Loading...
2015-11 Experience EaganExperience Eagan • November/December 2015 • 1 November/December 2015 Experience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience Eagan Let’s say you have a friend considering a move to Eagan; what would you tell them? What do you like most? Are there any misconceptions you might cor- rect? What characteristics do you wish Eagan had? The answers to these questions are at the heart of the discussion currently being facilitated in the com- munity during Eagan Forward, a visioning process for Eagan’s future. “Our goal is to create an open, inclusive and exciting process to give Eagan an opportunity to address its challenges and engage new leaders,” says Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting, the consultant facilitating this project. “We also want to assess the trends impacting the region and identify a new vision for current and future leaders,” says Ryan. To kick-off the process, the City Council appointed a group of 10 diverse residents to the Eagan Forward Steering Committee to lead the effort. Next Generation Consulting then conducted in-depth interviews with Eagan’s economic, political, civic, education, and humanities leaders to learn about their wishes and concerns. During the last week of October, a series of focus groups are bringing together nearly 300 community members for candid conversations about the Eagan we want to leave for future generations. Get Involved If you were in charge of Eagan’s 20-year vision, what would you include in the plan? Although the process is underway, you still have a chance to share your vision for the Eagan in a variety of ways: Eagan Forward Helps Shape the City’s Future Training Facility and Much More Envisioned in Vikings’ Development The Eagan City Council, voting 5-0 in favor at its October 6 meeting, enthusiastically supported a Comprehensive Guide Plan change, a step that could advance a Minnesota Vikings move to Eagan. Prior to the Council vote, Vikings representatives Kevin Warren and Steve Poppen presented a broad view of the team’s vision to build a “work, live, play” development. Based on the Vikings’ current concept, corporate offices and the training facil- ity, including three outdoor practice fields, would be located here. But the team’s ideas for the site go far beyond that: “We have a big vision for this place,” says Warren. Plans include a potential hall of fame, a conference center/hotel, an office building, multifamily housing units, a retail concept, and an outdoor football stadium for youth and high-school football games. The 194-acre property—the former Northwest/ Delta Airlines headquarters, fronts I-494 in northeast Eagan. The Comprehensive Guide change is the authority that allows for the property to have these mixed For the third consecutive year, you have a chance to ask questions about Eagan’s budget and have them answered during a live, interactive TV program enti- tled Eagan Budget & Beyond (formerly Budget Connect). This year, the concept is expanded beyond just bud- get questions. Mayor Maguire and a team of City staff will try to take on any query you have about the way Eagan works, and they’ll do it in real-time. Budget & Beyond airs on Monday, November 16, at 7 p.m. live on Eagan –TV channel 20, and via live- stream at cityofeagan.com/AskUs. Viewers can post questions that will be answered live during the pro- gram. Questions can be related to how the City uses your tax dollars, but can also be about most any ser- vice the City could provide. Submit your questions before or during the interactive program: ◗ at the City Facebook or Twitter accounts ◗ on the comment form at cityofeagan.com/ AskUs ◗ via voicemail at (651) 675-5074 ◗ send a text to (651) 337-9079 Start thinking of that question you’ve always want- ed to have answered and send it in. Watch to see if your question is answered during the live program. After a brief budget overview, the panel will try to answer as many questions as possible, rapid- fire, during the one-hour show. Find out more at cityofeagan.com/AskUs. Continued on page 2 ◗ Look for the chalkboards and whiteboards around town and write down your wish for Eagan ◗ Post your suggestions on the City of Eagan Facebook or Twitter page ◗ Send an email to forward@cityofeagan.com ◗ Share your thoughts on the anonymous mes- sage board at cityofeagan.com/forward Many residents have already shared wishes for the Eagan of the future, ranging from a “town center” area, community art, more affordable housing, municipal fiber and curbside composting. Some residents want a community pool and to preserve Eagan’s natural assets. What’s Next? The community feedback will be compiled and reviewed by the consultant and steering com- mittee. In January, a plan will be presented that outlines a renewed vision for Eagan and the spe- cific action items to realize the future goals. Save the date for January 28, 2016 to join your