04/24/2007 - City Council Public Works CommitteeAGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY
APRIL 24, 2007
CONFERENCE ROOM 2A&B
4:00 P.M.
I. AGENDA ADOPTION
II. REVIEW MARCH 27, 2007 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
III. SPEED LIMIT SIGNS /RED PINE NEIGHBORHOOD
IV. DISCUSS FRAMEWORK FOR POTENTIAL DEDICATED
OPEN SPACE FUNDING SOURCE
V. OTHER BUSINESS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting Notes
Public Works Committee Meeting
April 24, 2007
Attendance: Councilmember Bakken, Councilmember Fields, City Administrator
Hedges, Police Lieutenant New, Director of Parks and Recreation Seydell Johnson, and
Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke.
Agenda
The meeting agenda was adopted as presented.
Meeting Notes
The Public Works Committee meeting notes for the March 27, 2007 meeting were
approved as presented.
Speed Limit Signs / Red Pine Neighborhood
The Public Works Committee discussed concerns about perceived speeding in the Red
Pine neighborhood and the possibility of placing additional stop signs as proposed by
the residents. After discussing previous surveys and enforcement efforts, potential sign
options, and additional enforcement, it was determined that the following course of
action should be followed:
• The City should place a flag/marker on the stop sign at Weston Hills Drive and
Stratford Lane to assist in attracting attention to the stop sign.
• The Police Department will continue gathering information using the speed
trailer, etc. The time period before and after the school day at Red Pine
Elementary is to be specifically targeted.
• Consideration of any additional signing is tabled until the additional survey data
can be gathered.
Discuss Framework For Potential Dedicated Open Space Funding Source
The Public Works Committee discussed the framework for a potential fund dedicated
specifically to the preservation of open space. Emphasis was placed on potential uses
of fund resources with more consideration at a later date regarding potential sources of
funds.
Staff was directed to prepare a document incorporating the following potential uses of
the fund resources:
• Actual purchases
• Costs for studies/surveys
• Referendum election costs
• Preparation and distribution of educational materials concerning a referendum
question
Staff was directed to include a $25,000 transfer from the City's General Fund in the
approval documentation to provide start up dollars for the new fund.
The draft document is to be reviewed at a Public Works Committee meeting to be held at
5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2007, with the expectation that the matter would be taken to the full
City Council at the May 15, 2007 regular meeting.
Agenda Information Memo
Apri124, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting
II. REVIEW MARCH 27, 2007 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
ACTION TO BE DISCUSSED:
No action is needed. The enclosed meeting notes are for the review of the committee.
FACTS:
Per the request of the City Council, meetings notes are being taken at each City
Council standing committee meeting in order that the City Council can review staff's
understanding of the discussions and recommendations made at each of the
committee meetings.
The Committee meeting notes will be forwarded the City Council after the committee
has had the chance to review the notes.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Enclosed on pagesoC through ~ are the meeting notes from the March 27, 2007
Public Works Committee meeting.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MTG
TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2007
EAGAN CITY HALL
CONFERENCE ROOMS 2 A/B
MEETING NOTES
The Public Works Committee of the City Council consisting of Councilmembers Cyndee Fields
and Paul Bakken convened the meeting at 5:00 pm. Also in attendance were City Administrator
Tom Hedges, Assistant to the City Administrator Dianne Miller, Public Works Director Tom
Colbert, Director of Community Development Jon Hohenstein, and City Planner Ridley.
Councilmembers Bakken called the meeting to order and adopted the agenda as presented.
(Councilmember Fields arrived at 5:20 p.m.)
MEETING NOTES-MARCH 6, 2007
Councilmember Bakken reviewed the meeting notes and consented that the notes were accurate
and ready to be sent to the City Council.
BRAINSTORMING: ENERGY AND CONSUMER RESOURCES PLAN / WIND
ENERGY
Councilmember Bakken acknowledged that Xcel Energy is no longer providing subsidies for
wind energy programs since wind energy is now sustainable from a commercial standpoint. He
noted the Minnesota "Winergy" Initiative, which is a clearing house for wind projects, maps, etc.
It was suggested that the City investigate wind energy opportunities for future consideration in
the CIP (e.g. could wind energy be used to generate energy for lift stations, wells, etc). Director
Colbert stated that windmills may not be able to meet the required heavy start up demands of the
3-phase power supply of our pumps. There was inquisitive discussion regarding the possible
potential of selling excess generated power back to the electrical utility as an alternative.
The committee discussed what it would take to collect wind data at certain areas within the City,
which could then be used to determine if there is enough sustained wind speed to use as a
supplemental energy source for the City. The monitor should provide a continuous recording of
wind speed and direction for a sufficient period to evaluate its sustainable potential. It was
suggested that the City water reservoirs be considered for wind speed monitoring locations
(ideally, the committee would like to see monitors on all of the reservoirs, but if the cost is too
high, then at minimum, a monitor should be installed on one reservoir). The committee also
reviewed the current City Code chapter related to wind energy systems.
Public Works Committee Recommendation to the City Council:
Provide an update to the Council at the April 10, 2007 Special City Council meeting along with
any available information regarding the cost and feasibility of installing wind monitors on the
City's reservoirs for a monitoring period of 6-12 months.
