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2015-05 Experience EaganExperience Eagan • May/June 2015 • 1 May/June 2015 Experience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience Eagan This year, Eagan recognizes 25 years of work focus- ing on the natural beauty and recreational assets of its lakes and wetlands. The City has achieved much success since it became the first Minnesota city to create an all-inclusive stormwater and water quality management plan in April 1990. Eagan began booming in the 1980s, following 100 years as an agricultural township. The expanding trunk storm sewer system to numerous new neigh- borhoods changed lake levels and caused concerns. In 1958, I-35E was originally proposed to bridge Blackhawk Lake. Following years of court proceed- ings, the state Supreme Court in 1980 ruled in favor of the appeal by families owning lakeshore prop- erty and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), resulting in a freeway bypass of the lake. In the mid-1980s, Eagan adopted regulations for boating and other water activities and updated its master storm sewer plan. It began a study for water quality management of lakes and ponds, accord- ing to a MPCA stipulation agreement about alleged violations of sanitary sewer permits. Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, and Mendota Heights formed an organization to meet new laws for watershed and local water management plans in the Metro area. By 1990, in addition to creating comprehensive water plans, the City had regulations for shoreland City Marks 25-Year Water Protection HistoryWhat Kind of Future Do We Want?use and a stormwater utility fund. This work, which began in response to potential violations, resulted in many accolades. Building upon the 1991 Twin Cities Metropolitan Council Policy Implementation Award, Eagan was also granted the 1996 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National First Place for its stormwater control program. Today, Eagan’s lakewater quality program empha- sizes reducing stormwater effects and avoiding and minimizing wetland impacts. The stormwater man- agement system protects public safety and water quality. Long-term data show most Eagan lakes meet state water quality standards. Over a half-mil- lion dollars in grants and loans have helped the City study lakes and implement successful improvement and protection projects. For example, MPCA recently determined that Fish Lake is no longer considered impaired, follow- ing Eagan’s three years of improvement efforts. In addition, 25 neighborhood rain gardens have reduced stormwater impacts to Schwanz Lake by 21% in less than five years. Residents appreciate Eagan’s lake water quality—in fact, 8 of 10 say it is good to excellent. An added bonus? You can catch a nice-sized fish about a mile from your home. “The future is ours to create,” says Next Generation Consulting, the firm Eagan has hired to facilitate a community visioning process. The project is expected to get underway this sum- mer. “Having accomplished so much,” says Mayor Mike Maguire, “its an exciting prospect to map out what’s next for Eagan. Not just for the next five years, but to envision what residents want for future generations.” The visioning process is an outgrowth of the City Council’s goal setting workshop in January. It will bring together emerging community lead- ers from varying demographics for inclusive and candid conversations about the trends affecting Eagan today and into the future. In his State of the City remarks in March, Mayor Maguire said that feedback “will help drive a renewed … and eyes-ahead vision that takes stock of Eagan’s vital assets, and our miss- ing pieces.” The project’s endgame, he says, “should give us the benchmarks and the guide- posts that are needed to shape and define the Eagan of tomorrow.” Next Generation Consulting, led by Rebecca Ryan, is a firm that works with communities across the country on engagement and visioning processes. More information will be provided as the project nears. Visit www.cityofeagan.com to track the progress. The City recently completed a study of 12 lakes. The project evaluated stormwater effects on each lake’s water quality, developed improve- ment and protection plans. The MPCA, a partial funder of the project, is requesting public com- ments until May 19, on the draft report which is available at: www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/ tmdl-draft.html. Questions? Call Eagan Water Resources (651) 675-5300. Our water heritage really began some 12,500 years ago after glaciers retreated, revealing a landscape of many shallow depressions and rolling hills. Including the Minnesota River, 11% of Eagan is surface water. There are 1,278 lakes, wetlands, and storm basins. Construction on Eagan’s Old Town Hall is about to begin. The project will not only repair fire damage, but also restore the building’s original 1914 look. The 1914 Town Hall, which houses the Eagan Historical Society