04/08/2011 - City Council Special
MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011
5:30 P.M.
EAGAN ROOM – EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
City Council members present: Mayor Maguire, Councilmembers Bakken, Fields,
Hansen and Tilley.
City Staff present: City Administrator Hedges, Assistant to the City Administrator
Miller, Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke, Public Works Director Colbert, City
Engineer Matthys, Community Development Hohenstein, GIS/Community Development
Specialist Slettedahl, Planner Dudziak, Planner Thomas, and City Planner Ridley.
I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Councilmember Tilley moved, Councilmember Fields seconded a motion to adopt the
agenda as presented. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
II.VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
III.OPPORTUNITY CITY UPDATE
Mayor Maguire welcomed the members of the Advisory Planning Commission (APC) in
attendance. The APC members introduced themselves. City Administrator Hedges
introduced the item, noting that the Urban Land Institute and Regional Council of mayors
developed the Opportunity City Program as a tool for cities interested in receiving assistance
in pursuing their goal of supporting a full range of housing choices in suburban cities for a
stronger, more prosperous region.
Community Development Director Hohenstein provided an overview of the summary
report of the Opportunity City’s Housing Audit. The Council, staff, and Commission
discussed the housing recommendations, which included: 1.) Enhance neighborhood
preservation; 2.) Address aging in place; 3.) Attract/Retain young households; 4.) Increase
connectivity; and, 5.) Continue the strong partnership with the Community Development
Agency (CDA).
Per the recommendations of the study, the City Council recommended that the staff
further explore: Housing renovation local programs, rental registration, point of sale home
inspections, accessory dwelling units, senior housing regeneration, new lifestyle rental, and
Complete Streets. The Council asked that the Opportunity City Summary Final Report be
included on a future regular City Council agenda for formal adoption, along with the specific
areas voiced tonight by the Council for further review by staff.
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Mayor Maguire thanked the members of the APC for attending the meeting, and
congratulated Steven Chavez on his recent appointment to the Metropolitan Council.
The City Council recessed at 6:45 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 6:55 p.m.
IV.OVERVIEW OF MSP REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP / ITASCA PROJECT
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item, noting that the Itasca Project is a regional
economic development partnership that is seeking to create a unified strategy and brand that is
necessary to grow businesses and to compete to attract business and job growth from elsewhere.
Community Development Director Hohenstein provided additional background on the Itasca
project and introduced Kathy Schmidlkofer, who is current serving as the loaned executive from
General Mills to guide the initiative. Ms. Schmidlkofer provided a presentation on the goals and
plans for the Itasca Project.
The Council gave direction to add an item to the March 15 Consent Agenda to authorize the
City of Eagan’s participation as a member of the MSP Regional Economic Development
Partnership, at an annual cost of $25,000 to be funded from the City’s 2011 contingency account.
The Council asked that the Itasca Project CEO report back to cities as to the benefits,
benchmarking, and results of the Itasca Project after the first year.
V.REVIEW ALTERNATIVES FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY 77 MANAGED LANE
STUDY
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item, noting that the Council most recently
considered the alternatives for the TH 77 Managed Lane Study at the January 18, 2011 City
Council meeting, at which time the Council voiced their support solely for alternative 3B. Since
that meeting, the cities of Bloomington and Apple Valley, along with Dakota County, have all
concurred with and formally supported both Alternatives 2B and 3B. As such, MnDOT is asking
the City of Eagan to reconsider their opposition to Alternative 2B.
Public Works Director Colbert added that MnDOT has notified the City of Eagan that
there is a requirement that all affected agencies much reach consensus in supporting the same
two Alternatives in order for the process to proceed to the next level of Environmental
Assessment (EA or EAW) studies and the Pre-Design Process. Mr. Colbert introduced Amr Jabr
of MnDOT, who provided additional information to the City Council about the alternatives to be
considered.
The City Council discussed the proposed alternatives and provided direction that a letter
be sent to MNDOT from Mayor Maguire expressing the City’s revised position to explore the
inclusion of Alternatives 2B, along with Alternative 3B, in recognition of MnDOT’s stated
commitment at the March 8, 2011 workshop to include transit access options for the existing
Cedar Grove Transit Station and the future Cliff Road station as part of the next level of the
Environmental Assessment and Pre-Design Process.
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Councilmember Fields moved, Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to approve
Alternatives 2B & 3B as the Preferred Alternatives for further environmental assessment as part
of the TH 77 Managed Lane Evaluation Study and authorize the Mayor to submit a revised letter
stating such support. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
VI.MNDOT SOUND WALLS: UPDATE, PROPOSAL AND DESIGN
ELEMENTS
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item, noting that MnDOT is at the workshop to
provide an update on the first sound wall project proposed to be constructed along the west side
of Interstate 35-E, north of Diffley Road. Mr. Hedges noted that MnDOT is also proposing the
construction of a second sound wall along the east side of Interstate 35-E, north of Deerwood
Drive.
City Engineer Russ Matthys provided additional information about the projects and
introduced Peter Wasko of MnDOT, who addressed the City Council on the sound wall
proposals. Mr. Wasko noted that the construction schedule for the first wall has been moved up
from 2014 to 2012 due to the elimination of other higher prioritized sound walls within the metro
area.
The Council gave direction for MnDOT to continue to work with the City’s engineering staff
on the development of a second (wooden) noise wall along the east side of Interstate 35-E, north
of Deerwood Drive, which is proposed to be built in 2016.
The Council directed that the City’s portion of the funding required for the walls be allocated
from the Major Street Fund, for consideration through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
process.
The Council also directed that the walls be wooden and asked staff to work with MnDOT to
look at two design alternatives: 1.) Wooden wall, with columns, to be flush with trees and
vegetation planted in front of the walls; or, 2.) Where trees or vegetation are not possible,
consider architectural trees on every other panel that are built into the wall itself (e.g. Woodbury
approach).
VII.OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
VIII.ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Fields moved; Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 8:46 p.m.
Aye: 5, Nay: 0
March 8, 2011 Special City Council Meeting Minutes
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