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07/30/1996 - City Council Specialf • MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE • EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota July 30, 1996 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, July 30, 1996 at 5:00 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center Building. Present were Mayor Egan and City Councilmembers Awada, Hunter, Masin and Wachter. Also present were Senior Planners Freese and Ridley, Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Director of Public Works Colbert and City Administrator Hedges. VISITORS TO BE HEARD Ray Rahn, owner of Carriage Hills Golf Course, appeared and informed the City Council that he is able to acquire some blacktop milling from a street reconstruction project in West St. Paul and would like permission to apply a blacktop milling surface to Wescott Trail from Yankee Doodle Road to the Carriage Hills Golf Course entrance. City Councilmember/Chairperson of the Public Works Committee Wachter stated that he is in agreement with the procedure and has reviewed the same with the Director of Public Works who felt the application should be under the direction of his engineering staff and once completed, would be an improvement to Wescott Trail. The City Administrator stated that a letter of understanding should be prepared releasing the City of any liability or cost reimbursement if it is decided that other street improvements should be made to Wescott Trail which would require a removal of the application. City Councilmember Hunter stated that a memo or letter should be provided to Mr. Rahn and copied to the City Council regarding the entire procedure, liability and other appropriate language so there is a clear • understanding between Mr. Rahn and the City. City Councilmember Awada moved, City Councilmember Masin seconded a motion to authorize Ray Rahn, owner of Carriage Hills Golf Course, to apply a blacktop milling surface to Wescott Trail from Yankee Doodle Road to the Carriage Hills Golf Course entrance under the direction of the Director of Public Works with the understanding the City is not responsible for any of the costs of the application. Mayor Egan thanked Mr. Rahn for his willingness to make the proposed improvement to Wescott Trail. D-H STUDY City Administrator Hedges introduced the D-II Study stating that the Community Development Department has examined the City's R-2/D-II land supply and reviewed development trends over the past few years in these various land use and zoning categories at the request of the City Council. Senior Planner Freese reviewed the D-II Mixed Residential land use designation stating that the Comprehensive Guide provides 0 to 6 units per acre and that 15 plats have been approved on land guided D-11 since 1992 and that 11 of those plats were single family detached, while 4 plats included 119 townhome units. She further stated from 1988 through 1992, the plats approved on D-I1 guide sites were primarily developed as single family residential with only 5 of the 34 plats for other than single family. Senior Planner Freese also stated that approximately 1,960 acres are designated D-ll Mixed Residential in the City and there's a total of 27 tracts of land totalling 284 acres of vacant D-II land. She stated that this is about 14% of the total D-11 land supply. She further reported that the largest tracts of undeveloped land in this category are the 120 acre Bieter property, 57 acres owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield and 33 acres owned by Leo Murphy. Senior Planner Freese stated that of the 826 acres of remaining residential land supply, 34% is designated D-II Mixed Residential. She further stated that townhome units currently comprise 18%of the City's total housing stock and it is projected that townhome • units will comprise about 20%of the housing stock at build out, based on recent development trends. City Councilmember Hunter stated that the findings clearly show that with a build out, the distribution of single family and townhomes should remain relatively constant and does not see the need to consider any further EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES;JULY 30, 1996 Pe'2 • PAGE 2 study or redesignation of the D-II property. Mayor Egan stated that if the Dart property should be changed to residential, this could have an impact on the overall housing balance. Senior Planner Freese stated that each parcel needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis and further stated there will be some impact on commercial/industrial residential balance if properties are rezoned from zoning/land use categories. City Councilmember Hunter further stated that in his opinion the split between single family and townhomes is proper. City Councilmember Wachter agreed that the balance is adequate. Mayor Egan shared his concern that some developers are buying land at a high cost with the intention to maximize the amount of density which is driving up the land cost and prohibiting the traditional single family detached housing developments. City Councilmember Wachter agreed stating that there is a shortage of estate lots. City Councilmember Awada stated that she is concerned about the results of the study stating that she would be an advocate for more single family detached housing developments. City Councilmember Wachter stated that the City should contact Leo Murphy and