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03/09/2004 - City Council Special MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 9, 2004 5:30 P.M. EAGAN ROOM - EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER City Councilmembers present: Mayor Geagan, Councilmembers Carlson, Fields, Maguire and Tilley. City staff present: City Administrator Hedges, Assistant to the City Administrator Lord, Director of Administrative Services VanOverbeke, City Planner Ridley, Director of Community Development Hohenstein, Director of Communications Garrison and Chief Financial Officer Pepper. I. ROLL CALL & AGENDA ADOPTION The City Council discussed the meeting date for the first meeting in April. Councilmember Tilley moved; Councilmember Fields seconded a motion to change the first meeting in April to Wednesday, April 7. Aye: 5 Nay: 0 City Administrator Hedges distributed correspondence from the CEO ofEcoLab Inc. which made known the move of EcoLab's Research, Development, and Engineering division to Eagan. Councilmember Maguire moved; Councilmember Tilley seconded a motion to adopt the agenda. Aye: 5 Nay: 0 II. VISITORS TO BE HEARD There were no visitors to be heard. III. BECT 5- YEAR PLAN & CIP City Administrator Hedges introduced the item stating that BumsvillelEagan Community Television (BECT) has been supplying community programming since 1984. Hedges noted that the Bumsville City Council asked for a 5-year BECT financial plan including a first ever Capital Improvement Plan modeled after the way both cities do their CIP's. Hedges added that the Finance and Communication staff from both cities have met for the past several months to develop the plan in consultation with a technical expert and H.R. staff. City Administrator Hedges introduced Mark Hotchkiss, Community Programming Specialist, Will Craig of Ehlers & Associates, and Jim Skelly, Communications Director for the City of Bumsville. Together with Communications Director Garrison, a presentation was provided on BECT's four main areas of responsibility: l.) government Special City Council Minutes March 9, 2004 Page 2 of 5 meetings, 2.) public access, 3.) community news and events, and 4.) operations. Will Craig of Ehlers & Associates provided a presentation on the findings of the study regarding equipment replacement needs at BECT, including the need for digital technology in a cost effective manner. The City Council discussed revenue opportunities and the need for equipment replacement at BECT. There was City Council consensus that the equipment needs to be replaced in order to maintain volunteers and a level of service currently being provided to both Burnsville and Eagan. The City Council provided direction that the BECT budget should be adjusted downward to 8.0 FTE to keep the positive fund balance and address critical equipment replacement needs. The Council requested that staff and a plan be put in place for the Council's review. The Council also noted that they are comfortable with more aggressively pursuing sponsorships and revenue opportunities. Lastly, the Council asked that the Telecommunications Commission and staff prepare recommendations on a policy regarding what type of commercial messages the City will accept. The Council asked that the policy be brought back for the City Council's review. The City. Council requested that when the Operating Budget and Capital Plan are brought back to the City Council, that the information also include the effects of the staffing reductions. The City Council asked that the Operating Budget not be placed on the Consent Agenda until the Council has had the opportunity to review it. IV. DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that at the January 22,2004 Council Retreat, the City Council directed that Development Performance Standards be placed on a future workshop agenda for further discussion. At that time, Hedges added, the Council discussed the concept of being a "Community of Choice". Director of Community Development Hohenstein lead a discussion with the City Council on the following performance standards: 1.) finish material and architectural standards; 2.) closer controls on general signage, temporary signage, and window signage; 3.) required roof-top mechanical screening; 4.) site lighting standards; 5.) other performance standards as directed by the City Council. Community Development Hohenstein noted that per the Council's direction, the APC is currently addressing window signage. The City Council agreed with staffs recommendation to require roof-top mechanical screening and site lighting standards. The City Council discussed the Performance Standards and noted that staff should work with the business community to address the issues. It was also noted that the City has trails/sidewalks that do not connect well and backs of parking lots are often empty. The Council asked for ways in which pedestrian traffic could be more easily moved. The Council also discussed use of landscaping that results in more textured landscaping with higher filtration. The Council encouraged more creative parking layouts. The City Council directed staff to explore the performance standards that are applied in other demand communities for possible consideration in the future. The Council also added that they have a concern about excessive signage and painted window signage. Special City Council Minutes March 9, 2004 Page 3 of5 V. PERFORMANCE ZONING CONCEPTS City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that at the City Council Retreat on January 22, 2004, the Council asked staff to research performance zoning concepts, including density bonuses, as a means of encouraging high quality, higher density developments or other desirable development characteristics without shifting the market for all properties by simply rezoning to higher densities or reducing other standards or requirements. Hedges noted that