Document - Historical information/data - Interview with new City Administrator Dave Osberg - 3/1/2013TaVE QsgeRe
+Expor!ollco bpi
Commission
Membership
Strengthens
Community
Apply Now
Applications are now being accepted
through March 22 from residents inter-
ested in serving on a City Advisory
Commission.
Whether in discussion regarding newly pro-
posed retail or residential developments
on the Planning Commission; considering
park amenities or recreation offerings
on the Parks Commission; hearing resi-
dents' concerns about flight paths on the
Airport Commission or studying energy
saving technologies on the Energy and
Environment Commission, the many and
varied topics addressed by the City's four
Commissions help inform and guide the
City Council's decisions.
"The citizens that serve Eagan's Advisory
Commissions provide an invaluable service
with the time they provide, the research
they conduct and the interactions they
have with the community," says, Assistant
City Administrator, Dianne Miller. "Their
work provides a strong foundation of infor-
mation on which the Council can build its
decisions."
The Eagan City Council appoints members
of the public to four advisory commis-
sions: the Advisory Planning Commission,
the Advisory Parks and Recreation
Commission, the Airport Relations
Advisory Commission, and the Energy
and Environment Advisory Commission.
The City Council also appoints the Gun
Club Lake Watershed Management
Organization members.
Most commissions have seven members
who serve staggered two-year terms (and
an alternate member). Applications are
accepted throughout the year from resi-
dents interested in serving and as vacan-
cies occur; however, a majority of appoint-
ments will be made from the applications
received by March 22.
Candidate interviews will be scheduled in
mid -April. Commissions meet every one to
two months —depending on the commis-
sion. Commission descriptions and general
meeting schedules as well as applications
are available on the City Web site at www.
cityofeagan.com/Commissions.
March/April 2013
State of the City Address to Focus on What's Next
Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire will give
the 2013 State of the City Address on
Thursday morning, March 21, at the
Eagan Community Center.
The annual address usually focuses
on City priorities and accomplish-
ments, but this year, with a new City
Administrator set to take the helm for
the first time in 36 years, the Mayor will pose
some strategic questions about what direction resi-
dents want for their City in the next 10 years, and
explore what steps Eagan may need to take
to continue thriving in a knowledge and
Tfl•talent economy.
CAN
The event is hosted by the Dakota
County Regional Chamber of
Commerce, beginning with a
7:3o a.m. "Meet and Greet" followed
by the speech at 8 a.m.
The public is welcome to attend or view the
event live on E-TV Channel 16 or via Webstream
on www.cityofeagan.com.
Meet the New City Administrator, Dave Osberg
Beginning March 25, the City of Eagan will have a
new City Administrator for the first time in nearly
four decades. Dave Osberg, has been hired as
Eagan's next City Administrator following the
retirement of Tom Hedges who has served as
Administrator since 1976.Osberg will take on the
day-to-day oversight of City operations and staff,
and serve as the staff liaison to the City Council.
Expo write Eagan asked Mr. Osberg a few questions
to help the community get to know him and his
approach to his new position.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your
new position?
A: Let me offer this as my game plan for the first
several weeks....at least three different "constitu-
encies" will be on my list to get to know and visit
with including: i) my employer, the Eagan City
Councilmembers, 2) the Eagan Community the
Council serves —our residents and business people,
and 3) the Department Heads and City Staff who
work for the Community and the Council. I want to
learn all I can about Eagan and the City of Eagan,
evaluating and absorbing all I can during the first
days as City Administrator.
It will be extremely important to learn more about
the current issues facing the City of Eagan. Each
person I visit with can expect me to be a good
listener and one who is approachable. Eagan
residents can expect me to become involved and
engaged in many of the events that make Eagan
such a great community.
Q: What is some-
thing that people
might be surprised
to learn about you?
A: Two items of inter-
est might include the
fact I proposed to my
wife of nearly 29 years
in 1983 while she
lived in a townhome
on Timbershore Lane
in Eagan. Another
item of interest might include the fact I have seven
years of broadcasting as a color commentator for
Hastings Raiders football on Hastings local radio
station KDWA 1460.
Q: What are some of the first things you'll place
on your desk and shelves in your office?
