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09/13/2011 - City Council SpecialMINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 5:30 P.M. EAGAN ROOM — EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER City Council members present: Mayor Maguire, Councilmembers Bakken, Fields, Hansen and Tilley. City Staff present: City Administrator Hedges, Assistant City Administrator Miller, Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke, Community Development Director Hohenstein, Public Works Director Colbert, Transportation Operations Engineer Plath, Parks and Recreation Director Johnson and Communications Director Garrison. I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Councilmember Bakken moved, Councilmember Tilley seconded a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Aye: 5 Nay: 0 II. VISITORS TO BE HEARD There were no visitors to be heard. III. ISD BUSSING TRANSPORTATION UPDATE AND CITY WINTER TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that the purpose of tonight's discussion is to review the ISD 196 school walking routes and the impact on the City's Winter Trail Maintenance Program. Hedges added that the Council is also asked to review contractual obligations with MnDOT regarding winter trail maintenance requirements. Public Works Director Colbert and Transportation Operations Engineer Plath provided an overview of the revised ISD 196 walking boundaries and the corresponding impact on the City's Winter Trail Maintenance Program. Public Works Director Colbert highlighted three specific trail segments, which serve as new ISD 196 walking routes, for the City Council to consider adding to the City's Winter Trail Maintenance Program. The City Council discussed the City's approach to winter trail maintenance, including the four - level priority system that is utilized by the City. Mr. Jeff Solomon, Director of Finance and Operations for ISD 196, addressed the City Council on policy changes within the District, and noted the District is not looking for any further expenditures by the City, as the District continues to offer fee for service bussing in the expanded walking areas. The City Council and Mr. Solomon discussed walkability issues for students and the impacts of the District's policies. Special City Council Minutes September 13, 2011 Page 2 There was City Council consensus not to add the following trail segments to the Winter Trail Maintenance Program: 1) the %2 mile of sidewalk on the north side of Wescott Road (Woodland Elementary to Elrene Road); 2) the 1/4 mile of trailway on the north side of Cliff Road (Lake Park Drive to Thomas Lake Road); and 3) the 3/4 mile of trailway on the west side of Johnny Cake Ridge Road (Cliff Road to No. Woodgate Lane). The City Council directed that a letter be sent to the Principals and /or Site Councils at Woodland Elementary, Thomas Lake Elementary, and Oak Ridge Elementary to make them aware of the sidewalks and trails newly added to the walking routes that will not be maintained during the winter, and to suggest that they consider raising funds to contractually plow the trails. The Council asked that ISD 196 school walking routes /winter trail maintenance be brought back to a future City Council workshop upon receiving feedback from the three schools. Councilmembers Fields and Tilley offered to meet with the Site Councils at the three schools if needed. The City Council continued the discussion on MnDOT Winter Trail Maintenance requirements until after the joint meeting with the Airport Relations Commission. IV. JOINT MEETING WITH THE AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION (ARC) TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED 2011 -2012 ARC WORK PROGRAM City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that it is the City Council's practice to meet with each of their advisory commissions at least one time each year. Hedges added that the Airport Relations Commission (ARC) is prepared to dialogue with the Council about their proposed 2011 -2012 ARC Work Program. ARC Chairman Thorkildson introduced members of the ARC and highlighted the proposed 2011 -2012 work plan. Mr. Thorkildson noted the anticipated release of the performance based navigation/area wide navigation flight tracks, which could impact the noise environment over Eagan. The Commission and City Council discussed the proposed work plan. The Council provided direction to proceed with the work plan as presented. III. B. MNDOT WINTER TRAIL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS City Administrator Hedges introduced the item, noting the multi -use trails that currently exist adjacent to TH13, I -494 and TH149. Hedges added that direction is being sought regarding the winter maintenance of the trails. Public Works Director Colbert noted that it is the policy of MnDOT to contractually delegate liability and maintenance responsibility for multi -use trails in and over its right -of -way to local agencies at the time of