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07/18/1995 - City Council Special MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota July 18, 1995 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, July 18, 1995 at 5:00 p.m. at Black Hawk Middle School. Present were Mayor Egan and Councilmembers Wachter, Awada, Masin and Hunter. Also present were City Administrator Tom Hedges, Director of Public Works Colbert, Community Development Director Reichert, Parks and Recreation Director Vraa, Assistant to the Administrator Duffy, Police Chief Pat Geagan and Finance Director Gene VanOverbeke. CITY COUNCIL GOALS/DEPARTMENTAL WORK PROGRAMS Administrator Hedges reviewed the goals submitted by Councilmembers and staff. Considerable discussion followed on the goal of forming a charter commission, and whether the city should pursue becoming a home rule charter city. The pros and cons of charter versus statutory city was discussed. It was suggested that a charter commission be formed to discuss this, as well as the possibility of changing from a Plan A city to a Plan B city. Councilmember Awada suggested that all goals be divided into discretionary and non-discretionary projects and eliminate the rest from the list. Discussion followed on the Central Area Plan, widening Yankee Doodle Road, and ring road plan alternatives for the central area and associated traffic concerns. County involvement was also discussed. Councilmember Hunter suggested a brochure be developed on the ring road that can be given out to people who want Information. After considerable discussion, Administrator Hedges summarized the goals Into four categories: 1) improvement of governmental services; 2) completion of capital Improvement program; 3) Fire Department issues; and 4) community and park development. Councilmember Awada suggested that some of these goals be studied by council subcommittees. Discussion followed on airport noise and other related airport Issues. Community Development Director Reichert suggested that the Advisory Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission be consulted on airport Issues, rather than just noise-affected residents and the Airport Relations Commission. Councilmember Awada noted that another option regarding the future location of the airport would be to do a poll of citizens. Mayor Egan noted that If a poll is done, people need to be educated. He doesn't want to use results of a poll from citizens that are uninformed. Community Development Director Reichert noted that If the airport stays at its present location, the city should get a good deal out of it. There will be a north/south runway at some point and the city should have redevelopment funds available for north Eagan. Councilmember Wachter concurred, indicating that even if an airport is built somewhere else, he doesn't feel the current airport will be closed. Mayor Egan noted that technology Is changing and the noise air situation is getting better all the time. Discussion followed concerning consolidation of the city code and the Carriage Hills golf course. OTHER BUSINESS Administrator Hedges noted that Olympic Pools was supposed to start the wading pool project three weeks ago. Ken Vraa has been calling them and he wasn't getting a response. They were to complete the pool by August and obviously, it won't be done. Olympic Pools called recently and suggested they negotiate a price reduction and start the project three weeks late. Administrator Hedges reviewed a situation that has arisen with the Civic Arena relative to the In-kind services. The union for the contractor Installing the refrigeration Is raising the issue that sweat equity cannot be used for this and have threatened a slow down if union workers aren't used. He noted the City can go before the Trades Council next week, but it will delay the start by 2-3 weeks. It will cost $27,000 to have union workers do this work. They could tell Premiere Electric to start the project and still go before the Trades Council. He added that perhaps the EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES; JULY 18, 1995 PAGE 2 $27,000 In sweat equity could be utilized somewhere else Instead. He also added that they approached Premiere Electric and suggested the City just pay them $27,000 less the base contract. Councilmember Awada stated she feels it Is the contractor's problem. They bid the project with the sweat equity taken into consideration. Councilmember Hunter suggested the City talk to Lund-Martin to see if they can get another subcontractor. Finance Director VanOverbeke noted that this was bid under a separate contract. Councilmember Hunter suggested the City exhaust all available remedies and tell Premiere Electric that the contract will be rebid If it isn't worked out. Councilmember Awada concurred. At 6:30 p.m. the meeting adjourned to the regular Council meeting. At 9:45 p.m., the Council reconvened to discuss correspondence received from Mike McGraw, an Eagan resident. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. to an executive session. DLP July 18, 1995 Date City Clerk