fellow Eaganites in a high-energy event to celebrate the Eagan of today and learn more about how the com- munity can work together to move Eagan forward. Visit cityofeagan.com/forward for more. Ask About Eagan’s Budget & More Time to License Fido It’s time again to ensure your dog is registered. Licensing your dog is not only a safe and respon- sible thing to do, but it also helps bring your pup home if he/ she is ever lost. Licenses are $20, and are valid from January 1, 2016 through the end of 2017. Licenses are required by City ordinance and can be purchased online at cityofeagan.com/DogLicense or at the Eagan Police Department, Eagan Community Center, most Eagan area vet clinics, and dog care centers. Proof of cur- rent rabies vaccination is required before a license can be issued. Questions can be directed to the police department at (651) 675-5700. uses, rather than the current Major Office designation. The Amendment now moves to the Metropolitan Council for its consideration, likely within 60 days from the City’s action. Speaking about the development Mayor Maguire praised the team’s concept as “tremendously well- envisioned.” Councilmember Fields said what the Vikings are bringing here is “synergy and energy.” What drew the NFL team to consider the 194-acre site at Dodd Road and I-494? Warren says it was the chance to bring all of their employees to work at one location, the site’s proximity to the airport and both downtowns, and the land itself, which he calls “rich and green — a beautiful place.” Warren calls the plan a “first of its kind in the National Football League and all of pro sports,” not- ing that the team spends just 10 to 15 days in the stadium, “but 365, 24/7 [at the headquarters/train- ing facility].” Public Hearing & Budget Presented A budget presentation and opportunity for the public to comment (formerly called a Truth In Taxation Hearing) will be available at the November 30 City Council meeting. Experience Eagan • November/December 2015 • 2 Eagan Police Department Recalls a Rich History When you see lights and hear sirens, do you won- der what is going on? Do you question if what you see on TV is even possible in law enforce- ment? Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Eagan Police Department during the 21st annual Citizen’s Academy. From a ride-along with an officer, a visit to the range, meeting the Police K-9, Loki, learning about use of force, DUI arrests and more, the academy is designed to offer citizens insight into modern day policing through hands-on training conducted by Eagan Police Officers. The eight- week Citizens Academy will begin its on March 3, 2016 and meet on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Eagan Police Department. The program is open to anyone who lives or works in Eagan. Because of the sensitive nature of some of the training topics, applicants must be over 18 years old and agree to a criminal back- ground check. There are 25 openings available. Applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, January 5, 2016 and can be downloaded from the City’s Web site at www.cityofeagan.com/police. For more information regarding the program, contact Crime Prevention Specialist – Jill Ondrey at (651) 675-5700. During the 50th year of the Eagan Police Department, Experience Eagan looks back, at a few of the events and people that shaped the City of Eagan and its Police Department. When the Eagan Police Department embarked on its 40th year, Chief Kent Therkelsen had led the department since the retirement of Chief Pat Geagan in 1999. Therkelsen was the first to come from outside of Eagan’s ranks, having been hired from Bloomington. “When I was hired I had the really nice luxury of stepping into a very stable department with a great reputation, in a community I’d lived in for seven years,” says Therkelsen. Arguably one of the largest transitions for the Eagan Police Department in its fourth decade was the opening of a joint dispatching center for all Police and Fire services throughout the County in 2007. Although it would take several more years for the ten communities and Dakota County to vote in sup- port of a joint communications center, the idea had its inception with two seemingly unrelated events. One was the enormous storm of 2000 in which Eagan was deluged by nearly a foot of rain in less Before you know it, holiday shopping season will be upon us. This is a time when crime becomes more prevalent, so the Eagan Police Department reminds residents of some basic holiday safety tips to help keep your holiday season safe and happy. ◗ Shop during daylight hours when possible. If you must shop at night, tell a friend or family member how long you plan to be gone. ◗ Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and carry any you bring in a front pocket. Avoid carrying a purse if possible. If you carry a purse or wallet, keep it close to the front of your body and never set a purse