Loading...
05/14/1996 - City Council Special • MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ' ' , EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota May 14, 1996 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, May 14, 1996, at 5:00 p.m., at the Eagan Municipal Center. Present were Mayor Egan and City Councilmembers Hunter and Masin. Councilmembers Awada and Wachter were absent. Also present were City Administrator Tom Hedges, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Director of Public Works Colbert, Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa and Chief of Police Geagan. Director of Public Works Colbert provided history on a public works and park space land use study that was prepared by TKDA. Mr. Peter Brozek from TKDA presented the study stating that the report presents City services by function, considering City demographics, combined facility statistics and a department by department break down. Mr. Brozek continued his presentation by reviewing site location maps that designated various sites under consideration for the expansion and storage of public works/parks equipment and materials. Following the presentation, City Councilmember Hunter asked about the external needs portion of the study and why the numbers are greater for Eagan. Mr. Brozek stated that all cities keep different levels of inventory which became a factor in the analysis. Mayor Egan asked questions about access to the river bottom site if that location is selected as an expansion site. City Councilmember Masin • asked about future intergovernmental consideration with other jurisdictions for the Highway 3/Diffley site whereby the County, Inver Grove Heights and Rosemount could consider joint development and use of the property. City Councilmember Hunter asked about the tree line on the Blue Cross property adjacent to the Public Works Maintenance Facility site and how tree preservation would be mitigated if property were required for storage of equipment materials at that location. Director of Public Works Colbert stated that the City Forester has done a preliminary analysis relative to the tree preservation guidelines and that acquisition include a 50 foot buffer between the Blue Cross property and maintenance site to screen the property from any development that may occur in future years on the Blue Cross property. After further discussion,the City Council concluded that the river bottom, Highway 3/Diffley site and Coachman properties were all viable choices and options for the future. They further concluded that the south utility plant site was too difficult to develop. Mayor Egan summarized the consensus of the City Council to authorize City staff to begin negotiations on the Blue Cross site and to continue securing the river bottom site as an option. City Councilmembers expressed some reservation with the Diffley site stating that this property may be better suited for a different land use. City Administrator Hedges stated that the Fire Department Executive Board has responded to the City Council's request for additional information relative to a future fire administration building,training facility and land acquisition for future fire stations and the proposed fire training facility. Chief Jensen, along with five (5) volunteer firefighters who are members of the Executive Board, appeared to present their findings. Chief Jensen stated that all cost estimates were provided by the firm of Arthur Dickey Architects, Inc. He provided a summary of information contained in a memo dated May 6, 1996 and entitled "Fire Service Future Needs." The first need is to improve the Fire Administration Building to a space needs requirement of 10,500 square feet. Chief Jensen stated that the Fire Administration Building will not work on the Municipal Center campus due to space restrictions. He further stated that combining a fire station and Fire Administration building on the McCarthy property located at the northwest quadrant of the Wescott Special City Council Minutes 1.1.5 • May 14, 1996/Page 2 Road/ Lexington Avenue intersection could be very costly. As a result of the study options, Chief Jensen summarized the findings of the executive board in regard to the Fire Administration building by stating that option 2 to build a new Fire Administration building (demolish present facility and build on existing site)was preferred to option 1 which is to remodel the existing Fire Administration building or option 3 which is to build a new facility on a new site. City Councilmembers concurred with that finding, suggesting that the new Fire Administration building could be better placed on the property providing better parking opportunities. Chief Jensen further reviewed the need for a training facility stating that said facility would not duplicate training facilities that are shared with other communities within or outside the City of Eagan. Chief Jensen stated that the training facility would allow the department to maintain skilled fire service personnel and decrease the liability to the City for injuries to fire personnel. He stated that the increase in training requirements that are being placed on the volunteers are becoming more difficult to maintain and without a facility firefighters could lose their training certification. Chief Jensen also reviewed land acquisition stating that funds were made available in 1996 for two sites with total dollars of$200,000. Chief Jensen stated that if option 2 is considered for the Fire Administration building and land is secured for a training facility, it is the recommendation of the Executive Board that the City purchase land at the corner of Lexington