Eagan City Council Special Meeting - November 12, 2024
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Eagan City Council Special Meeting - November 12, 2024
The Eagan City Council held a special meeting on November 12, 2024, at 5:30 PM at the Eagan Municipal Center. The meeting covered the canvassing of election results, discussions on Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) programs, approval of the 2025 Eagan Convention and Visitors Bureau (ECVB) budget, and a review of enterprise and special revenue budgets.
Canvas Election Results
City Clerk Beth Van Hoose presented the results of the November 5, 2024, general election. Two council seats were uncontested: Councilmember Sibena and Councilmember Fields ran unopposed. Out of 46,453 registered voters, 41,236 cast ballots (83.2% turnout). Sibena received 21,849 votes (49.57%) and Fields received 22,230 votes (50.43%). There were 38,383 undervotes. The council unanimously approved a motion to certify the results. Van Hoose thanked election staff and judges for a smooth election with no significant issues.
Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) Programs
Community Development Director Jill Hoopmacher, joined by representatives from the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA), presented three potential programs funded by state LAHA dollars (approved in 2023).
- Expanded Home Improvement Loan Program: Based on the existing CDBG program, the CDA proposes to use $175,000 annually from LAHA to expand no-interest, no-payment loans (up to $35,000) for homeowners up to 115% Area Median Income (AMI), prioritizing those at or below 80% AMI. The program addresses basic home repairs (roofs, siding, windows, etc.) and includes radon testing/mitigation (average cost $2,000–$3,000). A 3–5 year Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the CDA is proposed, with funds held in a separate Eagan account. The council expressed support for entering into the agreement and directed staff to prepare a resolution for the December 3, 2024, meeting.
- Radon Mitigation Grant Program: Integrated into the home improvement loans, this would cover radon testing and mitigation for eligible households, with an estimated five additional homes per year.
- HOA Gap Financing (Policy Discussion): Staff proposed exploring a program to assist low- and moderate-income owner-occupants in townhome HOAs with bearing the cost of special assessments for common-area improvements (e.g., roofs, driveways). An example was given of a townhome association where assessments could reach $800 per month. The council unanimously supported directing staff to research and develop a program, likely using LAHA funds.
Councilmembers voiced strong support for preserving affordable housing stock and noted the necessity of these investments.
2025 Eagan Convention and Visitors Bureau Budget
Brent, CEO of the ECVB, along with Marketing Director Shana Keon, presented the proposed 2025 budget with a 3.7% increase. Key highlights included: record investment of over $500,000 in marketing; new partnership with Placer AI for data analytics; a new website; and planned events such as the Vikings Training Camp (generated $5.6 million in economic activity, 41% of attendees from outside the Twin Cities) and the Minnesota Ice Festival (expected 200,000 visitors). The ECVB plans to use data to target markets like Duluth and possibly Saskatoon. The council praised the efforts and indicated the budget would be forwarded as a consent agenda item for the December 3, 2024, meeting.
Enterprise and Special Revenue Budgets Review
Finance Director Josh Feldman reviewed several funds. Council provided feedback on policy questions.
- Public Utilities Fund: Proposed rate increases were accepted as necessary due to aging infrastructure. The FY2025 budget includes $6.7 million in bond issuance for capital projects. The city remains the sixth lowest among 29 metro area for average water rates. Council supported the proposed rates and budget.
- Recreation Enterprise Funds:
- Civic Arena: Facing financial challenges with low reserves. Council supported the continued practice of using general fund support for capital expenses, noting that covering operations with fees is realistic but capital requires city investment. Fee increases of $5 per hour (prime/non-prime) were noted.
- Cascade Bay: Attendance decreased 13.9% in 2024 due to rainy start, but 2025 budget projects conservative revenue. Council supported fee increases for season passes and programming.
- Eagan Community Center: Performing well with surpluses. No planned rate increases. Council supported the budgets.
