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05/15/1991 - City Council Special MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota May 15, 1991 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held In Conference Rooms A and B of the Eagan Municipal Center Building on Wednesday, May 15, 1991 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Egan, City Councilmembers Gustafson, Pawlenty and Wachter. City Councilmember McCrea was called out of state on business and was unable to attend. Also present were Chief of Police Geagan, Police Captain Aszmann, Fire Chief Southom, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Assistant to the City Administrator Hohenstein and City Administrator Hedges. The purpose of the meeting was to review the status of police staffing, consider the five (5) year CIP and beginning at 7:30 p.m., hold a joint meeting with the Airport Relations Committee to hear a presentation on the MAC Comprehensive Plan and runway alternatives for the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. POLICE STAFFING UPDATE Chief of Police Geagan presented a police staffing report that consisted of data on police staffing levels his department collected from other communities. He stated that in the early 1980's, sworn police personnel were below national and Minnesota metropolitan area recommended staffing levels. Because of the demonstrated negative impact on the inability to provide police services with a growing population and changing community, staffing was increased to a level of one officer per thousand In the mid-1980's. Chief Geagan further reported that budget constraints in the past two years and rapid growth generating multiple dwelling neighborhoods have again caused the Police Department to reassess its level of service by increasing response time and generally reducing the quality of service. He further stated that in some areas of the department, staffing is critical and In other areas, especially during the summer of 1991, the lack of constant staffing may cause safety implications for the community and officers. He further complimented his staff for their professionalism and high level of service to the community despite the lean financial times the City is experiencing due to the reduction In State aids. Captain Aszmann provided new analysis on determining how many sworn police personnel are required to maintain a traditional level of service within the Police Department. He stated that according to Police Department staff at an analysis seminar he attended which was sponsored by the International Chiefs of Police, departments can better evaluate staffing needs by conducting a workload and personnel study that tracks each activity report into 125 minute periods which correspond to a normally scheduled ten hour work day. This activity analysis is reviewed by sergeants and to date, over 3,000 activity reports have been analyzed accounting for almost 30,000 employee hours. Captain Aszmann further stated that this method of reviewing labor distribution helps the department analyze the amount of employee time that is required for each service that is currently delivered by the Police Department. Police Chief Geagan stated that historically staffing was suggested at a rate of one officer per thousand according to International Chief of Police standards for a suburban community. Chief Geagan stated that an alternative to additional police staffing and maintaining a constant delivery of service Is to eliminate certain traditional services that have been provided by the department. He stated that several of the services to be reduced or eliminated Include, but are not limited to, no expansion of the DARE program to new elementary schools, eliminate further consideration of the juvenile liaison position at Eagan High School, recognition that the residential prevention patrol is almost non- existent, minimize business checks, eliminate vehicle lock-outs, eliminate vacation house checks and prioritize calls the Police Department receives and respond when a unit Is available. Page 2/EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL May 15, 1991 Mayor Egan thanked Chief Geagan and Captain Aszmann for the extensive analysis of police operations that was provided in both the written and oral presentations. City Councilmember Pawlenty has requested that the City Council be provided with periodic updates on the staffing analysis study. City Administrator Hedges stated that program adjustments or reductions may be necessary In 1992 as a result of further aide reductions by the State of Minnesota to municipalities as a part of the Omnibus Tax Bill legislation. He further commented that If budget reductions/adjustments are necessary directions should be given as to how the City Council plans to receive input from the community such as a survey, special committees or the public hearing process. City Council member Gustafson stated his preference for a public hearing process suggesting that staff and City Council propose various options for programming adjustments/reductions In an effort to guide the residents through an in depth review of all services delivered by the City. After a brief discussion, the City Council members agreed with City Council member Gustafson and the City Administrator was directed to schedule public hearings during late summer/early fall to allow public Input into the proposed 1992 budget program adjustments/reductions are necessary for various departments. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM City Administrator Hedges reviewed alternatives for different levels of spending for the five (5) year capital improvements program that is under review by the City Council. He stated that having examined as many revenue options as possible, it appears that bond referendums or use of the community Investment fund are the two primary revenue sources to offset capital expenditures within the general fund operations. City Administrator Hedges specifically addressed funding options for the proposed ice arena facility. City Council members debated whether use of the community Investment fund proceeds or a bond referendum would be an appropriate revenue source for the proposed $2.5 million Ice arena. After a discussion there was a consensus that the Ice arena be funded by a referendum. City Administrator Hedges suggested that revisions be made to the proposed CIP including the five (5) years as 1992 - 1996 and, further, that amounts within the general operations portion be reduced to include one (1) bond referendum and the use Interest from the community Investment fund as the primary revenue sources for the five year capital improvements program. PRESENTATION/MAC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RUNWAY ALTERNATIVES Mayor Egan reconvened the special City Council meeting In the City Council Chambers by Introducing members of the Airport Relations Commission for a joint meeting with the City Council to consider a presentation by staff and consultants from the Metropolitan Airports Commission on the MAC Comprehensive Plan and Runway Alternatives under consideration for the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Also Mayor Egan thanked members of the Economic Development Commission and Advisory Planning Commission for their attendance at the meeting. City Administrator Hedges provided further introduction about the presentation and Walter Rockenstein, Chairman of the Metropolitan Airports Commission Interactive Planning Group who Introduced the MAC staff and consulting team who were present for the formal presentation. Nigel Finney of the MAC and Evan Futterman of the consulting firm of Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff overviewed the dual track planning process, its relationship to the MAC Comprehensive Plan process and the six alternatives being considered for the expansion of Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. The alternatives consist of all possible combinations of three additional runway options and two terminal options. The runway options consist of: an additional north parallel runway, an additional south parallel runway or a north south runway adjacent to Cedar Avenue. The terminal options consist of an expanded east terminal adjacent to the existing Lindbergh Terminal or a new 'front door' terminal on the west side of the airport at the Intersection of Cedar Avenue and the Crosstown Highway. Page 3/EAGAN CITY COUNCIL May 15, 1991 Each of the alternatives were reviewed with respect to operations and Impact areas. MAC staff Indicated that the addition of any one of the runways would permit the airport to continue to operate at acceptable levels of delay through the year 2020, but that a second additional runway would be necessary shortly after the year 2020 or sooner If growth exceeds projections. The soonest any one of the runways could be operational would be approximately the year 2000. MAC staff also Indicated that the long-term comprehensive plan Is a planning document at present and will only become an active plan if the Legislature determines to expand at the current location at the close of the dual track planning process In 1996. MAC representatives distributed a brochure of background Information relative to these alternatives. It was Indicated that the Eagan Airport Relations Committee would be addressing this Issue at Its next meeting on June 11 and that the Council would receive the Committee's recommendation shortly thereafter. Following a question and answer session, the meeting was adjourned. TLH May 15, 1991 A,. hi 4A Oth I Date City Clerk