Avenue and Wescott Road for a future fire station and consider land at the corner of Coachman Road and Yankee Doodle Road for future fire station expansion that may not occur for ten years, depending on the growth of the City. Chief Jensen stated that the total cost for the fire service needs is approximately $7,900,000, however, the Executive Board has • reduced the cost to $4,000,000 by reducing the magnitude of the training facility at this time. City Councilmember Hunter complimented the Chief and the Executive Board on the report. Councilmember Hunter asked several questions regarding the Fire Administration building including the City's relationship with Health East to provide building space for the ambulance operation. City Administrator Hedges stated that all communities within the Health East service area are providing building space at no cost to Health East and in turn add the benefit of an ambulance within the community with no operating cost subsidies. City Councilmember Masin asked about the training room and whether the fire department could use the Community Room at City Hall. Chief Jensen stated that daytime use is a problem due to the parking of fire pumper trucks during normal business hours at City Hall. He further stated that scheduling classes are a problem given the demand for the Community Room. City Councilmember Masin further questioned whether the old municipal center building should be saved for historical value. After further discussion it was determined that the old Municipal Center/current Fire Administration building does not lend much historical value and, further, the land could be better used for a new Fire Administration building. Mayor Egan asked whether the City could be served by six fire stations? He further asked about response time. Chief Jensen stated that the Executive Committee would like the opportunity to land bank for future fire stations and continue to analyze response time while the City's growth, demographics, traffic increases and other factors change in future years. City Councilmember Hunter stated that it is his opinion that a complete fire training center would not happen for at least six years. He stated that it is paramount that the City receive additional justification for a fire training center that would include what neighboring cities are providing for fire training, whether other communities would participate financially in the training center and a cost benefit the training center would provide for fire services. Mayor Egan suggested a flow chart and a financing mechanism for the fire training center based on the need for further justification as explained by City Councilmember Hunter. • • Special City Council Minutes May 14, 1996/Page 3 Chief Jensen asked whether the City Council would authorize the City to proceed with negotiations and a potential land acquisition of the Wescott/Lexington site from Pat McCarthy. There was further discussion regarding the Coachman/Yankee Doodle site and it was clear that the property has certain limitations due to a natural gas pipeline that crosses the property. Chief Jensen stated that the Coachman/Yankee Doodle site is estimated at$90,000 and according to the Director of Public Works, an additional$30,000 would be necessary to properly address the elevation and location of the pipeline. After further discussion, the City Council provided direction to the City Administrator to begin negotiations on the acquisition of the Patrick McCarthy site located at the northwest quadrant of the Wescott/Lexington intersection which is a more centralized location for a fire station. Mayor Egan thanked Chief Jensen and the Executive Committee for their report. :yi•ii .. i Director of Public Works Colbert stated that the APRNRC has reviewed the pedestrian crosswalk policy and made four recommendations that include: 1)a separate section addressing crosswalks to City parks be written for the pedestrian crosswalk policy. An objective matrix of safety warrants be developed based on vehicular speed, volume, width of street, visibility and pedestrian demographics, 2) a pedestrian study be conducted, 3) consideration be given to creating a safety review and ad hoc committee whose purpose would be to review neighborhood requests for crosswalk safety devices of a higher level than warranted by the objective matrix, and 4) the City's sidewalk policy be utilized as the standard for neighborhood financial participation for installation of pedestrian crosswalk devices that • supersede the objective matrix level of protection. Director of Public Works Colbert reviewed all four alternatives in detail. He further stated that the maintenance division completed a sound level test of experimental rumble strips trying to identify the impact to adjacent residential properties if installed. He also commented on a bill that was passed in the 1996 legislative session and signed by Governor Carlson that requires drivers to stop at crosswalks when a pedestrian is crossing whether or not the walker is in the driver's lane of traffic. City Councilmember Hunter responded to the state law stating that the legislation may be a resolution to the City's concern about adopting a crosswalk policy and asked whether a sign should be installed that reads "stop when crosswalk is in use." City Councilmember Masin asked further questions about the use of rumble strips. City Councilmember Hunter stated he does not support rumble strips indicating the noise would be a discomfort and nuisance to adjacent neighborhoods. City Councilmember Hunter summarized the discussion about the crosswalk study stating in his opinion there should be no crosswalk