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09/11/2008 - City Council Special MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 5:30 P.M. EAGAN ROOM – EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER City Council members present: Mayor Maguire, Councilmembers Bakken, Fields, Hunter and Tilley. City staff present: City Administrator Hedges, Assistant to the City Administrator Miller, Director of Administrative Service VanOverbeke, Community Development Director Hohenstein, Fire Chief Scott, Communications Director Garrison, Public Works Director Colbert and Parks and Recreation Director Seydell Johnson. I. ROLL CALL AND AGENDA ADOPTION Mayor Maguire called the meeting to order. At the Mayor’s request, the City Council observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims of September 11, 2001. The City Council added a discussion item regarding the grand opening of the Northwood Overpass. Councilmember Bakken moved, Councilmember Fields seconded a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. Aye: 5, Nay: 0 Public Works Director Colbert highlighted the public grand opening that is anticipated for the Northwood Parkway Overpass. Colbert noted that the original date of October 9 will no longer work for the grand opening to occur. There was City Council consensus to hold the grand opening on Monday, October 27, 2008 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. II. MVTA UPDATE REGARDING STATUS OF CEDAR GROVE TRANSIT STATION AND DESIGN PROGRAM City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that the first phase of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will become operational along the Cedar Avenue Corridor in September 2009 between Lakeville and the Mall of America as part of the regions Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA): Innovative Choices for Congestion Relief. Hedges added that Minnesota has been awarded $133.3 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation UPA Program for strategies to reduce traffic congestion in the Twin Cities. Hedges noted that the use of the UPA funding for the transit station construction requires operation of the stations by December 2009. Community Development Director Hohenstein introduced Beverly Miller, Executive Director of the MVTA, and Terri Olson, consultant with TKDA, who provided an overview of the Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Program, including a status update and design proposals for the Cedar Grove transit station. Special City Council Minutes September 11, 2008 Page 2 The City Council discussed the BRT project and the station to be built in the Cedar Grove Redevelopment Area. Mayor Maguire suggested an opportunity for coffee/limited retail within the stations being built as part of the BRT project. Mayor Maguire thanked Ms. Miller and Ms. Olson for providing an update to the City Council. III. REVEIVE PRESENTATION OF DAKOTA COUNTY COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL STUDY City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting that in 2007, the County Board adopted six strategic initiatives for economic development in Dakota County. Hedges added that one of those six initiatives related to coordinating strategic infrastructure and land development, including Brownfield redevelopment, telecommunications, and commercial/industrial development. Community Development Hohenstein noted that the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) hired Maxfield Research to complete a county-wide commercial/industrial market study to assess supply and demand in all Dakota County cities and townships through 2030. Mr. Hohenstein introduced Jay Thompson of the Dakota County CDA, who presented the findings of the commercial/industrial study that was completed in May of 2008. The City Council discussed the commercial/industrial study. Mayor Maguire thanked Mr. Thompson for presenting the study to the City Council. The City Council recessed at 6:45 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 6:55 p.m. IV. DISCUSS ADVANCED COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND VISIONING STATEMENT FOR NOVEMBER REFERENDUM City Administrator Hedges introduced the item noting at the September 2, 2008 City Council meeting, the Council formally approved the ballot language for the November 4, 2008 referendum regarding the proposed acquisition of the former Carriage Hills Golf Course. Hedges noted that the purpose of tonight is for the Council to review both the proposed visioning statement and fact sheet for the referendum. Hedges added that the fact sheet is intended to be an informational piece for the community, which is proposed to be distributed to all households in Eagan through the Experience Eagan newsletter scheduled to arrive in homes in mid-October. Hedges noted that per the direction of the Council, staff has been working with consultant Rusty Fifield of the Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. to prepare a framework to assist to the Council with their visioning discussion. Special City Council Minutes September 11, 2008 Page 3 The City Council discussed the proposed Carriage Hills fact sheet and made recommendations on changes and additions to the document. Mayor Maguire suggested that City staff look into making the fact sheet a “dynamic” document on the City’s website, where residents could add questions of their own to which the City could respond. City Administrator Hedges noted that the Council will have an opportunity for one final review of the fact sheet at their September 16 regular City Council meeting. City Administrator Hedges introduced the proposed visioning framework to assist the Council with the visioning document they wish to prepare for the former Carriage Hills Golf Course site. Hedges noted that the visioning document is intended to be a working document that could be modified after the referendum, should the referendum pass. Parks and Recreation Director Johnson summarized the visioning framework and the draft visioning document. The City Council discussed the visioning document and noted changes and additions they would like to see to the next draft. The Council requested that staff include a site diagram with the next draft so that the Council could identify locations of possible uses. The question was also raised regarding which areas would be eligible for federal wetland banking. The Council discussed the concept of designating the area as planned development. There was Council consensus that they are comfortable with using the planned development framework in order to frame the uses for the property. Mayor Maguire noted that should the referendum pass, there will be an opportunity for future public involvement to determine how the property should be used. City Administrator Hedges noted that the visioning document will be brought back to the City Council for further review at a future City Council meeting. Mayor Maguire commended the City Council on their work over the past three months with regard to the Carriage Hills discussion. V. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. VI. VISITORS TO BE HEARD There were no visitors to be heard. VII. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Bakken moved, Councilmember Fields seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m.