07/12/1994 - City Council SpecialAGENDA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday
July 12, 1994
5:00 p.m.
Eagan Municipal Center Building
I. ROLL CALL & ADOPTION OF AGENDA
II. MUNICIPAL CENTER REMODELING
III. FIRE DEPARTMENT ITEMS
IV. HRA HOUSING UPDATE
V. ADJOURNMENT
city of eagan
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM: CITY ADMINISTRATOR HEDGES
DATE: JULY 8, 1994
SUBJECT: SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING /TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1994
A Special City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to consider the following items:
1) Municipal Center Remodeling
2) Fire Department Items
3) HRA Housing Update
4) Other Business
MUNICIPAL CENTER REMODELING
Prior to the discussion concerning municipal center remodeling, it is suggested that the
Council, consultants and staff walk the site to review the Police Department work which
has been completed to date. By Tuesday evening, the footings and some of the
foundation walls are expected to be completed. This will permit the Council to have a
perspective on the general footprint and size of the facility. It will also be an opportunity
for the Council to review the specific locations at which the screen walls anticipated by
the bid alternates would be located. It will be necessary to make a final determination as
to the inclusion or exclusion of certain bid alternates in the near future while the masonry
contractor is still on site. Following the site review, Council, staff and consultants will
return to the lunchroom to review the remodeling portion of the building project.
Dewey Thorbeck of Thorbeck Architects Ltd. and Mike Stowe, E & V, will present design
development plans and budget estimates for the municipal center remodeling. The Site
Committee has been meeting on a regular basis to review common space, City Council
Chambers, community room, lobbies and work areas, including conference rooms, etc.
Details of the design development plan and cost estimates will be distributed at Tuesday
evening's meeting. Mr. Thorbeck and Mr. Stowe will both be available to respond to
questions at that time. Council will wish to provide direction to the staff and consultants
with respect to the next level of design, detailed plans and specifications for the facility.
MEMO
FIRE DEPARTMENT ITEMS
The City Administrator and Fire Chief have been discussing a variety of issues relative to
Fire Department priorities. Additional information with respect to this item will be
distributed on Monday. Chief Nelson will be present at Tuesday evening's meeting to
provide additional information and respond to questions by the Council.
HRA HOUSING UPDATE
Enclosed on pages 3 through is a memorandum from Community Development
Director Reichert introducing this issue. As noted in the memo, Dakota County HRA
Director Mark Ulfers will be present at Tuesday evening's meeting to discuss the criteria
the County uses for low income housing and, specifically, the application of low income
housing tax credits. The City previously established criteria for consideration of housing
tax credit requests. These are included as part of the memorandum. Both Peggy and
Mark will be available for questions at Tuesday's meeting relative to this item.
/S/ Thomas L. Hedges
City Administrator
a
TO: TOM HEDGES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: PEGGY REICHERT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: JULY 8, 1994
SUBJECT: TAX CREDIT /AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY
Introduction
MEMO
city of eagan
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a brief background for the city council as
it discusses the issue of the tax credit /affordable housing policy for Eagan. This item is
scheduled for the city council workshop of July 12, 1994.
Background
Several council meetings ago, we discussed a proposal by the Dakota County HRA to
develop a small, 30 -unit townhouse project at the southeast corner of Lone Oak Road
and Pilot Knob Road. At that time, Mayor Egan raised the concern that this location
would provide further multi - family housing in the Pilot Knob Elementary School attendance
area. He raised the issue that perhaps affordable housing units should be dispersed
throughout the community. It was my understanding that the city council's position was
that they were generally supportive of this type of housing project, particularly given its
unit type (townhouse), scale (small - 30 units), and proposed management (HRA -
sponsored), but that they were concerned about neighborhood impacts of overly
concentrating such housing.
The council's established guidelines for reviewing tax credit housing projects has not
heretofore included the issue of neighborhood impaction /concentration. The current
policies are attached for your review.
