05/08/2007 - City Council Public Works Committee
AGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY
MAY 8, 2007
CONFERENCE ROOM 2A&B
5:00 P.M.
1. AGENDA ADOPTION
II. REVIEW APRIL 24, 2007 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
III. REVIEW OPEN SPACE PRESERVATIOON FUND POLICY
FRAMEWORK
V. OTHER BUSINESS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES
TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007
CONFERENCE ROOMS 2A & 2B
5:00 P.M.
Attendance: Councilmember Bakken, Councilmember Fields, City Administrator
Hedges, Public Works Director Colbert, Director of Administrative Services
VanOverbeke, Director of Parks and Recreation Johnson and Assistant to the City
Administrator Miller.
The meeting agenda was adopted with the addition of a discussion regarding the previous
recommendation of the Public Works Committee with regard to the stop sign at Weston
Hills Drive and Strafford Lane.
Meeting Notes: The Public Works Committee meeting notes for the April 24, 2007
meeting were reviewed and recommended for submission to the City Council.
Review Open Space Preservation Fund Policy Framework: The Committee reviewed
the resolution prepared by Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke and both
Committee members voiced their support of the resolution as written. The Committee
expressed their agreement that the fund would not be used for promotion or education
regarding the value of open space. The Committee also noted they were comfortable
with the resolution not making any reference to the "value" of open space to the
community.
The Committee directed staff to include the open space preservation fund resolution on
the May 15 City Council agenda under New Business. The Committee noted that if it is
the desire of the Council as a whole to send the resolution to the Finance Committee for
review, such direction could be provided at the May 15 Council meeting.
Speed Limit Signs / Red Pine Neighborhood: At the request of Public Works Director
Colbert, the Committee readdressed their recommendation from the April 24 Public
Works Committee meeting with regard to the placement of a flag/marker on the stop sign
at Weston Hills Drive and Strafford Lane to assist in attracting attention to the stop sign.
Director Colbert noted that this recommendation goes against City policy, which states
that flags will only be used in the case of a new stop sign or a change in traffic condition,
and flags are only to be attached for a period of no more than 3 months. .
Director Colbert stated that he had reviewed the intersection of concern and noted that a
tree branch on Councilmember Fields property is starting to obstruct the visibility sight
line of the west bound stop sign and that the stop sign was apparently located at a
common property line instead of closer to the intersection. He also noted that the stop
sign for the northbound leg should have been installed on its own separate sign post and
not on the existing street identification sign post. The street names themselves also did
not seem to properly reflect the intersection of Weston Hills with Stratford Lane. He
May 8, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting Notes
Page 2
suggested that Engineering review the entire intersection for proper signage, placement
and other traffic control requirements. At the suggestion of Director Colbert, the
Committee recommended that a larger stop sign be installed at this intersection When
speed survey data from the Police Department and further recommendations from
Engineering become available, the committee voiced that they would like to possibly
consider repositioning the stop sign to a different location and would like to review the
street identification signs in the neighborhood. After discussing the matter, the
Committee rescinded their April 24 recommendation regarding the installation of flags on
the referenced stop sign. Councilmember Fields stated that she would trim the apparent
tree obstruction of the westbound stop sign.
Other Business: Committee member Bakken noted that he received a call from a
developer regarding a parking issue on Scott Trail. Director Colbert gave a brief history
of the parking concerns at the location. The Committee requested that Director Colbert
include background information about the parking issue in the Additional Information
Memo going out on May 11, 2007.
The Committee adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m.
Agenda Information Memo
May 8, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting
II. REVIEW APRIL 24, 2007 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
ACTION TO BE DISCUSSED:
No action is needed. The enclosed meeting notes are for the review of the committee.
FACTS:
• Per the request of the City Council, meetings notes are being taken at each City
Council standing committee meeting in order that the City Council can review staff's
understanding of the discussions and recommendations made at each of the
committee meetings.
• The Committee meeting notes will be forwarded the City Council after the committee
has had the chance to review the notes.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Enclosed on page$ .a thrG»g.LL are the meeting notes from the April 24, 2007
Public Works Committee meeting.
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Meeting Notes
Public Works Committee Meeting
April 24, 2007
Attendance: Councilmember Bakken, Councilmember Fields, City Administrator
Hedges, Police Lieutenant New, Director of Parks and Recreation Seydell Johnson, and
Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke.
Agenda
The meeting agenda was adopted as presented.
Meeting Notes
The Public Works Committee meeting notes for the March 27, 2007 meeting were
approved as presented.
Speed Limit Signs / Red Pine Neighborhood
The Public Works Committee discussed concerns about perceived speeding in the Red
Pine neighborhood and the possibility of placing additional stop signs as proposed by
the residents. After discussing previous surveys and enforcement efforts, potential sign
options, and additional enforcement, it was determined that the following course of
action should be followed:
• The City should place a flag/marker on the stop sign at Weston Hills Drive and
Stratford Lane to assist in attracting attention to the stop sign.
