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08/20/1996 - City Council Special • MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota August 20,1996 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday,August 20, 1996,at 5:00 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center building. Present were Mayor Egan and City Councilmembers Awada, Hunter, Masin and Wachter. Also present were Director Public Works Colbert,Chief of Police Geagan, Director of Finance VanOverbeke, Fire Chief Jensen,Senior Planner Freese and City Administrator Hedges. VISITORS TO BE HEARD There were no visitors to be heard. TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION City Administrator Hedges stated that during the past six months,the Fire Department, Police Department and Public Works Department have been reviewing the feasibility of installing an emergency vehicle signal preemption system within the community. Chief Jensen reviewed a joint memo prepared by Fire,Police and Public Works that provided background on reasons for considering signal preemption. Benefits to the City include improved response efficiency,greater area of coverage for Fire, more controlled situations,reduction in accident potential and increase in general safety which could help the City improve its ISO rating. He stated that the cost for the current signal system is estimated at$465,000; however, that amount could be reduced through use of remanufactured emitters and lesser capability/quality detectors. Fire Chief Jensen also responded to two questions City Councilmember Hunter had asked of the City Administrator, including further analysis of the benefits as they relate to decreased response time and further that depreciation is a minimum of ten years. City Councilmember Awada stated that she was most impressed with the report indicating that with signal preemption, Fire Station#6 may not be required. Fire Chief Jensen stated that it is true that signal preemption will delay the need to construct Fire Station#6 into the future. He further stated that every City in the County has signal preemption with the exception of Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. City Councilmember Masin asked how long it would take to install the signal preemption system upon approval by the City Council. Director of Public Works Colbert stated that six to eight months is estimated for the bidding process and with installation,it would be approximately one calendar year. City Councilmember Hunter stated he was in support of signal preemption and the City should proceed with the entire system. City Councilmember Awada stated that installing signal preemption was being fiscally responsible,since it may not be necessary to build and equip another fire station. John Maczko, representing the City of St. Paul, appeared and stated that signal preemption is a good investment in the community for providing emergency service movement. After further discussion, the City Administrator was directed to review funding sources and recommend a funding source from the Major Street Fund, Community Investment Fund or fund balance and present a recommendation to the City Council. Mayor Egan stated that staff, under the direction of the City Administrator,will prepare plans and specifications and a funding scenario for consideration at a future City Council meeting. INVER GROVE HEIGHTS JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT City Administrator Hedges stated that the Cities of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights have joint powers agreements for providing sanitary sewer and water service to the Emerald Hills Trailer Court, which incorporates approximately 80 acres and 400+dwelling units and three subdivisions that total 81 acres and 147 lots. He further stated that Inver Grove Heights has received an application to develop the Southern Lakes property by Lundgren Brothers,which is estimated at 146 acres and 287 lots. City Administrator Hedges introduced the Inver Grove Heights'City Administrator,who proceeded to identify areas in Western Inver Grove Heights that would 0' fie'Page 2/Eagan Special Ci ty Council Minutes• August 20, 1996 require utility service by the City of Eagan if the property is to develop as proposed by Lundgren Brothers. The Inver Grove Heights'City Administrator reviewed the MUSA and Comprehensive Guide Plan maps for Inver Grove Heights and explained their development plans. City Councilmember Wachter asked how much land is platted in five acre lots in Inver Grove Heights. IGH City Administrator Willis stated there is no intent to request service from Eagan outside of the areas designated on the map. Mayor Egan further stated that to provide a proper understanding between the communities, it was restated that none of the land outside of the 800 acres would be included in a global agreement. IGH City Administrator Willis confirmed this statement. City Councilmember Awada asked why Inver Grove Heights is considering development on their western border in an urbanized method. IGH Administrator Willis stated that there is pressure to develop the land similar to the urbanized pressure West Inver Grove Heights is experiencing from the City of Eagan. He further stated there are no plans to secure the larger area due to the need for expanding the interceptor sewer from the City of Rosemount. He specifically stated that the area in discussion is outside the area that could be serviced by natural gravity flow from the City of Eagan. City Councilmember Awada stated that it would seem more consistent for Inver Grove Heights to change development plans to five acre lots, which is consistent with the method in which that City is developing. City Administrator Willis stated that this area is planned for urban growth similar to the City of Eagan. City Councilmember Hunter stated that he had heard from residents in West Eagan, such as Weston Hills,who were told by Inver Grove Heights that land adjacent to them in that City would be developed into five to ten acre lots. He further stated that it is difficult to explain to Eagan residents why the Eagan City Council is helping change a neighboring community to urbanization when that action is not consistent with their expectations. Mayor Joe Atkins appeared at the meeting and stated that density is the main issue for Western Inver Grove Heights. He stated that his community needs Eagan to help their growth and the projects that are being proposed will be consistent with the subdivisions that have been developed on the eastern side of Eagan. City • Councilmember Wachter questioned the availability of parkland to serve these proposed subdivisions. The IGH City Administrator stated that there is a large park development proposed at Rich Valley and 105th Street and also Lundgren Brothers is proposing a 20 acre dedication as part of their development in addition to 40 acres of passive parkland that is located adjacent to the Lundgren development. Mayor Egan appreciated the explanation;however, questioned if there is adequate parkland identified in the Inver Grove Heights' Park Systems Plan for those areas being proposed for development. The IGH City Administrator provided more detailed information regarding the parkland as proposed for the development area. City Councilmember Hunter stated that children located in Inver Grove Heights will be part of the EAA and other organizational sports that play games in Eagan parks, expressing concern about the pressure additional development in Inver Grove Heights will cause to the City's park infrastructure. City Councilmember Hunter asked about annexation of the three parcels since they fit our urban service area more than Inver Grove Heights. Mayor Atkins stated that it would be difficult to agree to annexation. City Councilmember Awada supported service as a good neighbor; however,feels that Inver Grove Heights has not always been a cooperative neighbor in its development proposals and lack of participation in various road expansions, such as Yankee Doodle Road. City Councilmember Wachter stated that he would like to review all public service related issues. Mayor Egan agreed with City Councilmember Wachter and stated that the Eagan community deserves that type of comprehensive analysis. Mayor Egan further stated that there are three basic criteria he would require if a joint powers agreement is to be further considered: 1)engineering-4 any subsidies for the parks, utilities and other infrastructure system will be borne fully by the City of Inver Grove Heights;2)an agreement must be legally enforceable; and 3) the City of Eagan will not subsidize any of the development occurring in Inver Grove Heights. Mayor Egan further stated that these three points need to be satisfactorily addressed if the agreement is to be given further consideration. City Councilmember Masin stated that Inver Grove Heights has had an image problem. Whatever agreement is proposed should be very detailed and precise. She further stated that it is her impression that there is not a strong planning process within Inver Grove Heights. Mayor Atkins stated that he can't speak for previous City Councils;however, he personally has tried hard to build relations with neighboring communities during the last three years. • Page 3/Eagan Special City Council Minutes u 3 August 20, 1996 After further discussion and in a motion by City Councilmember Awada,seconded by City Councilmember Hunter, staff, under the direction of the City Administrator, was directed to prepare an agreement with the understanding that it will be a slow and deliberate process given other priorities and said agreement will be presented to the City Council for review. City Councilmember Hunter stated that he is supporting the motion because of the reservoir capacity needs that are required for the City of Eagan in the southeast portion of the community. All members voted in favor of the motion. OTHER BUSINESS There were no items for Other Business. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. August 20, 1996 Date — City Clerk TLH • i