Council Workshop - July 12
At the meeting next Tuesday evening, Mark Ulfers, the director of the Dakota County
HRA, will be attending to describe the concept behind his proposed project and to
TOM HEDGES
JULY 8, 1994
PAGE TWO
discuss the need for such housing in the City of Eagan. City staff has worked with the
Dakota County HRA to compile information that will be available at the meeting
concerning the minority enrollment at each elementary school in the City, the percentage
of students receiving free and reduced lunches, and the distribution of housing types in
each attendance area. In addition, we have compiled a map of the remaining vacant,
residentially -zoned land in the City.
Mark Ulfers would like to discuss his project with the city council. If the Pilot Knob site
is not deemed appropriate, he is looking for some direction as to the appropriateness of
other possible sites within the City. The information that staff has developed as
background for this workshop on Tuesday is just the very beginning of the information
we are compiling as part of our housing plan update.
Mark has an HRA board meeting starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday so he would
appreciate having this item placed later on the workshop agenda. If you have any further
questions or comments, please let me know.
CommuFiity Development Director
Attachment
PAR /mg
CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION OF
LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT REQUESTS
Adopted August 16, 1988
Requests for Low Income Housing Tax Credit shall be considered by
the City of Eagan for eligible projects on the basis of their
relationship to the criteria which follow. The project may not
be required to conform with all criteria but is unlikely to
receive endorsement if it compares unfavorably to a majority of
the criteria.
1. Low income housing tax credits may be used only for
rehabilitation or upgrade of existing projects or to
enhance subsequent phases of existing projects. (This
criteria reserves the credit for improvements in areas of
identified problems rather than for new projects.)
2. Applicants for low income housing credits should
demonstrate that the credits will serve to reduce the
density of multi - family developments. (This criteria
reenforces the Council direction to reduce density and
bring about down - zoning.)
3. Applicants' projects should exceed exterior finish
requirements. (This criteria supports the Council
direction concerning finish material and lends added
impetus to the use of quality finish materials.)
4. Applicants' projects should exceed landscape requirements
and /or open space requirements. (Again, this criteria
reenforces the reduction of density and addition of
amenities to subject projects.)
5. Low income housing credits may be used only for two to
three bedroom homes /units to provide low income housing
opportunities for families. (This criteria promotes the
City policy of lower density, scattered site, low income
housing as multiple bedroom units are more frequently
present in lower density developments.)
6. No more than 45% of units occupied must be occupied by
low and moderate income persons /families. (This criteria
encourages a mix of low and moderate income persons with
other income categories.)
MEMO
city of eagan
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM: CITY ADMINISTRATOR HEDGES
DATE: JULY 11, 1994
SUBJECT: SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING /TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1994
ADDENDUM
A meeting of the Steering Committee was held Monday, July 11, to review cost estimates
for 1) remodelling and expansion of the Municipal Center Building, 2) Phase II site
development, 3) alternates to the Police Facility construction, and 4) media improvements
within the Council Chambers. Due to the fact all the cost estimates have not been fully
evaluated and certain information is pending and requires additional review, this item will
not be considered at the Special City Council meeting tomorrow evening. The City
Administrator has asked for additional information so the City Council can more fully
evaluate the cost estimates and provide proper direction to both the architect and
construction manager regarding the overall project.
The City Administrator will discuss the feasibility of changing the July 21 work session to
the following week or adding a special meeting on August 19, preceding the regular
Council agenda to meet with the architects. The architect is not available on July 21, thus
the reason for considering different dates.
REVISED AGENDA
Since the public hearing for Project 673, Trunk Highway 3 - School Road, is scheduled
for the July 19 meeting and there are a number of sensitive issues, the City Administrator
has taken the liberty to schedule this item at the work session in place of the Municipal
Center remodelling. A meeting was held Monday, July 11 with the Finch family and a
public informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 14. Both a . mportant
1 me ngs preceding the Council meeting on July 19. Enclosed on pages through
is a memo from Director of Public Works Colbert regarding this proje t.
