WELCOMING NEW EAGAN POLICE CHIEF SALIM OMARI
Following City Council approval on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Commander Salim Omari has been named Eagan’s next police chief. A public swearing-in ceremony and introduction will be held at a future City Council meeting, but Omari officially began his new role on Monday, Nov. 24.
“I’m looking forward to building meaningful and lasting relationships with both the community members and the officers of the Eagan Police Department,” says Omari, who’s served the City of St. Paul for the past 18 years.
CAREER BACKGROUND
Omari brings to his new role more than two decades of law enforcement experience and a deep commitment to community-focused policing. Over the course of his career, he’s served in a wide range of leadership and operational roles — including SWAT commander, district chief, and major crimes division commander.
“We’re excited to welcome Commander Omari to Eagan,” Mayor Mike Maguire says. “He brings a strong record of leadership, experience in complex policing environments, and a commitment to building trust with the community. His thoughtful approach to public safety and team development will serve our residents well.”
Eagan City Administrator Dianne Miller agrees: “Commander Omari has a proven track record of effective leadership, operational excellence, and a clear commitment to equity and community engagement. We’re confident he’ll continue Eagan’s strong tradition of public safety and help shape its next chapter.”
The City of Eagan will host an event at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, for the community to meet Omari at City Hall. Visit social media channels and cityofeagan.com for details.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
What are you looking forward to in Eagan?
Eagan is a vibrant, welcoming community with engaged residents and dedicated police officers who truly care about this city. I’m excited to work alongside them to ensure Eagan remains a premier city to visit, live in, and work in. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and I look forward to being part of the collaborative effort that makes Eagan such a great place.
What’s the biggest opportunity you see with the Eagan Police Department?
I see tremendous opportunity in continuing to develop our staff and building on the excellent foundation that’s already here. The Eagan Police Department has done outstanding work, and I want to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication of these officers while supporting their continued growth.
I want to build on the department’s strong use of data and technology to create even more efficiencies that allow our officers to spend more time directly engaging with community members. We also need to continue highlighting what makes Eagan such a great city and department — that’s how we’ll recruit and retain talented officers who are committed to serving this community.
Additionally, I’m excited about collaborating with other city departments and community members on our shared goals. We can’t police our way out of crime — it takes a collective effort to create the safe, thriving community we all want.
What inspired you to become a police officer?
I was fortunate to meet two school resource officers — one in middle school and one in high school — who opened my eyes to what police work really meant. They mentored me and showed me the impact officers can have on young people’s lives. Ultimately, I got into this profession because I’ve always wanted to help those who are unable to help themselves. To me, there’s no more noble work than helping others in their time of need. Now, I try to pay that forward by mentoring others who have hearts for service, just like those SROs did for me. They may just be tomorrow’s Eagan police officers.
Outside of work, what are your interests?
My family — my wife and two daughters — are the joys of my life, and when I’m not working, I try to be fully present with them. We particularly look forward to our annual family vacation and spending time together boating on the lake in the summers. We also prioritize strengthening our faith and instilling strong values and morals in our daughters. Those moments away from the job help me recharge and remind me what’s most important.
SUSTAINABLE EAGAN ACADEMY 2026
Are you interested in making a positive impact on Eagan’s natural environment? Consider attending one or more sessions offered by the Sustainable Eagan Academy. This community-driven program helps Eagan residents deepen their understanding of sustainability issues and their impact on the local environment. Hosted by the Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission, these free sessions feature guest speakers and diverse topics — plus, they’re open to all community members of high school age and older.
Find out more about academy sessions at cityofeagan.com/sustainableeaganacademy, and join us for a session — or more!
UPCOMING SUSTAINABLE EAGAN ACADEMY SESSIONS
Reducing Waste & Toxins at Home
Thursday, Jan. 29, 6:30–8 p.m.
Eagan Community Center, South Oaks
From your recycling bin to your cleaning cupboard, small choices can make a big difference. In this session, Eagan’s recycling team shares how to recycle smarter — what goes where, why it matters, and how to avoid common mistakes. Then they shift focus by explaining how to reduce toxins in your home with safe, sustainable cleaning options. A hands-on activity invites every participant to make their own green cleaner to take home.
