06/11/1985 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
JUNE 11, 1985
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, June 11,
1985, at 7:00 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center. Present were Mayor
Blomquist and Councilmembers Egan, Smith and Thomas. Councilmember Wachter
arrived later in the meeting. Also present were City Engineer Rosene,
Assistant Public Works Director Hefti, City Attorney Hauge, and City
Administrator Hedges.
BIRCH PARR ADDITION
The Mayor convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and announced that the first
item of business concerned the application of Sienna Corporation for final
plat approval of Birch Park Addition and also consideration of the bid award
for City Contract #85-10 under Project #417. Mr. Hefti described the project
to date and in particular reviewed with the City Council the proposal of the
applicant to dedicate an 80-foot easement along the westerly 80 feet of Lot
17, Block 6, Birch Park Addition, for perpetual access to proposed Pilot
Pointe Addition on the west. He also noted that the bid expiration time on
the contract will expire within a few days. A written report from. the City
Consulting Engineer was also discussed.
A number of the neighboring residents were present including owners of
proposed Pilot Pointe Addition. Also John Hankinson, Rod Hardy, Dave
Sellergren and Judith Bright for the applicant appeared.
There was extensive discussion regarding the proposed easement and also
the assessments proposed for the south side of Deerwood Drive.
Attorney Dan Warner appeared for Mr. and Mrs. Fritz, owners on the south
side of Deerwood Drive and requested the City Council review the assessments
and not delay the proposal regarding assessments. He indicated that the
appraiser for the Fritz property had determined that benefit would be no
greater than $12,900 and requested that that amount be determined to be the
maximum assessment.
Councilmember Egan recommended that the assessment issue be brought before
the Assessment Committee at the request of the owners and noted that the
City's appraisal had not been completed. Mayor Blomquist recommended that
only the north-half of Deerwood Drive be developed.
Tom Bergen, a neighboring owner, questioned whether a nonsurfaced road
would be feasible and Mr. Hefti explained that the City requires total
updating for newly created lots and also for maintenance reasons. There were
also questions as to whether a narrower road could be feasible but it was
noted that the State Aid requirements must be met and further that the
property owners will be assessed for residential equivalent only.
Roger Fredlund, an owner of the proposed Pilot Pointe Addition, appeared
and noted that up to 27 feet and also a sharp curve would be involved in the
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80-foot easement and further requested some assistance in the future cost of
the road from the City. Mr. Warner requested a date certain for the
Assessment Committee hearing.
Don Klober, an owner of the proposed Pilot Pointe Addition, also appeared
and had questions concerning the sanitary sewer outlets that tie into Rocky
Lane and also access for utilities for the Rocky Lane area.
After discussion, Thomas moved, Egan seconded the motion to approve the
final plat application subject to the following recommendations:
1. That the 80-foot easement be granted over Lot 17, Block 6, of Birch
Park Addition for a minimum 15-year period under conditions specified by the
City.
2. A 30-foot slope easement shall be dedicated easterly of the highway
easement dediction.
3. All other City requirements shall be met.
All Councilmembers voted in favor. Egan then moved, Thomas seconded the
motion to accept the low bid of Arcon Construction Company in the sum of
$408,024.15 and to award the contract to Arcon Construction Company. All
voted yes. Thomas then moved, Smith seconded the motion, to schedule a
meeting of the Assessment Committee approximately for August 1, 1985, to
review the proposed assessments against the property on the south side of
Deerwood Drive under the project. All voted yes. Councilmember Wachter
appeared at the meeting at this time.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES
Chief Bob Childers, Assistant Chief Ken Southern, and Fire Marhshal Doug
Reid appeared on behalf of the Eagan Volunteer Fire Department and reviewed
several issues with the City Council relating to the Department.
A. Future Fire Stations/Planning Committee Report. The members present
discussed several alternate locations for the proposed future fire stations
and after extended discussion it was recommended by the Council that the
committee review sites in the southeastern portion of the City to include a
joint location for City storage and also fire station purposes. Some of the
discussion regarding fire station locations included costs for new stations,
how many stations, operating the station with manpower and equipment, and the
fact that fire stations should be designed for private business use in future
years. There was also discussion concerning the possible shifting of STation
No. 2 to a more appropriate location. The next priority expressed by the Fire
Department for a station after the southeastern location is adjacent to
the freeway.