A: Pictures of my family and the plaque I received
in 2010 from the League of Minnesota Cities as the
recipient of the Leadership Award for Cities over
io,000 in population. Hastings Mayor, and Assistant
City Administrator collaborated on the nomination
and I was surprised and humbled to learn I won the
award.
Q: What is your favorite "Eagan Experience"
thus far?
A: The warm welcome and good wishes many have
offered to me over the last several weeks while
attending several events in Eagan.
Cascade Bay has a new way for Eagan residents to stay active in a beau-
tiful setting. A morning pass for "Cardio Bay" offers outdoor, waterfit-
ness activities for a change in summer workout routines. Residents may
purchase a Cardio Bay Pass now for unlimited work-
outs, beginning June 7.
Cascade Bay opens for the season on June 7. Visit www.cascadebay.com for informa-
tion about regular season passes and Cardio Bay passes, or use QR code with your smart
phoneBe part of the new adventure!
Experience Eagan • March/April 2013.1
131Ive
PLAN1ING OR CLE
Blue Thumb Workshop:
Planting for Clean Water
March 25, 2013
6:15-8 p.m.
Eagan City Hall — Eagan Room
FREE Event
Register at (651) 480-7777
www.DakotaCountySWCD.org
So you've heard about some of the benefits of
rain gardening, but now what... what's the next
step?
Blue Thumb workshops are designed to teach
residents how to create their own rain garden,
native plant garden or a garden to stabilize
shoreland, to benefit water quality. For the
past several years, hundreds of Dakota County
residents have attended Blue Thumb work-
shops. Register for a workshop and you can
have plans for your spring project before the
snow melts. But, pre -registration is required.
Introductory workshops are free and are open
to all City of Eagan or Dakota County residents.
An optional hands-on project design course, to
be held two weeks after the initial workshop,
will cost $25. Attendees to the design classes
can apply for a $250 grant to help install their
Blue Thumb garden project.
Register for Blue Thumb classes at www.
DakotaCountySWCD.org or call Dakota County
Soil & Water Conservation District at (651) 480-
7777
The March 25th workshop in Eagan is co -spon-
sored by the City of Eagan's Lakes & Wetlands
Program and the Gun Club Lake Watershed
Management Organization.
Stormwater Management & Lakes Study Forum
Residents interested in stormwater pollution pre-
vention and the water quality of Eagan's lakes are
encouraged to attend one of two public forums in
the Eagan Room, end Floor City Hall, at 383o Pilot
Knob Road.
On Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March
28, the City will review its Stormwater Pollution
Prevention Program (SWPPP) and also introduce the
new Neighborhood Lakes Project. Residents may
freely come and go from 6:0o p.m. to 8:3o p.m.;
however, there will be a formal presentation about
the SWPPP at 6:15 p.m. and a separate presentation
about the lakes project at 7:0o p.m. There will be a
short break between presentations.
Each forum will be identical except for the lakes
emphasized. The March 27 meeting will focus on
Bald, Bur Oaks, LeMay, North, and O'Leary lakes; the
March 28 meeting on Carlson, Cliff, Fitz, Hay, Holz,
Quigley, and Southern lakes.
"We hope as many people as possible take advan-
tage of these opportunities to meet with City staff
and consultant experts about our programs," says
Water Resources Manager Eric Macbeth. "We're
very excited to share what we're doing and get
feedback from residents."
Eagan's SWPPP: The City implements this plan
according to a required federal/state permit for
operating a storm sewer system. Similar to many
other U.S. cities with comparable permits, Eagan
executes a comprehensive set of programs for pub-
lic education and outreach, public participation and
involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimina-
tion, construction site runoff control, post construc-
tion runoff control, and pollution prevention/good
housekeeping.
The 6:15 p.m. presentation will summarize 2012
accomplishments. There will be opportunities to ask
questions or share concerns.
Neighborhood Lakes Clean Water Partnership: This
new study of 12 lakes, partially funded through a
$167,00o grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA), will determine how phosphorus
is getting into the lakes, establish the maximum
amount of phosphorus the lakes can receive and
still meet water quality standards, and determine
phosphorus goals. Phosphorus promotes algae
and excessive plant growth in lakes, which impairs
water quality. The ulti-
mate goal is to protect
or improve the lakes'
water quality.