Ahead of the session, here are some simple, and perhaps surprising, recycling rules:
- Don’t crush milk or juice cartons, or cans — recycling machines recognize them by shape.
- Keep plastic lids on — they still get recycled.
- Recycle plastics numbered 1, 2, or 5. An easy way to remember this is to hold up the sign for “I love you” in sign language, and you’ll see you’re holding up your first, second, and fifth fingers.
- Don’t remove labels.
- Place the rinsed metal lid of a rinsed metal can (e.g., soup, beans, etc.) inside the can; then squeeze the top of the can closed. This prevents recycling facility employees from getting cut and still recycles the lid.
Save date for February session!
Circular Economy: Rethinking Fashion
Thursday, Feb. 26, 6:30–8 p.m.
Eagan Community Center, South Oaks
HELP CONSERVE WATER: FIX TOILET LEAKS
Eagan conserves more water than ever these days, thanks to efficient utilities. In fact, Eagan uses the same amount of water that we did 20 years ago — despite our growing number of residents. Still, we can all do more. Toilet leaks, for example, can release thousands of gallons of water per day. This is expensive and wasteful but preventable.
Checking for Toilet Leaks
Inspect the flapper at the bottom of your tank — if it’s warped or black residue rubs off, it may be time for a replacement.
Passing the Dye Test
Remove the toilet tank lid and add a few drops of food coloring to the water.
Don’t flush or use the toilet for an hour; then check to see if the color has leaked into the bowl. If it has, replace your flapper.
Also, if you must jiggle the handle to stop a toilet from running, adjust the chain so the flapper goes into place properly.
Conserve Water and Save Money
You can apply for rebates to purchase WaterSense-labeled and Energy Star-qualified appliances. Replacing an old toilet with a WaterSense model saves an estimated 6,000 gallons of water per year for the average family — that accounts for about 10% of your water bill!
Learn more about rebates and apply online at cityofeagan.com/conservewater.
SMART GROWTH: EAGAN’S CAREFUL APPROACH TO DATA CENTERS
Eagan welcomes smart investments that strengthen our local economy — but we also take time to consider how each project affects our community. “We welcome investments that support local jobs and help keep taxes stable,” Mayor Mike Maguire says. “But it’s also our responsibility to ensure that each project fits our community values and protects what residents love about Eagan.”
What Is a Data Center?
Simply put, a data center is a building full of computers and equipment that keep the internet running. It powers things like streaming videos, social media, online shopping, and emergency systems. As more people stream, work online, and use AI, the need for data centers keeps growing — so cities must carefully decide where and how these facilities are built.
Eagan’s data centers are relatively small, and only one is new construction, says Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher. Eagan currently has two existing data centers, which have been here for decades, and two under construction. Of the two under construction, one is reusing a former bakery facility.
Balancing Benefits and Concerns
Data centers bring both benefits and concerns. Consider:
Benefits:
- Revitalization: Data centers can reuse older properties and bring investment to key areas.
- Tax value: Data centers boost the tax base with little need for City services, compared to residential or retail developments.
- Low traffic: Once built, data centers require few employees, so add little daily traffic to our roads.
Concerns:
- Energy and water use: Data centers can use a lot of electricity and, in some cases, water.
- Noise: Backup systems and cooling equipment can create noise.
- Community fit: Each project must match Eagan’s long-term plans.
“As the pace of data center projects has increased, we’ve heard resident concerns about energy, water, and noise,” Hutmacher says. “The City listens and evaluates each opportunity carefully, balancing resource protection, economic growth, and the growing demand for data. Data centers make sense as one component of an efficient local economy.”
Eagan’s approach is simple: listen, evaluate, and balance — ensuring that any project supports both our community and the environment.
INVESTING IN EAGAN’S FUTURE WHILE KEEPING STRONG FINANCES
Eagan continues to grow, and so do the needs of our community. From maintaining safe streets and parks to ensuring quick emergency response and reliable city services, the proposed 2026–2027 budget reflects this growth.