To brief the City Council, the following information attempts to address the issues
regarding T.H. 3 and School Road and the reason staff will need approximately 20 - 30
minutes at the special work session on Tuesday.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ITEMS
There are three (3) items to be discussed with the Fire Department at Tuesday's work
session. The items are: 1) CIP vehicle purchase, 2) status regarding land acquisition for
future Fire Station #6 and 3) land acquisition for future training facility.
CIP Vehicle Purchase
The equipment revolving fund for the Fire Department allocates $125,000 each year
for vehicle purchases. In 1993, the Fire Department spent approximately $53,000 on
equipment, placing the balance of $72,000 into the 1994 reserve. During the past
eight (8) months, the Truck Committee has been busy designing a heavy rescue
vehicle to replace Pumper #3. The Fire Department has determined that a heavy
rescue fully equipped with airbags for lifting, an airtank /cascade refilling, ability to
transport 5 - 6 people, self - contained air packs and equipped with Hazmat suits and
spill containment materials is a better acquisition than replacing pumper #3 with a new
pumper truck. Chief Nelson will explain further the rationale for the heavy rescue unit
at the City Council meeting. Enclosed on page 2 is a copy of a diagram of a
heavy rescue vehicle.
Land Acquisition for Future Fire Station #6
As the City Council will recall, consideration has been given to purchase a piece of
property in the NE quadrant to the intersection of Wescott and Lexington Avenue for
future Fire Station #6. There are approximately 2.7 acres comprising Lots 1 and 2 of
Williams and LaRue 1st Addition, along with Outlot A, Lot 2 and a frontage road
dedication from the Williams and LaRue 2nd Addition. That was acquired through a
joint participation by the City of Eagan and Dakota County. While the total net
acquisition costs to the City /County was $359,000, it is recognized that the majority
of the costs is associated with the road improvement and does not reflect the present
land value. The land is presently zoned single family residential and if it is to be
pursued for a fire station site, would require a comprehensive land use guide plan
amendment as well as a zoning change to reflect the public facility usage. The fire
department has made a visual inspection of the property and has raised concerns
about the number of oak trees., topography and access to Lexington Avenue due to
setbacks from the iintesection.
Chief rile ;son will disc us.s. concerns that the Executive Committee and Land Acquisition
Committee for lire stations have expressed about the site and ask for consideration
of other sites such as the NW quadrant of the Lexington Wescott intersection which
is cu:rently owned by Pat McCarthy.
Land Acquisition for Training Facility
Presently, the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan own a joint training facility
located in the city of Burnsville. That training facility has been very effective and used
by all three (3) communities for simulated bums and training rookie classes as well as
ongoing firefighter retraining and certification. However, that training facility is
restricted to simulated burns and does not take into consideration other training needs
such as gas car fires, defensive driving, Hazmat and the related.
The Fire Department is proposing a location possibly in the proximity of Station #2 to
acquire up to 5 acres that could be used for 1) simulated natural gas car fires, 2)
simulated house burns, 3) defensive driving, 4) hazardous materials training and 5)
other related training opportunities.
There may be some possibility in leasing the training facility to neighboring
communities such as Mendota Heights and Inver Grove Heights to help defray and
participate in the cost of this type of structure.
Again, Fire Chief Nelson will provide comments on the training facility.
HRA Housing Update
This information was sent out with the Special City Council packet this past Friday.
In an effort to minimize confusion another copy of a memorandum from Commun
Development Director Reichert introducing this issue is enclosed on pages
through /0 As noted in the memo, Dakota County HRA director Mark Ulfers will
be present at Tuesday evening's meeting at approximately 6:30 to discuss the criteria
the County uses for low income housing and, specifically, the application of low
income housing tax credits. The City previously established criteria for consideration
of housing tax credit requests. Again, these are included as part of the memorandum.
Peggy and Mark will be available for questions regarding this matter.
Other Business
The City Administrator will share a schedule for special work sessions for the
remainder of July and August.