Public Works Committee Meeting Notes
March 27, 2007
Page 2
FOLLOW UP ON U.S. CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
The committee concurred that they do not want to proceed ahead with the entire Cool Cities
program. They expressed concern with the program requirement that a City commission would
need to be established to prepare a climate action plan. They did offer their support for the cause,
and recommended that the City sign on to the Climate Protection Agreement. The committee
also reviewed the list of energy saving measures that the City is currently has in place.
Public Works Committee Recommendation to the City Council:
The Committee recommended that Mayor Maguire, at the request of the City Council, sign on to
the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. The committee also recommended that the City
send correspondence to Bruce Goff, who was the resident who requested the City sign on to the
agreement, to inform him of the City's actions regarding the agreement and also to share with
him the energy saving measures that the City currently has in place.
DISCUSS CITY'S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PHILOSOPHY
Community Development Director Hohenstein and City Planner Ridley highlighted the City's
current code enforcement practices, noting that the City's code enforcement philosophy has
historically been complaint-based. They noted that proactive enforcement occurs with respect to
certain types of violations, but that most property violation investigations occur because of
neighbor calls.
The committee and staff discussed the typical complaints that they receive regarding conditions
in residential areas and at local businesses, such as the condition of buildings, disrepair of
parking lots and pot holes often located at the business access points. It was noted that the public
oftentimes does not differentiate between a public road and private parking lot and therefore
expects the City to make repairs. It was noted that the City currently has minimum standards for
initial construction of private drives, sidewalks, parking lots, etc., but the code currently does not
include provisions for enforcement of standards for such surfaces on an ongoing basis.
The committee also discussed their concerns regarding the detrimental effect that a lack of
overall maintenance on residential and business properties can have on both property values as
well as the City's infrastructure systems (e.g. businesses not sweeping their parking lots results
in debris flowing into the City's stormwater system, private fire hydrants not being maintained
and thus not operable for the City's Fire department, or landscaping not being maintained and
thus sightline issues occur when residents try to access public roads). Staff discussed the way in
which the property maintenance (building condition) code has been applied to bring about
corrections of deficiencies in both residential and commercial areas.
The committee discussed how far the City should go in enforcing maintenance of private
property. It was noted that if a more extensive program is implemented, there will be budget
ramifications. There was agreement that the focus of any business code enforcement that is
implemented should be compliance versus punishment. The committee also discussed the issue
3
Public Works Committee Meeting Notes
March 27, 2007
Page 3
of recreational vehicles, boats, etc. on residential property, and it was the consensus of the
committee not to aggressively take on that issue at this time; rather, to continue the current
complaint based system to address properties that are out of compliance.
Public Works Committee Recommendation/Request to be brought back to the Committee:
The Committee asked staff to investigate the following to be brought back for committee
discussion one more time before a recommendation is forwarded to the City Council:
• Investigate feasibility of an expanded property maintenance program that would focus on
maintenance issues that have a direct impact on the City's infrastructure system (i.e.
stormwater, water, streets, etc.)
• Investigate whether the City has statutory authority to enforce against a commercial property
if it is they are out of compliance with surface property standards (entrance aprons, private
drives, potholes in parking area, etc.) and, if the property owner chooses not to correct the
problem, could the City then contract to make the necessary repairs and then bill the business
for the service rendered (using the same system the City currently uses regarding noxious
weeds)?
• Recommendation: Conduct 360 degree assessments in both commercial and residential areas
as a proactive approach for code enforcement and commercial property maintenance
standards.
• Recommendation: The committee recommends that if the City has the authority to make
repairs on business properties, those repairs should be contracted rather than using City FTEs
to make the repairs.
• The committee requested additional information about how neighboring communities are
currently addressing commercial property maintenance.
• The committee asked for staff's opinion on how aggressive the City can should be when it
comes to property maintenance to make a noticeable difference. What authority does the City
have (i.e. how far can we go?)? What will the cost be to provide the increased service (cost-
benefit analysis)?
• The committee asked for additional information and staff's recommendation on the licensing
of rental properties (frequency of inspections, cost, etc.)
Adjournment
The meting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Agenda Information Memo
Apri124, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting
III. SPEED LIMIT SIGNS /RED PINE NEIGHBORHOOD
ACTION TO BE DISCUSSED:
To discuss the concerns raised by constituents in the Red Pine neighborhood regarding
speed limit signs.
FACTS:
• A request has been made for the Public Works Committee to discuss some recent
concerns raised by residents in the Red Pine neighborhood regarding speed limit
signs.
• Public Works Director Colbert and Police Chief McDonald will be in attendance at
the April 24 Committee meeting to discuss and respond to the concerns.
Agenda Information Memo
Apri124, 2007 Public Works Committee Meeting
IV. DISCUSS FRAMEWORK FOR POTENTIAL DEDICATED OPEN
SPACE FUNDING SOURCE
ACTION TO BE DISCUSSED:
To discuss the framework of a potential dedicated funding source for open space.
FACTS:
• Councilmember Bakken has requested that the Public Works Committee discuss a
framework for a potential dedicated funding source for the acquisition and/or
preservation of open space.
• The Council's Finance Committee will be discussing possible open space funding
options and mechanisms in the near future.
• The Public Works Committee may wish to discuss the purpose and/or uses of such a
funding source.