06/07/1994 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
June 7, 1994
A Special City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, June 07,1994 at 5:00 P.M. in the Eagan Municipal
Center Building. Mayor Egan, and City Councilmember Awada, Hunter, and Wachter were present. Absent
for the first part of the meeting was Councilmember Masin who then attended the Special City Council meeting
from 5:30 on. Also present were Director of Public Works Colbert, Director of Community Development
Director Reichert, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Chief of Police Geagan, Chief Building Official Reid,
Cable Coordinator Reardon, Director of Parks Vraa, Assistant to City Administrator Hohenstein, Assistant to
Administrator Duffy, Administrative Intern Pruitt, and City Administrator Hedges. The purpose of the meeting
was to provide City Council direction on 1) remodeling of the municipal center building and 2) consider a
settlement regarding the police officer's negotiations.
MUNICIPAL CENTER BUILDING REMODELING
City Administrator Hedges provide an update on the site development phase, which started June 6, 1994
along with the pre-bid conference. He thanked Assistant to City Administrator Hohenstein and Chief Building
Official Reid for their work behind the scenes in the municipal expansion/ police building construction process.
Mr. Hedges also asked what date would be most convenient for the Council to attend a ground breaking
ceremony. Wachter moved, Hunter seconded a motion to approve a ground breaking ceremony for the
municipal center expansion/police building construction on Wednesday June 22, 1994 which would include the
municipal center employees as well. Aye: 4 Aye: 0
Architect Thorbeck provided an update on the police facility. He noted that shortly an addendum asking
questions for approval and clarifying modifications would be presented shortly to the Council. Chief of Police
Geagan reminded the public and Councilmembers that beginning on June 8, 1994 a temporary access would be
used. Exterior building materials, Mr. Thorbeck noted, would be carried out through the expansion and new
building. Providing clarification, Mr. Thorbeck described that the curtain wall would consist of gypsum board
and a band of windows across both buildings. During the day, Mr. Thorbeck noted, the curtain wall will read
like a full sheet of glass, which will add to the appearance of the Municipal Center. Councilmember Wachter
endorsed Mr. Thorbeck's proposal of using solar glass as it will look attractive and provide a substantial cost
savings to the City. City Administrator Hedges noted that staff had investigated alternatives to parking within
the City lot, for example, building inspectors will be parking at an off-site location in order to lessen the amount
of on-site parking during construction.
Mr. Thorbeck presented sketches and a model of the proposed expansion. He described the external
configuration and appearance of the municipal expansion and police building construction. Mr. Thorbeck also
provided an update on the layout of the first floor of the building, noting modification to the Council ante room,
police hallway and community room as requested by the Steering Committee and City Council. He stated that
the proposed public inner lobby invites people into the entryway service space. The design reflected the current
thinking of the Steering Committee that instead of a staff person sitting at the front counter, instead, staff would
be responsible for coming up to the service counter as the public needed them, in order to create a more user
friendly service environment. He added that in order to create a cost savings, the elevator and telephone system
would only be updated and not significantly altered.
The issue was raised about the possibility of a portable lectern-podium with a microphone located in
the middle of the Council Chamber, in addition to an audio-visual presentation platform with a large wall
presentation screen and elevated ADA accessible podium for the public. Council supported a simple, non-
hydraulic, movable lectern-poidium in the middle and the full ADA podium in the presentation area to the side.
The Council, Mr. Thorbeck noted, would still rely on monitors for detail orientation. The simple podium was
0C 1.6
in order to facilitate a less formal area to speak from for the public. Cable Coordinator Reardon remarked that
the offset podium provides more of a balanced relationship between the Council and the public for the City of
Burnsville.
City Councilmember Awada questioned the available seating in the new Council Chambers. Mr.
Thorbeck responded the amount would remain approximately the same, with 100 stackable chairs.
Councilmember Wachter pointed out that in addition to the new Council Chambers the existing Council
Chambers could provide overflow seating for an additional 100 citizens if equipped with appropraite montiors.
City Councilmember Wachter questioned where the location of the display cases would be in the
building expansion. Architect Thorbeck proposed display cases adjacent to the entry doors, lobby area and
possible a cornerstone with a time capsule that could be built into a thicker wall for the Historical Society.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council adjourned into executive session for the purpose of discussing a proposed settlement
for the police officers' contract. Present for the executive session was the City's labor attorney, John Roszak,
Chief of Police Geagan, Assistant to the City Administrator Duffy and City Administrator Hedges.
There being no further discussion, the Special City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
June 7, 1994
Date Gene Van verbeke, City Clerk
JLP
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the City of Eagan, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan MN 55122, (612) 681-4600 (TDD phone: (612) 454-8535).
The City of Eagan is committed to the policy that all persons have equal access to its programs, services,
activities, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, natural origin, sex, disability,
age, marital status, sexual orientation, or status with regard to public assistance. Auxiliary aids for persons
with disabilities will be provided upon advance notice of at least 96 hours. If a notice of less than 96 hours
Is received, the City of Eagan will attempt to provide such aid.