A revised City Council docket is in the making and will be distributed with the City
Council agenda information either Friday or next Monday for consideration at the July
19 meeting.
/s/ Thomas L. Hedges
City Administrator
3
MEMC
city of eagan
TO: MAYOR & CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
C/O THOMAS L HEDGES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: TOM COLBERT, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: JULY 11, 1994
SUBJECT: PROJECT 673, TH 3 /SCHOOL, ROAD (STS & UTILITIES)
On July 19, a public hearing is scheduled before the City Council to consider the
improvements to TH 3 to accommodate the proposed School Road access to service the
new ISD #196 elementary school as well as providing the major access to the
southeastern corner of Eagan south of Weston Hills and east of TH 3. Staff felt it would
be beneficial to update the Counci': on several significant issues associated with this
proposed public improvement.
LOCATION OF SCHOOL ROAD INTERSECTION WITH TH 3
When the major designated access to the future development of the southeast corner of
Eagan was investigated, it was determined that the Gun Club Road intersection created
some safety concerns due to its location on a super elevated curve of TH 3.
Subsequently, it was relocated to the north approximately opposite the Carol Street
unimproved public right -of -way west of TH 3. This is also approximate to the south
property line of the Finch property and the north line of Haley's Addition. This location
provides better sight distance, less road construction and more direct access to the
school entrance.
Based on MnDOT's review cf this requested new intersection, they have indicated that
the City imust abandon the Farm Road intersection with TH 3 similar to our proposal to
abandon the Gun Club Road access at this intersection. This is necessary to provide
proper spacing of public road intersections (see attached sketch). This road closure will
impact traffic patterns on Dodd Road by limiting their access to 120th Street in
Rosemount or Cliff Road with a secondary outlet via Todd Avenue at TH 3. MnDOT has
requested the City to consider also eliminating The Todd Road intersection. However, with
the recent investment in turn /by -pass lane construction in 1993, staff indicated to MnDOT
that this would be very difficult to do. They same to be amiable to only requiring Farm
3.
Road and Gun Club Road abandonment while allowing the existing businesses to retain
their access as a private business entrance.
RIGHT -OF -WAY ACQUISITION /FINCH PROPERTY
A special meeting is scheduled with Mr. and Mrs. Finch at 4:00 p.m., July 11, to review
the overall project and its impact from right -of -way acquisition and special assessments.
This project will definitely have a significant impact on the Finch's with the School Road
being constructed at its proposed location. Several meetings with the Finch's and their
developers in the past have resulted in strong objections to the location impacting their
solitude and the amount of the proposed assessments estimated in the amount of
$225,000.
AREA -WIDE ASSESSMENTS
The City has been informed by the developers of the Pines Edge Addition (Shamrock
Development) that they will not be proceeding with their development at this time due to
their strong objections to the proposed area -wide assessments associated with the
improvements to TH 3 and its intersection with School Road. The assessments contained
in the feasibility report are based on no MnDOT participation. However, the developer
still objects to the philosophy as well as the amount. By his delaying his development
time table, the school will be forced to condemn additional land from this development
to complete its ballfleld development as well as petitioning the City to construct streets
and utilities from Weston Hills to guarantee utility and street access to the school to meet
its opening date of August, 1995. The City Attorney's Office has advised the City to not
allow any further development requiring this new access to TH 3 without a waiver
agreeing to the assessments under the premise that if the City does allow the
development, it will be difficult to prove benefit thereby requiring the City to assume the
risk of an assessment appeal from a development that had been approved for
development by Council action. It is anticipated that the developer will be making a very
strong objection to both the area -wide assessment and the City's requirement to waive
rights to appeal assessments as a condition of final plat approval. Other property owners
affected by the area -wide assessment may also speak to similar concerns regarding the
area -wide assessments which is a typical for development but very supportable for this
remaining undeveloped corner of Eagan as reviewed by the City Attorney's Office.
