06/20/2000 - City Council Special
Special City Council Meeting Minutes
June 20, 2000
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MINUTES OF A
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
JUNE 20, 2000
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, June 20, 2000
at 5:00 p.m. at the Municipal Centet'Buildirtg. Present were Mayor. Awada and
Councilmembers Bakken, Blomquist, Carlson and Masin. Also present were Senior
Planner Ridley, Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa, and City Administrator Hedges.
AGENDA
Councilmember Carlson moved, Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to
approve the agenda as presented. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
Mayor A wada asked if there were any visitors to be heard; Marvin Rodich 1345
Deerwood Drive asked the Council to exempt land owners of one or more acres to be
exempt from the vehicle and shed storage ordinance being considered. The City Council
agreed to consider the request and Mayor A wada thanked Mr. Rodich for coming to the
meeting.
CASCADE BAY POLICIES, i.e. USE OF STROLLERS, TELEPHONES &
HOURS
City Administrator Hedges provided an overview of this item.
The Councilmembers agreed to address each issue individually. Mayor Awada
introduced Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa to address the current policy and why
the City decided not to allow strollers into Cascade Bay. Vraa noted that safety and the
potential for many strollers in Cascade Bay were two issues that the City's used to base
their decision. Vraa also informed the Councilmembers that the City researched other
city polices with similar aquatic facilities and found that many cities advised Eagan to
ban strollers from Cascade Bay. The reasons provided by those cities were that the
strollers became obstacles and affected safety. Other cities, which allowed strollers, tried
to use corrals inside the facility; however, patrons often did not use the corrals because
they wanted the stroller near them. Thus, the City decided not to allow strollers into the
facility. Vraa, however, noted that the City does allow car seats and other child carriers
into the facility.
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June 20, 2000
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Councilmember Masin asked Vraa if the City allowed strollers in the former
wadding pool. Vraa informed Councilmember Masin that the wadding pool policy did
not allow strollers into the facility. Mayor A wada informed Vraa that it is the City's job
to serve the public and questioned whether the City was doing this with its current stroller
policy.
Councilmember Masin stated that the current City stroller policy of not allowing
strollers, but allowing car seats into Cascade Bay seems to be the happy medium.
Councilmember Bakken agreed with Councilmember Masin and restated the concerns of
safety and the amount of time pool staff would have to dedicate to runaway strollers.
Councilmember Carlson stated that Cascade Bay is different and today convenience is
important to the public using the facility.
Councilmember Blomquist asked how many complaints have the City received
last year and whether or not the complaints have increased since the implementation of
the current policy. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa stated that the City did receive
a few complaints last year regarding the policy, but once people understood the policy the
complaints decreased. Mayor A wada restated her view that the City should be serving
the public in a convenient manner. Thus, the city should consider allowing strollers into
Cascade Bay. Councilmember Bakken, however, stated that allowing strollers may be
convenient, but again safety and staff time attributed to strollers outweigh the
convemence.
Councilmember Masin moved, Councilmember Bakken second the motion to
defer this issue to the Parks Commission for further discussion.
A vote was taken on the motion. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
Aquatic Facility Manager Kristi Organ provided an overview of the current
telephone policy.
Councilmember Blomquist asked if the public could call into the Cascade Bay.
Organ stated that Cascade Bay does not have a published public line. Councilmember
Carlson stated that due to the volume of calls a published public line would not be
affective. Mayor A wada asked all Councilmembers if the current policy was sufficient.
The Councilmembers all agreed that the current policy was fine.
Mayor A wada addressed the hours of operation for Cascade Bay and sighted that
the facility has been closed too often this season. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa
stated that due to the weather the facility has closed early or did not open on certain days.
Mayor A wada stated that the season pass holders expect us to be open and unless there is
extremely severe weather or mechanical problems the facility should be open.
Councilmember Masin suggested that Cascade Bay have some parameters for closure due
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June 20, 2000
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to cold temperatures. Councilmember Carlson agreed with Mayor A wada that the facility
should be always open unless there is extreme weather. Mayor A wada asked
Councilmembers if they agreed with the discussion regarding hours of operation for the
facility. The Councilmembers all agreed.
CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF ZONING ORDIANCE
UPDATE COMMITTEE
City Administrator Hedges provided an overview of this item. Senior Planner
Ridley was available for questions.
Mayor A wada asked Councilmembers Carlson and Bakken to sit on the
committee. Both agreed to sit on the committee. Councilmember Blomquist asked
Senior Planner Ridley how many Councilmembers sit on the committee. Ridley stated
that two Councilmembers are on the committee.
Mayor A wada moved, Councilmember Bakken second a motion to appoint
Councilmember Bakken and Carlson on the Zoning Ordinance Committee.
A vote was taken on the motion. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
DISCUSSION RE: FUTURE STEPS FOR THE CENTRAL PARKS
AND COMMUNITY CENTER DEVELOPMENT
City Administrator Hedges provided an overview of this item.
Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa provided information regarding who and
how many individuals should be on the design teams. Vraa stated that either one or two
City Councilmembers could be on each of the design teams to assist with the
development process of Central Park and the Community Center. Councilmember
Blomquist asked Vraa how many RFP's would be sent out. Vraa explained that three
different RFPs would be sent out. Councilmember Carlson asked how many architects
would be asked to submit proposals. Vraa informed the Councilmembers that the City
will send RFPs to all that inquire.
Councilmember Carlson moved, Councilmember Bakken second the motion to
solicit proposals to obtain a landscape architect firm and a general architectural firm.
A vote was taken on the motion. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
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June 20, 2000
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Mayor A wada moved, Councilmember Bakken second, to amend the motion to
add a construction Manager.
A vote was taken on the amendment to the motion. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
City Administrator Hedges informed Councilmembers that office storage space
should be added to the design team chart. Councilmember Carlson stated she wanted to
ensure that teenagers from the each local high school would be incluaed in the design
teams.
Councilmember Masin moved, Mayor A wada second with an amendment to the
motion, to continue this discussioll at the next City Council meeting and asked if City
staff could make a grid including each Councilmember and their choices for which
design teams they would like to be on. The amendment includes City staff to consider
soliciting the public to serve on these design teams.
A vote was taken on the motion. Aye: 5 Nay: 0
OTHER BUSINESS
There being no further business; the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
JUNE 20, 2000
Date
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City Clerk