Park Wayfinding Study

Dissent: None

Garrett Beck presented the findings of a comprehensive citywide park wayfinding study. The study assessed all 76 Burnsville parks and 473 existing signs, determining that only 23 parks currently meet appropriate wayfinding standards. Recommendations included installing 149 new signs, removing 44 ineffective signs, and standardizing city messaging. The goal is to improve orientation, promote accessibility, increase amenity awareness, and support multimodal access. Community engagement included on-site park intercepts, online mapping, and presence at city events. Council members generally supported the initiative, noting the benefit for new residents and the previous lack of priority for such signage.

Rose Park Land Use and Pickleball Project Update

Dissent: Council Member Schultz and another council member expressed general reluctance to proceed with the pickleball project at all at this point, citing the long timeline and costs, but did not formally block the consensus to move forward with Cliff Fen.

Garrett Beck and Jeff Thompson provided an update on the pickleball project, specifically concerning the land use agreement for Rose Park, owned by RTX/Collins Aerospace. The proposed lease terms included a 20-year extension, an initial annual rent of $90,000 with a 2.5% annual escalation, and a depreciation clause for city capital investment if the lease was terminated. It was also noted that the Dakota County Assessor determined the city's leased portion of Rose Park would be property tax-exempt starting in 2027. A significant update was the intent of BV United soccer club to dissolve, freeing up Cliff Fen. Council members expressed strong concern over the prohibitive cost of the Rose Park lease. They ultimately reached a consensus to discontinue Rose Park as an option and direct staff to proceed with Cliff Fen as the preferred location, noting its industrial surroundings and reduced impact on residents and the now-available soccer fields.

Signed Ordinance Amendment

Dissent: One council member initially preferred waiting for the comprehensive review to avoid piecemeal changes but agreed to the targeted approach for efficiency.

Council Member Keley proposed amending the sign ordinance to allow high-level roofline signage for multi-story office and mixed-use buildings (three stories or higher) in certain zones, particularly the TOD district. This was driven by an inquiry from an applicant for Gateway Office Plaza and the desire to use signage as an economic development tool for attracting major corporate tenants. Discussion centered on whether to make a targeted, immediate amendment for the TOD district or await a comprehensive review as part of the ongoing Title 10 and Title 11 zoning ordinance update. The council agreed to pursue both paths: a quick, narrow amendment for the TOD district to address the immediate need, and a comprehensive review of signage as part of the broader zoning update.

Schedule Meeting to Canvas Primary Election Results

Dissent: None

Michelle, a staff member, informed the council that a special meeting was required to canvas the primary election results, which is mandated by statute to occur three days after the August 11th primary. The earliest feasible date for this was August 14th. The council quickly agreed to schedule this meeting for August 14th at noon.