03/08/2016 - City Council SpecialSPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016
5:30 P.M.
EAGAN ROOM-EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
AGENDA
I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
II. VISITORS TO BE HEARD
III. EAGAN FORWARD UPDATE
IV. PARKS MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION
V. OTHER BUSINESS
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda Information Memo
March 8, 2016, Eagan Special City Council Meeting
III. Eagan Forward Update
Action To Be Considered:
No action is required. An informational update will be provided on Eagan Forward.
Facts:
➢ In February 2015, the Council entered into a contact with Next Generation Consulting to
conduct a community visioning exercise in 2015-2016.
➢ Rebecca Ryan, founder and co-owner of Next Generation Consulting, has served as the
facilitator of the project.
➢ Eagan Forward was initiated to create an inclusive, candid process to give Eagan an
opportunity to address its challenges, engage new leaders, assess the trends impacting
the region, and identify a new vision for the area’s current and future residents.
➢ From August 2015-January 2016, under the guidance of Rebecca and a 10-member
volunteer Steering Committee, the community engaged in Eagan Forward, offering their
ideas, hopes and dreams for Eagan.
➢ The final plan was prepared with the Council’s input and presented to the community at
the Eagan Forward Launch Party on January 28.
➢ The Council took formal action to receive the Eagan Forward Plan on February 16, 2016.
➢ The 20-year plan served as a starting point for eight, community study action teams that
met for the first time on the evening of February 23, 2016. Approximately 80 people
were in attendance.
➢ Rebeca Ryan joined the teams via Skype to provide an overview of their roles as study
action teams and highlighted the Jump Start Kit prepared as a tool for each team.
➢ The eight teams have scheduled or are in the process of scheduling their first meetings.
City staff is assisting by securing meeting space for each team at no cost. Staff is also
assisting the team leaders in making connections with resources and subject matter
experts in the community that are applicable to the strategy they are working on.
➢ All study action team meetings dates, times and locations are being posted at
www.cityofeagan.com/Forward.
➢ Per Rebecca’s suggestion, all teams have been asked to provide a progress report to the
City by May 27, which will include the one or two goals each team will focus on that will
have the most impact on achieving the overall vision of Eagan Forward.
➢ There are several strategies in the Eagan Forward plan that are suggested to be carried
out or led by the City of Eagan rather than study action teams. The City’s management
team is discussing how best to pursue and carry out those strategies. Future updates
will be provided to the Council as those efforts take shape.
➢ The contractual obligations of Next Generation Consulting and Rebecca Ryan have been
fulfilled, and thus, Rebecca’s formal role with the City has ended. That said, Rebecca has
continued to offer the community and the City her assistance as needed should we have
any questions as the study action team process begins.
➢ The Eagan Forward Steering Committee has also completed their work. Several of the
committee members have remained involved through the study action teams.
➢ May 27 will be the next check-point for the study action teams and the City. The
progress reports submitted by the teams will be shared with the City Council.
Attachments: (3)
III-1 Eagan Forward Plan
III-2 Study Action Team Jump Start Kit
III-3 Study Action Team Rosters (leaders denoted with *)
CONTENTS
Strategy 1:
Eagan is a Place for All People
Strategy :
Eagan is a Healthy City
Strategy :
Eagan is Creative & Innovative
I
7
im
19
Strategy :
Eagan is a Destination Community ........ 24
Strategy
Eagan has an Updated Brand .................. 27
Strategy
Putting it to Work....................................29
Conclusion ..............................32
I-
inas
mg M -
WO Learnea
,gintrio Process
..................................................................34
Thank oA.
• •
Appendix:
Eagan's Quality of Life v. Benchmark
Communities..........................................40
About
Next Generation Consulting...................51
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 2
' U_
'Eagan has great
- -
9m --I- 1�
best-
ciftles
MInnesot-a."
:"Eagan is business
f den cd -fly and has
.ell -trained
vorkforce."
"Eagan has low poverty, high median �income,
and high education levels."
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
So, why embark on a 20 year visioning
process like Eagan Forward, when things
seem to be working just fine?
Because the best don't rest. Being a great
place to live .is not something that's
accomplished once and then crossed off
the list. 'Fh.e Minneapolis -St. Paul area has
many examples of suburbs that were "great
places to live" a generati.on ago, but are
floundering today.
Eagan's City Council initiated Eagan
Forward because of their commitment
to ensure that Eagan is future ready and
remains a great place to live for its next
generation of kids and grandkids.
The timing for Eagan Forward., a
community wide initiative to imagine
Eagan 20 years from now; is important for
several reasons:
Eagan is at acritical
point in its growth.
The suburban boom that fueled Eagan's
last three decades is nearly over. Eagan
has developed most of its empty available
land, and now must shift to re -use and
redevelopment. As CityVue demonstrates,
infrastructure built for one purpose a
generation ago must be reimagined and
redesigned for changing needs. Eagan
Forward is a strong step in this direction.
Citizens want to be
engaged.
Our increasingly consumer -oriented
society allows people to "have it their
way." This carries over into communities,
where engagement and satisfaction are
increasingly linked. Importantly, Eagan
Forward put citizen engagement at the
center of the agenda. Using a blend
of social media, online, and in-person
meetings, an estimated 800 people
offered thousands of ideas for Eagan's
future. Respondents ranged from school -
aged children to community elders, and
included those who speak languages
beyond English.
Demographic,
technology and
economic forces will
shape Eagan's next
20 years.
To be future ready, Eagan must squarely
face the trends impacting its citizens and
their expectations. This plan balances
citizens' wishes with data -based projections
about the trends most likely to impact the
community in the next generation.
EAGAN FORWARD I VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 4
Citizen input.
As mentioned previously, Eagan
residents offered thousands of
ideas, to help the community thrive in the
next 20 years. Throughout this document
you will see quotes from your neighbors,
about their wishes for Eagan's future.
Trend analysis.
A team of futurists looked
at the "STEEP" (society,
technology, economy, environment, and
political) changes likely to impact Eagan. in.
the next. 20 years. Specific recommendations
that will. help Eagan be future ready are
included in this document.
The Eagan Forward steering committee
benchmarked Eagan against four other "best
places to live" in the U.S., to discover best
practices to help Eagan become even better.
The benchmark cities included Centennial,
Colorado; Carmel, Indiana; Overland Park,
Kansas; and, Plymouth, Minnesota
5 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
The following pages
include strategies to help
Eagan preserve the things
residents value most, and
also achieve even more in
the next 20 years. Not all
ideas will be implemented,
and some may need to
adapt, but all of them
express the hopes of Eagan's
citizens, and are responsive
to the trends most likely to
impact Eagan's future.
What is a city, but thit
people?—Shakespeare
Looking
`op"•-
Looking at history, we might say that Eagan is for
nuclear families with school -aged children who are
in the upper middle class. And usually, Caucasian.
These are the families who moved to Eagan during
its first waves of growth, and helped develop the
community we know today.
Looking forward, Eagan is expected to grow to
between 75,000 - 87,000 people by 2040. But the
people who will fuel that growth will be different
than those who fueled the first waves. Eagan's
future residents will be older, have fewer children,
and represent more ethnic minorities. Here are
some of the key demographic and societal trends
that will shape Eagan's future:
Young people are getting
married later, or not
marrying at all.
In 1960, two-thirds (68%) of all twenty -somethings
were married. In 2008, just 26%were?
(Fewer couples are
having kids.
In the peak of the Baby Boom after World War
11, roughly half of American households were
7 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
engaged in raising children. By 2020, that
number will be closer to 25%.21n Eagan, 32.5% of
households currently have children under age 18.
FIGURE 11:
The Decline in Marriage Among the Young
% married at age 18to 32, by generation
MMMOOMMOMN
\
Boomer!)
48
IN
Source:
Source: Data from 1980,1997and 2013.are from the
March Current Population Survey, • 1960 data are from
the 1960 Census
PENT RESEARCH CENTER
I Pew Research, The Decline of Marriage and the
Rise of New Families, www.pewsocialtrends.org/
files/2010/11/pew-social-trends-2010-families. pdf
accessed on November 23, 2015
2 A.C. Nielson as reported in The Great Inversion and
the Future of the American CitybyAlanAhrenhalt
Seniors are living longer.
The dramatic increase in average life
expectancy during the 20th century ranks
as one of society's greatest achievements.
In 1900, a newborn could expert to reach her
or his 50th birthday.3 Today in Minnesota, life
expectancy is 81 years old, ranking second in
the United States behind Hawaii.4 By 2030,
the number of Minnesotans over age 65 is
expected to almost double and older adults will
compose about one-fifth of the population. -9
Minorities are moving
to the suburbs.
In Eagan between 2010 and 2014, the white
population decreased slightly while Asian,
Hispanic and Black populations increased. In
Eagan's public schools (ISD 191,196, and 197),
20% of all children are minorities. Eight percent
are Asians, 5% are African American, 5% are
Hispanic and one percent are two or more races.
How can Eagan leverage these trends and
become a place for all people?
1.1 Embrace Senmiors
The Minnesota State Demographic Center
projects that by 2030, nearly 25% of Dakota
County's population will be age 65 and older.6
Eagan's growing senior population is adamant:
they love Eagan, and they want to stay here.
But there must be more housing options that
are "senior friendly." Today's seniors are active
longer; they want walkable communities and
things to do. Eagan will prosper if it makes room
for its seniors. Research shows that seniors
who are integrated into communities enjoy
better health, and communities are healthier
when seniors are engaged.
Housing that is affordable, single level,
aesthetically pleasing and integrated into
the community. Seniors don't want to be
boxed up and shipped off; they want to stay
actively engaged in the community. Many
seniors at focus groups and online echoed
this senior's sentiment:
wait lists are 12 to 1
months long."
Transportation options that will help
seniors meet their needs. One senior asked
if there could be an "Ober" for seniors, to pair
stay at home parents who might be willing
to offer a ride to a senior, to keep a doctor
appointment or go to the store.
3 National Institute on Aging, https://www.nia.
nih.go v/research/publica tion/global-health-and-
aging/living-longer, accessed December 3, 2015
4 List of US States by Life Expectancy, https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of U.S._states-by _life_
expectancy, accessed December 3, 2015
6 Minnesota Compass "Overview,"
http://www. mncompass. org/demographics/
overview, accessed December 3, 2015
6 Data for the City of Eagan is unavailable. Dakota
County Demographics, https.11www.co.dakota.
mn. us/Government/publiccommittees/CHA/
Documents/Demographics.pdf, accessedon
January3, 2016.
