05/18/1994 - City Council Special
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MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
May 18, 1994
A Special City Council meeting was held on Wednesday, May 18, 1994 at 5:00 p.m. in the
lunchroom of the Eagan Municipal Center building. Present were City Councilmembers Awada, Hunter,
Masan and Wachter. Mayor Egan was also present, arriving at approximately 5:30 p.m. Others in
attendance were Director of Public Works Colbert, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Director of Community
Development Reichert, Senior Planner Mamin, Chief of Police Geagan, Assistant to the City Administrator
Hohenstein and City Administrator Hedges.
DISCUSSION RE: PYLON SIGNS POLICY
Community Development Director Reichert Introduced Kristy Mamin, Senior Planner, who provided
background Information and options for dealing with requests for deviations in the current pylon sign
standards. She stated that the City has received requests to increase the maximum pylon sign height and
face size standards for property adjacent to freeways, with visibility frequently listed as the reason for
needing the variance. She reviewed specific examples which were later addressed by the City Council.
Following Senior Planner Mamin's comments that ranged from existing pylon sign standards to a
selected metro city survey, pylon sign standard variances that have occurred in Eagan and analysis which
addressed several primary options listing pros and cons for Council consideration were discussed.
Acting Mayor Wachter thanked Senior Planner Marnin for her memo and presentation. City
Councilmember Masin stated that she Is not supportive of tall signs and would favor installation of the
standard freeway identification signs that MnDOT Installs in Greater Minnesota advertising food and lodging.
City Councilmember Awada stated that she could accept a small increase in sign size or continue with the
present sign standards. City Councilmember Hunter agreed with City Councilmember Awada in that he
would prefer to see the standards remain as stated In the City Code and used the sign for the new Holiday
Express as an excellent example of conforming with the present sign ordinance. Acting Mayor Wachter also
agreed that the current pylon sign policy remain as it is currently written and further agreed with
Councilmember Masin that the City should further pursue standardized freeway signs that MnDOT installs.
Assistant to the City Administrator Hohenstein stated that Cedarvale may be an exception to the sign
policy and further stated that the Greater Cedarvale merchants' group is considering a variance to the
existing sign ordinance that would provide an 80 foot sign which is required for proper visibility from the
Cedar Ave. freeway. City Councilmember Hunter stated that in his opinion, 80 feet is beyond the scope;
however, he might consider some deviation to the sign standards to assist with the redevelopment of the
Cedarvale area.
Mayor Egan arrived for the final discussion regarding the pylon sign regulations.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT POLICY/PROJECT 673
Director of Public Works Colbert stated that direction is required by the City Council for
determination of special assessments for Project #673, which Is Trunk Highway 3 and school road access
improvements. He provided four (4) options and justifications for review by the City Council. Director of
Public Works Colbert commented on the number of variables to the project which include the possibility for
MnDOT financing due to the widening of Highway 3 and its signalization. The City Council provided the
following direction:
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May 18, 1994
After discussing various financing and land acquisition issues, the Council directed staff to prepare a
feasibility report that would allocate all costs of the highway and railroad signals not funded by MnDOT to
the ISD #196 elementary school property only and all costs for the TH 3 roadway Improvements along with
the oversizing of the school road not funded by MnDOT to be spread on an area basis equally to all
property generally south of Weston Hills and east of TH 3. It was anticipated that the report would be
presented at the June 7 Council meeting with a public hearing scheduled for July 5.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL/PROJECT 6618
Director of Public Works Colbert reviewed Project #661 R, Sibley Terminal Industrial Park
reconstruction, and stated that at the public hearing on April 19, the estimated front foot assessment rate
was $33.45. He further stated that based on objections received, the City Council reduce the scope of the
project to that portion of Yankee Doodle Road from TH 13 to Terminal Drive only and reschedule Terminal
Drive for reconsideration in 1996. The Director of Public Works stated that due to a revised feasibility report,
the assessable portion of the cost to reconstruct Yankee Doodle Road will result in an assessment rate of
$69.40 per front foot to abutting properties. City Council members discussed the various special assessment
options presented by the Director of Public Works and agreed that the cost should be equalized to one-half
the amount to the linear footage and one-half to an area-wide assessment to all properties that might use
the Yankee Doodle intersection with TH 13. After further discussion, City Councilmembers raised further
concerns that the original option as presented be readdressed by the City Council with the neighborhood
for reconsideration. City Councilmember Wachter, acting as Chairperson for the Public Works Committee,
recommended that an informational meeting be scheduled and that the Public Works Committee convene
the meeting to meet with the affected properties. He stated that Thursday, June 2, is a tentative date for
that meeting. Mayor Egan summarized Project #661 R by stating that the Public Works Committee will
convene an informational meeting, tentatively on June 2, 1994, to present Project #661 R, Sibley Terminal
Industrial Park reconstruction, for further consideration by the affected property owners.
OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS/SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATION
Mayor Egan directed discussion on special assessment policies for Project 656 and 669 to a future
Special City Council meeting agenda due to time constraints.
FINAL REVIEW/POLICE FACILITY PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
Mike Stowe, of E&V Construction, appeared and presented the final cost analysis for the police
facility building plans and specifications. He stated that the amount for the police facility design and
development is $3,527,260. He further stated that the FF&E could be short approximately $50,000, as a
result of efforts to stay within budget guidelines. Along with Director of Public Works Colbert, Mr. Stowe
also reviewed plans for Phase I of the site development work which includes the footprint for the new police
facility building. After further discussion, City Councilmembers stated their desire to proceed ahead with the
police facility plans and specifications and bidding document, as well as site work under Phase I of the site
development proposal. Mayor Egan stated that no formal action to approve Phase I, site development and
construction documents for the police facility, will be acted on at the regular City Council meeting on May
18.
OTHER BUSINESS
City Administrator Hedges suggested that the Mayor and City Council, along with the Director of
Public Works and Community Development Director, have a retreat to discuss issues that have been raised
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May 18, 1994
by a few business persons about regulations that are being Imposed by the Engineering Division and also
to review the past seven (7) months of accomplishments by the Director of Community Development. In
a motion by City Councilmember Wachter, seconded by Councilmember Hunter, a work retreat was
scheduled for May 16, 1994 at 5:00 p.m at Trapp Farm Park building.
TLH
May 18, 1994
Date City Cierk