collection, was damaged by arson in September 2013. Since then, the City and the Eagan Historical Society have worked to preserve the structure and its contents with the hope of hav- ing it repaired and restored. After much discussion and work with a local archi- tectural firm and historic restoration specialist, plans and specifications have been developed for construction to begin this spring. The City Council has designated $290,000 to the repairs and a num- ber of grants will help with proposed enhance- ments such as exterior lighting and building cooling. In addition to making the building whole and Just Like Old: 1914 Town Hall Restoration to Begin structurally safe again, the site will be graded to eliminate the need for the access ramp on the front of the building. Instead, a more natural incline will lead to the front entrance, as was the case in 1914. Some electrical, lighting, climate and secu- rity enhancements will be added, all with an eye toward preserving historical integrity. “It will be really nice to be able to continue to bring people into a building that is over 100 years old and help them learn about life in Eagan during those times,” says Mary Ellen Voracek, Eagan Historical Society Chair. “To also have a heated structure for year-round use and better lighting to see the dis- plays is important too.” Follow the project on the city website at www.cityofeagan.com/history. Drinking Water Report Online Soon Each year, the City of Eagan must provide a report on its drinking water quality with information about water source, treatment, demand and contami- nants. The report will be available online in mid-June at www.cityofeagan.com/drinkingwater. Congratulations Tasha K., a 4th grader at Deerwood elemen- tary. She drew this winning poster chosen to rep- resent Eagan at the state Water Week. View more posters and find out more about the contest. Congratulations Tasha K., a 4th grader at Deerwood elemen- tary. She drew this winning poster chosen to rep- resent Eagan at the state Water Week. View more posters and find out more about Experience Eagan • May/June 2015 • 2 Grilling Safety Spring is finally here and many of us are excited to begin grilling. Have at it! Just remember to practice fire safety first, as each year the fire department responds to fires related to grilling. ◗ ONLY use grills outdoors and NEVER leave a grill unattended. ◗ Place your grill well away from the home, deck railings, garages, eaves or branches. ◗ Cool your grill for a day before storing. ◗ Keep a 3-foot grill safety zone. ◗ Keep your grates and drip trays clean. Propane Grills ◗ Check the gas tank hose for leaks. ◗ Open the grill lid before lighting. ◗ If you smell gas while cooking, call the fire department. Home Safety Surveys provided by Eagan Fire Corps Is your home free of hazards? Trained Fire Corps volunteers will come to your home and provide fire and injury prevention education. They will walk through your home with you and make recommen- dations to make your home safer. Call (651) 675- 5909 to schedule a home safety survey today. Blood Pressure Checks Provided by Eagan Firefighters Residents can receive free blood pressure checks every second Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Center Lone Oak room. Upcoming dates: May 13, June 10 and July 8. Today law enforcement in Eagan is a $12.3 million, 85-person round-the clock operation, but as Eagan Police celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at the days when resources were fewer but the dedication to public safety was one and the same. In 1974, this article (inset) ran in the local Eagan Chronicle. Eagan was changing from a Township to a City. Officer Rodger Slater, a former Army reservist and Eagan farm boy had been on the Police force for seven years. “We worked 10-hour shifts, five days on and five off,” says Slater. By then the department had two squad cars, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., one more from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. “for people getting off work and after- bar-crowd calls.” Slater recalls. “We swapped cars with the day crew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Early on, Martin [DesLauriers, Police Chief,] would pick me up at the end of his day- shift, I’d take him home in the squad and start my night shift,” Slater says. He remembers they covered a lot of ground in those days. It wasn’t uncommon to put on 200 miles a shift to patrol all of Eagan. One car, a station wagon doubled as an ambulance at accidents or when a victim couldn’t wait for one out of Savage or St. Paul – like the baby Slater delivered in the driveway at an Eagan farm. “I tied off the umbilical cord with a shoelace,” he recalls with a laugh. The Sheriff’s office dispatched for Eagan then and Slater remembers several low spots in town, “we knew to drive through fast, because the signal would drop and we’d miss a call.” Technology was mostly hand-made and created of necessity. There