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 8
focusitne group participant summarized
• . •• - .I
Eagan • • embrace seniors. The letter
included this idea:
Golden Years Initiative
"There was agreement (at our focus group
table) that senior citizens never want to stop
learning (e.g. senior language or history
classes); they continue to enjoy all types
of entertainment that includes but is not
limited to: going to the theatre, visiting a
restaurant or museum, outdoor recreational
activities, etc. A number of people also
recommended travel -related activities that
could offer tours for interested residents,
not only within Minnesota, but regional,
national and international trips. Seniors
often get bored and they want to stay
invigorated and active. If you combine
Learning, Entertainment and Travel you
come up with the acronym L.E.T. Eagan
could have a "LFT's Program" that would
be open to all age groups. It is noteworthy
to point out that by 2020, the number of
senior householders (44%) will be 75 and
older. A significant percentage of this
group will be living in multi -generational
households. There is a need for more homes/
apartments that can accommodate both
younger and older family members. Home
builders would be well served to meet with
future home buyers and listen to their
suggestions for how these dwellings should
be built to meet the expected needs of an
aging population. Seniors are living longer
and access to local healthcare is paramount.
These issues need to be addressed."
9 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
In addition, seniors mentioned their
desire for amenities like pickle ball
courts, a dedicated senior center
with space for multiple concurrent
uses, hospitals and clinics,
multigenerational housing options,
and a grant program that would help
them renovate their basements and
move their laundry to the main floor,
to be more accessible.
One last note ... There are many
ways that Eagan can build physical
infrastructure for its seniors. But we
must remember that isolation and
loneliness are the two most often
cited maladies of the elderly. Feeling
connected to their community
requires more than transportation; it
requires a community -wide sense of
inclusion and compassion.
Read more about this in Strategy 2.
Eagan is a Healthy Community
Interviews and focus groups with
Eaganites reveal asurprising insight:
many Baby Boomers who are empty
nesters are considering moving to
St. Paul to be closer to "downtown."
They cite restaurants, walkability, and
the desire to downsize. These are the
same amenities that young, single Millennials
are looking for in a community.
Many suburbs are responding to residents'
requests for a town square with "urban
villages" - places where you can park your car
once and walk to a bar, a restaurant, a book
shop or other retail establishment, and enjoy
an outdoor meal. The Flats at Cedar Grove are
one example of this kind of development.
"Walkability" and a "downtown city center"
were mentioned 171 times in online forums and
on chalkboards. One resident summed it up
well in the quote below:
Belmar (pictured below) is Lakewood,
Colorado's urban village, a response to
citizens' requests for a more walkable "city
center" feel in asuburban setting. Belmar
retrofitted a dead, low-rise shopping mall
surrounded by parking lots into an area with
an interconnected, walkable street grid and
ground level retail space topped by offices
and residences.
Strategy 4: Eagan as a Destination includes
ideas on how to incorporate the "Urban
Village" concept into Eagan's future
redevelopment. The following community
amenities were mentioned repeatedly by
EAGAN FORWARD I AVISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 10
Eagan citizens, to be included in the urban
village, or developed elsewhere:
• Trader Joe's (mentioned over 40 times),
Whole Foods, or a natural food co-op
• Curbside composting
• Another dog park (Millennials have
dogs before they have children, and pet
ownership is at an all-time high in the U.S.)
•
Disc golf (additional amenity to existing
public parks)
• Alfresco (outdoor) dining options
• Independent restaurants (not typical
national chains)
• Outdoor programming, e.g. using
Caponi Park to host more local theater
and musical performances
One transplant to Eagan explained his
experience in a vibrant suburb in Iowa:
01"I am from Clive,
w Iowa and a big
hit in the area is their
outdoor music venue
with a beer garden in
the summer. There
are at least three
performances a week
and are well attended.
This (beer sales) could
be a fundraiser for an
organization."
11 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
1.3 Commit
z � z
Eagan's residents are becoming more diverse.
Minorities are the fastest growing population
in the Twin Cities' suburbs, and dozens of
languages are spoken in homes where Eagan
students live. Local employers confirm that
their workforces will continue to become more
diverse, in part because countries including
China and India are producing more graduates
with post -secondary degrees, as the table
below shows.
Eagan residents understand that the community
is changing. And many want their community to
be a welcoming one. As one resident said:
�t"My one wish for
Eagan is that it is a
place where�peop
g le of all
skin colors ender sexual
orientation, and a variety
of cultural differences
would respect each other
and celebrate each other."
Projected share of 25-34 year-olds with tertiary
degrees across OECD and G20 countries
Positive Trend
Negative Trend
China?a
. l 27%u
India
- •rAUN N w._=t 23%
United States
k s%
Brazil
5%
Indonesia
_,.w 5%
Russian Federation : 4%
Saudi Arabia
PE 3%
Japan
3%
Mexico
__ 2%
`
Argentina
UM 2%
Turkey
2%
United Kingdom
[ 2%
Korea
2%
Germany
2%
France
%
Canada
%
Poland
k142 1%
Australia
= 1%u
Spain
= 1%
Italy
= 1%
Others =w7m= s%
Brooklyn Park is one of the Twin Cities most
diverse suburbs. There, a series of city -led
initiatives have helped the community engage
non-English speakinghouseholds, a proactive
effort that was given a Humanitarian Award by
the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Maria Elena Baca, `Immigrants get Introduction
to Cops on the Beat," Minneapolis Star Tribune,
March 20,201t
SOURCE OECD I Other ideas:
Fly the flags of every country represented
in the school districts in a public park or civic
space, to showcase the many heritages found
in Eagan.
Add an Ethnic Food Festival to the
community's annual calendar of celebrations.
Partner with restaurants, churches with non-
English speaking services, ethnic grocers, etc.
The purpose is to raise awareness of Eagan's
diversity through food.
Convenes Diversity Roundtable that
includes Human Resource professionals
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 12
and Chief Diversity officers from
the region's public, private, and
education sectors, to discuss best
practices to engage and retain
racial and ethnic minorities.
Create a "Welcome Eagan"
initiative, similar to those
undertaken in other communities
like Toledo, Ohio. The initiative
was founded several years ago
to help companies attract global
talent, and be a welcoming and
inclusive community.
A core of Eagan's identity has always
included an emphasis on children.
The love that parents have for their
children is timeless and transcends
country of origin. Many community
members including kids! -would like
to see additional amenities in Eagan.
The most popular citizen ideas
included a splash pad, an indoor
swimming pool, communitywide
wireless, and an indoor soccer or
sports practice facility.
13 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOREAGAN`S NEXT 20 YEARS
M
r
F
Eagan is a Healthy
The Harvard Study of Adult Development is
the longest study of adult life. For 75 years, it's
tracked the lives of 724 men (and eventually
their wives), year after year, asking about
their work, their home lives, and their health.
The clearest message from the study is this:
Good relationships keep people happier and
healthier.$ How can Eagan turn this insight
into action, and become one of the country's
healthiest (and happiest) communities?
Robert Waldinger, Director of the Harvard study noted above explains:
Social connections are really good for people, and
loneliness kills. People who are more socially connected
to family, to friends, to community, are happier, they're
h sicah healthier, and the �p
live longer than people
mho are less well connected. And the ex experience
of loneliness turns out to be toxic. Peole who are
more isolated than the want to be arepless hap,
their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain
functioning declines sooner and they live shorter lives
than people who are not lonely"
8 Robert Waldinger, "What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness", http://www.
ted.com/ta/ks/robert-wa/dinger what makes_a_good life_ lessons_ from- the_longest study_ on_happiness/tr
anscript?language=en#t-557200, accessed January 4, 2016
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 14
J DG. !on the
comiriunity to
MWA
mmize socia.
connections
The popularity of Eagan's Streets Alive and
National Night out demonstrate that citizens
enjoy these opportunities for human connection
with their neighbors and co -residents. Now
the questions becomes: Can we design (or
retrofit) Eagan for greater human connection?
Eagan residents seem to think so. Enjoying the
city on a walkable, bikeable human scale was
mentioned 89 times.
"My wish for Eagan is
that it will become a
center for walking to
and from stores, restaurants,
parks and more. It would be
great to be able to walk or
bike safely from one part of
Eagan to another."
15 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
0� n "[My wish for Eagan is]
�� Neighborhoods that
feel inviting for the residents
to walk and interact. So
that the residents can walk
to neighborhood parks and
playgrounds, the shopping
areas, coffee shops."
Eagan succeeded in the mid- to late -20th
century as a car -based suburb. But now it has
reached a size (67,000 people) and density
(thousands of jobs within the community,
hundreds or retailers, etc.) where cars don't
have to be the only alternative.
What's more, the next generation doesn't
like to drive.9 Nationally, only about 27
percent of 16 -year-olds now get their driver
licenses, compared with 46 percent in 1983,
according to the Federal Census and Highway
Administration Data. And "no texting while
driving" laws make driving even less appealing
to a generation that relies on constant
connection to their smart phone.
As Eagan grows to an estimated 75,000-
87,000 people in the next generation, citizens
will expect to live more of their lives outside of
their cars, on foot and on bike. Now is the time
to re -program Eagan to balance the needs of
pedestrians with those of cars.
9 Adele Peters, "MillennialS Don't Drive—And Here's
Why TheyAren't Likely To StartAnytime Soon,"
http://www.fastcoexist com/30373781millennials-
dont-drive-and-here-why-they-anent-likelyto-start-
anytime-soon, accessed January4, 2016
Complete streets in
neighborhoods and retail
teas. Complete streets are accessible for
pedestrians, bikers, and those in wheelchairs.
Pocket parks or public
paces in neighborhoods that are safely
accessible by sidewalk, crosswalks and have
multiple purposes.
I
Al fresco ("in the fresh air")
dining, allows diners to eat outside
on the front or back patios of restaurants.
"Restaurants", "dining", and "shops" were
mentioned 82 times in community comments.
Create a public space
agenda, to identify Eagan's public spaces
that are underperforming or underutilized,
e.g. lifeless plazas, dilapidated parks, and re-
energize them during redevelopment. The image
below used to be a large parking lot in front of a
strip mall. In winter, it's repurposed to become a
community ice skating rink. (Lakewood, CO).
EAGAN FORWARD.I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 16
2.2 P«
Eagan'6 public
IN cii KS and trails
t r greater use
Eagan has over 100 miles of biking and hiking
paths and dozens of beautiful parks. Some of
those trails and parks are connected to each
other. Some are not. Many citizens asked
for some modest, additional amenities, like
benches along the hiking paths, so hikers
can have a rest. Other recommendations were
practical: more toilets at public parks.
One Eagan resident, who's just returned after
living three years in Holland, wrote a three
page letter to the community, based on her
dream. Many of her suggestionshave been
incorporated into this plan:
transportation:
17 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
!deas to consider to
• Complete connections between
hiking and biking trails, including
adding pedestrian bridges over Yankee
Doodle Road, Pilot Knob Road, and Lexington
Avenue, to safely connect the trail system
- Paint sharrows and bike boxes
on roads, to raise awareness of bikers
- Offer a bike sharing program,
possibly underwritten by a local health care or
insurance company
• Designate specific secondary
roads as bike routes, e.g. Wescott Road.
