Eagan City Council Regular Meeting – December 17, 2024
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Eagan City Council Regular Meeting – December 17, 2024
The Eagan City Council held its final regular meeting of 2024 on December 17, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Eagan Municipal Center. The meeting began with a moment of silence for longtime city employee Kevin Peterson, who passed away on December 2. The council recognized Brian Thom as APWA Supervisor of the Year, approved a consent agenda with 21 items, conducted two public hearings, and approved a major redevelopment project for veteran housing known as Veterans Village.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved minutes from the November 19 regular meeting, December 2 Finance Committee meeting, and December 3 council meeting.
- Personnel Items: Approved personnel changes as presented.
- Check Registers: Approved council check registers for weeks ending November 29 and December 6, 2024.
- Contracts: Approved multiple contracts (specifics not detailed in transcript).
- Donations: Adopted a resolution to accept donations.
- Stormwater Resilience Grant: Approved an Implementation Stormwater Resilience Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
- Sperry Tower Lighting Schedule: Approved the 2025 tower lighting schedule, with a note that lighting repairs are expected in February 2025.
- Street Improvement Projects (Feasibility Reports): Received draft feasibility reports for four street improvement projects (1566 Birch Park/Windcrest/Denmark Ave/Deerwood Dr; 1567 Cedar Industrial; 1571 Ridgecliff 1st/Berkshire Ponds/Parkridge/Safari/Covington Ln; 1572 Slater Acres/Whispering Woods 1st & 2nd) and scheduled public hearings for January 21, 2025.
- Trail Improvements: Approved a Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County Transportation Department for trail improvements and a resolution amending the 5-year CIP (2025-2029).
- Water Quality Improvements: Approved plans and specifications for Contract 25-07 (2025 Water Quality Improvements) and scheduled a bid opening.
- Sewer Televising: Approved plans and specifications for Contract 24-19 (Cliff Lake Road Sewer Televising) and scheduled a bid opening.
- Easement Vacation Petition: Received a petition to vacate drainage and utility easements (Letendre Addition) and scheduled a public hearing for January 21, 2025.
- Final Plat: Approved the final plat for Valhalla Addition.
- Final Payment: Approved final payment of $61,250 to Jackson & Associates, LLC for the CMF Metal Roof Project.
- Change Orders: Approved Change Order No. 6 for Goat Hill Phase 3 Improvements (Project 1557) and Change Order No. 7 for Eagan Art House (Project 1558).
- Bond Issuance: Approved a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of approximately $19,370,000 in General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025A.
- Gambling Application: Adopted a resolution approving an off-site gambling application for the Lions Club to conduct bingo during Viking Lakes Winter Skolstice.
- Alcohol Licenses: Adopted a resolution directing the City Clerk to issue 2025 alcohol license renewals upon submission of required documents and fees.
- Waste Abatement Grant: Approved the 2025 Community Waste Abatement Grant Agreement between Dakota Valley Recycling and Dakota County.
- Sky Hill Athletic Courts: Approved plans and specifications for Contract 25-08 (Sky Hill Athletic Courts) and authorized advertisement for bids.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Vacation Easement (Public Hearing A): No public comments.
- Widgeon Woods HIA (Public Hearing B): Jane Tunset, president of the Townhomes of Widgeon Woods board, expressed gratitude and support for the HIA, stating it would be a great enhancement for the community.
- Veterans Village (New Business):
- Whitaker Salz, a Black Hawk Middle School student, spoke in favor of the project, stating it would help address homelessness and is a step in the right direction.
- Paul Hirsch, a 30+ year Eagan resident, asked about safety measures for veterans with PTSD or suicide risk, especially near a park.
- Nick Erickson, a lobbyist for Housing First Minnesota and Eagan resident, expressed support for the project, praising MACV and Lennar.
- Visitors to Be Heard: An unidentified resident from Cedar Bluff Townhomes raised concerns about illegal dumping (old furniture, toilets) on Lacondra Street, requesting code enforcement or signage. City Council advised contacting code enforcement.
Discussion Items
- Veterans Village (Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment, Preliminary Subdivision, Rezoning, Preliminary Planned Development):
- The proposal by Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), and Lennar Homes would develop 22 townhome units on 2.84 acres at 3920 Rahn Road, changing the land use from Quasi-Public to Medium Density. The 22 units would be permanent supportive housing for veterans, with on-site case management and wraparound services. The project includes 11 units with single-stall garages, 43 off-street parking spaces (exceeding the 33 required), and a density of 7.7 units per acre. Several deviations from city code were requested (minimum lot size, setbacks, parking stall width, etc.), which staff noted were similar to other recent affordable housing projects. The Advisory Planning Commission recommended approval on November 26, 2024. The Metropolitan Council approved the comprehensive plan amendment on October 16, 2024. Council members discussed trash enclosure location (to be moved to meet setbacks), parking, and the need for single-unit trash pickup for residents with disabilities. Council Backen noted the project's consistency with surrounding development and supported deviations. Council Hansen emphasized the importance of welcoming veterans home.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consent Agenda (all items A through Y, with item T pulled) – unanimous.
