC hosted a series of conversations in 12 Minnesota cities, including ours, to discuss and identify thoughtful solutions to service and funding challenges that we face at the city government level. 

At the summary session, LMC staff members provided findings and conclusions from the 40+state-wide conversations that were conducted.  The entire process and the findings are best summarized in these two videos:

 

 

I have to admit that when the city applied to host the conversations last year, we were thinking that the questions and feedback would be specific to us.   We are always looking for ways to engage our citizens in discussions about city services and funding and thought that this would be a good way to tap into that.  However, we found out after we were selected that the conversations would not be catered to our City.  The format was to be similar across the state and the findings that would be provided would apply to all Minnestota cities in general – not just Eden Prairie. 

That being said, I think the League did a great job in facilitating this series and convening the important conversations we need to have about the future financial viability of our cities.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in City Services, Community, Events | Comments Off

And we Have Liftoff

April 27, 2012 – 3:09 pm

At the City Council meeting on April 17, Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens
officially launched the new and improved City of Eden Prairie website!

For a quick tour of the new site, check out this video…

This launch marks an exciting step forward for the City, as we’re seeing technology-enhanced communication become a primary source of information for many people in the community.

Here are a few new website traffic statistics:

  • One hour after launch, there had been 749 unique visitors on the site.
  • One day after launch, there had been 6,642 unique visitors on the site.
  • One week after launch, there had been 22,696 unique visitors on the site

And, other than the home page, here are the top five most viewed pages:

  1. Eden Prairie Community Center
  2. Parks and Recreation
  3. Events Calendar
  4. Eden Prairie Liquor
  5. Police Department

We’re pretty happy with the new site, but we really want to know what you think of it!

When you visit the site, you’ll see that there’s a new “Feedback” link at the top of each page – we welcome you to use this link to share your thoughts with City staff, so that we can be sure the new edenprairie.org is a user-friendly source of information for the Eden Prairie community.

By kbeal | Posted in City Services | Comments Off

Career Day

April 26, 2012 – 12:47 pm

I was invited over to Eden Prairie High School on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the career of city management for a high school class.  The roundtable session was set up for me to speak to three different groups of 10-15 students, each for 15 minutes, about the field of city management and then to spend another 15 minutes on an exercise related to my field of work.  I was excited to do this because I feel that those in the profession of local government management need to educate and recruit the next generation. 

I had read in my class overview that when a journalist came to speak to the class, she discussed how she first became a journalist, what her educational background was, and then described what a typical day on the job was like.  The exercise then consisted of having the students create headlines from sample news stories that were presented.  I thought this all sounded rather clear, until I thought about the questions that I get when I say to people that I am a city manager.  

I sometimes have to explain to friends, neighbors, and relatives that I am neither the Mayor nor the City Planner.  I am not elected, but typically the sole employee appointed by the Mayor and City Council. I often use the analogy of being a school district superintendent who reports to a school board.  Most people can usually relate to that, but it still got me thinking about what I would say and do on that Tuesday afternoon.    

I decided that I would undertake the exercise portion first by asking the students to write down several answers to questions about being a city manager before I actually discussed the details of my profession. I planned to ask them what they thought a city manager did based solely on what they have heard or read about my job (if anything) before that day.  I thought that it would get them thinking right out of the gate, while also providing me with some interesting perspectives. 

Here is a sampling of their answers to the question of what a city manager does on a typical day:

  • Check things
  • Plan things
  • Oversee things
  • Present ideas
  • Talk to people about how to improve the city
  • Mentor people
  • Organize events
  • Sign papers
  • Send e-mails
  • Go to many meetings
  • Look at data
  • Observe operations
  • Tell people to fix the roads and keep the city clean
  • Drive around the city and take care of problems that arise
  • Plan the budget
  • Meet with the Mayor
  • Meet with businesses
  • Meet with city employees
  • Keep an eye on where our tax money goes
  • Keep people safe
  • Plan for the future
  • Think of ways to improve the city

I have to say that I was very impressed with these answers.  I could not disagree with anything said, except for the student who said the one thing that I don’t do is put out fires.  I told him that literally he was correct, but figurately I am often involved with “putting out fires”.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in Community, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Preparing for Launch

April 16, 2012 – 4:25 pm

Christine Ruzek and Ryan Kapaun go head-to-head in the competition.

As you’ve probably heard, we’re preparing to launch a new City website soon – and if you’ve ever been through this process, you know just how much work is required on a project of this scale.

In preparation for the official launch of the new edenprairie.org, we’ve spent months conducting research, analyzing statistics, approving design elements and transferring content.

Andrew Lammers celebrates his victory against John Carlon.

