081202 CC WS Min
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5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6:00 P.M.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MONDAY, AUGUST 12,2002
MINUTES
1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 6:04 P.M.
A.
Roll Call
Present:
Mayor Love; Councilmembers Garfunkel, Lizee, Turgeon, and Zerby; Attorney Keane,
Engineer Brown, Finance Director Burton, and Planning Director Nielsen
Absent:
Administrator Dawson
B.
Review Agenda
Without objection from Council, Mayor Love dispensed with the reading of the Agenda and moved
forward with the only item on the Agenda for tlus meeting.
2. SOUTH LAKE MINNETONKA VISIONING UPDATE
Bruce Chamberlain, Planning Consultant with the Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. presented a draft to
Council regarding the findings of the South Lake MiImetonka Community Visioning Project. He stated
tlle City had embarked on a lUuque project. He also gave tlle Council credit for being open-minded, and
examining areas affecting all South Lake Minnetonka area residents. He stated that during the process, he
had been asked why this project was needed. He explained change always happened, and tllls process
attempted to be ready for change and to enhance the quality of life of all residents. He furtller stated it
was important all communities think as one to affect tlle quality of life in tlle area, thus, making tlle entire
community better for it.
Mr. Chamberlain then presented a binder to Council, explaining that all findings of the study were
reported in the outreach process contained in the binder for tllOse wishing to examine the details of the
study and project more closely. Further, he noted tlle decisions to be made in the future would impact the
perception and expansion of the breadth of the community as a whole.
Next, he reviewed the process the project had followed as well as the fmdings related to issues, such as
local identity, sense of community, business climate, families and youth, transportation, growth and
governance, as well as community collaboration.
Councilmember Zerby arrived at 6:33 P.M.
Mr. Chamberlain stated there were two messages that seemed to weave together all other points of view
that were heard throughout the process.
1. The community identified South Lake Minnetonka as a rural place in the context of the
metro area and the quality of life of South Lake Minnetonka was closely tied to its rural
character.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
August 12, 2002
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2. Community identity of South Lake Minnetonka cuts across municipal boundaries.
Residents who live outside of Excelsior passionately call downtown Excelsior their
downtown. New residents are often unsure which municipality they actually live in. A
great deal of cross-border cooperation anlong service organizations and local
governments is already taking place within South Lake Minnetonka.
He also shared a vision statement, which he stated would provide a broad view of South Lake
Minnetonka, and hopefully would inspire tlle community to act in ways and make decisions consistent
with its values and keep the community focused on the moves that would lead to realization of its long-
term goals. This statement was presented as follows:
"We envision a distinctive place in which to live, work and visit not defined by political
boundaries but by its inherently unique qualities; a grouping of villages and hamlets,
characterized by their collective history as a retreat on Lake Minnetonka, that come together
around village centers, commercial crossroads and open space preserves. This place will
become recognized as "South Lake Minnetonka. "
He noted tllis vision statement implied the South Lake Minnetonka area was a grouping of cooperating
communities, each with their own individuality and autonomy, but at the same time always looking for
smart ways to work together.
Mr. Chanlberlain concluded by requesting feedback from Council regarding focus areas that could be
wrapped back into vision plans. He suggested this project would provide the Council with a broad
spectrum of opinions, ideas, and approaches. He recommended Council always think of ways to include
various passions ofthat broad spectrum to continue witll any endeavor, and thanked them for their efforts.
Mayor Love thanked Mr. Chamberlain for the excellent presentation.
Councilmember Turgeon questioned how to expand these views into tlle larger picture of tlle South Lake
Minnetonka community. Mr. Chanlberlain stated people often involve themselves physically to the
extent they would be interested in participating in a community. He cited the ward system as a way to
bring about stronger sense of comml.mity, as he stated people wanted to be better linked to the place they
lived.
Mayor Love stated he believed the purpose of the findings to be less prescriptive, and more about
initiating dialogl.le in certain areas or directions for the community as a whole.
Councilmember Garfunkel stated he believed these findings to be helpful in tllat ideas could be compared
to the findings and examined as to how perspectives fit into findings and vision.
Council thanked Mr. Chamberlain for his efforts in providing findings for the Community Visioning
Project.
3. OTHER
No other business was presented this evening.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
August 12, 2002
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4.
ADJOURN
Zerby moved, Garfunkel seconded, adjourning the Work Session Meeting of August 12, 2002, at
7:04 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.
RESPECTFULL Y SUBMITTED,
Sally Keefe,
Recording Secretary