02/12/1985 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
February 12, 1985
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on February 12,
1985, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Eagan Municipal Center
Building. Those present were City Councilmembers Wachter, Egan and Thomas.
City Councilmember Smith arrived during the discussion of the Blackhawk Park
Dev jrerit and Mayor Blomquist was absent. Representing the Parks and
"ecreati_ _!visory Commission were its chairperson, Roger Martin, and members
Thurston, Fedde, Caponi, Ketcham, Alt, Masin and Bertz. Commission members
Kubik and Carroll were absent. Also present were Director of Parks and
Recreation Vraa, Landscape Architect Sullivan and City Administrator Hedges.
PRESIDING OFFICER
City Administrator Hedges stated that Mayor Blomquist is at the
hospital awaiting the news of a new grandchild and City Councilmember Smith,
who is the Acting Mayor, has indicated that he would be late to the meeting.
He stated that in order to officially start the meeting it would be necessary
for the City Council to elect a presiding officer until the Acting Mayor is
present to preside over the meeting. In a motion by City Councilmember Egan,
seconded by Councilmember Thomas, City Councilmember Wachter was elected
presiding officer.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF BLACKHAWK PARK
Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa presented a park development
plan for the proposed acquisition and development of Blackhawk Community Park.
He stated that acquisition is subject to negotiations with Mrs. Waldron, Leo
Murphy and Ed Dunn, all of whom own property adjacent to the boundaries of
existing Blackhawk Park. City Councilmember Wachter expressed a desire to
preserve as much of the wooded land as possible for single-family development
which is located in the Blackhawk Park PUD and the general vicinity of
Blackhawk Park. It was stated that acquisition and development must have a
practical blend to determine the most reasonable cost for the proposed
parkland improvements. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa discussed the need
to submit an application to the State for LAWCON and LMCR funding. City
Councilmember/Acting Mayor Smith arrived at approximately 7:35 p.m. and
assumed the chair as acting mayor. It was proposed by City Councilmember
Smith, after a brief review, that the City acquire proposed parkland through
advance parkland dedication. After input from members of the Parks and
Recreation Commission and additional discussion on the part of the City
Council, a motion was made by City Councilmember Egan, seconded by City
Councilmember Thomas, with all members voting in favor that the Blackhawk
Community Park Plan be accepted in general concept and that the City staff be
directed to negotiate future parkland dedication for parcels B and D and a per
acre value for parcels A and C to determine the application amount for an
LMCR/LAWCON grant.
LANDSCAPE PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS EVALUATION
The City's Landscape Architect, Steve Sullivan, reviewed the
landscape procedures and requirements evaluation" stating that seven main
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February 12, 1935
Page Two
objectives were ,)repared for a landscaping standards policy. The following
were presented by Mr. SuL!ivan as the main objectives:
1. Establish and waintain forestation of the City,
2. Provide a required minimum amount of landscaping,
3. Preserve significant existing plant material,
4. Provide design guidelines for quality development,
5. Provide plant material specifications,
6. Achieve screening and buffering of undesirable visual elements,
7. Provide ground cover requirements to control soil erosion.
Each of the aforementioned objectives were reviewed in detail by Mr. Sullivan.
A number of suggestions were offered by members of the Advisory Parks and
Recreation Commission as well as the City Council regarding such issues as
placing trees around parking lots to minimize plowing problems and similar
type suggestions. After considerable discussion, it was suggested by Acting
Mayor Smith that the policy be further reviewed by the City staff and certain
changes be presented to both the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission and
City Council for future approval. It was recommended by the City
Administrator that a landscape standards policy be adopted by reference as an
amendment to the City Code when future consideration is given by the City
Council.
LEAF COMPOSTING
The Director of Parks and Recreation reviewed the leaf composting
program that was coordinated during 1984. It was suggested by members of the
APRC and City Council that three or four sites be planned throughout the City
during 1984. It was also suggested to the Director of Parks and Recreation
that leaves be spread over the City-sponsored garden plots to provide improved
soil fertilization.
PARK PLAN REVIEW
Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa reviewed park plans for
Wedgewood, Capricorn and Schwanz Lake Parks stating that all three (3) parks
were included in the bond referendum and it is intended that the City will
proceed with development during 1985. There were no changes made to any of
the park plans and the Director of Parks and Recreation stated that plans and
specifications and an advertisement for bids will be available for City
Council review in late March.
SECOND COMMUNITY ATHLETIC FIELD
APRC Chairman Martin reported that the athletic field proposal for
park development district 10E which is described as northeast of the
intersection with Pilot Knob Road and Yankee Doodle Road appear to be too
costly for acquisition. The Director of Parks and Recreation stated that the
Parks and Recreation Commission is looking for property throughout the City
-:at will provide the type of land and road access desirable for a second
community
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February 12, 1985
Page Three
athletic field. After a discussion of several potential sites, the Director
of Parks and Recreation was directed to proceed with contacting property
owners regarding optional sites for a second community athletic field.
SPECIAL CENSUS
The City Administrator reported that a check in the amount of $35
was sent to the United States Department of Commerce/Division of Census Bureau
to request an estimate for a special census. He stated that the Bureau of
Census will prepare a cost estimate based on an estimated population of
approximately 31,000 and that data is to be available sometime during the
month of March.
MULTIFAMILY IDB POOL
The City Administrator stated that Miller and Schroeder Municipals
Inc., and the Dakota County HRA have prepared a multifamily IDB pool program
that would allow any project that is approved for multifamily housing revenue
bond-s within the City of Eagan to participate in a multifamily IDB pool with
the Dakota County HRA. He stated that by participating through a pool program
with the County, the applicant will realize some savings which is important to
the project cost. The City Administrator further stated that the City retains
complete discretion over which projects are eligible for financing through the
program. He stated that only projects with all City approvals, including City
IDB approval, would be eligible for participation. The City Administrator
also stated that Miller and Schroeder Municipals, Inc., were selected by the
HRA to administer the program and act as underwriter for any bond sale. After
further discussion on the matter and in a motion by City Councilmember Egan,
seconded by Councilmember Thomas, with all members voting in favor, the City
of Eagan gave approval to allow applicants qualifying for multifamily housing
revenue bonds for projects within the City of Eagan to participate in a multi-
family IDB pool program through the Dakota County HRA.
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The City Administrator stated that the bond sale for the Series A
and Series B 1985 General Obligation Improvement Refunding Bonds was set for
noon, February 20, 1985. It was recommended by the City Administrator that a
special City Council meeting be set for 5:00 p.m. on that same day to
consider the results of the bond sale. In a motion by City Councilmember
Thomas, seconded by City Councilmember Egan, with all members voting in favor,
a special City Council meeting was set for 5:00 p.m. on February 20, 1985.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:45 p.m.
^ated: February 12, 1985 TLH
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