down. Cross-body purses help prevent this. ◗ Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused. ◗ Make a list of your credit cards, their account numbers and numbers to call if cards are lost. Keep this list at home. ◗ Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. “Con-artists” may work in teams and/or try to distract you to access your money or belongings. ◗ If you are planning to shop with children, teach them what to do if you get separated. The best option is to instruct your child to look for a security guard or police officer, or go to the customer service desk where peo- ple are trained to help. Older children should know your cell number to make contact. Get a Closer Look at Eagan Policing Holiday Shopping Tips Sun Current, October 30, 1996 Vikings Development...from page 1 The October 6 Council’s action is a first step, but does not constitute final project approval. If the Metropolitan Council permits the change, it will be necessary for the Vikings (via their development partner MVZ Ventures, LLC ) to submit more spe- cific development applications for consideration by the Advisory Planning Commission and City Council. Agendas for meetings at which those applications will be considered are posted on the City’s Web site. If you are interested in keeping track of the discussions regarding this proposal, you can sub- scribe to receive Planning Commission and City Council agendas at cityofeagan.com/subscribe. A bit of history The interstate freeways were completed through Eagan thirty years ago and Northwest Airlines bought this same large property in northeast Eagan with a vision to build their headquarters and corporate campus. In the years that followed, the company built the Headquarters and flight training buildings, but a lot of the functions in their original plan ended up being located elsewhere in Eagan or at the airport. When Northwest and Delta Airlines merged, Delta operations relocated to Atlanta and the property was put up for sale. Now the Vikings have emerged as a prospective new owner, with a vision of a different kind of headquarters. than 24 hours, flooding many homes and over- whelming Eagan’s dispatch staff with calls from impacted residents. Therkelsen noted, “If you have four phones that can take calls and 104 people call- ing, 100 people are going to get busy signals, that’s just the reality. Natural disasters always test a dis- patch system, no matter how strong it is.” This test was followed a year later by the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. While thousands of miles away, “Apprehension was pal- pable,” said Therkelsen. “We were literally tak- ing calls on things that wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow the week before.” Therkelsen believes these distinct events helped address the need for more part- nership, better informa- tion sharing and the additional shared staff a joint dispatch center could bring. When the dispatch center opened in 2007, it was with Kent Therkelsen as its Director. This opened the door for a new Chief in Eagan. Jim McDonald, was sworn in on September 5, 2006 and remains Chief today. “Mac” as he’s known, was hired by Eagan’s second Chief, Jay Berthe in 1988 and has spent his entire career with Eagan. “Any organization is better off knowing where it began. In 1965, Eagan had a fledgling department. Before you know it we’re at 40 years and that is really something... to consider how that department is building and living its history every day.” ~ Kent Therkelsen, Eagan’s fourth Police Chief ThisWeek, July 9, 2005 ThisWeek, July 9, 2005 ThisWeek, September 11, 2002 Thisweek Newspaper Hundreds of home- owners watched late Friday, July 7 [2000] as waters from a severe thunderstorm over- flowed from storm sewers and drain- age ponds, turning streets into rivers, submerging base- ments and turning ground floors into wading pools. On Wednesday, July 12, Dakota County was declared a federal disaster area… Experience Eagan • November/December 2015 • 3 Ready or not, winter is coming. Snow will fall and plows will take to the streets. Brush up on Eagan’s winter parking rules and plowing plans, so you aren’t caught in the cold. Odd/Even Day Parking Restrictions To keep people safe and allow plow drivers to do what is needed, the City has winter parking rules in place from November 15 through April 15, regardless of snowfall. The Basics: Daytime hours, from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. parking is only allowed on one side of the roadway (see graphic below). Park on the odd-numbered side of the street on odd-numbered days and on the even-numbered side on even-numbered days. Parking is allowed on both sides in the evening and overnight from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Violators may be ticketed and/or towed. Find out more at www. cityofeagan.com/winterparking. Roadway Plowing City crews begin plowing once two inches of snow