12/23/2002 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2002
COMMUNITY CENTER ? CENTRAL PARK
5:00 P.M.
Present: Mayor Awada, Councilmembers Carlson, Fields and Tilley, City
Administrator Hedges, Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke, Parks
and Recreation Director Vraa, and Mayor-elect Geagan
REVIEW PROGRESS OF COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION
City Administrator Hedges reported that the City Council completed a walk through of
the Community Center to review the status of various building components.
The meeting was temporarily adjourned, to be reconvened in the Community Room at
City Hall.
CITY HALL - COMMUNITY ROOM
6:00 P.M.
Present: Mayor Awada, Councilmembers Carlson, Fields and Tilley, City
Administrator Hedges, Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke, Assistant
City Administrator Verbrugge, Parks and Recreation Director Vraa, Senior
Planner Ridley, and Mayor-elect Geagan
ROLL CALL & AGENDA ADOPTION
Councilmember Fields moved, Councilmember Tilley seconded a motion to approve the
agenda with the addition of Premises Permit Renewal, Letter to Dakota County, and
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Resolution Regarding July 4, 2003 Activities to Item VI, Other Business.
Councilmember Carlson also wanted to clarify staffing issues as part of the Community
Center discussion.
Aye: 4 Nay: 0
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
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December 23, 2002
Page 2
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT AMENDING CITY CODE
CHAPTER 11, SEC. 11.60/CEDAR GROVE DESIGN STANDARDS
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item and summarized the background on the
issue. The draft Cedar Grove design standards and draft Cedar Grove Zoning District
language were presented. Hedges reported that an open house had been held on
December 18 and that the Advisory Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on the
issue on December 19, unanimously recommending approval of the ordinance
amendment. Hedges introduced Senior Planner Ridley to summarize the
recommendations of the APC.
Senior Planner Ridley stated that the APC recommended the following changes to the
draft before unanimously approving the ordinance amendment for recommendation:
?
Four (4) proposed Permitted Uses in Subd. 23, Sec. B (#3-Animal Clinic when
contained within a building; #21-Hotel or motel; #39-Residential multi-family
dwelling, if within a structure containing at least four units; and #40-School,
public or private.) should be identified as Conditional Uses (Subd. 23, Sec. D)
?
Percentage of street fronting building façade (Subd.23, Sec. E-5.) should be 85%
rather than the proposed 60%
?
No detached garages be permitted for Building Type B, Apartments or
Condominiums (Subd.23, Sec. F-2.) and that each residential unit must be
provided two (2) enclosed parking stalls
?
Add Eastern Red Cedar to the list of trees that satisfy landscaping requirements
(Subd. 23, Sec. J-13h.), since the district is known as the Cedar Grove District
Resident Doris Dahline, 3830 Alder Lane, asked about Cedarvale Lanes since bowling
alleys are not on the list of proposed Permitted Uses. Councilmember Carlson noted that
?Bakery? is not on the list and asked if a #49 could be added in Section B as a general
catch all phrase to include ?Bakery?. Carlson also mentioned her concern about
?Automobile Service/Repair? as a Conditional Use (Subd. 23, Sec. D-9).
Senior Planner Ridley responded to Ms. Dahline?s question by stating that ?Indoor
Recreation? is usually a Conditional Use. Mayor Awada suggested that ?Indoor
Recreation? be added as #13 in Section D.
Mayor Awada stated that she disagreed with the APC recommendation regarding the
percentage of building frontage. Council members expressed concern about the amount
of surface parking lot as frontage when the purpose is to bring buildings as close to the
street as possible. Mayor Awada agreed with the concern but stated that the 85%
requirement was too much. She suggested clarifying Subd. 23, Sec. E-5 to state that
building facades must be a minimum of 60% frontage and that parking not exceed 15%.
The City Council concurred with the clarification
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December 23, 2002
Page 3
Ms. Dahline stated that there was a lot of ambiguity in the draft language. She said that,
for example, the phrase ?for the most part? was used frequently and should be removed.
She also said that pedestrian boulevards with no traffic are very successful in Europe and
could be used here.
