02/13/1990 - City Council SpecialMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
February 13, 1990
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Thursday, February 13, 1990,
at 5:30 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center Building. Present were Mayor Egan and City
Councilmembers Gustafson, McCrea, Pawlenty and Wachter. Also present were Director of Finance
VanOverbeke, Director of Public Works Colbert, Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa, Chief of Police
Geagan, Community Development Director Runkle, City Planner Sturm, Assistant to the City
Administrator Hohenstein and City Administrator Hedges.
JOINT AIRPORT RELATIONS MEETING
Mayor Egan convened the Special City Council meeting by welcoming members of the
Airport Relations Committee in addition to the City's special consultants, Mr. Jerry Bogan of G. Bogan
and Associates and both John Herman and Steve Belton of the law firm Leonard Street and Deinard.
Assistant to the City Administrator Hohenstein provided background information for the City Council and
Airport Relations Committee. The Airport Relations Committee members included Chair Dustin Mirick,
Bruce Nauth, Sandra Marsyla, Greg Gappa, Jerry Woelfel, Cindy Ellis, Becky Newell and Roger Martin.
Hohenstein briefly reviewed the positions the Council and Committee had previously taken on this
matter. He then provided a brief background on each of the consultants and their relationship to the
policy issue. Jerry Bogan was introduced and began his presentation with a commendation for
Assistant to the City Administrator Hohenstein and the City of Eagan for existing findings and
background regarding airport operations. Mr. Bogan suggested that the City seek the support of
neighboring communities and proceeded to discuss the rational to extend the departures. He stated
that he was not optimistic about the FAA changing regulations.
Mr. John Herman and Steve Belton presented background information in five substantive
arguments that support the City of Eagan's comprehensive guide plan and present airport operations.
Mr. Herman further introduced the theory that state law does not allow the FAA or any other agency
to advocate proliferation which is the impact if operations are arbitrarily changes. Mr. Belton stated that
his finding included a desire that Mendota Heights and Eagan agree on a plan, even if a delay is
required due to the need for additional information.
Members of the City Council asked a number of questions of both consultants regarding
a strategy for the March 7 MASAC presentation which included an expression of concerns regarding
the perception of residents, surrounding neighborhoods and the overall level of noise that aircraft
operations are causing throughout the community.
Mayor Egan expressed his thanks to the Airport Relations Committee and consultants
for all their work and acknowledged that the City Council would reconvene to the lunch room to discuss
the remainder of business items on the special City Council agenda
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT /1990 EQUIPMENT REVOLVING FUND
City Administrator Hedges presented the 1990 proposed Equipment Revolving Fund list
of expenditures by department, stating that the analysis and alternatives in response to a direction by
the City Council at the last budgetary workshop meeting on December 12, 1989. He stated that the
original list of capital totalled $652,650 and exceeds the Equipment Revolving Fund amount that was
forecast for 1990 by $288,130. City Administrator Hedges stated that each department head was asked
to review their list of capital and determine what items could be delayed without creating costly
inefficiencies either in operations or maintenance if the equipment is not acquired during 1990. He
presented a revised list of capital equipment that reduced the Equipment Revolving Fund total to
$491,150 stating that this amount exceeds the amount originally forecast for 1990 by $106,630.
Members of the City Council asked several questions about the equipment and agreed that due to the
tight levy limitations that were placed on the general fund for 1990 and, due to the large increase in
total tax capacity, the only choice in purchasing equipment to maintain a constant delivery of service
is to increase the Equipment Revolving Fund for 1990 as opposed to any further revisions to the
general operating budget. Councilmembers stated that any additional reduction in capital equipment
would only create a greater burden in 1991 /1992 when the City is confronted with additional
replacement and acquisition. After further discussion on the Capital Equipment Revolving Fund, a
motion was made by City Councilmember Gustafson, seconded by Councilmember Egan, with all
members voting in favor, that the Equipment Revolving Fund be established at $491,150 for 1990 to
allow acquisition of capital equipment for five (5) City departments.
LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE
City Planner Sturm presented the proposed landscape ordinance emphasizing that new
regulatory provisions are designed to enhance tree conservation by emphasizing the size of trees,
irrigation requirements and screening material for new subdivisions. He further addressed several policy
questions by discussing many of the proposed regulations. After a review and discussion by the City
Council, it was determined that the proposed ordinance should be presented to the Advisory Parks and
Recreation Commission and Developers Task Force for their reaction. Mayor Egan noted that the main
intent of the landscape ordinance as presented by the City Planner was for tree conservation and plant
materials on private property which includes new development. City Councilmember Wachter addressed
the issue of reforestation and emphasized that any new regulations include a strong emphasis on the
replacement of trees for both environmental and aesthetic reasons.
Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa appeared and presented changes in amendments
that were proposed for the regulation of tree contractors suggesting licensing, the regulation of trees,
shade tree disease control and maintenance of trees on both private and public properties. After a
review of these regulations which include several policies for tree conservation on public property, a
motion was introduced by City Councilmember Wachter, seconded by City Councilmember Gustafson,
with all members voting in favor that the entire landscape ordinance including both regulations for
private property and new regulations for public properties be adopted in concept and sent to the
Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission and Developers Task Force for additional review.
POLICE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
City Administrator Hedges stated that during development of the 1990 budget approval
was given as an expenditure item in the Police Department to apply for a law enforcement agency
accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Chief of Police
Geagan appeared and presented the accreditation program stating that these standards will provide
the Police Department with an overall analysis of its operation and ability to deliver services. Chief
Geagan provided an in -depth presentation which included a body of standards designed to:
1. Increase law enforcement capabilities to prevent/control crime
2. Increase agency effectiveness and efficiency and delivery of enforcement services
3. Increase cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and with other
agencies in the criminal justice system.
4. Increase citizen and employee confidence in goals, objectives, policies and practices of the
agency.
5. Provide law enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate voluntarily that they meet and
establish a set of law enforcement standards.
City Councilmembers discussed the program and asked several questions regarding
the amount of time for achieving accreditation and among other questions as to whether the
department would be required to seek a new accreditation in the future. Chief Geagan stated that the
accreditation process is estimated at 18 months to complete and will be good for approximately five
(5) years. City Councilmember Pawlenty stated that it was his experience in working with the Police
Chiefs Association that accreditation will be expected for departments as large as the Eagan Police
Department as a liability protection and to enhance efficiency and consistent standards for all Police
personnel. Mayor Egan stated that the Police are seeking an application for the accreditation and
suggested an action on the part of the City Council. In a motion by City Councilmember Gustafson
and City Councilmember Pawlenty, with all members voting in favor, the City Administrator and Chief
of Police were directed to file the application for accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation of
Law Enforcement Agencies.
OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items for other business.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjoumed at approximately 9:15 p.m.
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