B. Tanker Truck. It was noted that the Fire Department was experiencing
some problems with the 1954 water tanker truck and it was suggested that there
was a need for additional vehicular water storage capacity to respond to
interstate accidents. Fire Chief Childers recommended that the rural fire
tanker be proposed as surlus property because of its lack of serviceability
and further, that future acquisition of pumpers be 1,000 gallon capacity as
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June 11, 1985
opposed to 500 gallon to provide additional water storage capacity on
interstates and other areas not served by water hydrants. City Councilmember
Wachter Wachter suggested that the City Administrator review the possibility
of constructing water hydrants at periodic locations along I-35E for fire
purposes. After further discussion on the matter and in a motion by Mayor
Blomquist, seconded by City Councilmember Egan, with all members voting in
favor, the 1954 water tanker truck was declared surplus property because of
its lack of serviceability.
C. Membership in Two Fire Department. The question was raised at the
City Council meeting by Fire Chief Childers about the possibility of one
volunteer firefighter belonging to two fire departments. After discussion,
Fire Chief Childers stated he would pursue the matter further at the State
Fire Chief Convention to determine the feasibility of a volunteer firefighter
belonging to two fire departments in addition to a person joining the fire
department who is employed in Eagan however resides outside the community.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. Command Bus. It was noted that the command bus was back from
Wisconsin where the air conditioning system and internal compartments were
installed. Further work will be coordinated by the Fire Department.
B. Recruitment Class. Seventeen rookies have completed fire training and
are now in the Volunteer Fire Department, bringing the total membership in the
Department to 73.
C. Insurance Rating. Currently the Eagan fire insurance rating is 6 and
it was noted that the Eagan Chamber of Commerce is working with the Fire
Department in an effort to improve the rating to possibly a rating of 4 or 5.
D. Payroll. The Fire Department has requested that the total amount of
salaries be increased by about $11,000 for 1985 noting the additional members
of the VFD that have recently been recruited.
HIGHWAY #13 MINISTORAGE
Dick Curry appeared with his request as the developer of the ministorage
location on Highway #13 near LaFonda's. Also, Joe Lombardo, the owner of the
land, appeared and asked for a reduction in the amount of the sewer and water
laterals being proposed to be assessed at $33.92 a foot. There was discussion
concerning the deferral of assessments of 1968 and also the assessment for the
LaFonda's restaurant in 1976. It was suggested that the assessments over the
adjoining lots be reviewed and the developer and owner indicated that they
would be willing to escrow the assessment pending a final decision by the City
Council regarding these assessments. No formal action was taken.
NORTHWESTERN BELL SWITCHING STATION
Mr. Hedges reviewed with the Council a proposed price for the lease for
the Northwestern Bell Switching Station that is near the Fire Station
Administration building and the Towerview water tower site. It was
recommended that Northwestern Bell reimburse the City $10,000 for a 20-year
lease. No action was formally taken.
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LOT SIZE SURVEY
A residential lot inventory is now being taken by City staff and lot
survey information was submitted for review by the Councilmembers. It was
noted that the Advisory Planning Commission is looking for direction regarding
minimum lot sizes and there was discussion regarding the requirement of
minimum lot size rather than flexibility under the Planned Development method.
Mayor Blomquist suggested a minimum 10,500 square foot area and 75 foot
minimum frontage at the setback line. It was also argued that it is very
difficult to avoid deviations and Mr. Hedges recommended that guidelines for
the lot sizes in Planned Development zoned areas be determined to avoid having
staff negotiate sizes.
Councilmember Egan suggested setting sliding minimum standards in various
residentially zoned categories for example: R-1, 85-foot frontage, 12,000
square foot minimum lot area; R-II, 80-foot frontage, 10,500 square foot
minimum lot area; R-III, 75-foot frontage, 10,000 square foot minimum lot
area; R-IV, 70-foot frontage; 10,000 square foot minimum. It was requested
that the lot inventory be determined and that the City Attorney's office be
directed to prepare a draft revision to the ordinance to encompass the
proposal.
SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on June
13 at the City Hall to discuss the Public Works Director position.
BLACKHAHK PARK PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
Mayor Blomquist discussed the Blackhawk Park Planned Development
agreement stating that enough questions were raised regarding densities and
other related issues while research was performed for background information
relative to the Thomas Lake Place preliminary plat. She further suggested
that the City Attorney and Consulting Planner be directed to research
densities and the history of the Blackhawk Park PUD to determine whether a
reformation of contract is in order for the Blackhawk Park Planned Unit
Development agreement. After a brief discussion and in a motion by Mayor
Blomquist, seconded by City Councilmember Egan, with all members voting in
favor, the City Attorney and Consulting Planner were directed to research the
history and densities as proposed and considered for the Blackhawk Park Plan-
ned Unit Development agreement and determine specifically why and when
specific densities were increased or doubled in one case within the Blackhawk
Park Planned Development and further that the City negotiate with Ed Dunn,
owner of land within the Blackhawk Park Planned Development for consideration
of a reformation of contract.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
All voted yes.
June 11, 1985
Dated Cit Clerk
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