• The Police Department will continue gathering information using the speed
trailer, etc. The time period before and after the school day at Red Pine
Elementary is to be specifically targeted.
• Consideration of any additional signing is tabled until the additional survey data
can be gathered.
Discuss Framework For Potential Dedicated Open Space Funding Source
The Public Works Committee discussed the framework for a potential fund dedicated
specifically to the preservation of open space. Emphasis was placed on potential uses
of fund resources with more consideration at a later date regarding potential sources of
funds.
Staff was directed to prepare a document incorporating the following potential uses of
the fund resources:
• Actual purchases
• Costs for studies/surveys
• Referendum election costs
• Preparation and distribution of educational materials concerning a referendum
question
Staff was directed to include a $25,000 transfer from the City's General Fund in the
approval documentation to provide start up dollars for the new fund.
The draft document is to be reviewed at a Public Works Committee meeting to be held at
5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2007, with the expectation that the matter would be taken to the full
City Council at the May 15, 2007 regular meeting.
~Ll
Agenda Information Memo
May 8, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting
III. REVIEW OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION FUND POLICY
FRAMEWORK
ACTION TO BE DISCUSSED:
To discuss the draft resolution outlining the framework for creation of an open pace
preservation fund and to provide direction to staff regarding modifications to the draft
resolution.
FACTS:
• At the April 24, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting staff was directed to prepare
a draft document outlining the parameters for creation of a City fund to be used for
the preservation of open space in the community.
ISSUES:
• To be a bit more complete the draft resolution includes potential funding sources.
The Public Works Committee previously discussed the funding sources coming later
in the process as opposed to being identified at this time.
• The current uses outlined in the draft resolution do not allow for paying the cost for
preparation and distribution of educational materials about the value of open space,
instead restricting that type of allowable cost only to referendum related education.
• The draft resolution makes no reference to the overall purposes and value of open
space nor does it tie this fund to the recently discussed land acquisition criteria.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Enclosed on pages 5- and LP is a copy of a draft resolution outlining the
parameters of a City fund dedicated to the preservation of open space.
Is
CITY OF EAGAN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION CREATING A FUND TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE "OPEN SPACE
PRESERVATION FUND"
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes provide that the City Council has full authority over the City's
financial affairs, including the establishment of funds, and maintenance of accounting
records; and
WHEREAS, the Governmental Accounting Standard Board prescribes generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP); and
WHEREAS, the Office of the State Auditor, independent auditors, and professional organizations
provide guidance and interpretations of GAAP; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires the implementation and maintenance of a separate fund for
segregation of financial transactions related to the preservation of open space in the City;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined through an open and public process that a 2007 -
2008 goal would be to "Continue to pursue the conservation of green and open spaces in the
community by further developing the Eagan Core Greenway and by working towards the
creation of an open space preservation fund."; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to be in position to respond expeditiously to opportunities
to acquire desired land acid/or easements and to be in position to enter into partnerships with
other entities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Eagan that a
separate fund titled "Open Space Preservation Fund" be hereby established; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the "Open Space Preservation Fund" be established and
maintained in accordance with State Statutes, GAAP, and per guidance offered by the Office
of the State Auditor, the City's independent auditors, and professional organizations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the source of resources for the "Open Space Preservation
Fund" be as follows:
1. Upon adoption of this resolution, a transfer of $25,000 from the City's General Fund.
2. Other available revenue sources as determined by the City Council through adoption of
annual budgets.
3. Grants or donations accepted by the City Council and available for disbursement per
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the permitted uses section of this resolution.
4. Interest earnings on invested balances.
5. Other revenue sources approved by official action of the Eagan City Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the permitted uses of the resources of the "Open Space
Preservation Fund" be as follows:
1. To pay the cost of community surveying/polling and studying the various referendum
options.
2. To pay administrative costs of the fund.
3. To pay the cost of a referendum related to the sale of bonds for the purpose of
acquiring desired land and/or easements.
4. To pay the cost of providing information to Eagan citizens concerning a referendum
question.
5. To pay earnest money or other required obligations related to acquisition of property;
including but not limited to site inspection, legal fees, survey work, and title work.
6. To be used as a partial funding source for acquisition of property and/or easements as
deemed appropriate for purchase by the City Council.
CITY OF EAGAN
CITY COUNCIL
By: , Mayor
Attest: , Clerk
Motion made by:
Seconded by:
Those in favor:
Those against:
Dated: May 15, 2007
CERTIFICATION
I, Maria Petersen, Clerk of the City of Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota, do hereby certify
that the foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City
of Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota, in a regular meeting thereof assembled this 15th day
of May, 2007.
Maria Petersen, Clerk
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