staff is looking for direction with respect to further investigation of additional performance zoning concepts to encourage innovative and desirable development alternatives for build out, in-fill and redevelopment within the community. Community Development Director Hohenstein and City Planner Ridley provided definitions of performance zoning, noting that under performance zoning, land development and use is regulated by a series of performance standards that mitigate undesirable specific impacts of any proposed development. It was noted that due to its complexity, labor intensiveness and the question of control, the appeal of performance zoning is somewhat waning. However, elements of performance zoning can be blended with traditional zoning. The City Council discussed the benefits and consequences of performance zoning concepts, including its relationship to plan developments. The City Council also noted that better control is needed, such as what types of specific criteria the Council would want to target (housing type, amenities, housing value, etc.) and what standards would the Council be willing to consider adjusting for those criteria. The City Council directed staff to bring back a list of desirable features that could be available to developers for further discussion by the City Council. VI. CEDAR GROVE REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FUNDING DISCUSSION City Administrator Hedges introduced the item, noting that the City Council previously gave direction to staff to prepare a summary of the financial information associated with the Cedar Grove Redevelopment District. Community Development Director Hohenstein provided the City Council with a presentation on the background of the Cedar Grove Redevelopment Area financing. Hohenstein added that the current development finance model for the Cedar Grove area projects the tax increment may be able to support about $3 million of the public improvement costs, and added that it will be necessary to find other sources to fund the balance of the project costs. Hohenstein then provided a list of options that the City Council may wish to consider, including: 1.) improvement bonds, 2.) major street fund, 3.) tax increment, and 4.) tax increment bonds. The City Council discussed the options and noted that they had some questions on the assessments. Council provided direction to refer the discussion on the Cedar Grove financing to the Finance Committee. The City Council recessed at 7:25 p.m. Special City Council Minutes March 9, 2004 Page 4 of5 VII. RECOMMENDATIONS I FINDINGS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE RE: ALUM DOSING City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that per the direction of the City Council at the December 8, 2003 Council Workshop, the Public Works Committee, consisting of Councilmember Fields and Maguire, met on two occasions (January 27,2004 and February 10, 2004) to review research and costs associated with alum as well as review alternatives and a proposed implementation timeline for the use of alum on Fish Lake. Hedges added that the Council is asked to consider the short and long-term recommendations of the Public Works Committee, including: 1.) the reintroduction of alum dosing at Fish Lake; 2.) the formation of a water quality task force; and 3.) determine whether to formulate a public information process to formally consider whether to resume alum dosing at Fish Lake. City Administrator Hedges thanked the Public Works Committee for all of their work on this issue and noted that in the audience was Eric Macbeth, Water Resources Coordinator, and Jay Riggs, Urban Conservationist from Dakota County. The City Council discussed the recommendations of the Public Works Committee including short-term and long-term options and the potential need for a water quality task force. Councilmember Maguire provided an overview of the information and recommendations that came out of the Public Works Committee. It was also noted that 159 residents were noticed about the March 9 workshop, at which time alum dosing would be discussed. Water Resources Coordinator Macbeth, at the request of the Public Works Committee, provided a Power Point presentation showing alternatives to alum. Following the presentation, Councilmember Maguire noted that staff has done a commendable job in acquiring information about alternatives to alum. It was noted that while alum dosing is not necessarily a good long-term strategy, it is an effective short-term strategy. The City Council discussed the need for a task force to look at the long-term water quality needs of the community. The City Council discussed the need for JP-47.2, the settlement basis that would be used for alum dosing. The Council discussed the access options on to Mr. McCarthy's property should the project proceed a head. The City Council directed the City Attorney to continue working with Mr. McCarthy's attorney in order to get a comfort level with Mr. McCarthy regarding potential easements and the need for a construction road. At the recommendation of the Public Works Committee, the Council directed that a public hearing be scheduled at an upcoming regular City Council meeting to consider the reintroduction of alum dosing at Fish Lake and the formation of a water quality task force. The City Council thanked Water Resources Coordinator Macbeth and Jay Riggs of Dakota County, as well as Councilmember Fields and Maguire who spent a considerable amount of time as a Committee on this issue. Special City Council Minutes March 9, 2004 Page 5 of5 VIII. OTHER BUSINESS City Administrator Hedges noted that Director Garrison returned from his meeting with Burnsville, and the City of Burnsville endorsed the same recommendations as the Eagan City Council in regard to the BECT 5-year plan and CIP. IX. ADJOURNMENT The City Council meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.