Council member Carlson stated that she does not want to see more townhomes in the area
after Delta Development. Carlson also stated that the redevelopment area should be
broken up into districts specifying where residential, office, and other uses should be
located. Senior Planner Ridley discussed the Comprehensive Guide Plan amendments,
specifically related to Council member Carlson?s comments, which will be presented to
the APC for consideration in January 2003.
Councilmember Carlson suggested that the duties of the Cedar Grove Design Review
Committee (Subd. 23, Sec. L) be assigned to the Economic Development Commission.
Mayor Awada said the Design Review Committee is more of an administrative task, that
the EDC could make design review recommendations to the City Council, and that the
appeal process should be removed from the ordinance amendment. The City Council
agreed to include this change.
Ms. Dahline asked how the Cedar Grove District is defined. Senior Planner Ridley stated
that the map of the proposed Cedar Grove District, which is essentially the Cedar Grove
Redevelopment Area, was included in the notice that was mailed.
Ms. Dahline asked about Appendix B ? Street Types and asked how Cedar Grove
Parkway fits into those descriptions. The City Council directed Senior Planner Ridley to
amend the Street Types to be ?Future Street/Road Guidelines?.
Councilmember Carlson moved, Councilmember Tilley seconded, to adopt the Ordinance
Amendment to Chapter 11, with changes, and direct the City Attorney to prepare an
Amendment Summary suitable for publication. Aye: 4, No: 0.
COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATIONS REPORT
Councilmember Carlson stated for clarification that the temporary hiring freeze related to
Central Park should include a General Fund grounds maintenance position.
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item and referenced a summary in the Council
packet of the Operations Committee meeting held on December 17, 2002. He stated that
the general consensus of the committee was to not proceed with staffing and other items
until the capital construction and operating budgets for the Community Center were ready
for review in January 2003. Other pertinent issues, Hedges said, were the preparation of
change orders for the additional layout of stonework around the fireplace, estimated to be
$12,000, and research of after market trim products.
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December 23, 2002
Page 4
Councilmember Carlson asked for a timeframe for decisions on these issues. Mayor-
elect Geagan stated that the project superintendent had told him the timeframe is very
tight. The City Council agreed to allow the Operations Committee to keep working on
the fireplace.
Councilmember Carlson moved, seconded by Councilmember Tilley, to have a CAD3
design drawing of the fireplace prepared. Aye: 4, No: 0.
Administrative Services Director VanOverbeke stated that the building budget can be
updated by the January 7, 2003 City Council meeting, but that the total budget is more
complicated and will take more time. He further stated that a portion of the total original
bond sale amount was allocated to the building budget.
City Administrator Hedges introduced the next item for consideration, French Doors for
the senior room. Mayor Awada moved, seconded by Councilmember Tilley, to prepare a
change directive for two French doors to be installed in the senior room. Aye: 3, No: 1
(Carlson opposed).
City Administrator Hedges stated the next item for discussion was the break
room/receiving area. Councilmember Carlson moved, Mayor Awada seconded, that the
upstairs room not be used for a break room or administrative office so as not to take away
revenue. Mayor Awada emphasized her concern that it not be a ?de facto? break room.
Aye: 4, No: 0.
City Administrator Hedges noted that a decision had been made to repaint the aerobics
room from green to neutral beige that the soffit has been painted. He stated that no City
Council decision had been made on locker room changes.
Information was included in the packet regarding the teen room program statement from
the focus group on the teen center. Council discussion included concerns about a
dividing wall separating the money-taking machines (arcade) from the television
watching area. Councilmember Carlson said the wiring for the video games is not in yet,
but the ?guts? of the room is still workable. The Council agreed that other items such as
pool and foosball will also be pay-for-play. Mayor-elect Geagan said his experience with
arcade environments is that it is necessary to staff the space. Councilmember Tilley
asked about the experience of other cities with pay-to-play games and how much profit is
made. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa stated that Roseville had pay-to-play
videogames but he did not recall the specific numbers. He will research that. He also
said that New Brighton had games that were subsequently removed.
Mayor Awada moved to install the electric, remove the computers, and not buy furniture
until the Operations Committee reviews the issue. Councilmember Tilley asked to not
remove computers without consulting the teen focus group or doing some research.