- Designate low-volume streets as
bike -friendly by painting "sharrows"
on them, to signal that the roads are to
be shared with bicyclists. This is a popular
strategy in St. Paul and Minneapolis, to turn
regular streets into bike routes.
- Create bike boxes like the one pictured
below, at busy intersections. The Lexington
Ave/Duckwood Drive intersection would be a
candidate for a bike zone.
Photo: Bike Box at Intersection
"It would be nice to
have one of our lakes a
destination for numerous
activities such as walking
trails around the lake,
restaurants and /or cafes so
you can eat and then walk
without rting back into
your care
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 18
Eagan is Creative Innovative
Eagan is economically strong.
It has a Triple -A bond rating, proof of the City
Council's historic commitment to fiscal prudence,
It is home to several large employers including
Thomson Reuters, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and
the US Postal Service. Because of its strong
employer base, almost 50,000 people commute
into Eagan every day for work. At home, over half
of Eagan's residents have bachelor's degrees,
and the median household income is above the
national and state averages.
How can Eagan leverage this strong economic
and talent base for even greater success in the
next generation? What trends and technologies
will Eagan have to be attentive to, to ensure it
remains a great place to live and work?
offordable
p e e,11 1 1"o.
agan residents
AccessEagan offers high speed internet to its
business community. Now it's time to take this a
step further and offer high speed internet as an
essential public utility, like water and electricity, to
all Eagan residents.
Some communities are already doing this. Eastern
Tennessee, like AccessEagan, recognizes
the high speed internet as an accelerator for
economic development:
19 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
internet toresidents:
• Mobile work/work at home. Increasingly,
work isn't a place you go, it's what you do.
High speed internet at home will be an
expectation for future workers.
• Digital education. K-12 students are
expected to post their homework to digital
chalkboards and online folders from home.
Community -wide wireless internet services
would enable that, and close the "digital
divide" where it still exists. In addition,
robust internet service enables students to
participant in MOOCs (massive open online
courses) from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and
other institutions from their homes.
11 Jim Metheny, "Need for Speed. City Utilities Fight to
Offer lnternet , WBIR, May 6, 2015.
3.2 Invest On an
Eagan rspa
A makerspace (sample pictured below) is
a physical location where people gather to
share resources and knowledge, work on
projects, network, and build. Makerspaces
provide tools and space in a community
environment—a library, community center,
private organization or campus. Expert
advisors may be available some of the time,
but often novices get help from other users.
The makerspace —sometimes referred
to as a hackerspace—is often associated
with fields such as engineering, computer
science, and graphic design 12
-Nif
Eagan for r
• Makerspaces reinforce the schools'
focus on STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math) or STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, arts
and math). Makerspaces often host
experienced engineers, electricians, and
others to teach classes to the public.
• Makerspaces are multi -generational
places where elders and children can
learn and create together. Makerspaces
encourage collaboration, thereby
reinforcing connections among residents.
• In the same way that the rec center offers
expensive exercise equipment (basketball
courts, weight machines, etc.) to all
members, makerspaces make expensive
equipment like lathes and 3D printers
available to members or the public.
These tools are critical to inventors and
entrepreneurs who are trying to model or
test a physical product.
12 https.Ilnet.educause.edulir/librarylpdfleii7O95.pdf
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 20
I
rts" were
Eagan has a strong and increasingly organized
arts and cultural community. Although large
cities like the Twin Cities and Chicago can
boast a broad spectrum of artistic offerings,
from world class orchestras and operas
to seasons of Broadway shows, suburban
communities like Eagan can become creative
enclaves, places where artists and creatives
can do residencies and experiment.
Three ways Eagan can strengthen
its creative economy:
• The Berkshire Creative Economy Project
helped the region diversify its economy
through a targeted plan to grow the
creative and cultural economy. Learn more:
http://www.mtauburnassociates.com/
pubs/Berkshire_Creative_Economy.pdf
• Cedarburg, Wisconsin's "Old Mill"
(at top right) was repurposed into an
artists' coworking space, where artists
rent individual studios and also sell their
creations out of their workshops. It's
a popular tourist destination, because
visitors meet and interact with the
jewelers, metalsmiths, painters and
sculptors. It has grown to become a
gathering spot for community festivals:
21 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
http://www.cedarcreeksettlement.com.
Although Eagan doesn't have old buildings
it can repurpose, it does have underutilized
strip malls.
• The Kohler Company in Kohler, Wisconsin
hosts artists -in -residence for two- to
six month residencies. Participants are
exposed to a body of technical knowledge
that enables them to explore forms and
concepts not possible in their own studios
as well as new ways of thinking and
working. http://www.jmkac.org/index.php/
artsindustry-residency
.4 I
community art
center
ISD 996 prides itself on a robust arts program
and regularly turns out award-winning students
in theater, music, and fine arts. Beyond the
schools, Eagan has a robust and increasingly
well organized community of artists who
produce a rich variety of visual and performing
art in the community. But the Art House, the
space that hosts it all, is not aspirational.
One citizen summed it up:
"I have taken an art class at
,; x the Art House and feel it
lacking in space, organization, clean
environment, etc. It's a very out -dated
facility compared to our surrounding
cities ... such as Bloomington,
Burnsville, Lakeville, Richfield,
Hopkins, Savage, Rosemount, etc.
[We need to] expand, renovate, or
rebuild a new facility that Eagan
residents would be proud of Besides
visual arts, it could be large enough
for performing arts, provide an art
gallery of local art, rental options
offered to public, etc. An art center
helps to strengthen a community
closer together, and would offer
entertainment, education, and income
to the city and it's residents through
rental and fundraising opportunities."
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 22
Eagan i Destination
Do you hear that sound? It's the sound
of money leaving Eagan and being spent in St.
Paul or other communities for better or more
accessible dining and retail options.
More than anything, citizens of
Eagan want more retail options.
More dining options. More independent
restaurants and shops. They want those
options to be walkable. And they really, really
want a Trader Joe's!
As Eagan becomes larger there is an
opportunity to develop dynamic pedestrian
friendly retail areas. Here are some methods
to make Eagan a destination, to draw people
from the Twin Cities after hours:
As previously discussed in Strategy 1, urban
villages are an exciting option for suburbs
going through redevelopment, or those
suburbs hoping to attract young professionals
or hang onto empty nest Baby Boomers.
Eagan already has one version of an urban
village, and Eagan's next comprehensive plan
(which will begin in 2016-2017) should adopt
many of the guidelines as laid out by Ellen
Dunham -Jones and June Williamson in their
book, Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design
Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs. 13 Some
elements include:
• Modifying setbacks. Typical suburbs
require setbacks hundreds of feet
long. This creates large expanses of
asphalt for parking in front of a retail
establishment. By decreasing the
amount of setback, stores are closer (and
more visible) to passersby.
• Decreasing retailers' footprints. The
"big box" phenomenon of the 1980s
and'90s is being reversed. Today,
retailers from Whole Foods to Target
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 24
are finding that smaller stores are not
only more acceptable in communities,
they can be as profitable.
Walkability. While traditional
suburbs favored the car, retrofits
favor pedestrians.
• Multi -use. As the Belmar example
demonstrates, urban villages that offer
first floor retail with second or third -floor
residential options, are popular.
• Density. In this case, were not talking
about ten -story high rises like CityVue.
In the context of urban villages, density is
based on the concepts of new urbanism
where single family (one story) homes
are adjacent to modest two-story mixed
use buildings, that eventually abut three -
or four-story buildings.
Offering mixed-use in
this raual, concentrated
wayenables Eagan
to accomplish man
of the goals citizens
requested: an "urban
cnter," walkabilit , more
affordable housing for
seniors and Millen ials
(if multi -story buildings
offered elevators), and
numerous places to eat
and shop, within a short
walk. In addition, it would
make Eagan less Gar -
dependent and decrease
CO2 emissions.
25 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
®id you know that Eagan
is home to many chefs and
restaurant owners in the
Twin Cities?
• r•...'.
every -ilonth •'
Here are some ideas to help Eagan get a more
dense and interesting mix of retail:
• Organize a citizen writing or calling
campaign to recruit Trader Joe's
• Host a dinner with Eagan -based chefs
and asked them what it would take to help
them set up shop in Eagan
• Eat ten more meals in 2016 at one of
Eagan's 30+ independent restaurants.
• The City of Eagan's Facebook page
could promote a local restaurant or
independent retailer once/week
• Reconsider the City's policy on food
trucks. Currently, the city has strict limits
on food trucks. What policies would
enable residents to have access to
food trucks at certain days/times? For
example, other communities have food
trucks on a designated night of the week,
in a designated neighborhood..
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 26
As Eagan enters its next generation of
redevelopment, and deploys the Eagan
Forward plan, it's time to update its brand
27 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR.EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
rr�
A Update
5
The City should work with a local designer
to create a new City of Eagan logo and
corresponding identity system.
• •: - •
to consider ways to commonly
opportunities. This would include
but • be limited to:
Strateg;
w
Eagan asDestination
• Standard, unique -to -Eagan design
elements that are programmed into all
high visibility public places, e.g. libraries,
city hall, community center, etc. The City
has made a great start with the natural
stone elements at the Community Center,
and other select venues.
• Design standards in the new
comprehensive plan that represent
the city's new brand. One citizen
recommended to "Emphasize culture
& craftsmanship through public art,
brewpubs and community events". In West
Central Texas where limestone is plentiful,
the communities use the "Texas star"
stamped into all community entrances.
Goals
Stakeholders
Resources
Needed
5.1 Update Eagan's logo
• City of Eagan (staff and council)
• Graphic designer or firm
• Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Dakota County Regional
Chamber of Commerce
5.2 Update Eagan's brand
• City of Eagan (staff and council)
• TBD
Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Dakota County Regional '
Chamber of Commerce
Representatives from art
community
BestPractices:
TheFederation of Canadian Municipalities offers a readiness assessment and other tools to guide
a community branding process: http://www.fcm.ca/Documents/tools/I nternational/Community-
Brand ing_And_Marketing_E N.pdf
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 28
e.dirveolces and con -le to
this plan.Nowhovvdo
we operationalizel.,?
The City Council, City staff, and community must
work together on this 20 -year plan. In some
cases, the City of Eagan staff will naturally take
the lead; in other cases, the community needs to
step up and provide input and direction. The table
on the following page shows each strategy, along
with a recommended lead group.
What is a Citizen -Led
Study -Action Team?
Study -Action teams are groups of community
volunteers and stakeholders that work together to
study specific recommendations, and recommend
(or take) a course of action. In addition:
• Study -action teams have a defined scope of
work; they study an issue, and then they take
or recommend appropriate action. When their
work is done, the team disbands.
