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11/19/1981 - City Council Special lq,r MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL EAGAN, MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 19, 1981 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on November 19, 1981 at 7:00 p.m. at the Eagan City Hall. Those members present were Mayor Blomquist, City Councilmembers Egan, Parranto, Smith and Wachter. Also present was City Administrator Hedges. PARATRANSIT UPDATE Ed Brunkhorst and Betty Schaumburg appeared to report and discuss the current status of the Paratransit Study Committee of which they are the City's appointed committee representives. Mr. Brunkhorst stated that the initial transit system should be targeted for specific needs and he further reported that many of the original objectives of the study committee have been expanded and it is now difficult to determine the many objectives of that study committee. Betty Schaumburg reported that Apple Valley is considering opting out of the Metropolitan Transit Commission and would then use the levy provided to the MTC as an available source to operate a paratransit system. Mr. Brunkhorst stated that this would require that all cities who opt out of the MTC to operate a full bus line service and he expressed a concern that the expense might be greater to communities with less service unless specific transportation needs are defined. Mr. Brunkhorst expressed his dissatisfaction in the method the consultants surveyed transportation needs, stating that a survey was distributed through the school and was not a good sample. Betty Schaumburg reported that the paratransit study committee will have the findings of the consultants which was funded through a federal grant and coordinated by the Metropolitan Council sometime in April of 1982. City Councilmember Wachter stated that his priority for considering transportation is trips from home to place of employment, trans- portation for the handicapped and trips to provide local shopping. Mr. Brunk- horst spoke strongly of the 3M Company ride share program that is used by ap- proximately 40% of the 3M employees. He further stated that transportation seems to be best operated by the private sector and was not in favor at this time of subsidizing a paratransit system for the City of Eagan. After a con- siderable amount of discussion by the City Council and their appointed paratran- sit study committee members, the City Administrator was directed to write a letter to the Metropolitan Council asking for a redefinition of paratransit, specifically its purpose and goals. There were a number of questions asked by the City Council such as who pays for a paratransit system, what are the priorities, does opting out of the MTC mean that there is no bus service availa- ble to those cities in Dakota County who wish to provide ridership to Minneapolis St. Paul or other parts of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties and other applicable concerns as expressed by the City Council. PUBLIC ENTERPRISE FUNDS The City Administrator presented the 1982 proposed Public Enterprise Funds which consist of street lighting, sewer and water. It was the recommenda- tion of the City Council that the fuel system and addition to the public works garage be deleted in the 1982 budget as presented. In a motion by City Council- Eagan City Council Minutes November 19, 1981 Page Two member Smith, seconded by City Councilmember Wachter, with all members voting in favor, the public enterprise funds as presented for budgetary consideration were approved and will be compiled as a part of the 1982 budget document. POLICE DISPATCHER NEGOTIATIONS The City Administrator presented an update of police dispatcher negotiations. After reviewing the counter proposal by the police dispatchers, the City Administrator was asked to continue with mediation in an effort to reduce the salary requests to amounts for three (3) contract that is more acceptable for a percentage increase in 1981, 1982 and 1983. The City Adminis- trator was also directed to review the feasibility of handling all police dis- patching through the Dakota County Sheriff's Department and provide a report to the City Council after the next mediation session scheduled for December 4, 1981. CITY HALL EXPANSION City Administrator Hedges reported that office space in the present City Hall facility is crowded, causing inefficiencies and a lack of productivity by the City employees who work in the facility. He stated that when the police department facility was constructed, the building was designed to allow for a second story addition. The face brick was purchased and has been stockpiled in addition to the heating and ventilation system, electrical and design layout for the City Hall expansion. The City Administrator stated that, with the need for the expansion, the decrease in the bond index is dropping and construction bids are competitive, and it seems like an appropriate time to proceed with the City Hall expansion. Members of the City Council discussed the proposal and agreed that the need for a City Hall addition was warranted and further that the City Administrator should proceed with a tentative time schedule for the City Hall expansion, suggesting that a referendum may be considered in the spring of 1982. After further discussion on the matter, and in a motion by City Councilmember Wachter, seconded by Councilmember Egan, with all members voting in favor, the City Administrator was authorized to proceed with a time schedule and to continue discussions for the further consideration of a City Hall expansion. CLERICAL CONTRACT RADIFICATION In a motion by City Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Wachter, with all members voting in favor, the 1981/1982 contract between Local 320 and the City of Eagan for clerical employees was given radification and the Mayor and City Clerk were directed to execute the document on behalf of the City. D 81-54 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Dated: November 19, 1981 TLH City Clerk