Eagan is the only city
awarded such a MPCA
grant in 2011. Field stud-
ies, analyses, and rec-
ommendations will be
completed by the end
of April 2015, when the
state contract for the project ends.
The 7:0o p.m. presentation will include: 1) the proj-
ect's purpose, scope, and schedule; 2) summaries of
lake watersheds and water quality; 3) information
about lake ecology, restoration, and state water
quality standards; and 4) concepts of future man-
agement and implementation efforts. There will be
opportunities to provide input on important issues
the project should address.
"This project expands Eagan's nearly 23-year tra-
dition of comprehensive and progressive water
resources management," says Macbeth. "The City
is very fortunate to have received over $500,000 of
MPCA support during this time." In 1991, Eagan's
water quality program received the Twin Cities
highest award for implementation, and the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency chose the City's
program for its national first place award in 1996.
Grant -supported studies and plans were recently
completed for Eagan's four highest priority lakes:
Blackhawk, Fish, Schwanz, and Thomas.
The work is aimed at controlling nonpoint source
(N PS) pollution through watershed management.
NPS pollution generally results from land runoff.
Unlike pollution from industrial and sewage dis-
charge pipes, NPS pollution is delivered by rainfall
or snowmelt that carries natural and human -made
pollutants, depositing them into surface and ground
waters. These sources contribute large quantities of
phosphorus, bacteria, sediments, nitrates and other
pollutants to the environment and represent about
90 percent of the state's water pollution.
There will be two other pairs of public forums as
the Neighborhood Lakes Project progresses, one
in late 2013 and another in mid 2014. For questions,
contact the Eagan Water Resources at waterres@
cityofeagan.com or at (651) 675-5300.
Neighbors Help Lower Runoff to Schwanz Lake
Together, 25 families living northeast of Trapp Farm
Park are helping to eliminate more than half of
their neighborhood's stormwater runoff pollution
to Schwanz Lake.
Recent studies concluded the 28-acre neighbor-
hood covering less than 4% of the land draining to
Schwanz Lake contributes about 23% of the lake's
phosphorus problem, through no fault of residents.
The neighborhood developed in the i98os before
Eagan required stormwater treatment basins.
With no space now for new basins, the City deter-
mined in 2009 that strategically located rain gar-
dens were the most practical approach to reduce
stormwater impacts. The 25 gardens were com-
pleted in 2011 within public rights -of -way adjacent
to homes of families willing to accept some long
term responsibility. Many neighbors helped plant
the sites.
Stormwater runoff carries particles and dissolved
substances such as phosphorus that degrade lake
water quality. Rain gardens are shallow depres-
sions that collect runoff from roofs, driveways and
streets. Planted with colorful shrubs and perenni-
als, they infiltrate stormwater into the ground and
are a beautiful way for residents to help reduce
runoff pollution.
According to pre -construction flow measure-
ments, the neighborhood originally discharged
about i33,000 gallons (gal) of untreated runoff to
Schwanz Lake from an average one -inch rainstorm.
Measurements in 2012 suggest runoff volumes from
similar rainstorms have been significantly reduced
almost 68%, to about 43,00o gallons.
The project was funded by a combination of City
Stormwater utility fees and two cost -share grants
to the Gun Club Lake Watershed Management
Organization, one from the Minnesota Clean Water
Fund and another from Dakota County.
Experience Eagan • March/April 2013.2
An Eagan Playground, in Nepal?
Safety is key when it comes to the playground
equipment at City parks, and the guidelines that
govern this equipment are constantly being updat-
ed. Providing a fun experience for kids also plays a
big role. That is why the City of Eagan has adopted
a regular replacement schedule for its playgrounds.
But what happens to the old slides, monkey bars
and swings we take away? Each year 2 to 3 of the
City's 44 playground structures are removed and
replaced.
Park staff is often asked: what are you going to
do with the old equipment? Can it be donated to
a school or other institution? Unfortunately, in the
United States, once equipment is removed, it cannot
be reinstalled unless it meets current design guide-
lines. Until the time of removal it is "grandfathered"
in under the guidelines in place at the time of instal-
lation. Thus Park staff was left with no choice but
to recycle the playgrounds in the traditional fashion
whereby metal and plastic components were sepa-
rated for processing.