29 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
• Study -action teams do research to reach
evidence -based conclusions; they don't rely
on opinions. They use their resourcefulness,
networks, and analysis. Although they may
invite experts to brief them, study -action
groups reach their own conclusions.
• Study -action teams include a diverse range
of people—including those who would be
impacted in the project. These are not blue
ribbon panels that are at arms -length from the
issue; members of study -action teams have
a direct interest in the issue and are united by
their commitment to do something about it.
Here are sample guidelines for
an effective Study -Action team:
Diversity: Invite a diverse team. Ideally, all
should share an interest in the issue at hand, and
should represent a broad cross-section of the
community, e.g. age, race, private or public sector,
gender, profession, etc.
Term: Many study -action teams can
conclude their work in six to nine months. Some
take longer. Some groups become bonded
and many members want to continue to work
together on related issues, after the original
project has ended.
Strategy I Who Leads?
1.1 Keep Seniors Engaged
•Citizen -led Study -:Action Team,
led by Senior Coalition
12 Invest in Amenities that Appeal to Millennials
. Citizended Study -Action Team
and'Baby.Boomers.
1.3 Become a Welcoming Community
• Citizen -'led Study -Action Team
1.4 Invest in additional amenities for families and
• Citizen -led Study -Action Team
school' -aged children
21 Design the community to maximize
• City of Eagan Staff -Community
3.2 Invest in an Eagan makerspace Citizen -led Study- Action Team
33 Develop an economic strategy to strengthen • Citizen -Jed Study -Action Team,led by Eagan
Eagan's arts and cultural sector arts alliance members
3.4 Invest in a community art center, Citizen -led Study -Action Team, led by Eagan
alliance members arts alliance members
4.2 Attract newrestaurants and retail) • Citizen -led Study -Action Team
5.1 Update Eagan;'s logo -City of Eagan Staff -Communications Department
52 Update Eagan's brand -Cityof Eagan Staff - Communications Department
e
• Defining the issue clearly, in coordination
with stakeholders, as needed.
• Determining what research is already
available, reviewing it, and making fact -
based conclusions. Sources of information
must be documented and reputable. Best
practices have been listed throughout this
plan, as a starting point.
Determining what additional research is
needed to "fill in the gaps" and obtaining it
through networks, subject matter experts,
interviews with stakeholders, etc. (Keep in
mind, there is no such thing as perfect and
complete information. It may be necessary
to make recommendations without
"perfect" information.)
• Reaching conclusions, based on the facts
obtained in the previous stages.
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'SNEXT 20 YEARS 30
• Maintaining an objective balance at all
times, e.g. letting the facts speak regardless
• Summarizing the group's conclusions.
Here it is helpful to keep three "strands" of
insight in mind.
The first i
technical®
those who will hear the study -
action group's findings must
understand the technical issues at
play. The study -action team must
demystify the knowledge, so that an
ordinary citizen can learn enough to
make decisions. It's not fair to leave
this responsibility on the shoulders
of regular citizens, or people in
government and industry- this is a
civic responsibility.
2 Second is
the political
strand
where are decisions made that
affect this issue?What institutions,
departments, corporations, bureaus,
hearings, legislatures and so forth
are involved? What's the process to
impact those bodies? Who's deciding
what, and when?
3 The third strand
is perhaps the
most important,
because it's often the most
neglected - the spiritual or moral
strand. Study -action groups should
find the deep roots of the community's
motivation, its most deeply held
values. Communities need values that
are life-sustaining.
31 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
• Developing recommendations
based on the group's research.
• Writing the group's conclusions
and recommendations, keeping the
three "strands" of insight in mind.
• Developing ways to communicate
conclusions and recommendations to
key stakeholders.
• Influencing key decisions, based
on the group's conclusions and
recommendations.
• Determining further action, if needed.
In their best-selling
business book, Built
to Last, co-authors
Jerry Porras and
Jim Collins found
that companies that
were able to sustain
themselves focused
on two areas:
Preserving their core values and
principles; and
Stimulating progress through
big, hairy, audacious goals
("BHAGs"), experimentation,
and continuous improvement
Eagan, of course, is not a
company. But it has been built to
last, and the citizen engagement generated
by the Eagan Forward initiative made .it
clear that Eagan has built many things
that. citizens deeply cherish: strong schools,
a commitment to tree canopy and green
space, fiscal prudence, and the arts.
As Eagan faces its next
20 years—and the technology,
economic, and demographic changes that
will shape it—this plan can serve as a guide
and a toolkit. And using citizen -based
33 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
study action teams will be an important
way to engage new voices and unearth
new potential.
As a final note, this plan
included a Quality of Life
assessment See the appendix.)
This assessment contrasts Eagan to four
aspirational cities: Centennial, Colorado;
Carmel, Indiana; Overland Park, Kansas;
and Plymouth, Minnesota. Each of these
cities is similar to Eagan in that they're
suburbs of major American cities. But all
of them have something special about
them that the Steering Committee felt we
should study. The details of Eagan's relative
strengths and weaknesses compared to
these communities is detailed in the
following pages. The major takeaway is
this: if Eagan wants to become a walkable,
retail district oriented community, it
should look to Carmel, Indiana and
Centennial, Colorado, the only cities that
scored "9" out of a possible ten points in
any of the quality of life indexes.
We have learned a lot in
this.process by listening
to citizens, studying
trends, and anal zin
what makes otheg r great
p Y
i " truly
laces to live .
great. Now, it's time to
take action.
";73 7mr�
Ah
Throughout thisprocess, some questions came up
so often that we had to find the answers.
Why can't we get a
Trader Joe's?
The City of Eagan can set zoning guidelines
for specific parcels of land, e.g. if something
is zoned "R1" it's for single family homes.
But just because something is zoned for
retail doesn't dictate which businesses trove
in. The best way to get Trader Joe's in Eagan
may be a citizen campaign to Bring TJ's
to Eagan! You can start the movement by
filling out this online form: http://www.
traderjoes.com/contact-us/locati(:)n-recILiest
Why • •
Eagan more
sidewalks?
In the post -World War Two era when
gas was cheap and urban areas were
seen as unsafe, suburbs sprouted up as
clean, affordable alternatives to cities. But
since most of the jobs were still in cities,
suburbs—sometimes called "bedroom
communities"—counted on the car as the
primary mode of transportation to move
workers from their homes to their jobs.
Eagan grew up during this period and based
its development (and most planning and
zoning) on the car.
35 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
Why does Eagan
have three school
districts?
Eagan has ISD 191, 196, and 197. Many
citizens mentioned "three school districts"
as a problem. One said,
Will Eagan ever have a single school district?
Probably not. Redrawing district lines
would require intense cooperation of all
school boards, and a long legal process.
4 440 v it
0, L11 % 07F
37 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
City Council of Eagan
informed,T�Mz T, rak Alk
010 L 0 1 r 0 9
- IL
this• r
A Steering
Committee of
Eagan residents
determined the guiding
principles for the project,
advised on outreach methods
and audiences, hosted
events, promoted the Eagan
Forward process, selected the
benchmark communities for
the quality of life analysis, and
reviewed and provided guidance
on early versions of the Eagan
Forward plan.
2 Eighteen
past and current officials
and subject matter
experts participated in
one-on-one interviews in late
August, 2015.
39 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
"One Wish"
chalkboards
were in constant rotation
around the city from
September through November,
2015, organized by City of Eagan
staff. On these chalkboards,
residents could write their ONE
WISH for Eagan. Over 250 ideas
were submitted on chalkboards.
4 Fourfocus
group
were hosted October
27-29,2015. An estimated
150 people participated.
5 Over 20ideas
were collected
on the City of Eagan's
Facebook page and website
between September and November
2015. Outreach questions for citizens
were translated into several languages
including Spanish and Russian.
6NEXT Generation
Consulting
compiled the quality of
1ife data and handprint
in November, 2015.
Quality of life can be
measured. Research
among America's
best places to live
show the following
seven factors make
up"quality of life."
Vitality How healthy is Eagan?
This index includes air and water
quality, adult activity (wellbeing),
primary care physicians, recreation
opportunities, and the square footage
of energy star rated buildings.
Earning Talented workers expect to
have multiple jobs in their lifetimes and
value a community with a breadth and
depth of occupational options, plus support
for entrepreneurial ventures. This index
includes current and future job growth,
self-employment, women- and minority-
owned businesses, median income,
unemployment, patents per 1000 people,
and presence of knowledge workers.
41 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
Learning How smart is Eagan?
This index includes public libraries, pupil -
teacher ratio, education expenditure,
percentage of the population with a High
School diploma and college degrees, and
wi-fi hotspots.
Social Capital Strong
communities have strong ties among
and between different groups of people.
This index evaluates Eagan' religious and
ethnic diversity, crime rates, median age,
children in poverty, adequacy of social
support, dog parks, and farmers markets
(the latter two are proven to create
bonds among community members.)
Cost of Lifestyle Can I afford
to live in Eagan? This index includes
income tax, sales tax, median selected
monthly ownership costs, median rent,
cost of food and groceries, utilities, and
student cost of living.
After Hours There's more to
life than work. This index tallies all
the things to do and places to go after
work, e.g. local music shows, brew
pubs, independent coffee shops, arts,
entertainment and recreation, and full
service restaurants.
Around Town How easy is it to
get around? This index includes miles of
dedicated pedestrian trails, walkability,
commute times, percentage of commuters
who bike, walk, use mass transit or
carpool, percentage of people who work
from home, and airport activity.
- Centennial, Colorado
Carmel, Indiana
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Plymouth, Minnesota
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'SNEXT 20 YEARS 42
The table below shows the index scores for each community. A score of "5" is the normative
average of all five communities. Ten is the highest possible score.1 is the lowes possible score.
43 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'SNEXT 20 YEARS
UE1
in Vitality
The Vitality Index offers a composite image
of Eagan's overall health and wellbeing. The
index includes data that can be collected from
published and credible sources. Some of
the data is collected at the city level (shaded
boxes), some is MSA data, and other data is
collected at the county level.
Overall score:
In this index,
Eagan scored a 2
overall v. it peers.
Eagan's lowest scores were in:
The per capita square footage of buildings
with energy star ratings; High number of
patients per primary care physician.
VITALITY INDEX'
Eagan v. Benchmark
Communities
Eagan
Centennial
Carmel
Overland Park
Plymouth
City Population
66,087
107,193
87,015
184,524
75,065
MSA
3,495,176
2,754,258 _
1,972,241
2,070,221
3,495,176
Population
Index Score
2
7
6
4
6
Adult Obesity
0.25
0.21
0.22
0.23
0.22
Food Environment
9.00
7.80
8.80
8.50
8.30
Access to Excercise
0.94
0.98
0.64
0.94
0.96
Patients per Primary ( 1,479 1,272 ( 729 I 960 881
Care Physician
There was a discrepancy in the data regarding Eagan's community gardem.