on four lane roadways and requests should be considered on a case by case basis and that adjoining neighbors may be assessed for improvements if electronic warning signs or other specialty devices are to be installed. He further suggested that the adjoining neighborhoods should be involved to help determine how extensive the warning devices should be for the crosswalk adjacent to their properties. City Councilmember Hunter further stated that the City's policy could be to notify neighborhoods through the City's newsletter and other sources of the new law pertaining to crosswalks and if neighborhoods want additional safety devices such as flashing lights they can petition with the understanding that there would be a special assessment. He further stated that the petitioner should determine whether there is a neighborhood benefit. After further discussion, it was determined that the City provide education about the new law and whether that is adequate. City Councilmembers also supported points 2 and 4 in the • recommendations that were presented by the APRNRC. Director of Public Works Colbert stated that staff will prepare a letter to residents and also a newsletter article that summarizes the new law for stopping in C' • Special City Council Minutes May 14, 1996/Page 4 crosswalks and further indicated that in his conversation with a state official, it is the State's intention to publicize the new legislation during the summer months prior to its effective date of August 1. The City Administrator was directed to prepare a policy to be placed on the Consent Agenda for the June 4, 1996 meeting. Y//)3�7%79�} y.7• :4-41-0,4,0,•,,, - .Jh/'i ' ;i '✓,I: I .,4 .I There were three members of the Park Referendum Special Task Force present to provide the City Council with an update of their work to date. Present were members Lee Markell, Michael Vincent and Chairperson Szott who stated that the task force anticipates one more meeting before their recommendation will be made at the June 4 City Council meeting. He stated that their recommendation includes a review and consideration of 1)acquisition and development, 2) determination of the appropriate parcels and 3) dollar amount to support the acquisition program. He stated that the theme is to support land acquisition and protect the environment. Task Force Chairperson Szott stated the group had looked at 23 parcels ranging from 2 - 200 acre sites and, once the referendum is approved, the City would work with the potential sellers. He further stated that the task force is looking at$4.3 million which included mainly land acquisition, an interpretive center for Patrick Eagan Park which also includes trails and improved parking. Chair person Szott reported that the increase in property taxes for a$140,000 home is estimated at$20 per year. He further reported to the City Council that the task force feels that approximately 20% of the 500 acres or a net 100 acres at an average of • $35,000, the total portion of the bond referendum for land acquisition is estimated at $3,500,000. He further indicated that adding the interpretive center of$800,000 is a grand total of$4,300,000. The task force also reported on success rates in other communities stating that several bond referendums have been approved in Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth and Eden Prairie for land acquisition and environmental protection within the past three years. After questions and discussion by the City Council, Mayor Egan thanked representatives of the task force for their meetings and report at the special City Council meeting. :.,.+. •.'f.•r. ,i City Administrator Hedges stated that the City has received a revised offer from Richard Holz in the amount of$135,000 for his 1.14 acres that includes a house and detached garage. He further stated that the Holz's would like to close on a townhome they are intending to purchase no later than June 28. The City Administrator reported that an appraisal was performed on the property at the request of the Director of Parks and Recreation and the amount determined for the property is$112,000. APRNRC Chair person Lee Markell was present and stated that he would like the City to move toward acquisition stating that the property is an important link to the Holz Farm and could provide better access, parking and potential activities for future generations. Mayor Egan and City Councilmember Masin both expressed their support for acquiring the property, however, felt that the price was too high and suggested that staff negotiate a purchase agreement for$125,000 which is between their asking price and the City's appraisal. Mayor Egan also suggested that the City obtain a right of first refusal as a part of the negotiating effort. City Councilmember Hunter expressed his concern about a price stating that the house is of little value and to pay $80,000 to $100,000 per acre, assuming some value for the dwelling and garage, is exorbitant • and he could not support a land acquisition of the Richard Holz property for that reason. • Special City Council Minutes May 14, 1996/Page 5 After further discussion, upon consensus offered by Mayor Egan and City Councilmember Masin and without concurrence by City Councilmember Hunter, staff shall continue negotiations and offer $125,000 for the Richard Holz property. offoomfog The City Administrator provided information about the City auction scheduled for Saturday, May 18, the Home and Garden Show at the Eagan Civic Arena on May 17, 18 and 19, and the Open House at Holz Farm Park on Sunday, May 19 from 1:00 -4:00 p.m. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. May 14, 1996 Date City Clerk • •