accumulates. They begin on higher volume City streets and then proceed to clear public residential City streets and cul-de-sacs. Ice, sleet, drifting or other factors may also activate plowing opera- tions. Dakota County and the State of Minnesota are responsible for maintaining County Roads and State/Interstate highways. Trail & Sidewalk Plowing 76 miles of boulevard trails and sidewalks are cleared following snowfall, once Parking, Plowing and Other Winter Wonders Reminders from the Eagan Fire Department as Cold Weather Blows In streets are safely cleared. This is generally 1-3 days after snowfall—sometimes longer during significant or back-to-back storms. A map showing which of the City’s 120 miles of trails are plowed is online at cityofeagan.com/plow. Free Curb Marking Stakes To help prevent lawn damage from plows, residents are encouraged to mark hidden curb lines. Free wooden stakes (eight per household) are available at the Eagan Maintenance Facility, 3501 Coachman Point. The City is not responsible for damage to any objects/amenities (fences, landscaping, etc.) located in these areas. Garbage awaiting pick-up should be set back four to eight feet behind the curb. Additional information regarding the City snow and ice control as well as contacts for Dakota County and State agencies, trail plowing and more can be found at cityofeagan.com/plow. Updates are routinely posted on the City Facebook and Twitter accounts. Questions can also be answered by calling the Maintenance Facility at (651) 675-5300. Naming Names at Central Park Commons Drive near the intersection of Pilot Knob and Yankee Doodle Roads almost any day and you’ll see much progress being made at the Central Park Commons development. The site is now fully cleared of the previous Lockheed Martin Facility and a good deal of earth has been moved to balance the site. Retaining walls are being constructed along portions of the perim- eter. Two businesses, Fairview Health and Punch Pizza, have announced their plans to locate within the retail center. Another business, the grocery store anchor tenant at this location has been a bit more subtle. However, the secret is out as Hy-Vee, the Iowa-based grocery chain, has located its branded construction trailer on the site and is now allowing the City to mention their store by name. Fairview Health Services plans to occupy a two- story, 42,000 square foot medical office building featuring primary and urgent care and a phar- macy with a drive-through. Other services will include counseling, pediatric rehabilitation and sports medicine. They expect to open in the fall of 2016. Punch Neapolitan Pizza has also gone public with the announcement that its 10th store will be located at Central Park Commons. This is the first of their restaurants to locate south of the river. Your Old Car Could Help Save Lives Eagan Fire Department Training Needs Donated Vehicles Got an old car to get rid of? The Fire Department needs cars for training exercises. Car donations are tax deductible. Each year, the department trains on how to safely extract people from vehicles following a crash. These trainings are essential considering they respond to more than 150 vehicle accidents/fires each year. Carbon Monoxide Safety ◗ Carbon Monoxide (CO) is the silent killer. Check your detetectors. ◗ Have your furnace serviced annually, a malfunc- tioning furnace can generate CO ◗ Replace 5-7 year old CO alarms, they do expire ◗ Change the batteries in ALL CO alarms annually ◗ Have a CO alarm on every level of your home, within 10 feet of each sleeping area Space Heaters are the #2 leading cause of accidental death in the home ◗ Unplug when leaving the room ◗ Give them space! Leave a clear zone of at least 3 feet with nothing that can catch fire ◗ NEVER leave a space heater on while you sleep Holiday safety ◗ Use LED lighting (bulbs don’t get hot) and check/replace any frayed or worn wires ◗ Use battery operated candles. If using tradi- tional candles, only use when adults are in the room. Blow out immediately after use. Choose candles with a sturdy wide-base and make sure nothing combustible is nearby. ◗ Keep any natural foliage—like trees and plants— well watered and away from fireplac- es, space heaters or hot appliances ◗ Watch what you heat! There are many distrac- tions when cooking during the holidays. Set timers, designate a child-free and combustible- free area around the stove and hot appliances, use large turkey fryers outdoors only, at least 15 feet from the home/garage and combustible materials. Parking only on odd side of streets on odd numbered days 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking only on even side of streets on even numbered days 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Odd/Even Parking Nov. 15 to April 15 PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDTWIN CITIES MNPERMIT NO. 4902* * * * * ECRWSS * *Residential Postal Customer3830 