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'SNEXT 20 YEARS 44
T. e0ee
in Earning
The Earning Index offers a snapshot of Eagan's
overall economic vitality and job environment.
The index includes data that can be collected
from published and credible sources. Some of
the data is collected at the city level (shaded
boxes), some is MSA data, and other data is
collected at the county level.
Overall score:
In this index,
Eagan scored 5,
which is the peer
average.
Eagan's lowest score was in:
self-employment.
45 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
in Learning
The Learning Index offers a snapshot of Eagan's
overall education levels and commitments to
education. The index includes data that can be
collected from published and credible sources.
Some of the data is collected at the city level
(shadedboxes), some is MSA data, and other data
is collected at the county level.
Overall core:
In this index, Eagan had
an average score of 5
v. it peers. 5
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 46
?97 4H
ME02MM
The Social Capital Index offers a way to
glimpse a community's diversity and its social
cohesion. The index includes data that can be
collected from published and credible sources.
Some of the data is collected at the city level
(shaded boxes), some is MSA data, and other
data is collected at the county level.
Overallscore:
In this index, Eagan
had an average score
of 5 v. it peers. 4
Eaganhad
47 EAGAN FORWARD IA VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
Cost of
L'Ifestyleindex
The Cost of Lifestyle Index shows how
affordable it is to live in Eagan. The index
includes data that can be collected from
published and credible sources. Some of
the data is collected at the city level (shaded
boxes), some is MSA data, and other data is
collected at the county level.
Overall score:
In this index, Eagan
scored 5, which is the
peer average.
Eagan had the lowest Monthly
Selected owner Costs for
Home owners, which is a nod to the
City's fiscal prudence.
Median rents are the lowest of all peer
cities, but groceries are the highest.
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 48
Eagan v. Peers
in After Hours
What's there to do in Eagan after work and on
weekends? This index gives some insight to that
question. The index includes data that can be
collected from published and credible sources.
Some of the data is collected at the city level
(shaded boxes), some is MSA data, and other data
is collected at the county level.
Overall score:
In this index, Eagan tied with
Centennial, CO for lowest
score, compared to its
peers. Carmel, IN, which has 3
numerous retail and restaurant
districts, took the prize in this
index with a score of 9.
Art, Entertainment, 39.8 32.5
Recreation
Full Service55.3 76.4
Restaurants ';
49 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
Eagan's highest
score compared
to its peers
was- Number
of independent
coffee
This measure looks at the per capita
(per 100,000 people) number of
places you can get coffee, within 10
miles of the city.
mmunities
Carmel
Overland Park
Plymouth
87,01511,184,524
75,065
1,972,241
2,070,221
3,495;176
9
5
5'
57.2 , 42.5 53.2
66.1 74.7 73.2
i
Wow easy is it to get around town?
How well does Eagan get to and from work?
The index includes data that can be collected
from published and credible sources. Some
of the data is collected at the city level (shaded
boxes), some is MSA data, and other data is
collected at the county level.
Overall score:
In this index, Eagan
scores an average 5
versus its peers.
EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS 50
This r, t Was y
Trained as an Economist
(Drake University) and
Rebecca Ryan.
a Futurist (University of
Houston), Ms. Ryan has earned
Ryan is the founder and owner of NEXT
the following accolades:
Generation Consulting, Inc., the Resident
Futurist at the Alliance for Innovation, and a
• Communicator of the Year, Women in
Senior Advisor at the Governing Institute.
Communication
• Woman of Influence, Business Journal
Rebecca is the author of The Next Big Things: The
of Greater Milwaukee
Future of Local Government (2015), ReGENERATION:
° Entrepreneur of the Year, U.S.
A Manifesto forAmerica's Future Leaders (2013),
Association for Small Business and
and Live First, Work Second: Getting Inside the Head
Entrepreneurship
of the Next Generation (2007). Since 1998, she has
• Most Powerful Women in Public
designed workforce, community, and/or economic
Accounting, CPA Practice Advisor
development plans for: Akron, OH; Birmingham,
AL; Brevard County, FL; Canton, OH; Central Texas
° Thought Leader,
(Killeen, Copperas Cove); Charleston, SC; Charlotte,
CPA Practice Advisor
NC; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Corpus Christi,
• Top 100 Most Influential People,
TX; Evansville, IN; Fort Worth, TX; Greater Lafayette,
Accounting Today
IN; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Hamilton, Ontario; Illinois/
Quad Cities; Indianapolis, IN; Iowa City -Cedar
Rebecca lives In
Rapids, IA; the State of Iowa; Johnstown, PA; Lake
Madison, Wisconsin.
Charles/Southwest Louisiana; Greater Louisville, KY;
You can reach her at:
Marathon County, WI; Michigan Colleges Foundation;
nextgenerationconsulting.com
Milwaukee, WI; Nashville, TN; Oswego County, NY;
twitter@ngcrebecca
Rockford, IL; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Tulsa,
fb: www.facebook.com/
OK; the State of Vermont; West Central Wisconsin
rebeccaryanfuturist
(Wausau); West Des Moines, IA; Wichita, KS; and the
Willmar Lakes Area, MN.
Lisa Loniello is Rebecca's right hand:
II@nextgenerationconsulting.com or
888-922-9596, ext. 701
51 EAGAN FORWARD I A VISION FOR EAGAN'S NEXT 20 YEARS
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Jump Start Kit for Eagan Forward Study Action Teams
Thank you for stepping -up to help implement Eagan Forward, a 20 -year Vision for our Eagan
community.
You are joining a dynamic, intergenerational group of community volunteers and change -makers
committed to making Eagan an even better place for current and future generations.
Resources to help you Ret started and keep momentum:
• The Eagan Forward plan and background information are available at:
www. c ityofe a ga n . co m /Forward
• Cheryl Stevenson can help you secure meeting space: cstevenson@citvofeagan.com
• Dianne Miller is our staff liaison from the City of Eagan who can help you with just about
anything: dmiller@cityofeagan.com
• Rebecca Ryan wrote the Eagan Forward plan, and is on call to respond to your questions
about the plan, or connect you with national or international experts, or best practices
related to your goals: rr@nextgenerationconsulting.com
• And, if you have a question and you're not sure who to ask, send an email to
forward@citvofeagan.com
Your team will be responsible for:
1. Setting goals related to the Eagan Forward Plan;
2. Implementing plans to execute on those goals; and
3. Measuring your progress, and reporting it to the City of Eagan
This document contains materials to get help you get your team kicked -off and on the right
paths
II'i, ils
How to Get the Most from Your Team
Leverage diversity. In our experience, the greatest results will come from a diverse
group of people, thinking together about the goal they're tasked with. We encourage
the team to represent diversity across industries, generations, non-profit and for-profit
sectors, life stage, etc. It's also helpful to include activists, front-line leaders, and
students.
2. Choose dates, locations, and times that are sensitive to everyone's situation, e.g. if
most of your team members are working during the day, meet at the front or tail end of
the day. Cheryl Stevenson can help you find and reserve space.
3. (Strongly suggested) Eat and Drink. All of you are volunteers, so it can really help boost
peoples' spirits and make it feel less like "work" if a few creature comforts, e.g. coffee
and calories are included at meetings.
Getting Off on the Right Foot
Remember: Team members are volunteers, so the team's work must be compelling and well
organized enough to earn volunteers' time and attention beyond the strong, sucking whirlwind
of their day to day lives.
Resources and Reminders for your first meeting:
1. We have provided a sample agenda (page 4) for your first meeting. Please customize it
based on your needs and experience. At the conclusion of this meeting, you should have
buy in on your team's overall direction, and commitment from team members about
their willingness to go forward.
2. Make sure that everyone has a chance to contribute. Remember, the more you talk,
the less you learn. And introverts may need to be prompted, e.g. "Lana, we haven't
heard from you, yet. What are your thoughts?"
3. In the book The Four Disciplines of Execution, the authors outline how to get "big things"
done beyond the whirlwind of day to day living. These aren't prescriptive, just
something to consider:
Discipline #1: Focus on (no more than two) Wildly Important Goals ("WIGS").
The Eagan Forward Plan has multiple projects listed in each area. It will be up to you to
focus on the one or two goals that can have the most impact on achieving the overall
vision. It's more important to do one or two things with high quality than to do lots of
things with poor quality.
Discipline #2: Act on the lead measures.
A lag measure tells you if you've achieved a goal. A lead measure tells you if you are
likely to achieve it. Lead measures are high impact, predictive, and something you can
control. For example, if you're trying to lose weight, a lag measure is your weight. Eating
fewer calories is a lead measure.
Discipline #3: Keep a compelling scoreboard.
Volunteers engage differently when they are keeping score. What can you measure (and
how can you visualize it) so that team members can quickly see whether you're
achieving your goals, or not?
Discipline #4: Determine a cadence of accountability.
This sounds simple, but it's the ditch where execution traditionally runs off the road.
Your team must have regular check ins to: hold people accountable for keeping their
previous commitments, review the scoreboard, and clear the path to make new
commitments. This can be a weekly phone call, a biweekly coffee meeting, or some
other configuration, but it must happen, or you'll get stalled.
4. At the end of your first meeting, conclude by recapping the Decisions Made and Next
Actions. You may want to send out a list of all Decisions and Next Actions to attendees
after the meeting as a reminder.
Keeping Momentum
What do you do when the energy wanes, and momentum fades?
o Make sure the team's objective and goals are clear. If you don't know what you're all
aiming at, you'll miss the target.
o Make sure people know what they should be doing. Sometimes, people aren't sure what
to do, or don't have the resources to complete their tasks. If you sense this is
happening, address it.
o Don't allow your meetings to stall in conversation. Make decisions. Take action. Keep
things moving forward.
o Celebrate!
You are also responsible for submitting a brief monthly progress report to the City of Eagan by
the 30th or 31St of each month. It's simple. A sample excel document has been included in this
document. You can complete most of the information after your first meeting, and then only
need to update it and send it to Dianne Miller (dmiller@citvofeagan.com) by the last day of each
month. Also, all teams are asked to submit a progress report by Friday, May 27 outlining the
one or two goals your team will focus on that will have the most impact on achieving the overall
vision of Eagan Forward.
SAMPLE AGENDA FOR KICK OFF MEETING
Date & Time:
Location:
Team Name or Goal Area:
1. Introductions, i.e. name, background, special interest in this team, and one thing that's not on
their professional resume but is meaningful to them.
Why are we here?
o What is the Eagan Forward plan?
o How does this team fit into the Eagan Forward plan?
3. What are our goals?
As we consider our section of the Eagan Forward plan:
o Do the projects and activities make sense? How would we prioritize to make the most
impact? What are our "Wildly Important Goals," l "WIGS") the one or two things that we
should really focus on, because they will have the most impact?
