Eagan City Council Meeting - November 19, 2024
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Eagan City Council Meeting - November 19, 2024
The Eagan City Council convened on November 19, 2024, at 6:30 PM CT at the Eagan Municipal Center. The meeting included the swearing-in of new firefighters, approval of the consent agenda, a public hearing on property tax abatement bonds, discussion and approval of the Thomson Reuters campus redevelopment, variances and a conditional use permit for a nitrogen silo at Rich Product Corp, and an ordinance amendment for Viking Lakes on-sale liquor licensing. No public comments were made during any agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes for October 8, 2024 (special) and November 4, 2024 (regular).
- Accepted personnel items, including the resignation of Assistant Fire Chief Kip Springer.
- Approved check registers for weeks ending November 1 and November 8, 2024.
- Approved contracts as presented.
- Adopted a resolution to accept donations.
- Appointed Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer, P.A. as civil attorneys for the City of Eagan.
- Approved the updated City of Eagan Brand Guide.
- Approved a contract for financial management services for the Dakota County Drug Task Force.
- Approved final payment for Contract 24-03, Lexington Storm LS Rehab.
- Acknowledged completion of Project 21-P Metro Storage.
- Received a petition to vacate a drainage and utility easement at Parkside Circle and scheduled a public hearing for December 17, 2024.
- Approved a Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for native restoration at Caponi Art Park.
- Approved a resolution designating the Dakota County Community Development Agency to administer Eagan Local Affordable Housing Aid Funds.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Swearing-In of New Firefighters: The council officiated the swearing-in of firefighters Russell Barry, Josue Dimas, Ashlee Dehn, Lucas Pitra, and Kayla Kennedy. Chief Hugo Searle led the badge-pinning ceremony. Mayor also acknowledged the service of retiring Assistant Chief Kip Springer, who received a round of applause.
- Public Hearing – Property Tax Abatement Bonds: City financial advisor Tammy Omdahl (Northland Securities) explained that the term "tax abatement" is misleading; the action authorizes up to $16.5 million in general obligation tax abatement bonds for improvements to the Eagan Community Center, supported by a property tax levy. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Old Business – Thomson Reuters Campus Redevelopment: City Planner Schultz presented minor updates to conditions of approval following Metropolitan Council approval of the Comprehensive Guide Plan amendment (changing land use from Major Office to Industrial, Low and Medium Density Residential). The council approved three separate motions: the Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment, the Preliminary Planned Development (for a multi-phase, mixed-use development on ~179 acres including industrial, townhomes, and single-family homes), and the Preliminary Subdivision. Mayor noted that a future public hearing on the residential component would occur on December 4, 2024.
- New Business – Rich Product Corp Variances and Conditional Use Permit: Justin Panka (Rich Products) proposed a 13,000-gallon nitrogen silo at 1000 Apollo Road. The silo would be 41 feet tall (exceeding the 40-foot height limit by one foot) and taller than the building. Revised plans moved the silo 25 feet from the building for safety. Conditions included a planting plan and matching building color. The council approved the Conditional Use Permit and two variances (for exceeding building height and maximum 40-foot height) unanimously.
- New Business – Viking Lakes Liquor License Ordinance Amendment: City staff presented an ordinance amendment to City Code Chapter 5, allowing on-sale liquor licensing at Viking Lakes (south of the Omni Hotel). The amendment is required by state special legislation approved May 8, 2024, and must be adopted before the 2025 legislative session. The council approved the ordinance and directed publication of a summary.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved unanimously.
- Resolution for Tax Abatement Bonds approved (not to exceed $16.5 million principal) for Community Center improvements.
- Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment approved: land use change from Major Office to Industrial, Low and Medium Density Residential.
- Preliminary Planned Development approved for Thomson Reuters campus redevelopment.
- Preliminary Subdivision approved for the same development.
- Conditional Use Permit approved for outdoor storage of a nitrogen silo at Rich Product Corp.
- Variance approved for structure to exceed building height.
- Variance approved for structure to exceed maximum 40-foot height limit.
- Ordinance Amendment approved for Viking Lakes on-sale liquor licensing.
- Meeting adjourned at an unspecified time.
Meeting Transcript
To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Welcome everybody, the November 19th regular meeting of the Egan City Council. We have a full chambers tonight because we're uh swearing in at the very least uh a couple of new firefighters. So uh welcome everybody. We've got a substantive agenda after we do that. Um so uh with that I will get uh right to it. Um Ms. Miller, are there any changes in the agenda tonight? No, Mr. Mayor. Council, any changes the agenda. No, sir. Motion to anybody motion to adopt the agenda is presented. Second, it's moved and seconded. All in favor is going to say aye. I oppose nay. Motion carries, we have an agenda. Uh I move right to the aforementioned uh recognition and presentation of swearing in of new firefighters, Russell Barry Joo, yeah. Joseway Joseway, thank you. I'm sorry. Uh firefighters, yeah. Uh Jose um Demas, Ashley Den and Lucas Petra and Kayla Kennedy. So uh with that, I'll go right to uh Chief Hugo Sorel for the swearing in. Um I will say just I usually do it afterwards, but um because we have such a full room tonight. Uh when the time comes for photos and such like that, I know there's a lot of family here. Um if you want to get pictures, uh feel free to go anywhere in the room, including back up here on the day as up here if you think it gives you a better angle. So uh with that, I'm gonna uh hand it over to Chief Searle. Chief, welcome. Thank you, Mayor and Council members. Uh we really appreciate this opportunity to come before you for this uh very important ceremony. And I'd like to invite up Lucas Petra, Russell Barry, Ashley Dean, Kayla Kennedy, and Josway Dimas, if you want to come on up stand over here. We're gonna start with the badge pinning ceremony. Um and uh each of these firefighters uh has with them tonight um a special person that's going to be their pinners. So uh pinners if you would like to come up, please. Um we have for Lucas, uh his wife Abby for Russell, his wife Candace, uh for Ashley, um her dad Brian, for Kayla Kennedy, um her stepdaughter Rhea, and for Jose, uh his wife Ashley. Um so uh Peters go ahead and and please pin the badges carefully. Um this is uh the these badges are really important, they're the symbol of the firefighter. They also have on there their firefighter number. That is a number that's unique to this firefighter that will be uh only ever used for them. They'll wear it the r their entire career. And uh when they retire, no one for the city of Egan will wear that badge number again. So take pictures if you want, everybody. Okay. All right, thank you very much. And now for the uh formal part of the evening, I'd like to ask the city clerk uh to come up, all right. I'll have you raise your right hand. I state your name. Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the State of Minnesota.
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