Pilot Knob RoadEagan, Minnesota 55122Page 1 Ask About Eagan’s Budget & More Eagan Forward Helps Shape the City’s Future Training Facility and Much More Envisioned in Vikings’ Development Time to License Fido Page 2 Get a Closer Look at Eagan Policing Eagan Police Department Recalls a Rich History Holiday Shopping Tips Page 3 Parking, Plowing and Other Winter Wonders Naming Names at Central Park Commons Reminders from the Eagan Fire Department Your Old Car Could Help Save Lives Page 4 The Coolest Birthday Parties Winter Market Fest Annual Pottery & Art Sale Expands Give Old Shoes New Lives Outdoor Rinks & Tubing Hill Mayor Mike Maguire Councilmembers Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields Gary Hansen Meg Tilley City Administrator Dave Osberg (651) 675-5000 • (651) 454-8535 TTY www.cityofeagan.com Page 1 Experience Eagan Make your child’s next birthday a unique and active experience with an ice skating party at the Eagan Civic Arena. Both younger kids and teens will love celebrating their special day with friends, sharing a meal and cake in the party room for an hour, and then strapping on skates for a great time on ice. Parents will love the ease of preparation since the Civic Arena provides all of the food, supplies, set-up and clean-up. Parties are scheduled before Open Skating and Club Sk8 sessions and are customizable based on your party size, price range, food selections and optional add-ons. You can even schedule a group lesson as part of the party. Ice skates are included or guests can bring their own. Open Skating sessions take place six days a week and provide a fun time when the whole family can practice leisure skating, get some exercise and just enjoy gliding over the smooth icy rink. Club Sk8 amps up that fun with music, a disco ball and party lighting—think old-school roller rink on ice. These sessions are scheduled on Friday and Saturday nights. Learn more about party opportunities, Open Skating and Club Sk8 sessions at EaganCivicArena.com and glide into some fun this winter. Winter Market The Coolest Birthday Parties Pair with Open Skating & Club Sk8 Annual Pottery & Art Sale Expands Give Old Shoes New Lives Farmer’s markets aren’t just for summer anymore. Bring your shopping bag and connect with 20 ven- dors every other Saturday from November 7 to February 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the Eagan Community Center at the Eagan Winter Market Fest. You’ll find a wide variety of flavorful treats for snacking and gifting. Vendors bring local fruit and veggies, sauces, syrups and salsa, sweet and savory items as well as fresh or frozen selections. You’ll find non-food items too including cards, bath prod- ucts and more. Plan a visit to the Indoor Market Fest every two weeks as the selection is always chang- ing. Visit cityofeagan.com/MarketFest for more. The Eagan Art House Pottery & Art Sale has expanded to two locations this year. You will find extraordinary work from many local artists featur- ing pottery, jewelry, photography, fused glass, watercolor, painting and fiber art. The sale will be held on Saturday, November 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Eagan Art House and just across the parking lot at Advent United Methodist Church. Eagan Art House students, staff and Eagan Connect Artists have joined forces to bring more pottery and artwork than ever before. There will be free coffee and plenty of parking. For more information visit Eaganarthouse.org or call the Eagan Art House at (651) 675-5521. Instead of throwing out your old or unwanted shoes, recycle them during a one-week collection coordinated by Dakota Valley Recycling (cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan), In honor of America Recycles Day (Nov. 15). Eagan residents can drop off shoes of all types, sizes and styles, in any condition from Monday, Nov. 9 to Sunday, Nov. 15 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Eagan Civic Arena, 3870 Pilot Knob Road. Containers are located inside the building. Shoes collected during this event are sepa- rated for reuse or recycled into new products. In 2014, Eagan, Burnsville and Apple Valley resi- dents prevented 10,987 pounds of shoes from going to the landfill. For more information visit DakotaValleyRecycling.org/shoes. Outdoor Rinks & Tubing Hill Winter can be full of fun, especially when you add an outdoor adven- ture. The snow tubing hill at Trapp Farm Park and the many outdoor skating rinks throughout City parks provide a multitude of places to enjoy all of the seasons Eagan has to offer. Outdoor ice rinks and the tubing hill expect to open in December and will remain open, as weather permits, until mid-February. For rink locations and types, hours and tubing hill rules and admission, visit cityofeagan.com/Parks and select either Outdoor Ice Rinks or Trapp Farm Park Tubing Hill. facebook.com/CityofEagan @CityofEagan photo by Mick Richardsphoto by Jeremy Shawley