- Eagan Television (ETV): Franchise fee revenue is declining (9% decrease from cable subscribers). The fund is stabilized by transfers from other funds. Council acknowledged ongoing funding challenges and requested further analysis on franchise fee impacts.
- Sustainability Fund: Funded by franchise fees from utility customers. Proposed expenses include a part-time (30 hours/week) position to implement the Climate Action Plan, conduct fleet studies, facility audits, EV conversions, and develop an energy incentive program. Council discussed whether a full-time position might be needed but agreed to start with the part-time position as proposed. They expressed support for the overall sustainability initiatives.
- Tree Mitigation Fund: Used for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) treatment (6th year of 7-year program). Revenues are declining as development slows, resulting in a projected decrease in cash reserves. Council acknowledged the sustainability challenge and supported the budget.
- Opioid Prevention Fund: Receiving settlement payments from pharmaceutical companies, totaling approximately $81,000 annually (variable). Funds have not yet been spent; staff is coordinating with Dakota County and the health department to develop allowable uses. Council expressed a need for clarity but supported continued coordination.
Key Outcomes
- Election Canvass: Unanimously certified the results (Sibena and Fields elected).
- LAHA Programs: Council supported entering into a JPA with the CDA for the expanded home improvement loan program and radon mitigation program, with a resolution expected December 3. Council also directed staff to develop a program to assist low-income HOA homeowners with special assessments using LAHA funds.
- ECVB Budget: Approved in principle; will be placed on the December3 consent agenda.
- Utility Rate Increases: Accepted; budgets for public utilities and recreation enterprise funds were supported.
- Sustainability Fund Staffing: Council supported the proposed part-time position (30 hours/week).
- Opioid Funds: Council acknowledged receipt and ongoing coordination with the county for future programming.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it looks like we're up. Good evening, everybody. Welcome to the November twelfth special meeting of the Ugin City Council. Uh let's go ahead and jump in and start with the adoption of the agenda. Diane, are there any changes to the agenda? No, Mr. Acting Mayor. The motion to adopt the agenda is presented. Second. Made and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. All right. Any opposed? Abstentions? Motions carried. We have an agenda. And first item, uh, canvas the election results of the recent election. Diane. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Appreciate you being here tonight. We have Beth Van Hoose, our city clerk, who's going to come up to go through the results of the election, and then when you are completed, provided everything goes through, we'll have you sign this with your signature for the vote. Okay. Um, come January. So what's that? January, whatever. Sorry. Um, and those two seats, um uh we had two affidavits of candidacy filed by two current council members, Councilmember Sabina and Council Member Fields. Uh they did run unopposed, um, and no more than four filed, so there was no primary needed. So they went straight to the general election ballots. Um the count the county prepared uh the following abstract, which is um on the screen here, and you have in front of you. Um see, it looks like it went skipped one. It's very tiny. I can't try to make it as much bigger as I could, but um looks like we had uh forty-six thousand four hundred and fifty-three registered voters on election morning. Um 41,236 voters cast ballots, whether that was by absentee or in person on election day, which is about 83.2% turnout, which sounds great, but even 2020 was still at 93.48%. So we're still shy of that. 2020 was known for a lot of things, and that was one of the one of them. So as we can see then that because councilmember subpoena and council member fields ran unopposed, they of course won with council member subpoena receiving 21,849 votes, and council member fields receiving 22,230 votes broken down on the memo is 49.57% and 50.43% of the votes. Because it was a um vote for two office, not everyone cast uh uh vote for both offices. Um so that left 38,383 undervotes, um, whether they didn't vote at all or they only voted for one or none. So um I think that's all I have for the results. Um if you have any questions. Any questions from the council? Uh if not, then I will make a motion to certify the results of the November 5th, 2024 City Council election. Is there a second? Any further discussion? Can you um allow me just to allow uh say a few thank yous? Oh, please do with my election staff. Uh the elections team consists of um Angela Fais on the deputy city clerk. I uh hire two election assistants, Jesse Boland and Anita Oakman, who um help tremendously uh in this process.
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