suggest his property be redesignated to a D-1 status suggesting that the parcel is best suited for single family detached housing. After further discussion, there was a consensus by the City Council that staff review D-I1 parcels that are adjacent to single family detached developments and approach the owners and see if they would object to changing to D-1 and provide some recommendation as to which parcels should be changed to a D-1 status. TRUCKING STUDY City Administrator Hedges introduced the Trucking Study stating that staff has researched ordinances and prepared a summary of how trucking businesses are defined and regulated in other cities in the metro area and further has prepared maps showing the location of existing trucking and trucking related facilities in the City, which includes the inventory of industrial land. City Councilmember Wachter • stated that in his opinion, the City is at saturation with the number of trucking related facilities. City Councilmember Hunter stated that he is in agreement with the three (3)alternatives the Advisory Planning Commission is directing staff to consider which include 1) the elimination of trucking as an allowable use and grandfathering existing facilities; 2) to develop definitions for trucking/trucking related uses for the Zoning Ordinance and to clarify what zoning districts such uses would be permitted; and 3) to add a condition to the ordinance that would establish a 1,000 foot, or some other reasonable buffer delineation, from residential properties in which trucking facilities would not be permitted. City Councilmember Awada stated that she is not in support of the first alternative to eliminate trucks as an allowable use and grandfathering existing facilities. She stated that there is a need for the City to clarify with the industry specific locations for trucking operations. After further discussion, City Councilmember Hunter stated he could support eliminating no. 1; however, he would like a map identifying what locations are appropriate for trucking facilities. Mayor Egan stated that the location of trucking facilities in relationship to major trunk highways or interstates is a key point to mitigating the amount of truck traffic in the community. He further stated that the idea of a 1,000 foot buffer from single family should be given further consideration. Mayor Egan also stated that he could not support a policy that would discriminate trucking out of the community. Both Mayor Egan and City Councilmember Masin stated that it would be helpful to involve the industry as much as possible in discussions relative to trucking which would help create a measurable criteria and provide additional direction for the Advisory Planning Commission. Mayor Egan stated that there are many options for notifying the trucking industry, such as the American Trucking Association and Minnesota Trucking Association as well as some of the larger trucking facilities located within the community. FRANCHISE REQUEST FOR AIRLINER MOTEL City Administrator Hedges stated that the City has been contacted by an attorney representing the owners of the Airliner Motel about potential for the Airliner to be sold to a motel franchise, rehabilitated and reopened. Planner Julie Famham appeared and stated that due to restrictions on the reuse of the Airliner site, including setbacks and frontage road access, the property can only be reused or redeveloped through substantial variances to current code or combination with additional parcels. She also noted that this property was rezoned to Business Park in March and therefore, the Airliner opening as a motel would require a conditional use permit. Mayor Egan stated that reuse of an obsolescence motel is not the intent the City assured the residents within or around the Airliner Motel when the property was rezoned to EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES;JULY 30, 1996 04 ' # fir • PAGE 3 Business Park. After further discussion, it was noted by the City Council that due to the rezoning,variances and other issues surrounding the Airliner Motel, it would not be feasible to provide any further direction, unless and until, an application is received and processed through the appropriate public hearings. SEPTEMBER 10 PARK BOND REFERENDUM City Administrator Hedges stated that the review of specific sites recommended by the Open Space Task Force to be included with the September 10 park referendum were deferred for review at this meeting by action of the Council at the July 16 regular meeting. City Councilmember Wachter stated that he would remove six(6) parcels including Cray Research, Dart, Bieter, Swenson &Curry, Caponi and the West End Hunting. Mr. Terry Sullivan representing residents of the Bur Oaks Addition submitted a letter and asked that consideration be given to adding Outlots B, C and D of the Gopher Eagan 2nd Addition Industrial sites to be considered if the park bond referendum is successful. City Councilmember Awada stated that most residents would prefer having additional open space in their residential neighborhoods and would welcome additional sites that provide open space for use by neighborhoods. Chairperson Dave Szott of the Park Referendum Task Force stated that the list of sites to be presented to the community as a part of the park bond referendum is long; however, it does not mean that the City would acquire all of the sites and further, it is quite likely that all of these