Last week, we hosted an employee event aimed at introducing the new site and giving City staff members a chance to try it out. This was a sort of “soft launch” which allowed employees to familiarize themselves with the site, and work out any glitches prior to the public launch at the City Council meeting tomorrow night.

The Communications Division has been heading up this project, and they put together a game show-style scavenger hunt, which I had the privilege of hosting!

The game challenged pairs of employees to find pages on the website, ranging from “Fourth of July Event Information” to “Police Department Volunteer Opportunities” and the contestant who was the fastest at navigating was deemed the winner.

Lorene McWaters and Wendy Sevenich get serious about the game.

This was a great opportunity to test out the ease of navigation on the new site, one of the features we’ve hoped to accomplish with the redesign, and it was a fun way for employees to experience the new edenprairie.org for the first time.

Now that we’ve had a chance to put the new City website to the test, we’re one step closer to the public launch tomorrow night – and we’re excited for the Eden Prairie community to check out the new edenprairie.org!

 

 
By kbeal | Posted in City Services, Employees, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Are you up for a Challenge?

April 3, 2012 – 10:35 am

At the March 20 City Council meeting, Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens put the Eden Prairie community up to a very important challenge, in honor of the 40 year anniversary of the federal Clean Water Act.

Take a look at what she had to say…

Get Microsoft Silverlight

So, are you ready to take the Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation?

Here’s another incentive: there’s a chance to win a Toyota Prius Hybrid!

To take the challenge, visit mywaterpledge.com before April 30 and enter your Eden Prairie zip code, then choose the environmentally conscious decisions you’re committed to making.

But don’t just take the challenge – take it one step further by sharing your commitment on facebook and challenge your friends to join you!

Your participation will help Eden Prairie rank among the most “water-wise” cities in America, but more importantly you will contribute to a nationwide water conservation effort.

By kbeal | Posted in Environment | Comments Off

The First Year

March 28, 2012 – 3:25 pm

Do you remember the last time that you got a new job in a different company or organization?

You were excited to start and get right to work.  But at the same time you felt like you were a new visitor to a foreign county.  Almost every person that you talked to in those first days and weeks were people that you were meeting for the first time.  Almost every conversation and discussion topic was new to you.  You were happy to be there-but your head was spinning a bit. 

That is my daughter Lily (9) on the trampoline behind me. Photo courtesy of Laurie Obiazor.

That was my experience one year ago today.  It was my first day as the Eden Prairie City Manager.  

What actually made that experience enjoyable was the friendly and positive reception that I received along with the assistance that was provided by the Mayor, the City Council, and the city staff, to help get me up to speed.  From my perspective, it made the transition go rather smoothly.  

 
A few highlights from the first year include:

  • Presenting twelve (12) State of the City Addresses to city employees and community groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Lions, and Rotary Clubs;
  • Friday afternoon drives throughout the City and our 600+ cul-de-sacs with my personal on-boarding specialist Parks and Rec Director Jay Lotthammer;
  • Getting lost in the Golden Triangle during my first week in Eden Prairie driving to a business meet and greet;
  • Serving the first pickleball on the new courts at Pioneer Park near the Senior Center; 
  • Taking part in community events such as the Realtor Forum, Night to Unite, and the 4th of July;
  • Attending “Eden Prairie On-Track” leadership and development sessions with my fellow “new” city employees; and finally
  • Creating a 2012-2013 Budget in collaboration with city staff and the City Council

I look forward to many more highlights in the year ahead. 

I had said when I left my previous position as Hopkins City Manager that it would be the people there that I would miss the most.  That is still the case.  Fortunately, as I expected, I have met many great new people in an excellent community that I look forward to working with for a very long time.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Where the Sidewalk Ends

March 12, 2012 – 4:35 pm

I was recently posed with the following question on my blog:

This is a curiosity question. What are the bumpy metal plates at the end of sidewalks for? We have been trying to figure this out and I’m sure there is a simple answer.

I have heard others ask this same question as well.  Several have thought that the bumps are for providing better traction at the edges of sidewalks when it is icy. That is a good guess – but it is not the correct answer.

These bumpy metal plates, also known as “tactile or truncated domes”, are for those who have low vision.  They are sensed through the shoe to the feet to indicate that someone is about to enter the traveled way.  And for those with a walking cane, the tactile domes are first sensed by the cane. 

Interestingly enough, I have read where the need for these domes have increased since cities have started creating curb cuts or ramps for sidewalks at intersections over the last couple decades.  Previously, low vision persons could tell where the sidewalk ended by simply reaching the curb.  Now with curb cuts, features like the domes become more necessary.