4. Setting the course
Now that we know where we're heading, how will we get there? How will we measure our
success?
Decisions Made:
Next Actions:
Action Who's Responsible By when?
Date, time, location of our next meeting:
13: r
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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S•!77Invest in amenities
Study Action Team #2m
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Agenda Information Memo
March 8, 2016 Special City Council Meeting
IV. Parks Master Plan Presentation
Direction For Consideration:
Staff is seeking to provide an update to the Council regarding the Eagan Parks & Recreation
Department Master Plan update
Facts:
➢ September 2015, SRF was hired as the consultants to prepare the Parks Master Plan
update.
➢ On October 2, 2015, SRF met with staff from the Parks and Recreation Department to
seek input on facility amenities, programming needs and current challenges.
➢ On November 16, 2015, SRF met with the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission.
The purpose of the meeting was to review and discuss Eagan demographic updates,
draft park system goals and policies, various park system analyses, and facility
allocations.
➢ On January 14, 2016, SRF presented statistics and results regarding population diversity,
programming trends, goals and policies, potential barriers and park classifications.
➢ On February 22, 2016, SRF presented a draft of the Parks Master Plan to the Advisory
Parks and Recreation Commission seeking input and comments of any necessary
changes.
Attachments: (1)
IV.1— Parks Master Plan
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-1
Parks and recreation are an essential community service that provides health and environmental
benefits, economic value, and social connections. A strong and active park system is a key component
to enjoying a high quality of life. This system also plays a crucial role in protecting natural resources
for future generations. The City of Eagan has built a comprehensive park system over the last 60
years, providing spaces for its residents to recreate, exercise, learn, gather together, and enjoy nature
and solitude. As demographics, recreation trends, and environmental conditions in Eagan continue
to evolve and change, a flexible and adaptable park system plan is necessary to meet changing needs.
This update to the Parks and Recreation System Plan is part of the City of Eagan's 2040 Comprehensive
Plan Update. It builds upon the Eagan Park Plans (1983 & 1995), the 20/20 Vision Plan for Parks,
Recreation, and Open Space (2006), and the City's recently completed Eagan Forward (2016) vision
plan.
€ 01
Cities are dynamic places that continue to evolve in response to ever changing economic conditions
and resident needs and desires. While change is expected to occur, the exact drivers and outcomes
are not certain. Therefore, the following goals and policies for Parks and Recreation provide an
overarching vision for Eagan. Future park programming and facility improvements should strive to
meet these objectives.
' • ��s1111 ill 111 •
► Provide both active and passive recreation facilities and programming.
► Support and facilitate trails, sidewalks, and on -street bikeways for recreation and
transportation.
► Support access to and growth of healthy foods.
► Preserve and restore habitat for plants and animals.
► Minimize environmental impacts of park facilities and maintenance activities.
► Maintain facilities to improve life cycle costs.
► Research and obtain alternative sources of funding.
► Optimize facility programming, without causing damage due to overuse.
► Design facilities to ensure highest and best use over the life of the facility.
5-2 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plans
. . ... ...
v
A
P- Include opportunities to participate in the arts, historic interpretation, personal improvement,
and social activities.
i- Use various media options to raise resident awareness of available recreation opportunities
provided by City and other agency providers.
11
SMIMM
IIII Ensure access, programs, and facilities for all (age, income, and physical ability).
► Track recreation trends, along with existing and projected resident demographics, to tailor
recreation facilities and offerings that respond to changing interests and needs,
o. Provide geographic distribution of facilities or convenient and safe travel options to facilities.
Fill
PI Optimize facilities and collaborate on programs with other community agencies.
III Enhance facilities in partnership with user organizations.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-3
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By 2040, Eagan's population is projected to rise by 7,000, and exceed 72,000. Along with a rise in
population, Eagan will also see an increased percentage of the population aged 65 and older. As
Eagan's baby boomer generation enters retirement age, the parks and recreation system should
strive to address the changing demands of this age group. During this time period, Eagan will also
experience increased racial, ethnic, and income diversity that will require a more diverse park and
recreation system. These changes have implications for park programming offered as well as types of
park facilities and fields available.
The following charts and maps highlight historic and projected demographic trends. In order to
provide a parks and recreation system that meets the needs of all residents, it is crucial to examine
how the population is expected to change and what the park system demands will be in the future.
Population (Actual and Projected)
Between 2000 and 2015, the population remained relatively steady, growing by just 1,000. By 2040,
however, Eagan's population is projected to increase by over 7,000. With population growth comes
more park users, and a potential need to reconfigure existing parks or acquire additional park land to
meet increased demands.
5-4 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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By 2040, Eagan's population is projected to rise by 7,000, and exceed 72,000. Along with a rise in
population, Eagan will also see an increased percentage of the population aged 65 and older. As
Eagan's baby boomer generation enters retirement age, the parks and recreation system should
strive to address the changing demands of this age group. During this time period, Eagan will also
experience increased racial, ethnic, and income diversity that will require a more diverse park and
recreation system. These changes have implications for park programming offered as well as types of
park facilities and fields available.
The following charts and maps highlight historic and projected demographic trends. In order to
provide a parks and recreation system that meets the needs of all residents, it is crucial to examine
how the population is expected to change and what the park system demands will be in the future.
Population (Actual and Projected)
Between 2000 and 2015, the population remained relatively steady, growing by just 1,000. By 2040,
however, Eagan's population is projected to increase by over 7,000. With population growth comes
more park users, and a potential need to reconfigure existing parks or acquire additional park land to
meet increased demands.
5-4 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Age Distribution (by Percent of Population)
Since 1990, the percentage of the population aged 18 to 64 has not changed significantly, while the
under 18 age cohort has slightly decreased. The percentage of the population 65 and over, however,
has nearly quadrupled. With older residents representing more of the population, the City may need
to increase parks and recreation opportunities catered to this age group.
Age Distribution (by Age Cohorts)
The highest spikes in the graph above represent the baby boomer population as they aged between
1990 and 2013. One can predict from this chart that the spike associated with the baby boomer
generation, while slightly decreasing in intensity, will move into the 65 and older age groups.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-5
Age Distribution Projections (by Percent of Population)
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Age Distribution Projections
Many of the age groups in the above charts are projected to remain steady, but again those 65 and over
will see a significant increase. Those aged 5 to 24 are projected to slightly decrease by 2040. Yet, the
City is projected to remain a city that attracts young families.
5-6 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Housing Stock Values (2014)
In 2014, the largest group of housing units were valued in the $200,000 to $249,999 range, with the
second largest in the $300,000 to $399,999 range. These housing units will continue to be attractive to
young families. As the 65 and over age group is expected to increase in the next few decades, Eagan
may see a higher demand for senior living complexes and/or affordable housing units.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-7
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Residential Housing Types
Most of the residential land is comprised of single family detached housing units, but there are many
pockets of townhomes, apartment rentals, and senior housing units primarily on the west side of the
city. These housing types indicate pockets of higher population density, with potentially increased
recreation demand and/or different recreation needs.
5-8 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Pian
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Minority Population Distribution (2000 and 2013)
Eagan has seen a rise in minority populations since 2000, primarily on the west side of I -35E. This
changing demographic may suggest a changing demand for park space and types of recreational
opportunities located in this area. The City has already begun to receive requests for changes in park
programs offered (e.g. preschool for younger age groups).
City of Eagan Comprehensive Pian Parks and Recreation 1 -9
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Eagan's population is becoming increasingly diverse. The percent of the population from Asian, Black
or African American, and Hispanic or Latino descent has substantially increased between 1990 and
2013. Eagan has already seen an increase in the number of languages spoken at community events or
preschool programs. Diverse populations may have diverse needs for parks and recreation programs.
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2010
2013
9 Slack or African American
M Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Two or Mom Races
Eagan's population is becoming increasingly diverse. The percent of the population from Asian, Black
or African American, and Hispanic or Latino descent has substantially increased between 1990 and
2013. Eagan has already seen an increase in the number of languages spoken at community events or
preschool programs. Diverse populations may have diverse needs for parks and recreation programs.
Race / Ethnicity (Projected)
In line with the trend seen in the last few decades, the diversity of EagaiA population is projected to
continue rising between now and 2040. Residents of Asian descent and those that identify with two
or more races will see the largest increase in population, The City should continue to monitor the
potential changes in demand associated with increasingly diverse user groups.
5-10 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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Race / Ethnicity (Projected)
In line with the trend seen in the last few decades, the diversity of EagaiA population is projected to
continue rising between now and 2040. Residents of Asian descent and those that identify with two
or more races will see the largest increase in population, The City should continue to monitor the
potential changes in demand associated with increasingly diverse user groups.
5-10 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Individuals Above/Below Poverty Line
Eagan is also seeing an increase in the number of residents below the poverty line. While still a small
percentage of the overall population, since 2000, this number has more than doubled from 2.9 to 6.9
percent of the population. The poverty line was defined as an income of $8,350 for an individual in
2000, and as $11,490 for an individual in 2013. The poverty line definitions are updated annually by
the Department of Health and Human Services and are based on the total household income and
household size.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 -11
2.4%.
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Individuals Below Poverty Line (2000 and 2013)
Between 2000 and 2013, Eagan has seen a rise in individuals living below the poverty line throughout
the city (defined as an income of $8,350 for an individual in 2000, and as $11,490 for an individual
in 2013). For residents with limited transportation options, parks and recreational programs should
ideally be accessible via non -motorized transportation modes, such as walking or biking or near
public transit stops.
5-12 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Concurrent with an increasingly diverse population, recreational interests and activities are also
becoming increasingly diverse. Some of the predominant recreation trends that will influence the
evolution of the Eagan park system are summarized below.
Time Constraints
Convenience has become a top priority in recreation as people feel day-to-day time constraints with
increasingly busy schedules. Many residents are spending more hours commuting and less time at
home. Flexible after-school programs and recreation opportunities are in high demand.
Integrating fitness, healthy eating, and stress -relieving activities into our daily lives is a growing trend.
Silting to work is becoming more common, and new fitness opportunities are rising both in and out
of the workplace. There is also a shift toward a "sharing economy," with rental bicycles and car -sharing
options popping up throughout the metro region.
Environmental Awareness
General awareness of our environmental impact continues to increase. Residents are showing interest
in sustainability, and native plantings or rain gardens are becoming more commonplace in residential
yards. Nature, natural areas, and green infrastructure are growing in importance. Many are choosing
biking, walking, or public transit to reduce the environmental impacts associated with transportation.
Special Use Facilities
Park system facilities are in high demand for a wide range of year-round programming. Facility uses
include outdoor and indoor gathering space, daycare accommodations, art and cultural programming,
as well as aquatics facilities.
