The Eagan City Council met on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center. Key actions included the approval of four public hearing items (nuisance abatement and three easement vacations), adoption of cannabis and hemp business regulations, and a postponement of the Thomson Reuters campus redevelopment application to November 19, 2024. A new police officer was sworn in, and the consent agenda was approved with several routine items.
Cannabis and Hemp Ordinance Amendments (Old Business): City Planner Schultz presented ordinance amendments to Chapters 6, 10, and 11 of the Eagan City Code to regulate cannabis and low-potency hemp retail businesses and events, following state legalization on May 30, 2023. Key provisions include:
Thomson Reuters Campus Redevelopment (New Business B): The applicant (Ryan Companies) proposed a Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment, Preliminary Planned Development, and Preliminary Subdivision on approximately 179 acres at 610 Opperman Drive. The plan includes:
Should Cade Otten or Travis Kels get into the end zone tonight. I didn't even know who those people were. They're tight ends. Ms. Miller, any changes the agenda tonight. Yes, Mr. Mayor, we would request continuance of new business item A, which is the variance and conditional use permit for a rich product corporation. The applicant has requested a continuation to the November 19th meeting. November 19th. Correct. And we can just do that continuation of the adoption of the agenda. Yes, sir. Is that right? That's correct, Mr. Okay, sounds good. I'll move adoption of the agenda as amended. Second. Saying none, all in favor saying I. And opposed nay. That motion uh carries. We have an agenda tonight and a continuation to November 19th. Um with that, uh, I'll go to um recognition and presentations tonight. Uh first up is the administering of the oath of office for our newly appointed Egan police officer Blake Desmond. Chief New. Well, mayor, before I begin, um, I need to correct you. It's Travis Kelsey. I need him to get in the end zone. So very bad for you, right? Well, mayor council again, once again, thank you. This is becoming somewhat of uh common occurrence with these uh oath of offices and promotional ceremonies, but truly it's a way for us to uh introduce our staff members to the council and the rest of the community um and and uh really acknowledge their family. Um tonight um we'll be introducing Officer Blake Desman. Um and uh Blake has his parents here, his mother Stacy and uh Dad Mike, uh sister Hannah and uh his girlfriend Marissa are here, and I think he has a number of friends uh here joining him this evening. Um to his family, I I will just simply say to you uh once aga uh thank you for being here. Um you in the you know, coming months, years, uh uh ahead, you will share in long work shifts. Um pleasant uh demeanor after long work shows and uh the uncertainty that goes along in the police profession, and just please know uh we are grateful to have Blake on Team Egan and uh appreciate for you being here to uh support him today tonight and in the coming days. Um before I do the oath of office, uh, I would like to give a little bit of background on Blake. Uh Blake grew up in the Duluth area. Um he went on to complete his bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin Superior in legal studies and a minor in philosophy. Um he graduated uh Magna cum laudy. Um he was also a relief pitcher for the Red Sox. Yes. Blake started his professional career working in the law firm in Washington before moving back to Duluth, where he worked at another law firm. And then after that, he spent a short time in the military before realizing that he wanted to work as a police officer. And he and the city of Egan found one another. And he joined the police department back in the spring of the year. It's been working as a cadet for the police department. And truly, the last few months have been a culmination of works uh Blake's hard work and effort to uh become a sworn police officer for the city of EGA. So at this point, I'm gonna ask Blake to step up so we can do the uh oath of office, but before doing so, and she doesn't know this yet because I asked Blake who's gonna pin your badge on tonight. He asked for his sister Hannah to come up front with him to do his uh pin his badge uh so Hannah, please step up and uh like come on. I don't know if Hannah will get up, Blake.