07/16/1984 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
JULY 16, 1984
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on July 16,
1984, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers of the Eagan Municipal Center
Building. Those present were Mayor Blomquist, City Councilmembers Egan,
Smith, Thomas and Wachter. Also present were City Administrator Hedges, City
Attorney Hauge and Director of Finance VanOverbeke.
CONSIDERATION OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
Mr. Ernie Clark, Paul Eckholm and Marsha Cohodes of Miller &
Schroeder Municipals Inc., and also Stan Kehl of Holmes and Graven Law Firm,
were present to discuss criteria and the overall philosophy of tax increment
financing for multifamily housing projects. Mr. Eckholm stated that tax
increment financing is commonly referred to as interest rate reduction and
differs substantially from the traditional tax increment financing that
applies to commercial and/or industrial projects. Upon the completion of a
thorough presentation of tax increment financing for multifamily housing
projects, various criteria were considered for the purpose of establishing
guidelines to process applications for this method of financing. Several
concerns were raised by the City Council and the consultants were asked to
prepare a resolution that would contain guidelines for interest rate
reduction/tax incre-ment financing of multifamily housing projects and that
further consideration of these guidelines would be given at a future City
Council meeting. There was no action taken; however, the consultants were
directed to prepare a set of guidelines relating to this method of financing.
M.B.O. UPDATE
The City Administrator presented a status report on the objectives
that were adopted in February as a part of the Management by Objectives
program. After review and discussion on several of the objectives, the City
Administrator was asked to update the City Council later this fall with an
additional status report on all the objectives.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
BUILDING PERMIT REQUEST FOR EAGANDALE INDUSTRIAL PARK
The City Administrator stated that Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
ance Company is requesting building permits for three-story office buildings
and a restaurant on various lots within Eagandale Center Industrial Park that
are zoned within an R&D district. The City Administrator stated that staff is
reluctant to issue a building permit without an interpretation of the zoning
ordinance. He stated that Subdivision 20 requires that a lot area within an R
& D classification must be 40 acres in size; the entire R&D district is not 40
acres. He further indicated that upon review of the ordinance, a restaurant
is not a recorded use within R&D zoning. The City Administrator stated that
the applicants do meet or exceed all other City ordinances with the proposed
development and, there-fore, is asking the City Council whether they agree
with the staff's interpretation of the ordinance. After a brief discussion,
it was agreed by members of the City Council that a building permit should not
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JULY 16, 1984
PAGE TWO
be issued without some type of variance or possible zoning amendment to
respect the integrity of the R&D zoning regulations. The City Administrator
was instructed to review the City Council's position with the Opus Corporation
regarding their proposed development.
MINNESOTA JOCKEY-CLUB FINAL SETTLEMENT
The City Administrator stated that all in-house costs and out-of-
pocket costs were submitted to Mr. Steve Phlaum, representing the Minnesota
Jockey Club Inc., for the purpose of finalizing-all outstanding bills related
to the horse racing track proposal. He stated that Mr. Phlaum has agreed to
all out-of-pocket expenses; however, he is not agreeable to making payment for
hours that were billed for actual time expended by the City Administrator.
The City Administrator stated that all in-house expenses including his time,
as well as the Director of Finance's time and all out-of-pocket expenses
during 1983, were reimbursed by Minnesota Jockey Club Inc. He then stated
that the hours for time spent by his department are those hours accumulated
for the months of January through March of 1984 and total approximately
130 hours. After further discussion on the matter, members of the City
Council felt that out-of-pocket expenses were fair and reasonable and, there-
fore, a final billing for out-of-pocket expenses totaling $10,972.83 to the
Minnesota 'Jockey Club Inc., was recommended. City Councilmember Wachter
stated that he would like the time that was spent by the City Administrator
included in the bill, stating that this project was exceptional and put an
undue burden on the City staff and, therefore, the City should be billing for
all expenses incurred including in-house time. After further discussion, a
motion was made by City Councilmember Egan, seconded by Councilmember Smith,
and with all members voting aye with the exception of City Councilmember
Wachter who voted nay, that the Minnesota Jockey Club, Inc., be billed for
out-of-pocket expenses totalling $10,972.83 to finalize all expenses that were
incurred while the City processed the horse racing track application. The
City Administrator reported that with this motion, the City has been
reimbursed for -all-out-of-pock-et-expenses since this application was received
by the City in-the summer -&f 1983.--
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00 p.m.
Dated: July-16, 1984 TLH
Cit erk