Athletic Field Use
Athletic fields are generally seeing more programming for soccer, lacrosse, rugby, hurling, and
Ultimate Frisbee. These sports are rising in popularity while softball and baseball are declining. Park
land dedicated to ball fields may be underutilized while more flexible field space will be seeing higher
demand and perhaps overuse.
Life Sports
Life sports are those that can be played at any age, and are popular for maintaining life-long health
and fitness. Park land and facilities dedicated to life sports are generally well used by residents of all
ages. Examples of life sports include biking, kayaking, tennis, swimming, walking, running, golf, and
foot golf.
Avarietyof new recreation activities are gaining popularity. These include slacklining, paddle boarding,
paddle board yoga, dog -centric recreation, boot camps, fun runs, hammocking, skateboarding, and
disc golf.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 -13
Winter recreation activities are important with Minnesota's climate. Winter facilities include indoor
and outdoor skating rinks (hockey and pleasure skating), ice skating trails, tubing hill, and ski trails.
With these activities, it is important to consider tubing hill liabilities, lighting ski or skate trails, and
using snow -making facilities and/or refrigerated rinks.
As the baby boomer population enters the 65 and older age cohort, there will be a strong demand
for recreation tailored to this group. Staying active through either informal or organized recreation
is important for seniors and baby boomers. Popular activities include walking, photography, birding,
and gardening.
MIllennials
Millennials are those born between the early 1980s to early 2000s. Residents in this age group grew
up as technology made rapid advancements, and they are considered "digital natives.' Photo sharing
and geo-tagging often accompany recreation activities with this generation. This age group also tends
to favor dog -friendly activities and park land that is flexible for group activities and exercise.
Safety and Security
Perception of safety is essential to a.person's willingness to use a space. Safe parks feature adequate
lighting, clear and understandable signage, clear sightlines, and programmed activities to encourage
use of the park during both the day and evening.
Operations and maintenance are both fundamental to a successful park system. Demand for higher
quality facilities, as well as facilities that can accommodate year-round use will have an impact on
maintenance needs and operations staff. Adjustments to current operations and maintenance systems
may be necessary in order to adapt to a need to do more with less as well as increase efficiencies.
5-14 1 Paries and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Pian
Trends for City Athletic Leagues
In general, participation in adult recreation leagues is starting to decline. This is a trend that is not
unique to just Eagan.
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Adult Sports: Winter Leagues
There is a general overall downward trend of participation in adult winter leagues in Eagan, with the
exception of volleyball. The number of volleyball teams has remained stable and this is consistently
the most popular adult winter league sport.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-15
Adult Sports: Spring Leagues
While still by far the largest adult league in Eagan, spring softball is on a general downward trend.
The number of teams in other sports leagues remain relatively stable, with the exception of spring
volleyball which was discontinued after 2010.
5-16 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
The five parks highlighted in the following charts are the next neighborhood parks in Eagan scheduled
for updating. Recreation trends at these parks were charted and discussed with City staff to determine
if recreation trends at these parks would inform future upgrades.
Outdoor Ice Rink Use (Overall)
Usage trends of outdoor ice rinks vary by park, but use is trending downward in three of the five
parks. The chart above shows the average number of participants per day the rink is open.
Outdoor Ice Rink Use (Hockey vs. Pleasure)
Hockey is the predominant use of outdoor ice rinks in Eagan, but is generally decreasing. Use of
outdoor ice rinks for pleasure shows mixed trends in the past 5 years.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-17
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Shelter Programs: Preschool /Camp Participation
Participation in preschool and camp programs varies significantly by site. Goat Hill and Rahn saw
significant decreases from 2000 to 2010, but have seen steady increases from 2010 forward.
Shelter Programs: Adult / Senior Participation
Adult and senior participation trends are inconsistent, primarily due to the challenges of programming
these facilities for adult activities in relation to other programming occurring in the buildings, such as
early childhood and winter ice skating. The City also does senior programming at select senior living
facilities within the community.
-18 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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The City of Eagan uses a park classification system that is organized by intended service areas and
associated facility uses. For example, highly specialized uses, such as water parks and ice arenas, are
typically intended to service the entire community. More standardized facilities, such a play equipment
or tennis courts, are primarily intended to service the surrounding neighborhood (typically 1/2 mile
radius around the park). Descriptions of the City's ten park classifications follow.
Intended to serve specific neighborhoods within medium to high density residential areas that can
not be adequately served by a traditional neighborhood park due to physical limitations or access
constraints. In certain circumstances, the park may be privately operated. Generally, 1 to 4 acres in
size with limited amenities that may include a play structure, hard court and some seating, 1/4 mile
service area. The amenities may be specific to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.
Provides for a variety active and passive, formal and informal activities, within a park, space easily
accessible from a defined neighborhood service area, generally 3/4 of a mile. Distribution is throughout
the community. Amenities may include ball fields, skating rinks, warming house, play structure, open
space and hard courts. The size is variable though most are less than 15 acres.
Facilities and use are targeted to serve residents of the entire City. The scale and scope of the site,
improvements and amenities are adequate for large groups and special events. Generally more than
25 acres in size, they are often associated with a significant natural feature. Easily accessible from
collector and arterial roadways. Amenities are non -athletic and may include large shelters and
pavilions, hiking trails, play structures, fishing piers and picnic grounds.
Community Athletic Field
A large athletic complex servicing the entire community, intended primarily for organized youth and
adult play including tournaments. Generally more than 25 acres in size and easily accessible. Field
space may be developed for a specific sport or remain open to allow for multiple sport use. Fields may
be lighted to accommodate extended use. Some opportunity for passive use that includes trails and
picnic areas, restroom/service buildings and play structures may be on site.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-1
An isolated site consisting primarily of unique and/or undisturbed tracts of park land. While not
physically connected to other park land, it may function as part of an ecological corridor, flyway or a
link in other natural processes. Development is associated only with passive activities such as hiking,
nature observation or resource enhancement. Some may contain or function as drain runs, retention
ponds or storm water collection points. Access may be limited.
EMM1 s _i s:
A primarily undisturbed tract of park land containing unique and/or undisturbed natural resources,
most often physically connected to other preserves or resources via a natural corridor. Any activities
are passive and may include hiking, nature observation and interpretation. The site may contain
elements of, or function as, part of the storm water management system. Access may be limited.
XMMNES��
A contiguous lineal corridor or resource that enhances, buffers or connects undisturbed natural areas
or features. May allow for physical access between areas via a trail or function as wildlife/ecologic
corridor. Access may be from multiple public spaces, streets or trails.
Facilities that provide a unique activity or built environment/amenities that promotes a unique
activity. Often intended for a single purpose. The location may be dictated by the physical needs of a
specific activity which make it incompatible with other recreational areas. Service area is the entire
community.
Historic Site
A site intended to preserve, protect and/or interpret historic areas or buildings. Improvements are
generally limited to those intended to enhance the experience of any visitors or of scheduled, on-site,
programs. The site may also be designated as historically significant at the State or national level.
Future programming for these city -owned properties is yet to be determined or these properties may
remain non -programmed to preserve natural features.
5-20 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
The City provides a variety of programs and offerings to the community, including:
► Adult athletic leagues
► Preschool programs
► Senior programs
► Family activities
► Youth and teen programs
► Fitness classes
► Community events
► Arts education
Programming for youth sporting events is primarily provided by community athletic associations.
The City, along with school districts, provide and maintain numerous athletic fields, courts, and rinks
that support both adult recreation and youth athletic association leagues. The City also operates
several enterprise facilities that provide recreation, fitness and space rental opportunities for leagues,
clubs, and individuals originating from Eagan and the surrounding communities. These include:
► Cascade Bay Water Park
► Eagan Community Center
► Eagan Civic Arena
Consistent with the Park System Plan update, the City continues to monitor recreation programming
and interact with community members to ensure that recreation programs continue to evolve to meet
the needs of all city residents.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Pian Parks and Recreation 15-21
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Existing Facilities
Community Athletic Fields, Community Parks, Enterprise Facilities,
5-22 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-23
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5-24 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-25
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City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-25
The following map series depicts the distribution of select physical components of the park system.
Future growth areas outlined in orange on the maps were taken from the 2030 Eagan Comprehensive
Plan. These areas may have implications regarding future park needs.
Community Parks
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5-26 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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5-26 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Community Athletic Fields
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 -27
City Facilities: Park Buildings
5-28 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-29
City Facilities: Ball Field Diamonds
5-30 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
City Facilities: Skating Rinks
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Parks and Recreation j -31
City Facilities: Hard Courts
5-32 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
Off it
Preserving parkland and natural resources are a high priority for city residents who believe these
resources are critical to maintaining a high quality of life. Natural resource preservation is a
fundamental element of Eagan's park and open space planning. The most prominent natural resources
within the community include the Minnesota River Valley, lakes and small water basins, wetlands,
forest cover, and rolling terrain. The community also includes some unique natural resources that
merit preservation, such as calcareous fens, springs, and trout streams in the Minnesota River valley.
Preservation efforts are important to the maintenance of wildlife habitat and movement corridors;
preservation of rare or endangered flora and fauna; storm water detention and aquatic recharge areas;
visual relief and aesthetic considerations; preservation of the community's historical perspective; and
to provide environmental education.
There are several parks and open space facilities, managed by state, federal, or county governments,
located within or in close proximity to Eagan. Most notably these include: Lebanon Hills Regional
Park, Fort Snelling State Park, the Minnesota Zoological Garden, and the Minnesota Valley National
Wildlife Refuge and Recreation Area. The City acknowledges that these facilities contribute substantial
open space and natural areas within easy access of Eagan residents.
FROM
Trail connections exist or are planned to link regional facilities to each other and to the City's park
system. Dakota County's 2030 Vision for Parks, Lakes, Trails and Greenways includes a vision for
regional and city greenways throughout the County, including within Eagan. Master plans for two
regional trails that pass through Eagan have recently been completed; the Minnesota River Greenway
Regional Trail and the Mendota -Lebanon Hills Greenway Regional Trail. Both of these master plans
have been adopted by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners. The Metropolitan Council
has approved the Minnesota River Greenway Regional Trail Master Plan. Two regional trail search
corridors that will likely pass through Eagan have also been identified; the Lebanon Hills -Big Rivers
Regional Trail and the Lebanon Hills — Mississippi River Regional Trail. The exact route for these
trails has not yet been determined. Dakota County will take lead in advancing the planning for these
two trail corridors. The City sees the benefits of these trails, yet much work still needs to be done
with land use policy, land acquisition, trail alignment, and engineering to bring these trail concepts
to reality.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 -33
Eagan
rugan Parks and Trails
5-34 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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While the City has been able to maintain their existing park facilities and meet most user group needs,
some evolving trends in park use and programming may warrant consideration for re -purposing
some of the city's existing facilities to better serve the needs of today's recreational user groups. The
following are programming issues and needs to be addressed within the city's current park system.
