03/10/2009 - City Council Special
MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009
5:30 P.M.
EAGAN ROOM – EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
City Council members present: Mayor Maguire, Councilmembers Bakken, Fields, Tilley,
and Hansen.
City staff present: City Administrator Hedges, Administrative Intern Kline, Director of
Administrative Services VanOverbeke, Community Development Director Hohenstein, Fire
Chief Scott, Chief of Police McDonald, and Communications Director Garrison.
I. ROLL CALL AND AGENDA ADOPTION
Mayor Maguire called the meeting to order. City administrator Hedges indicated there
were no changes to the agenda.
Councilmember Fields moved; Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to adopt the
agenda.
Aye: 5, Nay: 0
II. VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
III. DAKOTA COMMUNICATIONS CENTER UPDATE
City Administrator Hedges welcomed DCC executive director Kent Therkelsen to the
meeting.
Executive director Therkelsen gave a brief history of the consolidation of dispatch centers
throughout Dakota County and the formation of the Dakota Communications Center. The center
has been operating for one year and the director is taking the opportunity to visit and update all
the cities involved with the center.
Director Therkelsen highlighted the DCC objectives and noted particular 2008 service
facts. Discussion also focused on the 2009 budget which the city of Eagan contributed $1.24
million dollars to. Funding to the center is based on the call volume that originates from each
participating city. Eagan has the largest call volume. Director Therkelsen identified where
budget money is spent within the center and also mentioned the 2010 budget.
Director Therkelsen dialogued about capital expenditures that had an impact on the city
of Eagan. In particular, the real time view of police and fire vehicles (AVL) and the soon be
installed community notification system (better known as reverse 911). Councilmember Bakken
inquired about both capital expenditures and was informed by Director Therkelsen that only the
fire vehicles in Eagan had the capability of the AVL system. He also indicated that the city
would be able to use the community notification system in the same way as they use their current
emergency response system.
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March 10, 2009
Page 2
Mayor Maguire thanked Director Therkelsen for coming to the city and providing the
update.
IV. PRESENTATION ON SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPTS
City Administrator Hedges welcomed Heather Worthington to the meeting.
Administrator Hedges pointed out that one of the 2009-10 goals for the city revolved around the
sustainability issue. Heather, the Assistant City Manager for Edina, gave a brief overview on
what sustainability means to local government and a presentation on the sustainability programs
that are currently being implemented in the City of Edina.
Heather reviewed the board and commission structure that operates the City of Edina’s
sustainability program. The City Council inquired about the timeline from the conception of the
program to the time results are seen. Heather indicated that with the education and coordination
needed to run the program, a period of one year could be expected before results would start to
be seen.
Heather provided the City Council with an extensive list of Minnesota organizations
involved with sustainability activities. She discussed the need to not only work with these
organizations but also to communicate with businesses and residents alike in order to get the
community to buy into sustainability programs. Heather mentioned that such programs can
sometimes be a tough sell.
Mayor Maguire thanked Heather for coming and speaking to the Council.
V. CEDAR GROVE CONCEPT PLAN UPDATE AND PHASE I PLAN OVERVIEW
City administrator Hedges introduced the item and asked Community Development
Director Hohenstein to provide additional background of the Cedar Grove Development and
Phase I preliminary concept plan. Director Hohenstein described the purpose for the district, the
progress that has been made since its formation, the set of principles that make up the vision for
the area and the challenges the current economy presents for implementing new development
anywhere in the country, but especially in redevelopment districts.
Kelly Doran, the city’s current development partner, discussed the revised conceptual
development plan regarded as Phase I. Phase I would include two hotels, an apartment building,
and a senior living complex located in the eastern portion of the district. He indicated that the
proposed phase would permit the developer to move forward with three market supportable
segments of the conceptual master plan, while retaining a contiguous area in the western portion
of the development for future development of other segments.
The city council expressed interest in the features shown in the plan and discussed foreseeable
issues to be addressed if the revised plans were to move forward to a formal development
application.
1.Smaller amount of retail and/or commercial space in the first phase of the development
than shown previously. While the hotel in the eastern portion of the site replaces some of
the retail space previously envisioned there, the Council expressed an interest in pursuing
additional retail in future phases.
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March 10, 2009
Page 3
2.Lack of affordable housing in the first phase. Mayor Maguire pointed out that the city’s
target goal was 20% of the units within the area. The Developer indicated that the
financing that is currently available for apartment development requires market level
rents to cash flow. He stated that financing programs that underwrite affordable rental
units are not available in the current market.
3.Extent of gray field in the proposed layout. The Mayor noted that the plan at concept
level appears to have a substantial amount of parking and hard surface area and asked
that the developer look for ways to implement low impact development strategies on the
project.
4.Lack of detail regarding pedestrian connectedness around and among the buildings within
the development. Director Hohenstein indicated that pedestrian connections and
walkable streetscapes are required by the zoning district and it would be necessary to
show those at a greater level of detail once development applications are prepared.
Mayor Maguire inquired about available financing for the project. Director Hohenstein
discussed the financing perspective of Phase I. Hohenstein discussed the need to perform
additional pro-forma analysis to determine the financial feasibility of the Phase I development.
Councilmember Bakken raised concerns about the long term TIF district viability if a Phase I
were not to move forward. The Mayor stated that the council, while maintaining they had
concerns, is excited about the prospect of the first phase and is eager to move forward with the
concept and take the first step in the redevelopment process.
City council indicated that it supported the process to move forward and that the Phase I plan
could be brought to the next city council meeting for formal action.
VI. DISCUSSION REGARDING 2009 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND 2010 & 2011
BUDGETING
City administrator Hedges introduced the item and provided a background on the budget
over the next two years. He indicated that one of the council’s goals was to maintain the city’s
fiscally responsible budgeting approach. Administrator Hedges further stated that the council
was moving from a goal setting scenario to a workshop scenario where they will start
implementing their goal by creating a prudent budget in the face of revenue changes.
The city council dialogued about possible options to cut expenditures. Administrator
Hedges talked about two vacancies currently open in the police department. Mr. Hedges added,
due to the economic state, he and the police chief previously discussed not hiring/funding the
positions which will become a savings in the 2009 budget. Police Chief McDonald and City
Administrator Hedges entertained council questions regarding COPS funding through the United
States Department of Justice. If the city was successful in obtaining a COPS grant to fund the
positions, the COPS Office would fund each position for three years. Afterwards, the city would
become responsible for the sworn officer’s wages and benefits. Additionally, further retirements
that occur would not have to be filled therefore becoming a possibility for an expenditure cut.
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March 10, 2009
Page 4
City administrator Hedges welcomed the City’s primary labor attorney, John Roszak, to
talk about wages, contracts, and law issues. Attorney Roszak fielded questions from the city
council concerning wage contracts with city employees and offered advice on what can and can’t
be done in regards to contracts.
City council reiterated the need to move forward by working on the current budget while
keeping the fiscally responsible budget goal in mind.
VII. MVTA UPDATE/GENERAL DISCUSSION
Mayor Maguire introduced the item and asked City Attorney Dougherty to provide a
background of the MVTA joint powers agreement and the bylaws associated with the transit
authority. City council discussed the possible need to review the joint powers agreement/bylaws
and decide if changes may be desired.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
None to be heard.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Fields moved; Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 9:47 p.m.
Aye: 5, Nay: 0