The panels have actually been required by the federal government under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for new or renovated sidewalks since 2001. So you should see more of these in the future as we build or rebuild trails and sidewalks in Eden Prairie.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in Community, Public Works | Comments Off

EPy Awards

March 7, 2012 – 6:39 pm

Our annual “Spring Employee Recognition Event” was held this afternoon at the City Center.  

It is quickly becoming my favorite city event to emcee.

Following an introduction by Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, we honored our fellow employees for reaching milestones in their years of service. We then recognized our fellow employees with the special “EPy” Awards.

EPy Award recipients are nominated by their peers. The city department directors and I then evaluate the nominations to make a final determination for who will receive the awards. These awards pay tribute to those employees who consistently went above and beyond in 2011 to perform their duties and serve the people of Eden Prairie.

Pictured (L to R): Sue Bohnsack, Tina Eide, Jenna Scadden, Rick Getschow, Molly Koivumaki, Justin Netzer, Dzevad Mahmutovic, Dave Becker, Scott Heddle

Today, these employees were honored with the following awards:

  • Scott Heddle, Information Technology:Carl J. Jullie Award for Excellence in Customer Service
  • Jenna Scadden, Police Department: Mayor Jean L. Harris Award for Community Service
  • Tina Eide, Community Center: James G. Clark Award for Excellence in Teamwork
  • Sgt. Dave Becker, Police Department: Scott H. Neal Award for Excellence in Leadership.
  • Justin Netzer, Utilities; Jeff Campbell, Utilities; Dzevad Mahmutovic, Facilities; Molly Koivumaki, Housing and Community Services; and Sue Bohnsack, Senior Center: City Manager Quality Awards

Congratulations to all of these award winners and to those that have reached milestones in years of service.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in Employees, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Why Franchise Fees?

March 2, 2012 – 5:31 pm

There has been a lot of discussion lately regarding the funding of roads and streets in many cities throughout this region. A recent Star Tribune article – “For homeowners, street work a financial pothole” – discussed the concerns with using special assessments to fund street projects in area communities. This is a process where property owners are assessed a dollar amount for a percentage of street work completed in front of their properties.

Until I came to Eden Prairie, each city I have worked in has used special assessments to fund road improvements. Each of these cities was at an age where the 40-50 year old infrastructure needed to be replaced and a funding source was needed to complete that work. Special assessments had been the main funding tool of choice for many years. 

In Eden Prairie, most of our streets are not that old – but they will be. Therefore, we need to plan for a way to fund our current street maintenance and our future street reconstruction. At the request of the City Council, our Budget Advisory Commission spent a good chunk of 2011 evaluating several options for funding street improvements. Options for funding streets included special assessments, increased tax levies and additional debt. However, the option that seemed to resonate most was the use of a utility franchise fee. 

Franchise fees are charged to utility companies (e.g. Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy) in exchange for allowing them access to the City’s right-of-way. This access provides space to install distribution lines without having to purchase it outright from property owners, and gives the companies paved and plowed access so they can work on those distribution lines when they need to be repaired or upgraded.

The access and existence of distribution lines also results in added costs to the City for street projects and maintenance of the right-of-way. The franchise fees charged to each utility company are typically passed onto customers, which appears as a line item on their billing statements.

Cities have used utility franchise fees in a number of different ways, but in Eden Prairie we are considering only one use for this proposal – road improvements. The article I mentioned earlier stated that assessments range from $4,000 to $16,000 per residential lot for a street that should last at least 20 years. Our franchise fee proposal is a bit less than that. For instance, a resident charged $2.50 per month in franchise fees, per utility ($5 total for gas and electric) would pay $60 per year. That equates to $600 over 10 years and $1,200 over 20 years, assuming no increase in rates. Even if you assume a 20% increase in rates over 20 years, the amount is still less than $1,500.

This pay-as-you-go scenario is less costly for property owners than most street assessment amounts currently being used. In addition, and from my personal experience, the administration of special assessments can involve significant time and cost.

We are now in the community feedback stage regarding the use of franchise fees. Here is what we are doing:

  • A link to this blog is posted on the City’s Facebook page, where we are soliciting feedback from the public.
  • At the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 6, Public Works Director Robert Ellis will present more information on the use and impact of franchise fees.
  • At 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, the City is hosting an open house/neighborhood meeting on the topic of franchise fees at the City Center.
  • The Tuesday, March 20 City Council meeting will include a public hearing on the proposed use of franchise fees.

Open houses and public hearings are nothing new, but the addition of Facebook as a way the public can tell us what they think about an important topic is a first. We hope offering an alternative way for providing feedback will ensure even more of our residents will participate in the discussion, which will be very valuable to our City Council when the time comes to make a decision.

By Rick Getschow | Posted in City Services, Public Works | Comments Off