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02/26/1981 - City Council Special 00043 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL EAGAN, MINNESOTA FEBRUARY 26, 1981 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on February 26, 1981, at 7:00 p.m. at the Eagan City Hall. Those present were Mayor Blom- quist, Councilmembers Egan, Smith and Wachter. Also present were City Administrator Hedges and Civil Defense Director/Fire Marshal Reid. CIVIL DEFENSE WARNING SIRENS An informational meeting was held as duly advertised to consider four (4) locations for the installation of Civil Defense Warning Sirens through- out the City of Eagan. City Administrator Hedges provided background on the purpose of purchasing several warning sirens in addition to the method of financing the system. A discussion on how the warning sirens are operated and the method in choosing four (4) locations as proposed was presented by Doug Reid, Civil Defense Director/Fire Marshal, and the Dakota County Civil Defense Director Dale Grimes. The four (4) locations presented were: (1) Fire Station No. 1. (2) Pumping Station located on Cliff Road east of Pilot Knob Road, (3) Police Department, and (4) Approximately 150' south of the Well House located in the Timberline Addition. Residents of the Timberline Addition appeared and asked if consideration was given to locating the siren on top of Pilot Knob Elementary School. It was explained by the Civil Defense Director that, by moving the siren several hundred feet to the northeast, the sound perimeter for this siren would no longer provide an adequate warning for a number of resi- dents located north of Yankee Doodle Road in Section 9. There were also ques- tions raised by Darryl and Pat Haines who reside directly to the east of Fire Station No. 1 regarding the location of the warning siren proposed for that site. Mr. Haines asked that consideration be given to locating the siren ont he west side of the building to minimize the visual impact on his residence. Consideration and discussion was given to other sites for locating the siren in the Cedar Grove area. City Administrator Hedges thanked the residents for attending the informational meeting and stated that the City Council would be giving formal consideration to location of the warning sirens at their next regular meeting to be held March 3, 1981. LAWSUIT PAUL TAYLOR VS. CITY COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, PARRANTO AND EAGAN Mayor Blomquist stated that the lawsuit initiated by Paul Taylor against City Councilmembers Smith, Parranto and Egan, alleging violations of the open meeting law, were actually meetingswhere the City Council requested that Councilmembers Smith and Parranto meet with fiscal consultants. She further indicated that the other meeting involving City Councilmember Egan was merely a meeting where the three Councilmembers attended a neighborhood gathering at the request of citizens to discuss the I-35E/Blackhawk Lake issue. Mayor Blom- quist stated that the tax exempt mortgage issue was complicated and recalled that the City Council directed Councilmembers Smith and Parranto to meet with fiscal consultants to see if the program was feasible, therefore, carrying through their City Council responsibilities as a standing committee. The City 06 044 Eagan City Council Minutes February 26, 1981 Page Two Administrator indicated that he had properly noticed all meetings, giving the time and location, which said notices were posted at the City Hall prior to all Finance Committee meetings. Mayor Blomquist asked if the City's insurance agency would cover legal expenses for the Councilmembers in this case. City Administrator Hedges stated that he had contacted one of the City's insurance agencies and discovered that they would not cover a councilmember's legal expenses in this case. He further indicated that the City's other insurance agency which provides professional liability insurance was considering the case and would reply with their decision in the next several days to the City. Mayor Blomquist stated that, since the Councilmembers were doing research on request of the Council and that all proper meeting notices were posted at the City Hall, she felt the City should pay the legal fees for Councilmembers Smith, Parranto and Egan if the professional liability insurance carrier does not provide legal counsel. City Councilmember Wachter stated that a citizen of Eagan brought legal action against three Councilmembers of the City of Eagan and since these Councilmembers were elected to office by the citizens of Eagan, they are innocent until proven guilty and that opinions will be heard by the court and a decision made by that court if the suit is continued. In a motion by Mayor Blomquist and seconded by Councilmember Wachter, with Blomquist and Wachter voting aye and Councilmembers Egan and Smith abstaining, it was proposed that the City of Eagan provide for the payment of all expenses related to legal counsel for Councilmembers Smith, Parranto and Egan in the case of Paul Taylor vs. those Councilmembers unless these expenses are paid by an insurance carrier for the City. RICHARD RISTE/LEAVE OF ABSENCE The City Administrator stated that a request for a leave of absence was received from Mr. Richard Riste. He stated that it is his recommendation along with the Director of Public Works that a leave of absence be granted for the medical reasons as stated by Mr. Riste. In a motion by Councilmember Wachter and seconded by Councilmember Smith with all members voting in favor, the leave of absence for Richard Riste was accepted with the understanding that a six month probation would be effective upon his return to employment following the leave of absence. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Dated: February 26, 1981 TLH City Clerk