Loading...
03/30/1993 - City Council Special MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE P EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota March 30, 1993 A special City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, March 30, 1993 at 5:00 p.m., at the Eagan Municipal Center Building. Present were Mayor Egan and City Councilmembers Awada, Hunter, Masin and Wachter. Also present were Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Acting Director of Community Development Hohenstein, Chief of Police Geagan and City Administrator Hedges. MUNICIPAL CENTER SITE ANALYSIS City Administrator Hedges stated that information has been gathered and will be presented regarding overall plans for phasing various development within the Municipal Center site. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa presented a historical review of various site plans that had been presented during the past several years for proposed community center projects and city hall expansions. He stated that each site plan analysis has addressed the integration of parking, utilities, roadway improvements and other related infrastructure with future expansion needs for the municipal center/law enforcement and recreation facility. The Director of Parks and Recreation further stated that once the City has completed its Initial design/ development stage for the projects, then details to minimize any future development constraints will be given further consideration. City Councilmember Wachter raised questions about the inadequacy of public parking at the Police Department and stated that improvement should be considered. City Councilmembers further discussed the need to incorporate fire training services and a joint physical fitness training area to be shared by all public safety personnel. The City Administrator was further directed to check with U.S. Swim and Fitness, the YMCA and the Eagan Athletic Club and determine whether any options exist for physical fitness training needs to be satisfied privately. City Administrator Hedges reviewed options the community, both business and individuals, have in making donations to the recreational facility project. He stated that the City Attorney's Office Is reviewing the legality of how public donations should be considered as a match for the recreation facility project and, further, how the City should handle donations pledged for a future phase such as for a swimming pool facility. City Counciimember Hunter stated that In his opinion the City will have long-term needs for the community center, however, it is doubtful that business or Individuals will contribute beyond phase I of the recreation facility project. City Councilmember Masin stated that residents have expressed an interest to her in building a swimming pool facility and there might be interest by the community to support that phase of the overall recreation facility project. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa discussed the wading pool, stating that the Minnesota Department of Health requires a bath house and other regulations causing the project to exceed $50,000 as originally planned. I.S.T.E.A. GRANT REQUEST Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa reviewed the proposed park trail link with Fort Snelling State Park and stated that funding may be available for an I.S.T.E.A. grant application in 1993. GEESE PROBLEM AT CEDAR POND PARK Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa reported on a citizen complaint that Animal Control Officer Gilbertson received about the geese problem at Cedar Pond Park. He stated that goose population SCC MINUTES MARCH 30, 1993 PAGE TWO exceeds 100 and the neighborhood are finding droppings on the trails, streets and around recreation equipment such as sandboxes used by children. According to Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa, the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota have both been contacted and, according to Bob Fashingbauer at the University of Minnesota, they will coordinate a relocation project for the geese. According to the Director of Parks and Recreation, the time for geese to be rounded up is in June when they are molting and the cost for a displacement to another part of the country Is approximately $1,000 per trapping. He further stated that the process would be over a three year period of time with no payment due until 1994. City Councilmembers discussed the matter and recognizing the problem directed the City Administrator to place this item on a future City Council agenda as a public hearing so that the neighborhood adjacent to Cedar Pond Park would have an opportunity to provide comments relative to any action that would displace a portion of the geese population. Mayor Egan stated that this matter will be heard before the City Council at the April 20, 1993 City Council meeting. CAT ORDINANCE Director of Finance VanOverbeke shared public policy Information he researched from the cities of Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and the PUPS facility located in Maple Grove regarding the licensing of cats. He provided data on the cost of licensing, personnel who handle cat licensing, Impound statistics and other information that would be helpful to the City of Eagan while considering a cat licensing policy. The Director of Finance stated that there were several conclusions that could be drawn in analyzing the data such as: any additional licensing activity will cost more money than revenues received, compliance with cat licensing will not be very high, public education will be necessary to gain acceptance, public health should be enhanced if compliance can be gained and, finally, a certain percentage of licensed cats will not wear collars and tags. City Councilmember Wachter expressed concern about wild cats and the need to control cats from a public safety perspective and licensing as a method of regulation. City Councilmember Awada was concerned that an ordinance not be adopted that could not be enforced which In her opinion would be the outcome if a cat ordinance requiring licensing Is adopted. City Councilmember Masin stated that public education Is Important to her so that the public Is aware of any nuisance and public safety problems cats can cause in neighborhoods if they're allowed to run at large. City Councilmember Hunter suggested that if the City is to increase its service with the regulation of cats, the Animal Control Officer would need five or six additional persons to fulfill all the control problems that exist in the community, stating that additional funding and labor distribution for animal control Is not a present or future consideration for the budget. Animal Control Officer Gilbertson commented that it would take additional personnel If all animal control complaints are to be responded to and, further, if a high percentage of dogs and cats are to be licensed in the community. City Councilmember Awada suggested student internships for assisting the Animal Control Officer to help solve the problem which Is too many cats running at large. She further stated that the solution is to lower the number of wild cats, help with education, and encourage having pets spayed and neutered. PROCLAMATION /KEN ASZMANN AND JERRY MESZAROS City Administrator Hedges presented a proclamation that was prepared for Deputy Chief Ken Aszmann and Lieutenant Jerry Meszaros recognizing each of those individuals for their years of public service. He further stated that both Mr. Aszmann and Mr. Meszaros will be retiring within the next week and their retirement party is scheduled for Thursday, April 1, In which Mayor Egan will read the proclamation. SCC MINUTES MARCH 30, 1993 PAGE THREE In a motion by City Councilmember Awada, seconded by City Councilmember Hunter, with all members voting in favor, a proclamation proclaiming April 1 as Ken Aszmann and Jerry Meszaros Day in the City of Eagan, was approved. EDC METHODS TASK FORCE City Administrator Hedges outlined the purpose of a special Methods Task Force Subcommittee appointed by the Economic Development Commission and, at the request of the commission, asked if any member of the City Council would serve as a liaison member. He stated that the methods task force is reviewing development commission models in other communities and he will be making recommendation to the entire Economic Development Commission and eventually the City Council about how the Economic Development Commission should be structured an carry out their business in the future. Mayor Egan asked for volunteers from the City Council and, after receiving a strong Interest from Councilmember Masin, appointed her as the City Council's representative on the Economic Development Commission's Methods Task Force Subcommittee. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING/APRIL 5 City Administrator Hedges proposed that the City Council hold a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at 5:00 p.m. to review progress of the right-sizing study and project development team for the Municipal Center/Law Enforcement expansion project. A motion by City Councilmember Masin, seconded by Councilmember Awada, with all members voting in favor, a special City Council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 1993 at 5:00 p.m. OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Egan met with approximately 15 high school aged students from Germany who are attending Eagan High School for approximately three weeks on a cultural exchange program. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. TLH elarch 30,1 993 Date City Clerk