were no computers or dash cams then. “Just our dispatch radios and radar,” says Slater. Martin was frustrated that officers had to be in a squad to hear dispatches, Slater recalls. Even inside the Police building, which was located on the northwest corner of Pilot Knob Road next to the Old Town Hall. When the officers went in — to drop off evidence, give a report to the secretary or to lock someone in a cell— “we’d pull the squad up close to the building, roll down the windows and listen for calls from the car,” says Slater, “and be quick so we didn’t miss anything.” Out of necessity, DesLauriers got creative. “He bought a transistor radio, taped a dispatch radio to it. I don’t remember exactly how it worked,” Slater says, “but tuned to the right station, the radio picked up the Sheriff and now we had a portable. It was an improve- ment.” As the community changed, crime and police duties changed with it. The Cedarvale Mall and Valley National Bank would hire off-duty officers during the holidays to help with all of the traffic. Yet Yankee Doodle, Lexington and Cliff Roads were all still gravel with grass growing down the center. Valley National Bank was also the site of one high profile case Slater recalls in the late 1970s. A man jumped into a woman’s car. With a knife to her throat, he forced her to make a withdrawal at the drive-through. He took the cash, released the woman. The car was later found nearby and the FBI was called to investigate. While Slater wasn’t assigned, he offered to dust the car for prints. The FBI agent gave the go-ahead and Slater went to work. He recovered finger prints that eventually helped with a conviction. He was sent a nice long let- ter of appreciation from the FBI for his work. Slater said that’s one of the things he always liked about being a cop in Eagan. “We worked cases all the way through, from the call, to photos, evidence, inter- Police Department 50th Anniversary Celebration Thursday, May 14 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Commemorating a half-century of service, the police department will host an Open House at the Municipal Center/Police Facility, 3830 Pilot Knob Road. family event refreshments & entertainment police department tours displays & demonstrations. Visit www.cityofeagan.com/Police50 for more photos, stories and event information. Eagan Police Celebrate 50 Years 1974 Eagan Chronicle views, to the prosecutor. So we saw it all the way through.” A new police facility would be built in 1978—now part of the City Hall first floor. A whole Police Wing would be needed by 1996. Technology, staffing, dis- patching and much more would change. But those are stories for the next issues of Experience Eagan as we travel through the 50-year history of the Eagan Police Department. Officer Slater retired in 1998. “The change in tech- nology, training and the population was unbeliev- able,” he says. “But the job itself didn’t change that much, really. Martin’s policy was ‘Do what you think is right …’ That was a pretty simple idea but it worked well all my years. Of course,” he says with a chuckle, “the actual policy grew to hundreds of pages by the time I retired.” ◗ If the flame goes out, turn the grill and the gas off. Wait 15 minutes before lighting. Charcoal Grills ◗ Consider using charcoal chimney starters instead of fuel. These work great and your food will taste better! ◗ NEVER light a grill with anything other than charcoal starter fluid or chimney starters. ◗ Keep charcoal fluid and matches out of the reach of children. ◗ Cool coals completely, then dispose in a METAL container. Officer Rodger Slater, 1973 Experience Eagan • May/June 2015 • 3 Basics on Backyard Birds & Bees in Eagan What’s the new buzz around town? In March, the City Council approved a permit for residential beekeeping. Residents of detached, single-family homes may now apply for a permit to keep honey bees on their property. Beekeeping joins backyard chickens as another option for residents interested in urban agriculture. Requirements are in place related to hive and coop proximity to homes and property lines, in addition to other stipulations. Permits are $50. More information about these permits is available at www.cityofeagan.com/clerk. Those interested in beekeeping or raising chickens on their property should contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information, (651) 675-5000. Eagan’s staff is often asked how to maintain a good lawn without using a lot of water. City experts pass along these tips: Mow at 3” The roots of turf-grass will grow deeper if you mow at 3+ inches (mowing short results in shal- low/weaker roots). Deeper roots help make a lawn more drought-tolerant and reduce soil compaction. An added bonus: 3-inch tall and thicker grass can choke out dandelions and other weeds too. Be sure to use a sharp mulching blade for a cleaner cut and a healthier lawn. Because conserving our water supply is so impor- tant, Eagan has adopted odd/even day watering