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01/03/1995 - City Council Special MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota January 3, 1995 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, January 3, 1995 at 5:00 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center. Present were Mayor Egan and Counciimembers Wachter, Awada, and Hunter. (Councilmember Masin arrived at 5:32 p.m.) Also present were City Administrator Tom Hedges, Community Development Director Peggy Reichert, Director of Public Works Tom Colbert, Parks and Recreation Director Ken Vraa, Finance Director Gene VanOverbeke and City Attorney Jim Sheldon. Administrator Hedges asked Council members about the Council retreat, noting that department heads will be meeting next week to discuss the retreat. He suggested the Council could discuss it at the January 24th special workshop. Community Development Director Reichert noted that the Central Area Task Force will be meeting on January 17th, and Invited Council members to attend. SIDEWALK AND TRAILS MAINTENANCE STUDY Administrator Hedges noted that an issue was raised relative to plowing trails and sidewalks, and the question of liability. He noted that upon researching this issue, virtually all surrounding cities do some type of plowing of trails and sidewalks. Mayor Egan stated the Council needs to decide whether the City will plow the trails, and if so, what the criteria will be. He is surprised how many people use the trails in the winter. Councilmember Hunter complimented staff on the report submitted. He feels the city should encourage people to clear interior trails, noting that some of the neighborhoods are already doing It. He supports a combination of contracting and purchase of equipment on an experimental basis. He doesn't think the city should purchase a lot of equipment without getting input from the community. Public Works Director Colbert warned the Council that these figures do not Include the cost of damage to sod and repairs to equipment. Since there is no curb along the trails, there is no protection for the sod. Councilmember Awada noted there also may be environmental concerns, and questioned what the use of salt and sand will do to the grass. Councilmember Wachter wondered how many calls have actually been received on this compared to how many calls have been received that taxes should be reduced. Plowing the trails could also cause damage residential shrubbery because it Isn't apparent where the trails are. Councilmember Awada suggested that the city could just clear part of the trails. It doesn't have to be the entire width of the trail. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa noted there will also be additional costs associated with having to have the equipment come back a second time due to snow from the. plows dosing the trails. Mayor Egan noted that the Council has never received a petition for this, and the liability issue needs to be considered also. City Attorney Sheldon noted that If the city decides to plow the trails, it needs to be done right. In his opinion, it is the Council's discretion whether they want to do this. He doesn't feel it Is required. (Councilmember Masin arrived at this time.) Considerable discussion followed concerning discretionary immunity and the liability issue. Councilmember Hunter stated he feels these hidden costs needs to be Identified. Councilmember Awada indicated she would also like to know where these requests are coming from. Councilmember Wachter stated he doesn't think this should be Implemented now, but that the Council should consider it next fall. EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES; JANUARY 3,1995 PAGE 2 CAPONI ART PARK Administrator Hedges noted there have been a number of Issues that have arisen on the Caponi Art Park, and he feels clarification is needed on the City's policy position relative to the art park and Its development. Councilmember Wachter stated he doesn't feel Parks and Recreation Director Vraa did anything wrong in his dealings with Mr. Caponi. Hunter and Egan concurred. Mayor Egan stated he feels Mr. Caponi needs to hire the appropriate professionals when planning improvements and he hasn't done so In the past. Councilmember Hunter stated he doesn't think It Is the city's roll to contribute directly to this project. Councilmember Awada stated she feels there have been a lot of misunderstandings relative to this issue, and she doesn't think it is the city's role to "get to the truth" concerning statements made in the letter from Mr. Caponi. Councilmember Masin asked whether the road made It more difficult to Install the parking lot. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa noted that the county's position Is that they are not responsible for a parking lot that doesn't exist. Public Works Director Colbert concurred, stating that that would constitute Improvement to private property. Councilmember Awada stated she feels Tony Capons asked the city for advice and It wasn't given to him. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa disagreed, stating the city did give Mr. Capons advice and he refused to follow It. Mayor Egan stated this is a matter of perception. Mr. Caponi is competing with a number of other fundraising efforts going on in Eagan. He suggested the city write him a letter encouraging him to get this project In the proper professional hands. Some discussion followed. Councilmember Awada stated she is concerned that this project will fall apart. She feels the city should lay out what they will do to keep this project together. Community Development Director Reichert added that she thinks a feasibility study should be done for raising funds for this type of facility. There is a lot of competition for these funds in the community. SETTING COUNCIL MEETINGS Awada moved, Hunter seconded a motion to set special Council meetings for 5:30 p.m. on January 17, and for 6:00 p.m. on January 24, 1995. Aye: 5 Nay: 0 The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. DLP January 3, 1995 A OL Date City Clerk If you need these minutes in an alternative form such as large print, braille, audio tape, etc., please contact the City of Eagan, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122, (612) 681-4600, (TDD phone: (612) 454-8535). The City of Eagan is committed to the policy that all persons have equal access to Its programs, services, activities, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, marital status or status with regard to public assistance.