In the 2012 City entered into a relationship with Kids
Around The World (KAW) a nonprofit, volunteer,
Christian based corporation with the expressed goal
of providing play equipment to kids who may not
have access. According to KAW, children in many of
the areas of the world find it difficult to "just to be a
kid." The group is focused on "recycling" play equip-
ment for reinstallation in third world countries. KAW
has worked with a number of Twin Cities communi-
ties with great success and there is no cost for Cities
to be involved.
Once Park staff identified a playground structure
for recycling, KAW volunteers visited and confirmed
the equipment could be reassembled by their vol-
unteers at a new location. In this instance, the new
location was the mountain country of Nepal.
KAW volunteers assisted park staff with the disas-
sembly of the structure. The process included pho-
tographing and numbering the components, and
bagging the hardware. Then, a KAW truck picked up
the components to prepare them for shipping. The
playground is scheduled to be reinstalled in Nepal
in May.
The City benefits by having a better way to "recy-
cle" playgrounds in a way that is meaningful and
can look forward to helping provide better places
to play for more kids around the world.
Ditch Old Electronics, Safely
Are you storing old electronics in your basement,
garage or attic? You're not alone. The average U.S.
household has two to three unused televisions and
computers in storage. Instead, recycle the devices
you're no longer using. Those old, bulky TVs and
computers have a cathode ray tube (CRT), which
contains 2 to 8 pounds of lead. Electronic products
containing a CRT may not be placed in the garbage
(Minnesota Statutes §115A•9565)•
Recycling options for household electronics avail-
able Eagan residents include:
Bring them to The Recycling Zone (3365 Dodd Rd,
Eagan) for free. For hours, directions and more
information, call (651) 905-4520.
Call your garbage hauler. Some haulers will do a
special curbside pick-up for a one-time fee if you
call ahead of time.
Use an electronics recycler for disposal of your old
devices for a fee. Some offer a pick-up of TVs, com-
puters or other bulky electronics. Call the Eagan
recycling department, Dakota Valley Recycling, at
(651) 675-5011 for a list of recyclers.
In addition to CRT TVs and computers, your other
household electronics also need to be recycled
once you're no longer using them. This includes
answering machines, cell phones (Blackberry®,
'Phone®, other smart phones), computer acces-
sories (keyboard, mouse, modem, etc.), DVD play-
1111111141111111%.-
ers, gaming systems (PlayStationTM, Xbox®, etc.),
fax machines, flat screen TVs, laptops, MP3 players
(iPods®), printers, radios, scanners, stereo equip-
ment, telephones and VCR players. The Recycling
Zone will accept all of these items at no charge to
Dakota County residents.
For more information on electronics recycling, visit
the Eagan recycling department's Web site,
www.DakotaValleyRecycling.org and type "CRT"
into the search bar.
Park Projects Closer to Home
Some exciting changes are in the works for sev-
eral parks in 2013, including the development
of Eagan's first new park in almost 10 years.
Projects include:
New Park Site — Construction on a 3.5 acre
neighborhood park in the Cedar Grove area,
across from the new outlet mall site will begin
in the spring. Amenities will include a play struc-
ture, small shelter, picnicking plaza, hard surface
play court, open play space, trail, and parking.
Central Park — Installation of additional out-
door exercise equipment to enhance programs
and opportunities for park users.
Central Park — Installation of an irrigation sys-
tem in the festival grounds and ellipse to pro-
mote healthier, traffic tolerant turf.
Northview Park — Upgrades to the paved trails
in the area of the tennis courts.
Park Trails — Development and installation of
a new system of informational and way -finding
signage for the park trails and connecting seg-
ments.
Site to be Determined — Replacement of a play
structure in a park area as determined by the
replacement schedule and spring inspections.
Funding for the Parks Capital Improvement
Program is from the Park System Development,
Renewal and Replacement Fund.
It's Tree Sale Time
Beautify your yard with new bare -root trees. Visit
www.cityofeagan.com/treesale beginning March
25 to download a tree order form. This is a limited
time offer; prices vary by species. Tree pick-up
day is Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the City of Eagan
Maintenance Facility at 3501 Coachman Point and
trees must be picked up on that date. For more
information see the Web site or call (651) 675-5300.