restrictions. This plan applies to all Eagan properties. Exceptions are allowed for new sod, seed or land- scaping for the first three weeks after planting. Now is the perfect time to think about helping to clear some of the litter and debris left behind from winter. Consider joining the Adopt-A-Street pro- gram to help beautify Eagan. Community groups, neighborhood friends, churches and businesses are making a real difference in the life and looks of Eagan’s streets and the community. How it works: Volunteers select an available street segment of at least 1-mile, agree to a 2-year com- mitment and pick up litter on both sides of their adopted street at least 3-times-per-year. The City provides visibility vests, trash bags and safety infor- mation for use on clean-up days. Eagan staff will remove filled trash bags and large, heavy or hazard- ous items the group places at the roadside during cleanup. Groups can receive recognition by placing Deeper Roots Mean a Healthier, Greener Lawn Odd/Even Watering Plan Conserves Water Daily It’s Spring Clean-up Time Plant Fine Fescue Fine Fescue, a grass-like plant that can replace grass has deeper roots (up to 9” depth) than typi- cal lawn grass (typically only 1-3” depth) for even better drought resistance. Fine fescue’s dense growth crowds out weeds too. Sometimes called a “No Mow” lawn, fine fescues blends do not grow very tall, so can reduce mowing frequency. More tips for better lawns and instructions on planting a fine-fescue lawn can be found at www. cityofeagan.com/watersmart. This is a permanent system that is enforced throughout the entire year. If you have questions, or need an exception, call the Utility Division at (651)-675-5200. adoption signs (purchased by group) in the area. Visit www.cityofeagan.com/adopt-a-street or con- tact Eagan’s Maintenance Facility at (651) 675-5300. Park Plans From sport fields to picnic shelters, playgrounds to fishing piers, and trails to facilities, Eagan’s 55 parks have something to offer everyone. To ensure this continues, the City park system is con- stantly evolving. In 2015 some exciting changes are planned. Watch for these projects: ◗ Phase II at Moonshine Park – will expand the park on the south end of Lemay Lake. New amenities include a playground, sun shelter, trail loops with nature-based exer- cise stations, a lake viewing deck and a small parking area. ◗ Field Improvements at Thresher Fields – a drainage system that will allow the fields to be useable sooner following a rain event, reducing cancellations. ◗ Rahn Park Athletic Area – an extension of electric service to ball field areas for team use, tournaments, future scoreboards and maintenance functions. ◗ Eagan Community Center – Sign replace- ment at the primary entrances. ◗ Heine Pond Park – Through a partnership with the DNR, a new fishing pier will be installed to replace the existing platform. ◗ Playground Replacement – one or more play structures will be replaced this year based on the replacement/condition schedule. Help Keep Hydrants Handy Ensuring the more than 4,000 hydrants throughout Eagan are working and ready for access when needed is a shared responsibility. City utility crews regularly inspect, flush and repair hydrants as needed. Some 530 hydrants, however, are privately owned and are not maintained by the City. These are typically located on commercial, industrial and apartment properties. Responsibility for these hydrants belongs to the property owner. All hydrants, whether public or private need to be easily accessed in a fire and that is where we all play a role. Take a look around your neighborhood and locate the hydrant nearest where you live or work. If there is snow, grass or foliage hiding a hydrant, be sure to regularly clear this away (at least 3 feet around) so the hydrant is easily visible and reachable by firefighters. Contact the Utility Division at (651) 675-5200 with questions. If your address ends in an odd number such as 311, outdoor watering is allowed on the odd num- bered calendar dates. Likewise, if the address ends in an even number such as 310, outdoor watering is allowed only on even numbered calendar dates. Odd NumberEven NumberMain Drain Pain? Is your basement floor drain backing up? Call the City Utility staff first and we’ll inspect the sewer from the manhole. If there’s a blockage there, we’ll clear it free of charge. If not, it’s likely tree roots or debris closer to your home, which is the homeown- er’s responsibility and will indeed require a plumber or drain cleaning service. Call (651) 675-5200 with questions or to report utility issues. PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDTWIN CITIES MNPERMIT NO. 4902* * * * * ECRWSS * *Residential Postal Customer3830 Pilot Knob RoadEagan, Minnesota 55122Page 1 What Kind of Future Do We Want? City Marks 25-Year Water Protection History Eagan Drinking Water Report Online Soon Just Like Old: 1914 Town Hall Restoration to Begin Page 2 Grilling Safety Eagan Police Celebrate 