05/07/1996 - City Council Special ut#: *
• MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
May 7, 1996
A Special workshop meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on May 7, 1996 at 5:00 p.m. Present
were Mayor Tom Egan and Councilmembers Pat Awada,Shawn Hunter,Sandy Masin and Ted Wachter. Also
present were City Administrator Hedges, Finance Director VanOverbeke, Parks & Recreation Director Vraa,
Public Works Director Colbert,Parks Planner Lilly,Park Superintendent Olson and Street Superintendent Erhart.
MUNICIPAL CENTER MONUMENT SIGNAGE
Parks Planner Lilly presented a model of the signage and base alternatives and tentative budget. He
stated that the sign would be constructed of a metal finish with internally lit cut-out block letters and that the sign
on the Pilot Knob Road entrance would include a three-line reader board, also internally lit. The Council
indicated general support for the sign design and discussed the alternatives for stone or brick as a base. Due
to lower construction costs and higher durability,it was determined that a stone base should be installed at both
the Wescott and Pilot Knob entrances. The Council asked whether an electronic message board could be an
alternative to a static letter reader board. Staff indicated that cost estimates for a comparably sized electronic
message board would be$35,000,while the proposed message board would cost less than$2,000. Following
discussion, the City Council also directed the signs include an oak tree logo and should read "City of Eagan,
City Hall-Police." Mayor Egan then summarized that the consensus was for the metal sign as presented with
a manual reader board and sandstone base.
WINTER TRAILS MAINTENANCE POLICY
City Administrator Hedges introduced staff members from the Public Works and Parks Departments who
had coordinated the preparation of information on winter trails maintenance. Park Superintendent Olson
presented statistics and data concerning winter trails maintenance from 14 other cities. The information covered
the frequency and methods used by those cities to clear snow. The extent of the City of Eagan's trails system
was also discussed in comparison to the other communities. A videotape showing trail snow removal practices
by other communities was then presented.
Hunter reviewed the figures and estimated that the City could spend approximately$118,000 if it plowed trails
only on the major county roads. The Council asked about private service alternatives. Street Superintendent
Erhart stated that contractual arrangements are possible, but that experience has indicated that private
contractors want ongoing work and are typically not available for small jobs or short duration.
Mayor Egan indicated his belief that the usability of trails is a quality of life issue. He asked whether the trails
system should be available for four seasons or just three. He said the trails system in Eagan is 94 miles long
and that winter maintenance would result in additional costs and impacts on the City tax rate. He stated that
because of these issues, it is important for the City to be on record addressing some type of four season
maintenance policy.
Masin stated that safety is a concern in areas where citizens should not be walking on public streets due to
traffic volume, street width or other reasons. Wachter expressed a concern about the condition of trails once
they have been plowed. He stated they typically become ice covered and are not safe. He felt that liability and
insurance issues should be addressed as part of the decision. Awada stated that she does not see many
people walking on the streets or trails in the winter. She asked how the City would go about prioritizing the trails
that would be maintained.
• Dr. Charles Peck of the Pilot Knob Animal Hospital spoke in support of winter trails maintenance. He stated
that he had previously provided the City with a petition with several hundred signatures from persons indicating
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May 7, 1996
that they would like to be able to use the trails in the winter and suggested that if the City was not in a position
to maintain all trails that it consider designating certain areas to plow and that a one to three mile loop be
maintained for recreational trail users. Staff asked the Council for direction on priorities for a trails maintenance
policy,including whether both sides of major road corridors should be considered,whether schools or business
locations should have priority and whether one,two or three days for removal of snow was important. Due to
insufficient time remaining to discuss these important issues, staff requested the item be discussed at a future
workshop before an analysis of options and costs be prepared.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned by acclamation at 6:25 p.m.
JDH
•
May 7, 1996
City Clerk
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