construction via formal agreements. Colbert noted that MnDOT has recently begun to interpret sections of the United States Code and Code of Federal Regulations to requirement clearing of trails within its right -of -way during the winter season. Colbert added that MnDOT has indicated that agencies that do not clear trails in MnDOT right -of -ways may be Special City Council Minutes September 13, 2011 Page 3 in violation of the American Disability Act (ADA), which MnDOT interprets to require that these trails be cleared during the winter season. It was noted that the City does not currently maintain TH13,1494, or TH149 as part of the City's Winter Trail Maintenance Program. The City Council discussed how the three trail segments would fit into the City's winter trail maintenance priority rankings. Mr. Colbert noted that only the .51 mile of trail on the south side of I -494 (Pilot Knob Road to TH13) would meet priority level 2, while the .7 mile of trail on the east side of TH13 (Silver Bell Road to Blackhawk Road) and the 1.94 miles of trail on the east side of TH149 (Wescott Road to TH55) would be considered priority level 4 trails. There was City Council consensus to proceed with the addition of the I -494 trail request into the City's Winter Trail Maintenance Program, for further action to be taken at the September 20, 2011 City Council meeting. There was also Council consensus to seek a legal opinion on the remaining two MnDOT segments as to whether the City could wait to add these additional trail segments until such time as a formal request is received. The City Council recessed at 7:12 p.m. The City Council resumed at 7:25 p.m. V. 2012 -2016 PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (PRESENTED BY THE ADVISORY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION) City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that each year the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission (APrC) reviews the proposed Capital Improvement Program with the City Council to solicit feedback and direction for the five year plan. Mayor Maguire welcomed APrC Chair Halverson and Parks and Recreation Director Seydell Johnson, who provided an overview of the potential CIP projects throughout the park system over a five year period, with the primary focus on projects proposed for 2012. The City Council discussed the proposed projects for 2012. The Council noted that an additional $400,000 per year should be added to this plan to reflect the proposed new Park System Development Renewal and Replacement Levy. There was City Council consensus to proceed with the proposed CIP and to include it on the October 4, 2011 City Council meeting for formal consideration. Chair Halverson commented on the research currently being done by the Commission and staff regarding dog parks. Director Johnson noted that any findings or recommendations with regard to a dog park will be brought back to the City Council as part of the CIP consideration process. VI. COLOCATION UPDATE City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that on April 5, 2011, the Eagan City Council approved a contract with Five 9s Digital to conduct a two -phase feasibility study for the Special City Council Minutes September 13, 2011 Page 4 attraction and placement of a privately owned colocation facility in Eagan. Hedges noted that the study and the initiative are now being referred to as Project Connexion. Mayor Maguire welcomed Doug Holland of Five 9s Digital and Ken Walsh of Jones, Lang, LaSalle. Communications Director Garrison provided additional information about the project to date. Mr. Holland provided analysis and background on Phase II of the feasibility study. Mr. Holland noted that feedback from carriers and businesses has been extremely positive with regard to the City's efforts to attract a privately owned colocation facility in Eagan. Mr. Walsh reviewed the process used by the consulting team to review the most viable and best sites for a colocation facility. Mr. Walsh noted that the consulting team began looking at eight viable sites and has since narrowed down the sites to three best options. Mr. Holland reviewed the possible site plan for such a facility. Mr. Holland also noted that all indications show that Five 9s Digital is interested in carrying forward the project through construction. Mr. Holland added that it is their goal to fully control the site, have pre- commitments on the leasing side, and break ground /start construction by January 2012. Mr. Holland noted that if the scheduled proceeds as planned, the construction of the facility could be completed in the spring of 2012. The City Council discussed the project to date and thanked the consulting team for their work. There was no Other Business. VII. OTHER BUSINESS VIII. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Bakken moved, Councilmember Tilley seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Aye: 5 Nay: 0 10 - -1B_ 00�\ Date //Or-, / Mayor City Clerk