Mayor Awada withdrew her motion. Councilmember Fields moved, seconded by Tilley,
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December 23, 2002
Page 5
to get a quote for running the electrical to the room and to not purchase any items for the
room until further directed. Aye: 4, No: 0.
Councilmember Fields requested a date when the Council could expect to receive
information on the senior center kitchenette. City Administrator Hedges said that a
memo is being prepared for the next Operations Committee meeting that will have all of
the information.
The discussion regarding Tubing Rates at Sledding Hills was delayed until the end of the
agenda.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. Consideration of Amended and Restated Development Agreement with Interstate
Partners.
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item. He stated that the Economic
Development Authority had approved the restated and amended agreement with Interstate
Partners for redevelopment in the Highway 55/149 TIF District at a special meeting on
December 17, 2002.
Councilmember Fields moved, Councilmember Tilley seconded a motion to approve the
amended and restated development agreement with Interstate Partners for redevelopment
of property in TIF District No. 2-4. Aye: 4, No: 0
B. 2003 Tobacco License Renewals.
Mayor Awada moved, Councilmember Fields
seconded, approval of the 2003 Tobacco License Renewals for Cooper?s Restaurant,
Green Mill Restaurant, Tobacco Express, Crowne Plaza, and Tobak Shack.
Aye: 4, No: 0
C. 2003 Pet Shop License Renewal.
Mayor Awada moved, Councilmember Tilley
seconded, to approve the 2003 Pet Shop License Renewal for For Pet?s Sake.
Aye: 4, No: 0
D. Premises Permit Renewal.
Councilmember Tilley moved, seconded by
Councilmember Fields, to approve Premises Permit Renewal for Eagan High School
Football Booster Club to conduct a pull tab operations at Al Baker?s, 3434 Washington
Drive.
Aye: 4, No: 0
E. Letter to Dakota County.
Councilmember Carlson said the City should send a letter
of congratulations to the Dakota County Board regarding the passed open space
referendum and to remind the County Board that the City of Eagan is interested in the
process of determining where open space will be acquired, as well as inquiring about a
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December 23, 2002
Page 6
timeline for the County process. Mayor Awada suggested the letter be prepared for
Mayor-elect Geagan?s signature.
Mayor Awada moved, Councilmember Tilley seconded, to send a letter to the Dakota
County Board regarding the open space referendum and process.
Aye: 4, No: 0
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F. Resolution Regarding July 4, 2003 Activities.
Councilmember Fields moved,
seconded by Councilmember Tilley, that the 2003 Fourth of July parade route end at the
Community Center and that the Community Center be opened from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. for public tours. The motion is to apply only to the year 2003.
Aye: 4, No: 0
TUBING RATES AT SLEDDING HILLS
City Administrator Hedges handed out the 2003 Tubing Budget requested by the City
Council. Administrative Services Director VanOverbeke reviewed the budget
worksheets. He stated that the current system is staffed and free, with a limitation of
available tubes. Reservations for groups are currently available. As a safety and control
measure, customers are not allowed to bring their own tubes.
Mayor Awada asked about a tow rope. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa said the
previous pro forma included a tow rope and snow making machine, and the admission
costs got into the $6-7 and even $10 range.
Director VanOverbeke said the staffing needs are due to League of Minnesota Cities
Insurance Trust (LMCIT) requirements for safety parameters because of considerable
liability exposure.
Councilmember Carlson said she believed families will not pay for an activity that they
used to get for free.
The City Council agreed to a $2 admission fee, with group rates at $3 per person for
residents and $4 per person for non-residents. The Council also directed staff to post
notices regarding the reason for the new fee structure being staffing requirements and the
capital costs of new tubing equipment.
Director Vraa said that the Warming House at Central Park is to be completed by the
contractors by Friday, December 27.
Councilmember Tilley moved, Councilmember Carlson seconded, to adopt the 2003 Fee
Schedule as amended. Aye: 4, No: 0.
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December 23, 2002
Page 7
Director Vraa, as was directed by the Council, shared with the City Council options for
soccer field layouts at Central Park and for a mural at the Community Center.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.
_____________________________ ____________________________________
Date City Clerk
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