01/16/2001 - City Council Special
Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Eagan City Council
January 16, 2001
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MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16,2001
4:00 P.M.
EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Present: Mayor Awada, Councilmembers Bakken, Carlson, Fields and Tilley, City
Administrator Hedges, Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa, Administrative Specialist
Hertel and additional staff.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting began at 4:00 p.m.
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
No members of the audience wished to address the Council on a matter not on the
agenda.
SCHEMATIC PLAN/CENTRAL PARK/COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT
Mr. Mark Bodien of Moody-Nolan presented the schematic drawings for both levels of
the Community Center, illustrating various relationships of space in the proposed center.
The presentation included both a review of the exterior as well as a virtual tour of the
interior corridor. Mr. Bodien stated that the building is estimated at 75,000 square feet as
shown. He further stated that the building shown is estimated to have a cost of$125 per
square foot, but within the given budget, the maximum square footage cost must be
reduced to $114 or the building size must be reduced.
Mayor Awada inquired if the drawings as presented had been presented to the Facilities
Design Team. Mr. Bodien reported on the proceedings of the Facilities Design Team.
Questions were asked about the office areas. Mr. Bodien reported that the Parks and
Recreation space had been removed from the plans. Councilmember Carlson raised
questions about the location of the fireplace and stated that it should be a feature, like the
fireplace at the Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska, MN.
Councilmember Carlson stated that the back of the building looks good, but the front
needs more excitement and dimension. Mayor Awada commented that the building is too
contemporary looking. Councilmember Tilley stated that she would prefer a building
that more closely reflected the theme proposed in Cedarvale or an old-town feel.
Councilmember Carlson stated that the building should avoid looking like an elementary
school building.
Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Eagan City Council
January 16, 2001
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Mr. Bodien stated that the building, as designed, would fit better with the existing
corporate buildings on the campus and that the rooflines are challenging to deal with
given the space constraints.
Mr. Ted Wachter stated that rooms need to be shared to maximize their use and expressed
concerns about energy efficiency. A representative from the ECVB expressed concerns
about the layout ofthe kitchen and banquet rooms area, as well as the lower entrance.
Mr. Bodien explained how people would enter and use the facility and addressed catering
options.
Communications Coordinator Foote inquired about office space for the Historical
Society. Councilmember Carlson stated that they may have a workstation, but that office
space had not been promised, only fireproof storage space.
Mr. Raleigh Seelig inquired about the utility of the multipurpose gym space. Mr. Bodien
commented that it may be modified according to budget constraints. Mr. Wachter
commented that these decisions would be difficult ones for the Council and staff to work
out and emphasized the importance of everyone being willing to give and take.
Questions were asked about the exterior of the building. Focus group members and
Councilmembers expressed that the outside needs more character. After discussion, the
Council directed staff to prepare new options for the exterior of the building for
consideration. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa stated that this meeting was not a
finalization but a check-point, and that with the direction given by the Council and focus
group members, the consultants will be able to come back with modifications for the next
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Date
City Clerk
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