SUMMARY
The Director of Community Development and myself will be available to provide additional
insight and discussion as may be necessary to properly inform the Council better of these
controversial issues that will be raised at the public hearing.
Respectfully submitted,
Director of Public Works
TAC /jj
cc: Peggy Reichert, Director of Community Development
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TO: TOM HEDGES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: PEGGY REICHERT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: JULY 8, 1994
SUBJECT: TAX CREDIT /AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY
Introduction
MEMO
city of eagan
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a brief background for the city council as
it discusses the issue of the tax credit; affordable housing policy for Eagan. This item is
scheduled for the city council workshop of July 12, 1994.
Background
Several council meetings ago, we discussed a proposal by the Dakota County HRA to
develop a small, 30 -unit townhouse project at the southeast corner of Lone Oak Road
and Pilot Knob Road. At that time, Mayor Egan raised the concern that this location
would provide further multi- family housing in the Pilot Knob Elementary School attendance
area. He raised the issue that perhaps affordable housing units should be dispersed
throughout the community. tt was my understanding that the city council's position was
that they were generally supportive of this type of housing project, particularly given its
unit type (townhouse), scale (small - 30 units), and proposed management (HRA -
sponsored), but that they were concerned about neighborhood impacts of overly
concentrating such housing.
The council's established guidelines for reviewing tax credit housing projects has not
heretofore included the issue of neighborhood impaction /concentration. The current
policies are attached tor your review.
Council Workshop - July 12
At the meeting next Tuesday evening, Mark Ulfers, the director of the Dakota County
HRA, will be attending to describe the concept behind his proposed project and to
8 �
TOM HEDGES
JULY 8, 1994
PAGE TWO
discuss the need for such housing in the City of Eagan. City staff has worked with the
Dakota County HRA to compile information that will be available at the meeting
concerning the minority enrollment at each elementary school in the City, the percentage
of students receiving free and reduced lunches, and the distribution of housing types in
each attendance area. In addition, we have compiled a map of the remaining vacant.
residentially -zoned land in the City.
Mark Uffers would like to discuss his project with the city council. If the Pilot Knob site
is not deemed appropriate, he is looking for some direction as to the appropriateness of
other possible sites within the City. The information that staff has developed as
background for this workshop on Tuesday is just the very beginning of the information
we are compiling as part of our housing plan update.
Mark has an HRA board meeting starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday so he would
appreciate having this item placed later on the workshop agenda. If you have any further
questions or comments, please let me know.
Commu evelopment Director
Attachment
PAR /mg
CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION OF
LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT REQUESTS
Adopted August 16, 1988
Requests for Low Income Housing Tax Credit shall be considered by
the City of Eagan for eligible projects on the basis of their
relationship to the criteria which follow. The project may not
be required to conform with all criteria but is unlikely to
receive endorsement if it compares unfavorably to a majority of
the criteria.
1. Low income housing tax credits may be used only for
rehabilitation or upgrade of existing projects or to
enhance subsequent phases of existing projects. (This
criteria reserves the credit for improvements in areas of
identified problems rather than for new projects.)
2. Applicants for low income housing credits should
demonstrate that the credits will serve to reduce the
density of multi - family developments. (This criteria
reenforces the Council direction to reduce density and
bring about down- zoning.)
3. Applicants' projects should exceed exterior finish
requirements. (This criteria supports the Council
direction concerning finish material and lends added
impetus to the use of quality finish materials.)
4. Applicants' projects should exceed landscape requirements
and /or open space requirements. (Again, this criteria
reenforces the reduction of density and addition of
amenities to subject projects.)
5. Low income housing credits may be used only for two to
three bedroom homes /units to provide low income housing
opportunities for families. (This criteria promotes the
City policy of lower density, scattered site, low income
housing as multiple bedroom units are more frequently
present in lower density developments.)
No more than 45% of units occupied must be occupied by
+ low and moderate income persons /families. (This criteria
encourages a mix of low and moderate income persons with
other income categories.)
i
0