parcels are not for sale. He further stated that the Task Force did not look at small acreages next to residential properties. He stated that all parcels would be prioritized following a successful bond referendum. City Councilmember Awada again stated that there is a need to be flexible and allow the community to submit additional parcels for consideration. Lee Markel!, Chairperson of the APRNRC and member of the Task Force, stated that if the referendum is successful, the City would then proceed with appraisals on the properties. Bea Blomquist appeared and stated that she doubts whether the West End Hunting site could be acquired due to the pollution and strict MPCA regulations. City Councilmember Hunter stated that there is clearly a fundamental difference being expressed in what the City should acquire for park land pending a successful referendum. He stated that he agrees with City Councilmember Awada that some open space should be adjacent to residential subdivisions rather than exclusively acquiring remote open space and that open space need not be just for natural reserve preservation. Mayor Egan asked that the City Council go through each of the twenty-two (22) sites and determine whether they should remain as "candidate" sites in the upcoming referendum. City Councilmembers analyzed each of the sites and, after much discussion, agreed that the West End Hunting site should be eliminated from consideration. It was further agreed that the Dart property acreage be reduced to 100. City Councilmembers concurred with the representatives of the Bur Oak Addition that any additional parcels should be given consideration as an option to the list after the referendum. City Councilmember Hunter stated that there is a need to establish a process for the public submitting parcels for consideration. It was determined that request for consideration be directed to and held by the Director of Parks and Recreation until after the referendum. City Administrator Hedges asked if the appraisal performed on the Caponi property, specifically the 30 acres south of Diffley Road, could be released to the Caponis. He stated that the Caponis are asking for the appraisal. City Councilmembers agreed that the appraisal information can be released and further suggested that the Caponis present a purchase agreement to the City, following a successful referendum, to consider the acquisition of the thirty (30) acres of land south of Diffley Road for park land. REQUEST FOR APPRAISAU200 ACRE DART PROPERTY Michael Vincent, a member of the Advisory Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, appeared and requested consideration by the City Council to have the Dart property appraised for its • property value. Bea Blomquist appeared and asked if there is a budget for these appraisals. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa stated there are no dollars budgeted in the department's operational budget, and if direction was given to make an appraisal, the appropriate funding source would be the park site fund if done at this time. Appraisals on property within the referendum would be done with referendum dollars as a cost of acquisition. EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES;JULY 30, 1996 • PAGE 4 After some discussion, City Councilmembers concurred that an appraisal for the 200 acres of the Dart property would be given consideration with all other candidate sites pending a successful referendum for park land acquisition at the September 10 election. WINTER TRAIL MAINTENANCE STUDY City Administrator Hedges provided background on the Winter Trail Maintenance Study. He stated that staff, including the Director of Parks and Recreation, Director of Public Works, Street Superintendent Erhart and Superintendent of Parks Olson, all of whom were present at the meeting, prepared a report detailing the costs and operational implications related to the implementation of a pathway plowing program. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa reviewed five (5) designation categories as directed by the City Council at the May 7 meeting when pathway plowing was first received. Mr. Vraa and Mr. Olson reviewed the first category, which designates priority pathways for school students that are required to walk to public school facilities. The second category was commercial centers, which include pathways at a one half mile radius of concentrated retail shopping outlets. The third category is business campus, which designates pathways at a half mile radius of large employers or concentrations of non-retail business. Mr. Vraa and Mr. Olson stated that the fourth category is for civic facilities, including a half mile radius of the Municipal Center, Library and Civic Arena and the fifth category is for winter recreational facilities, which includes pathways at a half mile radius of high volume winter recreational sites. Parks Superintendent Olson stated that a survey of 75 communities was completed and that 91% plow some pathways or sidewalks, but not necessarily the entire community. Eagan, because the trails and sidewalks at the Municipal Center are done, would be one community that would be considered as • responding yes. City Councilmembers reviewed a variety of issues such as how many miles of pathways should be included in a plowing program, when the plowing should begin, what type of priority pathway plowing would take in the City's overall snow removal and how quickly