03/30/2004 - Advisory Parks & Recreation Commission
Minutes of Public Hearing
DNR Natural and Scenic Area Grant and
DNR Remediation Grant Applications
Tuesday, March 30 2004
The public hearing was called to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Eagan Room, City of Eagan City Hall.
Staff present were Paul Olson, Superintendent of Parks, and Beth Wielde, Research and Special
Projects. Advisory Parks Commission members present were Chair Terry Davis and Vice Chair
Dorothy Peterson. Audience members were Tony and Cheryl Caponi. Bob McGillivray
represented the Trust for Public Land. There were no other audience members attending.
Superintendent Olson introduced staff and the Trust for Public Land. Olson reviewed the
required elements that would be covered at the hearing, and mentioned it would be followed up
the next morning with a special City Council meeting to sign the resolutions associated with the
Natural and Scenic Area Grants and the Remediation Grant. He then introduced McGillivray.
McGillivray introduced the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and its mission to provide assistance in
land transfer transactions to benefit public ownership of open space. He described the project
scope and activities involved in the grant, namely acquisition of segments of the Caponi Art Park
property for the purpose of remaining open space, and having TPL work with the Caponis to get
an option to purchase approximately 30 acres.
Researcher Wielde described the implementation schedule, saying the grant allows 24 months to
complete the project, but the City would hope to have it substantially completed within 12
months. She continued, describing the overall cost of the project and proposed financing. She
detailed the financing chart shown in the grant application, noting the City is willing to
contribute $720,000 to the project, combined with funds from the Dakota County Farmland and
Natural Area Protection, and hopefully with the state DNR.
Superintendent Olson noted that there are no costs anticipated to be assessed to citizens, as the
City contribution would come from the Park Site Fund, comprised of developer's fees, and the
balance would likely be comprised of grant funding from Dakota County, supplemented by the
State DNR programs, should the applications be approved. He noted that the park would be built
in to the operational budget and might require nominal maintenance and operation costs, most
likely equivalent to a seasonal employee.
Researcher Wielde mentioned that current understanding was there is an absence of liability on
the Caponi property. McGillivray clarified this by explaining there is no known environmental
cleanup or similar issues associated with the property.
Commission Member Peterson asked if there had been assessments on the tunnel on the property
(note: not in the grant request area), and Cheryl Caponi said that it would be satisfied upon
completion of the project.
There were no further comments, and Olson called for anyone else who wished to speak. Being
none, the Public Hearing was closed at 5:50 p.m.