For 2026, the City’s general fund is proposed at $59.5 million, a 7.9% increase over 2025. The following year includes a 4.8% increase. The proposed tax levy would increase by 8.9% in 2026 and by 6.8% in 2027.
A portion of these increases reflects new obligations under the state’s Paid Family Leave program, which begins in 2026, and the phased use of public safety aid Eagan received from the State of Minnesota. Those one-time state funds allowed the City to add 10 new public safety positions, with costs gradually built into the tax levy over the next four years.
The proposed 2026 budget includes two new staff positions, a mechanic and a Geographic Information System (GIS) supervisor. No new positions are proposed for 2027.
Like many households and businesses, the City is also managing higher costs in areas such as health insurance, as well as increases in equipment and technology expenses.
For the average Eagan home, valued at $426,000, the proposed City portion of property taxes would rise about $140 per year, or roughly $12 a month.
The 2026 tax levy also includes $992,828 to cover bond payments for the Eagan Community Center renovation. Improvements include a new upper-level fitness center, a larger group fitness studio, a dedicated personal training room, more bathrooms, new meeting and event spaces, a relocated and upgraded senior room, a new elevator, a renovated indoor playground, and an updated lobby and staircase.
Eagan continues to hold the highest possible credit rating, AAA. This reflects the City’s responsible budgeting and strong financial health, helping to minimize long-term costs while supporting community priorities like parks, streets, and public safety.
Learn more at cityofeagan.com/budget.
The 2026-2027 budget is scheduled for adoption at the Dec. 2 City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Eagan City Hall.
E-BIKE SAFETY: KNOW THE RULES
E-Bike Safety: Know the Rules
More and more Eagan residents are riding e-bikes — and their numbers are likely to grow. E-bikes help more people get outdoors and enjoy our trails by reducing barriers, such as age, fitness level, and physical ability.
Three classes of e-bikes offer various rules and requirements:
- Class 1: electric assist, up to 20 mph with no throttle
- Class 2: electric assist up to 20 mph with throttle
- Class 3: electric assist up to 28 mph with no throttle
Meanwhile, riders should be aware of the e-bike rules of the road:
- Minnesota State Law requires that a rider must be at least 15 years old to ride an e-bike.
- Riders must follow speed, age, and helmet rules.
- Riders must yield to pedestrians, ride at a safe speed, follow traffic laws, and signal when passing.
- Motorized bikes that aren’t defined as e-bikes are prohibited from trails and sidewalks.
E-Bike Batteries
Like lithium-ion batteries used in our smartphones and laptops, these are also used in e-bikes. While they have numerous benefits, they also carry a small risk of fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, safety practices include only using battery and charging equipment that were made for your e-bike, getting the battery checked out if you’re in a crash, storing e-bikes away from exits and flammable materials, and charging your battery in a clear, supervised place. All of these steps can greatly reduce the risk of fire from an e-bike battery.
ICE BUMPER CARS
Experience the only ice bumper cars in the Twin Cities — at Eagan Civic Arena. These fun, inflatable bumper cars light up, spin 360°, and zoom across the ice. Ice bumper car rides are available during open skate sessions (partial ice), for birthday parties, and at special events. Tickets are available at the door only. Find details at cityofeagan.com/
eca-ice-bumper-cars.
TIME FOR A NEW DOG LICENSE?
A dog license is valid for two years and includes access to the Eagan Dog Park. You can purchase or renew your license at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy., or at discovereagan.com.
Eagan’s Off-Leash Dog Area (OLDA)
The entire off-leash dog park, including the lake shore, at Thresher Fields Park (3200 Borchert Ln.) is fenced. Plus, a designated fenced area is available for small dogs. The park is open year round consistent with park hours and park rules.
SKATE GOAT HILL PARK THIS WINTER
Love winter? Add Goat Hill Park (4391 Lexington Ave.) to your list of destinations for ice sports and activities. Features include two rinks: The south rink is covered and refrigerated, while the north rink is non-refrigerated with no cover. Plus, the shelter building is staffed. Find skating hours and details at cityofeagan.com/rinks.