Loading...
03/21/1995 - City Council Special 00053 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota March 21, 1995 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, March 21, 1995 at 5:00 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center. Present were Mayor Egan and Counciimembers Wachter, Awada, Masin and Hunter. Also present were City Administrator Tom Hedges, Community Development Director Peggy Reichert, Director of Public Works Tom Colbert, Assistant to the Administrator Holly Duffy, Assistant to the Administrator Jon Hohenstein, and Parks and Recreation Director Ken Vraa. CAPONI ART PARK After a brief introduction by Administrator Hedges, Counclimember Awada stated that the purpose of this meeting is to decide where to go from here, both short and long term. She indicated that what is In dispute Is a 1990 resolution wherein it says the city will 'take a leadership role' in establishing the foundation. She stated she feels the city made a good faith effort to do that but has been unable to. Councilmember Hunter added that the words 'take a leadership role" can be interpreted a number of different ways; however it does not say the city will buy the land. Tony Capons stated that the subject matter Is money, the problem is how to get it, and the time Is now. He feels further discussion is needed. The corporation and foundation are two different things. He said he has met all of the city's requests, noting however that he doesn't have the entrance from the top of the park. He expressed his frustration in dealing with five different people with five different ideas. He needs to know what the Council is willing to do. He stated that he has approached many people about raising funds for this, but the problem is his ownership of the land. He feels it is unfair that he has to spend so much money on attorneys and engineers. He would like incentive money from the city to encourage people to do the same. He feels the city should take the initiative. Councilmember Masin summed up the Issues as being the transfer of land, and getting a board or executive director. Mayor Egan concurred, noting the city doesn't have the financial resources to buy the land. Councilmember Hunter indicated a trust needs to be established, and the trust will pay for the land. Mayor Egan suggested that a period of time be established to develop the land for park purposes, and If the funds aren't raised, the property could revert back to Mr. Caponi. He asked what kind of public process was established on this project. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa indicated that the neighbors were notified of the public hearing on the rezoning, but there wasn't a development plan at that time. Councilmember Wachter indicated he has been Involved in this for a long time, but he was never Informed that the city would buy this property. Councilmember Awada stated that the city will not buy the land. Mayor Egan stated he feels the city has fulfilled what they said they would do. Councilmember Hunter stressed that the Issue is money, and that an executive director needs to be hired. Tony Caponi indicated he would like to have a collective statement of what will be done and when, and then allow him Input on it. Mayor Egan stated that in order for this to work, both the city and Mr. Caponi need to put their trust In the board and let them make the decisions. Discussion followed on what type of decisions should be entrusted to the board, and how much involvement Mr. Caponi should have in those decisions. Mr. Caponi stated the city cannot consider the land a donation. He has already donated too much time and work to the project. This is a very unique situation in that usually, these type of projects start with someone donating the land. Councilmember Awada suggested that Administrator Hedges prepare a written proposal that addresses the Council providing funding for a limited time for the development and establishment of a foundation for consideration by the City Council at their April 4 meeting. OUS,:I EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES; MARCH 21, 1995 PAGE 2 Mayor Egan stressed that Mr. Caponi needs to hire professionals to deal with the legal and land use planning Issues. Some discussion followed concerning what would need to be done to set up the foundation. Councilmember Hunter stressed that at the April 4 City Council meeting, the city will consider a proposal to get the foundation started. However, the city will not donate any money to the foundation. PARK ACQUISITION/BORCHERT INGERSOLL TAX FORFEITURE Administrator Hedges gave a synopsis of what has happened on this Item to date. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa explained the land swap proposed by Gopher Smelting, which was requested to preserve some of this property for future expansion. He indicated that special legislation was Introduced, and an amendment to that bill to accommodate this land swap will be introduced. This amendment will give the city the right to swap the property; and also give the city the authority to condemn the outlot to allow Gopher Smelting to expand. John Kuehn, of Leonard Street & Deinard, Indicated Gopher Smelting is waiting for city approval to go ahead with this amendment to the legislation. Administrator Hedges noted that the county wants to make sure that the land swap will still be used for public purposes, and that the swap is for equal valued property. The Council consensus was to approve the recommendation of the Advisory Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. KOLLOFSKI'S ADDITION - SOUND INSULATION Assistant to the Administrator Hohenstein explained that the Metropolitan Airport Commission Is ready to go forward with sound insulation in Kollofski's Addition, and a question arose as to whether the city should be improving homes that are non-conforming uses. He indicated that the city has a policy that it won't improve the value of nonconforming uses, but has another policy to Improve sound Insulation of homes affected by airport noise. Community Development Director Reichert explained her reasons for questioning whether these homes should be sound insulated, Indicating this area would likely be redeveloped as commercial or industrial in the future. She noted she has been contacted by one of the property owners In this area, who is interested in putting an addition on his home. He didn't understand why he couldn't make an addition when he was having noise insulation done. Mayor Egan stated he feels sound insulation is an environmental issue, but expanding or improving the property is a different matter. Community Development Director Reichert pointed out that there isn't enough money to noise Insulate all of the homes in Eagan that are affected, and there are some areas that could use this insulation that will be long term residential property. Mayor Egan noted that the city led the people in this area to believe that this noise insulation would be done. He didn't believe that they could renege on this prior commitment; however he noted this is being done for sound attenuation purposes only, and that the non-conforming use ordinance applies in all other respects to these properties. Councilmembers concurred. CEDARVALE UPDATE Community Development Director Reichert explained that as a part of the overall redevelopment plans for the Cedarvale area, a pole sign is being considered adjacent and visible from the Cedar freeway to attract more business. She Indicated that it would have to be 80 feet high In order to be visible, and would be as large as a billboard. The city would own this sign. She indicated she feels the business owners 0o053 EAGAN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES; MARCH 21, 1995 PAGE 3 In this area should form a steering committee for the special service district to serve as an advisory group to the City Council. They can also request a conditional use permit and variance for the sign. Councilmember Awada spoke in favor of this sign. A variance now could save the city a lot of redevelopment money in the future. Councilmember Hunter concurred. Counclimember Wachter expressed some reservations about this sign. He feels Cedarvale needs to have businesses that people demand. He doesn't feel a sign Is going to make any difference. Councilmember Masin suggested trying to use existing billboards before putting In a separate sign, and Community Development Director Reichert responded that it would be very expensive to do that. She noted it won't be an advertising sign; it is an Identification sign. Mayor Egan stated he supports the Idea of a sign, but feels it has some drawbacks. He doesn't think the task force went far enough in their study of this area. He feels that Cedarvale's long term economic viability may not be as a retail area and that more fundamental modifications to the area may be needed in the future. He also expressed a concern about others wanting a sign variance If the Council allows this one. Community Development Director Reichert indicated she will need to go back to the business owners and see if they are willing to pay an assessment for this sign. The Council indicated It would support a variance for the sign if the business owners felt the sign was a good Idea. The meeting recessed at 6:30 p.m. for the regular City Council meeting. The meeting reconvened at 9:45 p.m., following adjournment of the City Council meeting. DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Community Development Director Reichert gave a brief update on pending developments in the community, Including the central area proposal, the southeast Industrial study, negotiations with Inver Grove Heights on the joint powers agreement, and several other pending developments.. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. DLP March 21, 1995 6A6 Date Cityerk