Trees available to order include:
1 Elm, New Horizon
1 Maple, Rubrum Northwoods
1 Birch, River
1 Honeylocust, Skyline
1 Hackberry
1 Oak, Bi-Color
1 Apple, HoOy
1 Lil c ..';'
Experience Eagan • March/April 2013.3
Eagan Women's
Running Program Promotes Active Living
Perhaps you've seen members of the Eagan
Women's Runners group running around town
wearing their signature blue shirts and wished you
could add more physical activity to your life. Take
action now and you can be running a 5K by mid -
spring even if you have never run one before. Many
women in the Running Program were new runners
and started by rotating two minutes of running with
two minutes of walking. Eight weeks later, those
same women completed their first 5K.
Entering its fifth season, the women's running pro-
gram is going strong with many friendships forming
as runners provide encouragement for one another.
Led by a volunteer group of experienced women
runners, the lead instructor is a RRCA Certified
Running Coach with over 5o marathons under her
belt. For more information or to register, call (651)
675-5500.
Women's Running Classes Begin April 3
Women's Beginning Running — for women who
have never run before or who want to get back into
running. Weekly instruction on topics such as injury
prevention, running equipment, proper technique,
etc. followed by running exercises. Prerequisite:
able to walk one mile non-stop.
Women's Beginning Running Boost — for women
who have completed the beginning running course
or who can currently run 3+ miles comfortably.
a)
E
* O
* u
� O
O
4-0
CC C- p
W 0_
CC
* a)
-a
co)—
a)
CC
r11f1 r If111f,,+
• e •4•1/1 ui
Women's Running Club — for women who are
experienced runners who train together for 5K,
ioK, half or full marathons.
Page 1
State of the City Address
Commission Membership
Meet the New City Administrator
Stormwater Management
& Lakes Study Forum
Neighbors Help Lower Runoff to Schwanz Lake
Page 3
An Eagan Playground, in Nepal?
It's Tree Sale Time
Ditch Old Electronics
Bringing Your Work Home?
Eagan Women's Running Program
Help Make Eagan's July 4th Funfest
a Success!
Mayor
Mike Maguire
Councilmembers
Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields
Gary Hansen Meg Tilley
City Hall
(651) 675-5000 • (651) 454-8535 TTY
Minnesota's largest July 4th event can't happen
without lots of great volunteers. Come be a part
of Eagan's July 4th Funfest on July 3 and 4, 2013 at
the Festival Grounds at Eagan Central Park.
Volunteers are needed as planning committee
members. This group meets monthly throughout
the year. Volunteers are also needed for specific
events and tasks during the celebration and event
clean-up during and after events. Groups, business
representatives, families and individuals of all ages
are encouraged to help out at this volunteer -run,
community celebration.
Learn more at www.eaganfunfest.org, or send an
email to the Volunteer Coordinator, Susan Ryan, at
volunteer@eaganfunfest.org.
Tips to keep in mind when oper-
ating a Home Businesses
Does your entrepreneurial style have you thinking
about starting a home business? Or, has your life-
style changed so you're now working out of your
home? That's great, but did you know that Eagan
has specific City code regulations regarding home
occupations?
While many home businesses are active in Eagan
and are important parts of our business commu-
nity, certain home occupations do not meet code
regulations, and may also be bothersome to neigh-
bors with noise, storage of junk, parking issues or
equipment. For example, occupations such as auto
repair in the garage are not allowed.
The following requirements apply to home busi-
nesses:
1 The occupation shall be clearly incidental and
secondary to the use of the home
1 No more than 3 people shall be engaged in
the home occupation (only one may live out-
side of the home)
1 No home occupation shall be allowed within
a garage or shed
1 Evidence of the home occupation shall not
be visible from the street
1 No signs identifying or advertising the home
business are allowed
1 Home occupations are not allowed to pro-
vide over-the-counter sales
1 Entrance to the home occupation must be
from within the home itself
1 The home occupation shall not utilize more
than three off-street parking spaces for the
occupant and visitors
Not sure if your home occupation complies? Call
Code Enforcement with any questions you may
have at (651) 675-5687.