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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/09/09 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - Study SessionAGENDA SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 6:30 p.m. CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION – Council Chambers Discussion Items 1. 6:30 p.m. Future Study Session Agenda Planning – September 23, 2013 2. 6:35 p.m. SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning 3. 7:35 p.m. Deer Management Policy 4. 8:05 p.m. Public Right of Way - Ownership, Maintenance, and Replacement Policy 8:35 p.m. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) 8:40 p.m. Adjourn Written Reports 5. Community Development Initiative Process (CDI) – Wooddale Station Area Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. To make arrangements, please call the Administration Department at 952/924-2525 (TDD 952/924-2518) at least 96 hours in advance of meeting. Meeting: Study Session Meeting Date: September 9, 2013 Discussion Item: 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TITLE: Future Study Session Agenda Planning - September 23, 2013 RECOMMENDED ACTION: None at this time POLICY CONSIDERATION: None at this time. SUMMARY: As of the time of writing this report no specific Study Session items have been proposed for the September 23 meeting. However, given what could transpire over the coming days relative to SWLRT and Freight Rail, it is very likely that staff and Council will want to discuss this topic at that Study Session. Please note that the Council does need to meet that evening anyway to approve Second Reading of the franchise ordinance extension for XCEL Energy and CenterPoint. FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: None Prepared by: Tom Harmening, City Manager Meeting: Study Session Meeting Date: September 9, 2013 Discussion Item: 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TITLE: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning RECOMMENDED ACTION: During this discussion staff would like to provide the City Council with a general update on the status of the project, particularly in regards to the Freight Rail issue. Staff would also like to update the City Council on the Louisiana LRT Station Area planning and discuss the draft guiding principles and concept plans. POLICY CONSIDERATION: Given the current status of the Freight Rail issue staff desires direction on any further information the Council might desire or steps that staff should be taking. In addition, staff is looking for confirmation of the key planning elements and any additional desired directions or key considerations from the City Council prior to holding a community meeting on the Framework Plan and Design Guidelines later this month. SUMMARY: The Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning kicked off in May 2013. The City hired Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. (HKGi) to facilitate the planning process and prepare a framework plan and design guidelines for the station area that will include improved connections to the station (pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles alike), land use/character, and design guidelines. Staff and HKGi are developing these ideas with input from an Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee includes residents, businesses, and land owners in the area. Staff and HKGi have also met, and will continue to meet, with other stakeholders that are not on the Advisory Committee. Concept plans have been generated for each of the two potential LRT platform locations (north and south) that are being explored in the Preliminary Engineering process. The planning process has not been set up to choose one or the other, but to have viable options whichever platform is selected. There are common guiding principles for both station platform locations. There are also unique network and potential development opportunities for each LRT platform location. FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: The total budget for this work is $75,000. A Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Pre-development grant is funding 75% of the costs for the Louisiana LRT Station Area Plan. The City’s Development Fund is providing the 25% match. The grant expires on December 31, 2013, so the plan needs to be complete by early December to receive the funds. VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a connected and engaged community. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion Concept Plans Prepared by: Sean Walther, Senior planner Reviewed by: Michele Schnitker, Housing Supervisor Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Page 2 Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning DISCUSSION BACKGROUND: Overview of Planning Process The Louisiana Station Area Framework Plan and Design Guidelines project began in May of 2013 and we are near the mid-point of the planning process. During this period, HKGi worked closely with City staff, conducted three Advisory Committee meetings, and continues to coordinate with the on-going Southwest LRT Planning (being conducted by the Met Council) and the on-going TSAAP planning (being conducted by Hennepin County Community Works). During the study session staff and HKGi will review the work to date, focusing on access and circulation, land use and development character, and the long-term redevelopment plan. Draft Guiding Principles for the district have been developed based on input from the Advisory Committee and our team is looking for confirmation of the key planning elements and any additional desired directions or key considerations from the City Council prior to holding a public meeting on the Framework Plan and Design Guidelines later this month. Advisory Committee The advisory committee members represent several of the neighborhoods, businesses, and property owners in the area. The advisory committee members – and affiliation – are listed below: Sue Carson – Creekside Neighborhood C. Colin Cox – South Oak Hill Neighborhood Paula Evensen – Elmwood Neighborhood Lenore Kaibel – MSP Property Management (Louisiana Oaks Apartments) Michael Kelner – Hardcoat, Inc. Robert Kramer – Planning Commissioner Lisa Pannell – Brooklawns Neighborhood Chad Pederson – Brooklawns Neighborhood Sarah Schwabel – Oak Hill Neighborhood Mark Reuter – South Oak Hill Neighborhood Robert Riesselman – Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Duane Spiegle – Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Tom Whitlock – Brooklawns Neighborhood The Advisory Committee has met three times so far. The committee has provided valuable feedback on the guiding principles, important connections, future land use, desired development character, as well as preferences regarding multiple concept plans that were generated for each of the LRT Station platform locations. Draft Louisiana LRT Station Area Guiding Principles The following represent the draft guiding principles for the Louisiana Station area. These principles will be help guide and shape future development and be a measuring stick against development proposals over time. These principles were developed based on feedback from the three previous Advisory Committee Meetings: 1. Promote growth and investment in the Louisiana Ave station area as an employment- oriented district supporting a broad range of business sectors, including healthcare, office, industrial, and commercial. