Eagan City Council Meeting – March 17, 2026
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Eagan City Council Meeting – March 17, 2026
The Eagan City Council held its regular meeting on March 17, 2026, at 6:30 P.M. at the Eagan Municipal Center. The meeting featured a retirement recognition for Fire Chief Hugo Searle, adoption of a lengthy consent agenda, and approval of a planned development amendment and preliminary subdivision for a new industrial building (Project Alpha). Council members also briefly commented on the retirement of police canine Bear under the consent agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Item T – Police Canine “Bear” Retirement and Transfer of Ownership to Sergeant Scott Jorgenson was pulled from the consent agenda by Council Member Fields for a brief comment. The council noted Bear’s retirement and the transfer for $1 to his handler, Sergeant Jorgenson, who was recently promoted. After the comment, the consent agenda was moved and seconded, and adopted unanimously.
- Routine approvals included: minutes of March 3, 2026; personnel items; check registers (Feb. 27 and March 6, 2026); contracts; resolution to accept donations; changes of managers for four off-sale liquor licenses (Total Wines & More, TL Liquors, Cub Foods #1616, Cub Foods #4974); final payment to Nor-Son Construction for Northview Park Restrooms; resolution for abandoned/unclaimed property; 4th Quarter 2025 Financial Report; resolution amending 2026 Fee Schedule; award of contracts 26‑01 and 26‑02 for 2026 Street Improvements; approval of plans and specifications for 2026 Manhole Lining; State Aid Advance Resolution; resolution authorizing Dakota County CDA to administer Local Affordable Housing Aid funds; professional services agreement with Bolton & Menk for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan; and extension of payment deadline under a stipulated settlement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Recognition of Fire Chief Hugo Searle’s Retirement: City Administrator Diane Miller and council members honored Chief Searle for his 34‑year career in the fire service (5 years as Eagan’s chief). Highlights included leading the transition to a full‑time professional fire department, lowering response times, establishing a cadet program, and fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion. Chief Searle thanked the council, his family (wife Lynn and daughter Karis), and the fire department. Council members praised his steady leadership, professionalism, and lasting impact on the department.
- New Business – Project Alpha (Ryan Companies): Council considered a planned development amendment and preliminary subdivision for an approximately 337,000‑square‑foot industrial building (warehouse/distribution) on 30.56 acres (Outlot A, West Publishing Company 10th Addition). The site would be split into two lots: Lot 1 (19.67 acres) for the building, Lot 2 (10.89 acres) reserved for future development. City Planner Schultz presented details: three‑shift operation with 30–60 employees initially (up to 200 total), about 10 truck deliveries/day, primary access via NASA Way off Opperman Drive. The applicant requested deviations for green space (24.9% vs. required 25%), building materials (class‑1 materials concentrated on the front), and parking (325 stalls provided vs. 239 required). The Advisory Planning Commission recommended approval on February 24, 2026, with 38 conditions. The council unanimously approved the planned development amendment and the preliminary subdivision.
Key Outcomes
- Fire Chief Hugo Searle was honored for his 34‑year career; his retirement becomes effective after the meeting.
- Consent Agenda (including canine Bear retirement) was adopted unanimously.
- Project Alpha Planned Development Amendment (to allow a 337,000‑sq‑ft industrial building) was approved unanimously, subject to the 38 conditions from the planning commission.
- Preliminary Subdivision creating two lots on 30.56 acres was approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
And the republic for worship stands one nation under God and indivisible liberty and justice for all. Want to welcome everybody and wish you a top of the meeting. I want to welcome you to the March 17th regular meeting of the Egan City Council. This is our uh second regular meeting of the month of March. Uh it falls on St. Patrick's Day, so I want to wish somebody happened in St. Patrick's Day. Um we have a uh um welcomedly brief uh agenda tonight. We'll do a uh retirement and redevelopment uh in that order. So uh with that, um Ms. Miller any changes the agenda. No, Ms. Fair. Uh Council, he changed the agenda. Move to adopt the agenda. Second. That's moved and seconded. Any further conversation on the agenda? Saying none, all David Singles saying aye. I oppose nay. That motion carries, and we have an agenda tonight. Uh our first item is on recognitions and presentations. Um fire chief Hugo Searle has been with the city of Egan for five years, but in the fire service, um, which is what I now call it because of Hugo. Um he's been in the fire service for 34 years. Uh and so tonight we're gonna recognize uh his retirement. I'm gonna hand it off to Diane, who will uh choreograph our uh movement through that. Um want to welcome you, Lynn as well. Uh happy St. Patrick's Day. I see you got the memo. Um but uh and with that uh turn over to you guys. Perfect. All right, thank you, Mr. Rare, members of the council and those in the audience. Um tonight it is an honor to get to recognize the retirement of our fire chief Hugo Searle. Uh as the mayor indicated, um Hugo has been with us for nearly five years, but in the fire service for 34 years. Uh before he came here to Egan to lead us, Chief Searle honed his skills in St. Louis Park and Brooklyn Park from his early days as firefighter to assistant fire chief of EMS and training. Hugo has worn many hats, but always with the same dedication. Uh I do want to recognize Chief Searle's wife Lynn who's here with us tonight, along with any friends, families, colleagues who may be watching. I hope his daughter Karis is watching somewhere online. I know she is very proud of you. Um and as we all know in this room, and the firefighters standing in the back, thank you for being here. You know, it really does take a huge sacrifice on the part of families, as we often talk about um to support these firefighters, and so we thank you uh for giving us your giving us your Hugo as our chief for so many years. We really appreciate it. Um since Chief Searle's appointment in 2021 here in Egan, he has been the steady hand leading us through the transition to a full-time professional staffing model, and we really appreciate that about him. What I love about Hugo is he never guesses. Um he always uses data to prove his points, something that will always be a lasting legacy of his. Uh, by tracking metrics and service delivery, he successfully lowered response time significantly, which is such a benefit to our community. He ensures that when our residents call for help, we're faster and more prepared to answer.
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