- Public Hearing A – Easement Vacation: Motion to close public hearing and approve vacation of drainage and utility easements on Lot 3, Block 1, Sky View (Parkside Circle) – passed unanimously.
- Public Hearing B – Widgeon Woods HIA:
- Motion to close public hearing, adopt ordinance establishing the Townhomes of Widgeon Woods Housing Improvement Area, and adopt resolution imposing an improvement fee (estimated $6,694–$7,452 per unit annually) – passed unanimously.
- Separate motion to authorize publication of a summary ordinance following the 45-day veto period – passed unanimously.
- New Business – Veterans Village (four actions):
- Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment: Motion to change land use from QP to MD on 2.7 acres – passed unanimously (4 votes required; no dissent).
- Rezoning: Motion to rezone from PF to PD on 2.7 acres, subject to APC conditions – passed unanimously.
- Preliminary Planned Development: Motion to approve a PD for 22 townhome units, subject to APC conditions – passed unanimously.
- Preliminary Subdivision: Motion to create 24 lots on approximately 6.7 acres, subject to APC conditions – passed unanimously.
- Adjournment: Motion to adjourn the meeting – passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone to our December 17th regular meeting of the Egan City Council. It's our final meeting of 2024. Unfortunately, I want to start on a uh sad note. Um tonight uh we uh want to share the news of losing a truly dedicated and valued uh City of Egan employee. Uh Kevin Peterson was a part of the Civic Arena and Cascade Bay team for nine years for the City of Egan, and he passed away uh the morning of December 2nd uh after a brief uh battle with cancer. Uh if you were involved in hockey in Egan, uh you knew Kevin, he had a passion for hockey and spent most of his career uh in the hockey industry. Uh he joined the City of Egan in 2015. Uh so if you'll take a just a brief moment and uh um uh send some thoughts out to the many people who uh will miss Kevin uh and uh maybe take a sign a moment of silence just to honor Kevin and his work for the year thank you with that uh we have a uh fairly um brief agenda tonight with a little bit of substance on it. Um so I'll start uh right in and uh ask the council or ask uh Ms. Miller for any changes the agenda for the evening. No, Mr. Mayor. Uh council, any changes the agenda. No, sir. Councilman Bakken for a motion. Move to adopt the agenda as presented. Second. That's moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion on the agenda? Seeing none. All in favor is gonna say aye. Aye and oppose nay. That motion carries, and we have an agenda for the evening. Um first up on the agenda is recognitions and presentations, and we're gonna recognize Brian Tom for the APWA supervisor of the year. I'm gonna turn it over to Ms. Miller, uh, who's gonna tell us uh all about Brian's work. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. It is my true pleasure tonight um to let you know that the American Public Works Association, which is a Minnesota chapter, has recognized our shop supervisor and chief mechanic Brian Tome as a supervisor of the year for 2024. And there's a lot of competition for that award, so it's a wonderful recognition. Uh Brian supervises our street and fleet division, leading a team of three full-time fleet technicians and as well as a few seasonal employees. He's been with the city for over 19 years um and just does a wonderful job. To give you an idea, Brian's team maintains over 350 vehicles and over 100 other pieces of mobile equipment for the city. So a large amount of equipment for a very small team. And mostly Brian's incredible commitment and work ethic, really what make him shine. So glad to see him get this award. I'm going to turn it over to Monica Heil, who's here on behalf of APWA Minnesota to present the award. Monica, welcome. Thank you, City Administrator Miller. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, thank you for having me here this evening. I'm here representing the Minnesota chapter of the American Public Works Association, which is a professional organization that seeks to promote and support uh those working in public works and their efforts to serve their communities. And for more than 30 years, the Minnesota chapter has been very fortunate to be able to support an awards program where its members submit nominations each year for both projects and personnel awards. And as City Administrator Miller stated, uh Mr. Thom was recognized as supervisor of the year. Now we receive many applications each year, and we carefully peruse through them, review the content, the data, how many vehicles, how many lane miles are supported by the work that these supervisors do. But I think most impressive is some of the accolades that Brian received from some of his co-workers here at the city. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the city's fleet and all the related processes, and being the first person to arrive at work and also the last person to leave at the end of the day, Brian motivates his team to work harder, according to his co-workers. He genuinely cares about the team's performance. He goes out of his way to help everyone he meets, fostering a sense of community and support with his infectious enthusiasm and guidance.
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