05/23/1988 - City Council SpecialMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
May 23, 1988
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Monday, May 23,
1988 at 6:30 p.m., at the Eagan Municipal Center Building. Present were Mayor
Ellison and City Councilmembers Egan, Gustafson, McCrea and Wachter. Also
present were City Attorney Sheldon, Chief Building Official Reid, City Planner
Runkle, Consulting Planner Voss, Director of Public Works Colbert,
Administrative Assistant Hohenstein and City Administrator Hedges.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ordinance revisions to
consider new standards to enhance community development.
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS /QUALITY INDICATORS
City Administrator Hedges summarized staff research on new measures to
enhance the quality of development that continues to occur within the
community. He stated that the City is experiencing a change to a higher
quality in single family residential neighborhoods which is a direct result of
the City Council's position to not deviate from the 12,000 square foot lots,
discourage variances and other quality measures. The City Administrator also
stated that many of the quality measures that are being implemented by the
development community for single family residential areas cannot be
successfully regulated by a city ordinance amendment. He stated that the peer
pressure of good development is spreading throughout the community and
creating the enhancement of neighborhood development that the City Council
desired. The City Administrator did caution that the City will see smaller
but numerous single family projects that will fill in pockets of land
throughout the community and in most cases be adjacent to existing
neighborhoods. It will be important that the City Council does have proper
regulations to assure development of quality neighborhoods.
The City Administrator presented a memo outlining specific ordinance
changes that include provision for a durable surface on the exterior of rental
units, language to enhance landscaping, regulations for all parking lots of
greater than four spaces, reforestation and preforestation language and other
pertinent language that is recommended from the matrix prepared by the City
Council and staff that listed the criteria that enhances both the appearance
and liveability of the community. Mayor Ellison asked that the City Council
review the proposed ordinance changes and that specific direction be given to
the City staff so an ordinance amendment can be considered at the June 7, 1988
regular City Council meeting.
City Council input for apartment complexes included a requirement for
sprinkling, underground parking, a durable exterior siding, mainly brick,
determination of a size, height and number of units desirable for rental unit
projects and maintenance codes to insure the future aesthetics of the
project.
The City Council also discussed landscaping requesting that sprinkling
be required for all commercial and industrial projects including apartments.
There was also a discussion regarding preforestation and reforestation of
single family projects and after a discussion, City staff was directed to
amend the landscape policy that was adopted March 1, 1985, to include all of
the new language desired by the City Council.
The Director of Public Works requested that language be included in the
subdivision ordinance that imposes minimum engineering specifications for all
parking lots with greater than four spaces for non R -1 developments. City
Councilmember Gustafson stated that regulation of maintenance of private
parking lots would be difficult and that it might be better for the City
Council to use positive reenforcement such as the Chamber of Commerce or other
groups to encourage ongoing parking lot maintenance for commercial
establishments.
Several other examples of quality indicators were discussed with
specific direction to the City staff to include these items in an ordinance
revision. That direction includes the attachment of a garage stall, 20'x 22'
for all new single family homes, standard building construction debris
containers be required for all construction projects, hard surface driveways
be required for all single family residents, no front yard fences or side yard
fences can protrude further than a single family resident's and other
regulations as identified in the quality indicator matrix prepared by City
Council and staff.
Mayor Ellison again requested that these ordinance amendments be
drafted and introduced at the June 7, 1988 City Council meeting.
FREEWAY ZONING CLASSIFICATION
Consulting Planner John Voss appeared and presented several comments
and background information regarding a new zoning classification entitled
Freeway Zoning. After a brief discussion, Mayor Ellison asked that this item
be rescheduled for consideration in approximately 45 days at a workshop
session and that the concept of freeway zoning be reviewed on a site specific
basis.
CHARITABLE GAMBLING LICENSE/VALLEY VIEWERS 4 -H CLUB
City Administrator Hedges stated that the Valley Viewers' 4 -H Club is
proposing a charitable gambling license to allow a bingo operation at the
Fourth of July Celebration. In a motion by City Councilmember Wachter,
seconded by Councilmember McCrea, with all members voting in favor, the
charitable gambling license for the purpose of bingo was approved for the
Valley Viewers 4 -H Club for July 1, 2, 3, and 4 at Rahn Park.
CHARITABLE GAMBLING LICENSE /EAGAN FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOC.
City Administrator Hedges also stated that Eagan Firemen's Relief
Association has made application for a pull -tab charitable gambling license to
be used at the July 4 celebration. In a motion by City Councilmember Wachter,
seconded by Councilmember McCrea, with all members voting in favor, a
charitable gambling license was approved for the Eagan Firemen's Relief
Association for the purpose of selling pull -tabs at the July 4 celebration on
July 2 and 3, 1988.
CABLE COMMISSION RESIGNATION/RON JENSEN
City Administrator Hedges presented a letter of resignation from Ron
Jensen as a member of the Joint Burnsville /Eagan Cable Commission. In a
motion by City Councilmember McCrea, seconded by City Councilmember Egan, and
all members voting in favor, the resignation of Ron Jensen was reluctantly
accepted and the City Administrator was directed to prepare a certificate of
appreciation recognizing Jensen's service to the City. The City Administrator
was also directed to advertise in the local newspapers to fill Mr. Jensen's
vacancy and request applications for the position of alternate on the Cable
Commission, a position that is also vacant.
OTHER BUSINESS
The City Administrator provided a brief update to the City Council on
special legal services, an update on municipal legislative commission proposed
lawsuit, preparation of a fire station plaque and a development proposal via
Dr. Silas Kung to construct a world headquarters for the research and
development of high tech diagnostic equipment.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00 p.m.
Dated City Clerk
TLH