50 Years Page 3 Deeper Roots Mean a Healthier, Greener Lawn Odd/Even Watering Plan Conserves Water Daily Basics on Backyard Birds & Bees in Eagan Park Plans Out with Winter, In with Spring Clean-up Help Keep Hydrants Handy Page 4 Eagan Market Fest Named Best Live Music Venue Streets Alive: The Cedar Grove Experience Eagan Art Festival Puts Focus on Home Funfest is Drawing Near Get a Water Workout at Cardio Bay Mayor Mike Maguire Councilmembers Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields Gary Hansen Meg Tilley City Administrator Dave Osberg City Hall (651) 675-5000 • (651) 454-8535 TTY www.cityofeagan.com Experience Eagan Streets Alive: The Cedar Grove Experience Streets Alive returns on September 12, with a new location showcasing Eagan’s redeveloped Cedar Grove district. This is the event where we close a roadway for a day to create a unique street party. Come and discover: ◗ Streets Alive with play. Interactive booths, games like pickle ball, bean bag toss and trivia. Learn some dance moves, drive a robot car, get your face painted, jump in inflatables, try on fire gear, win prizes, and create a work of art and more. ◗ Streets Alive with a wide selection of classic and gourmet food from local food trucks and area businesses in and near the outlet mall. ◗ Streets Alive with music and entertainment. ◗ Streets Alive with families and friends, dis- covering the outlet mall, area businesses and the new developments coming soon. ◗ Streets Alive with Eagan’s community orga- nizations, churches, service groups and non- profits. Connect with service projects, volun- teer opportunities and community activities. ◗ Streets Alive with city staff to answer ques- tions, and demonstrate a range of City ser- vices, and a touch-a-truck area. Streets Alive is all about building community engagement and showcasing why Eagan is repeatedly rated one of the Top 20 Best Places to Live in the U.S. Watch for more information this summer. Community orga- nizations interested in participating should visit www.cityofeagan.com/alive or call (651) 675-5500 for more information. The 21st Annual Eagan Art Festival on June 27 & 28 at The Festival Grounds at Eagan Central Park embraces the theme “Eagan Our Home.” Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Free admission & plenty of parking. The theme will be apparent throughout the festival, highlighting some of the artists who live or work in Eagan through hands-on activities and a community art project coordinated by muralist Tessa Cox. Inspired festival guests wishing to take an Art House class will receive 15% off registration if they sign up at the event. For more information, visit www.eaganartfestival.org. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Eagan Art Festival Puts Focus on Home Eagan Market Fest Named Best Live Music Venue It’s that time of year again for Eagan Market Fest every Wednesday beginning June 3 at the Festival Grounds of Eagan Central Park. Each week from 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m., the park is filled with fresh produce vendors, sweet treats, music and other entertainment. Last fall, in fact, SunThisweek readers voted Eagan Market Fest the best place to see live music. So come enjoy the Wednesday night concerts in the park at the Eagan Market Fest. Check out the concert schedule, farmer’s market vendors and upcoming activities at www.cityofeagan.com/marketfest. Funfest is Drawing Near Plenty of opportunities The Eagan July 4th Funfest is near- ing. The event, named “Eagan Event of the Year” by the Eagan Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, could use your help in a variety of ways, from VIP hosts to grounds clean- up crews. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt and boasting-rights for being part of Eagan’s largest event. Visit www.eaganfunfest.org or e-mail volun- teer@eaganfunfest.org for more information. Seeking Funfest Ambassador Candidates Young men and women ages 10-19 who want to learn about volunteerism, character building, self-esteem and helping their community, while promoting Funfest should consider becoming an Eagan Funfest Ambassador. Candidates must live, go to school or worship in Eagan. More information can be obtained at www.eagan- funfest.org or by e-mailing ambassador@eagan- funfest.org Get a Water Workout at Cardio Bay Do you love Cascade Bay, but wish you could get in a water workout without all the kids around? Then you need to check out fitness-focused Cardio Bay, open each day at Cascade Bay before general admission. New this year-- activities from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as well. ◗ Lap Swim ◗ Water Walking ◗ Water Aerobics Admission Rates: A $6 per day Cardio Bay admission is good for all morning and evening activities. Cardio Bay season pass offers unlimited admissions into fitness sessions. $50/Eagan Resident, $60/Non- Resident. Cascade Bay season pass holders may add a Cardio Pass for $30/Eagan Resident, $40/Non-Resident.