the designated routes should be cleared and several other related policy questions. City Councilmember Hunter stated that this community is a driving community and to provide a total pathway maintenance program would be cost-prohibitive. He further stated that any winter pathway maintenance will increase property taxes as a new program. He went on to say that even a limited program will grow because people will want their trails cleared. City Councilmember Awada stated that there is some responsibility for plowing pathways adjacent to public school facilities and would suggest a revised program to plow an additional 20 miles of commercial/residential that are deemed highest priority by staff. She stated that this is a considerable reduction in the 95 miles of trails that exist in the community. Mayor Egan agreed that some trails should be plowed and that staff would need to determine a good stopping point if a winter pathway maintenance program is implemented. City Councilmember Masin stated that the City should plow trails, if for no other reason, to provide a safe environment for keeping children off the streets. City Councilmember Wachter stated that, in his opinion, it would be expensive to engage in a winter pathway maintenance program and would be skeptical about appropriating any resources or public dollars to such a program, stating that his main concern is the liability of slippery conditions. Superintendent of Parks Olson stated that, at a minimum, it would cost the City approximately $100,000 for equipment to get started in a limited pathway maintenance program, if the City is to acquire the equipment and allocate the personnel. He stated that one option is contracting for service which may be more efficient, depending on the scope of the trail maintenance program. City Councilmember Awada S asked that staff evaluate the cost for the six(6) miles of pathway at school sites and the City Hall Campus if maintained by a contractual arrangement. After further discussion, the Council agreed that Council should evaluate the results of the community survey to determine further direction on a winter trail maintenance program. City Councilmembers agreed with this action. There was also a direction that the staff notify Dr. Peck, veterinarian at Pilot Knob Animal Hospital, of this discussion. i 2y ` EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES;JULY 30, 1996 PAGE 5 COMPREHENSIVE WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION PLAN STUDY City Administrator Hedges stated that with the nearing completion of the trunk utility system build out, the Public Works Department has performed a comprehensive analysis of the water supply and distribution system, changes in previously projected growth patterns and has refined the needed improvements to complete the system for the ultimate needs of the community. Director of Public Works Colbert introduced Karen Cavett who was representing the consulting engineering firm of Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates and Wayne Schwanz, Superintendent of Utilities, who was primarily responsible for the Emergency and Conservation Plan elements. Public Works Director Colbert proceeded on with an explanation of the significant changes including population projections, possibly serving Inver Grove Heights, the plan to create an Ultra Low Zone, the elimination and removal of a 2.0 million gallon (MG) reservoir at Cliff Road from the system, proposal to create an Ultra High Zone in the Fairway Hills/Parkview area and finally, consideration and construction of an additional elevated water reservoir in the High Pressure Zone, preferably in Inver Grove Heights north of Cliff Road. City Councilmember Wachter raised a concern regarding the need to provide utility expansion and service to the City of Inver Grove Heights. City Councilmember Awada stated that she supports the document, including the benefit for the City of Eagan in serving Inver Grove Heights due to the necessity for an elevated water reservoir in the High Pressure Zone. Director of Public Works Colbert further provided background on the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Plan which, by legislative action, has mandated cities serving more than 1,000 customers to develop emergency response procedures and water conservation plans. Mr. Colbert reviewed the emergency plan stating that it includes emergency response procedures for implementation in the event of a water related emergency. He reminded the City Council of the City implemented permanent odd/even sprinkling • restriction. He further stated that there are two additional considerations, one to adopt an alternative rate structure which would induce conservation for excessive low priority use (lawn sprinkling) and the second would be an ordinance requiring efficient irrigation systems and prohibition of sprinkling between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., along with other water efficient considerations. After further discussion by the City Council, it was determined that, at this time, there should not be a different rate structure and determined that the odd/even sprinkling restriction should continue as an effective conservation measure. OTHER BUSINESS City Councilmembers viewed a revised Council issues/tracking system and acknowledged the new Municipal Center reader board. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. TLH July 30, 1996 Date City Clerk •