The City Council gave its approval last night to two important matters. First, the Council blessed a fall referendum for Eden Prairie citizens to decide the fate of a package of proposed improvements to our City’s parks, trails, and recreational facilities. Second, the Council approved the composition of the referendum package.
What do I mean by “composition of the referendum package”? I mean to say that the Council approved a four question ballot. The City ran a similar referendum in May 2004 which, in a single-question format, proposed a variety of improvements with a price-tag of about $22,000,000. Citizens did not approve that referendum. Following the referendum’s defeat, the City polled voters and found a strong desire for a multiple question ballot.
So that’s what citizens will get this time instead of one big question with one big price tag. Citizens will have the opportunity to vote on the following subjects:
1. Improvements for the Community Center.
2. A new indoor warm water teaching and aerobics swimming pool.
3. Improvements to our existing parks and acquisition of some new park land.
4. Improvements to our trail system.
Staff members are drafting the exact language for the ballot and will present it to the Council for final approval at the Council’s July 19 meeting, but there should not be any changes to the structure of the referendum considered at that meeting. We will also insert the exact dollar amounts of the proposed improvements too.
There is a lot to do to get the word out to our citizens about this referendum. That all starts now.