With a wider variety of sports including soccer, lacrosse, rugby, and hurling being programmed on
large open field areas, there will be continual demand for large flexible use turf field areas to meet the
needs of youth and adult programming. Some consideration should be given for converting some
underutilized ball field diamonds into multi-purpose fields to meet the demand for these new popular
athletic field activities.
By also increasing programming demand on natural turf field areas, consideration should also be
given for installing synthetic turf fields at selected park or school facilities to allow for a high quality
playing experience to be maintained during heavy programming times or tournament use.
Pickleball has also evolved into a popular sport in many communities along with an increased demand
for both indoor and outdoor court facilities. Repurposing some existing tennis courts to accommodate
pickleball or offering more flexible indoor court programming opportunities will begin to meet the
demand for this growing sport in the older demographic of the community.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-35
Many of the City's existing park building facilities are in need of updates to better meet current
programming and activities being accommodated throughout the year. Some of the common
deficiencies include lack of storage space, non -conforming accessible bathrooms, and overall lack of
space that can be used for pre-school and youth programming, community meetings, and warming
room accommodations.
While many of the park buildings will continue to serve a wide variety of user groups and programming,
consideration should be given to identifying more specialized uses to be accommodated at each park
building when undertaking renovations or potentially constructing a new park building to replace
outdated facilities.
5-36 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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Many communities have started to focus on developing more specialized use park facilities and
activities to meet the public demand for new recreational trends and to accommodate a wider diversity
of user groups. The City has started to develop some of these facilities which include establishing an
off -leash dog area at Thresher Fields, a disc golf course at Northview Park, and an ice skating trail at
Rahn Park.
Other types of special use facilities that are being implemented in other communities include resilient
surfacing Miracle Fields and universal accessible playgrounds to accommodate special needs youth
and adult recreation enthusiasts.
Many park systems, including Eagan, offer designated picnic areas and shelter facilities that can be
reserved for small or large group gatherings. These open space special use facilities are increasing in
popularity for a number of minority groups who utilize parks for social events, picnicking, and other
gathering activities.
The City currently has a wide variety of special use site facilities including the Community Center,
the Civic Arena, Cascade Bay Waterpark, and Eagan Art House. While many of these facilities are
currently meeting the needs of the community, more opportunities exist to expand or establish new
specialized recreation facilities at these locations or at other park properties.
Recreational facilities starting to be accommodated in many communities includes providing more
spaces to meet the needs of the visual and performing arts, large rental room facilities that can be
used for community gathering and private events, and multi-purpose field house buildings that can
be programmed for a wide variety of athletic activities and events.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Placa Parks and Recreation 1 5-37
M
Many of park facilities in Eagan were constructed prior to the enactment of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). Therefore, many of the City park. facilities are not compliant with current
accessibility design standards. It is the desire of the City to bring park facilities into compliance
with current accessibility design standards in a responsible and cost effective manner. As parks are
refreshed and updated, the City will bring significantly remodeled facilities into compliance with
ADA regulations.
Potential Underserved AreasNew / Areas
As part of the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update, five areas within the community were
identified as future growth areas. Two of the areas are adjacent the new Red Line bus rapid transit
(BRT) corridor that predominantly follows Cedar Avenue. One of the areas encompasses the current
retail hub of the community, along with Central Park and adjacent redevelopment areas west of I -35E.
One of the areas is located in the far northeast corner of the community that is currently comprised
of industrial and office uses. The areas located next to the Red Line BRT are strong candidates for
additional residential units as people, likely young professionals or seniors, will be attracted to live
within convenient access to transit service. Similarly, increased residential development is expected
near Central Park and the City's retail area, as people, primarily seniors, will be attracted to convenient
access to nearby businesses and restaurants. It is also feasible that a portion of the existing office and
industrial uses in the northeast corner of the city could be converted to residential uses.
The following two maps show 1) areas within a half -mile radius of an Eagan City Park, and 2) potential
roadway barriers within Eagan based on AADT (annual average daily traffic). Although it appears
most of the city is within half -mile of a park, this radius does not account for physical barriers to
access, particularly major roadways.
Roadways can function as a barrier to park access due to traffic volumes. Even if a road has lower
traffic volumes (e.g. 5,000 — 10,000 AADT), it may still function as a barrier to pedestrian and bicycle
movement if the posted speed limit is greater than 30 mph.
Pedestrians and bicyclists are unlikely to feel safe crossing roadways with high traffic volumes and/or
high speed limits in order to access a nearby park.
5-38 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 15-39
Potential Roadway Barriers
5-40 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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As a part of identifying proposed improvements to be made in the City's park system over the next
ten years, priorities were established to focus on park properties with building facilities in need of
upgrades, high use athletic field complexes, and special use facilities that can offer new recreation
opportunities within the parks system. More specific recommendations have been summarized in
the individual matrices.
Park Building Facilities
With most ofthe parkbuildings dedicatedtowards accommodatingpre-school andyouth programming,
bathroom facilities are in need of upgrades to meet accessibility requirements and provide additional
capacity. With warming room facilities an integral part of each building, remodeling efforts should
strive to provide better separation between room uses to improve programming efficiencies and
increase storage room capacity.
The City currently maintains a wide variety of athletic field facilities that to date have generally
met the needs of youth and adult athletic association user groups. With the increasing popularity
of soccer, lacrosse, rugby, and other open lawn field sports, long term recommendations should
consider converting ball field diamonds to multi-purpose turf fields to meet the increased demand
for these sports. The addition of synthetic turf and lighting for some athletic field areas should also
be considered to allow for increased programming and longer periods of use, which is often needed
to accommodate tournament play.
Other needed improvements at athletic field complexes include providing additional parking to
accommodate peals use periods and upgrading building facilities to increase storage space, and
provide improved concession and restroom facilities.
Special Use Facilities
Field House Facility
With an increased demand for indoor recreation space, the addition of a field house as part of the
Community Center offers the opportunity to accommodate additional court games such as basketball
and pickleball and synthetic turf which can offer flexible use programming and a gathering place for
larger city events and performances.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-41
Establishing a Winter Recreation Destination Facility
There are currently ten parks programmed with ice skating facilities at various locations throughout
the city. With climate change starting to impact the reliability of ice conditions during the winter
season, adding refrigerated ice at a designated winter recreation facility along with a tubing hill with
snow malting capabilities would ensure consistent recreation opportunities during the winter months.
Accommodating the Arts
Based on initiatives identified in the Eagan Forward Vision plan, public sentiment expressed a desire
to offer more facilities to accommodate the visual and performing arts. With the Eagan Art House
currently providing that service for the city, opportunities should be studied for how the existing
building facility can be renovated, expanded, or reconstructed to enhance programming opportunities.
The surrounding context of Patrick Eagan Park also offers opportunities for adding outdoor spaces to
accommodate the performing arts and exhibiting public art.
Playground Improvements
The City currently provides similar types of playground equipment at a majority of its neighborhood
and community parks. As a way to provide a wider variety of playground experiences throughout the
city, consideration for installing smaller scale playgrounds at neighborhood parks and larger scale
playgrounds at community parks, or at parks with preschool or youth programming, could begin to
offer a wider variety of play experiences for children. The addition of a universal accessible playground
should also be considered at an appropriate park location in the city.
Shared Use Facilities
Many opportunities exist to share recreational resources with other providers including the school
districts, local health clubs, and other private entities as a way to further enhance the quality and
quantity of recreation services to the general public.
When the need and demand is established by the City for making more substantial investments, adding
an indoor ice sheet at the Civic Arena or constructing a new indoor swimming pool facility could
be considered. Additional study would be required to ensure long term operations and maintenance
costs can be justified for adding these types of expensive facilities to the park and recreation system.
5-42 1 Parks and Recreation City of Eagan Comprehensive Pian
► Add more windows on south and west sides of
building.
Warming ► Upgrade restrooms.
house, youth
programming o -Add fireplace to enhance warming house
experience.
► Provide additional parking near building.
Community ► Upgrade and expand restrooms.
meeting room, ► Add gym facility.
multi-purpose ► Add shade structure.
activity gym ► Provide additional parking.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-43
► Expand and upgrade restrooms.
► Provide additional storage.
Preschool, youth
► Add carpet to accommodate preschool activities.
programming,
► Provide additional parking, improve vehicular
warming house
circulation and drop off area.
► Subdivide programming space to accommodate
separate use activities.
► Expand and upgrade restrooms.
► Add carpet to accommodate preschool activities.
Preschool, youth
► Provide additional storage.
programming,
warming house
o -Add shade structure.
► Subdivide programming space to accommodate
separate use activities.
► Provide additional storage.
Warming house
► Add fireplace to enhance warming room.
► Provide additional parking.
► Add more windows on south and west sides of
building.
Warming ► Upgrade restrooms.
house, youth
programming o -Add fireplace to enhance warming house
experience.
► Provide additional parking near building.
Community ► Upgrade and expand restrooms.
meeting room, ► Add gym facility.
multi-purpose ► Add shade structure.
activity gym ► Provide additional parking.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-43
5-44 1 Parks and Recreation City of Ewan Comprehensive Plan
Enhance community center to
accommodate more programming
and events.
Establish a city-wide winter
recreation destination facility.
Enhance visual and performing arts
facilities and programming.
Enhance the diversity of play
experiences at individual park
locations.
Identify opportunities for
expanding access to other private/
public recreational facilities to meet
user group demand.
Construct multi-purpose field
house that can be used for a variety
of recreational sports, activities, and
events.
Construct refrigerated ice rink
and open skating area, tubing hill,
lighting, and warming room facility
at Central Park.
Expand or establish new Arts
Center facility at Patrick Eagan
Park.
Establish a hierarchy of
neighborhood and community scale
playground facilities.
Establish a universal access
playground.
Continue to foster relationships
with school districts, not -for -profits,
and private entities to enhance
recreation opportunities and
programming.
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreation 1 5-45
Potential Underserved Areas
New Development #
If redevelopment in the identified growth areas includes significant increases to residential
populations, an evaluation of park needs should be performed to ensure residents of this area have
save and convenient access to park and recreation facilities that meet their needs.
The major roadways shown in yellow on the following map see at least 5,000 vehicles per day, on
average. These roadways are considered barriers to park access because they create unsafe conditions
for pedestrians or bicyclists to cross. Residents traveling to a park by foot or bike (especially children)
are unlikely to access a park if a major roadway presents a barrier.
The areas highlighted in orange are areas in Eagan where these major roadways surround residential
neighborhoods currently lacking dedicated park. land. These areas may be potentially underserved
due to roadways functioning as barriers to park access. Additional analysis and evaluation should
be performed to determine if these areas are truly underserved and if they are, how to best serve the
population in these areas.
EM Parks and Recreation City of
City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan
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City of Eagan Comprehensive Plan