08/30/1989 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
August 30, 1989
A special City Council meeting was held on Wednesday, August 30, 1989,
in the Lunchroom of the Eagan Municipal Center Building. Those present were
Mayor Ellison and City Councilmembers Egan, Gustafson, McCrea and Wachter. Also
present were Director of Community Development Runkle, Director of Finance
VanOverbeke, City Attorney Sheldon and City Administrator Hedges.
FINAL PLAT/SENECA WASTE WATER TREATMENT
EXPANSION PROJECT
The City Administrator stated that the development agreement and final
plat for the Seneca Plant are in order for consideration. He further stated that
various issues have been raised at the Odor Committee meetings by residents and
the City staff that pertain to the Seneca project. Further, these issues have
not been resolved. He stated that at the request of the City Council and
residents, the Mediation Center was contacted to explore the concept of retaining
a third party as a facilitator to negotiate these issues. Mayor Ellison allowed
several residents of the Wuthering Heights neighborhood to address the Seneca
Waste Water Treatment Plant project who addressed concerns about the dewatering,
odor emission equipment at Meter Station #500 and equipment proposed for the
Seneca Plant. After a lengthy discussion, it was generally agreed that the City
should pursue the services of a consulting engineering firm to address the
outstanding issues pertaining to the Seneca project as opposed to a third party
mediator. After further discussion, a motion was presented by City Councilmember
Gustafson and seconded by Mayor Ellison to approve the Seneca final plat. Those
voting aye were Mayor Ellison and City Councilmember Gustafson, those voting nay
were City Councilmembers Egan, McCrea and Wachter.
In a motion by City Councilmember Egan, seconded by City Councilmember
Wachter, the final plat for the Seneca Waste Water Treatment project was
continued to the September 19 City Council meeting and placed on the agenda as
Old Business, to allow the City staff to pursue input by an independent engineer
for the evaluation of odor attenuation measures planned for the Seneca Waste
Water Treatment plant expansion and to review measures to resolve problems
regarding the dewatering. Further, if the MWCC would commence construction prior
to final plat approval, the City would not take action to issue a cease and
desist order until after the September 19 meeting. Those voting in favor, were
City Councilmembers Egan, Gustafson and Wachter, and those voting in opposition
were Mayor Ellison and City Councilmember McCrea.
PROPOSED 1990 GENERAL FUND BUDGET
City Administrator Hedges reviewed the proposed 1990 General Fund
Operating budget stating that the City Administrator's budget represents an
increase of approximately 3% from the 1988 budget. He further stated that his
original budget considered the allotment for 3.25 additional personnel; however,
due to the severe restrictions and inability of the City to increase property
tax and local government aid which represents 73% of the operating budget. It
appears there may be an absence of any new personnel in 1990. The City
Special City Council Meeting
August 30, 1989
page two
Administrator reviewed other programs which included the elimination of the
Ultimap system, proposing a reduction and a cap on legal costs, and continuation
of contractual personnel for new snow maintenance routes as opposed to any
permanent hiring of maintenance personnel. Director of Finance VanOverbeke
reviewed the revenues stating that at the direction of the City Administrator,
the building permits fees were reduced by $100,000, the plan check fees were
increased resulting from a change in the plan check rate, and discussed other
fee reductions and increases as proposed for 1990.
City Councilmembers discussed at length the proposed budget and asked
that the City Administrator consider reviews to the budget that would include:
1) an increase in the Park and Recreation user fees, 2) a special study analyzing
legal costs during 1989, 3) a reallocation of expenditures from the storm water
utility fund to the general fund, 4) reinstatement of a juvenile officer for the
Police Department, 5) further explanation on the plan check fee increase and,
also, the preparation of new summary sheets that provide for a balanced budget
recognizing the changes instituted by the City Council. The City Administrator
was directed to prepare the special study regarding the legal department and
provide changes to the 1990 proposed General Fund budget at the next City Council
work session.
ALLIANCE FOR CHEMICAL HEALTH TO
ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
City Administrator Hedges informed the City Council that the Dakota
County Board of Commissioners is requesting that cities endorse the application
of the Alliance for Chemical Health to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He
stated that a resolution of support would sponsor chemical health related
activities during the year of 1990 and, more importantly, make City park space
and other facilities available to other organizations for the purpose of holding
chemically free events. After a brief discussion and in a motion by City
Councilmember Gustafson, with all members voting in favor, a resolution to
endorse the application of the Alliance for Chemical Health to the Robert Wood
Johnson foundation supporting a program implemented by the Dakota County Board
of Commissioners was approved. R 89-47.1
U.S. MEMORIES PROPOSAL
City Councilmember Egan asked about the status of the U. S. Memories
proposal stating that he had not received a recent update. City Administrator
Hedges stated that the State of Minnesota is preparing a proposal to U. S.
Memories and further that certain demographic information has been requested from
City staff. He further stated that the involvement of any department has been
minimal since first learning about the proposal and assured the City Council that
information would be forwarded to the City Council once the proposal is made
available.
OTHER BUSINESS
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
approximately 9:45 p.m.
TLH
August 30, 1989
Dated CiAN& Clerk