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Page 3 Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning 2. Leverage the growing demand for healthcare to create a new district that links expanded medical care services with health-conscious/wellness lifestyle needs. 3. Capture the value of high quality transit service, including maximizing transit ridership, optimizing economic development, and leveraging desirable amenities for the business district and surrounding neighborhoods. 4. Create a compelling identity for the Louisiana Ave station area that builds upon its assets (such as large employment center, healthcare services, Minnehaha Creek, Cedar Lake Trail, surrounding neighborhoods), promotes its future potential, and provides a sense of place. 5. Increase street connectivity within and to the station area, including a transit-oriented loop street. 6. Design existing and new streets as Complete Streets that balance the needs of driving, walking, bicycling, and riding transit. 7. Encourage transit-oriented development that supports transit use, establishes a station area center, increases the mix and density of land uses, and improves the street environment. 8. Manage parking effectively to support parking needs while lessening the negative impacts on development potential and the pedestrian environment. 9. Provide a convenient, safe and pleasant transit station center that incorporates user- friendly features, such walking access, bicycling access, vehicle drop-off/pick-up, bus connections, parking, and a transit plaza. 10. Create a well-connected and desirable network of trails, parks, plazas and natural open spaces for the business district and surrounding neighborhoods. Preliminary Concepts for Review / Discussion As an outcome of the series of meetings with the Advisory Committee, HKGi developed preliminary concepts depicting potential redevelopment (land use and character), transportation improvements (streets, trails, sidewalks) and enhancements to the public realm and open space areas (plazas, parks & streetscapes). As the definitive location for the station platform has yet to be decided, HKGi prepared alternatives for both the North (along Oxford Street) and South (near existing switching wye track) LRT station platform options. A series of preliminary alternatives were presented and discussed with the Advisory Committee on August 14th. The attached concept plans and associated diagrams represent the preferred direction from the Advisory Committee discussion for each LRT station platform location. Each of the concept alternatives highlights a range of potential improvements including building form, land use type, trail locations, new streets, etc. Each concept has a list of key elements that make the concept unique, a development summary estimating anticipated development square footage and a set of diagrams to better articulate the planned access and circulation improvements and the land use and development character for each concept. NEXT STEPS: A Community Meeting is planned for Wednesday, September 25, 2013, for broader community input on the concept plans. Two more Advisory Committee meetings will be held in October and November. A final plan will be presented to City Council December 2, 2013. Louisiana Station - Existing Conditions 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 4 North Station - Access + Circulation KEY ELEMENTS: • Expand street network, including: »creating a transit-oriented loop street east of Louisiana Ave., »providing an additional street west of Louisiana for enhanced circulation and access to the Minnehaha Creek, and; »extending Edgewood Ave south to medical campus loop street. • Expand pedestrian network and access to the LRT station, including: »adding sidewalks to all existing and new streets; »creating a pedestrian corridor that directly links between the LRT station and the medical campus; »adding trail bridges across Minnehaha Creek to the Meadowbrook residential neighborhood; »converting the south freight rail spur to a multi-use trail connection, and; »creating a pedestrian network that connects neighborhoods, the future transit-oriented district, natural areas, parks and other destinations • Create a convenient biking network and access to the LRT station, including: »adding a mix of on-street bike lanes and multi-use trails to Louisiana Ave.; »adding trail connections to the Cedar Lake Trail, and; »converting the south freight rail spur to a multi-use trail connection. • Explore the potential to create convenient bus-LRT connections by linking Louisiana Ave. bus routes and medical campus bus routes directly to the LRT station. LRT Pl atf or m Transit Pl az a New Str e et Park an d Ri d e Locatio n Ped/Bike Underpass Proposed Ped/Bike Connection on Removed Switching Wye *Pedes t r ian S t ree t New S t ree t Canoe Launch*Canoe Launch* On-Street Bike FacilityPedestrian Street District Branding / Wayfinding Multi-use trail connection 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 5 North Station - Land Use + Development Character KEY ELEMENTS • LRT station and plaza are located at the northern edge of the future transit-oriented development district. • LRT station is somewhat separated from Louisiana Ave and the medical campus. • Provide expansion area for office/medical district land uses between Methodist Hospital campus and LRT station, along Louisiana Avenue. • Park & ride is located at northern edge of the future transit-oriented development district along Oxford Street. • Transition existing large surface parking areas to structured parking to provide opportunities for increasing development near the transit station. • Preserve land for industrial uses east and west of the future office/ medical district. • Enhance compatibility of long-term industrial areas with the future transit-oriented office/medical district and enable street circulation improvements by promoting redevelopment of edge industrial areas over time. • Focus opportunities for development of street-level retail to blocks along Louisiana Avenue and adjacent to the LRT station. • Connect the creek corridor, wetlands, Cedar Lake Trail corridor, parks, open spaces and trails into a network of usable green space amenities. • Allow highway commercial land uses near the Highway 7/Louisiana interchange. • Promote business park land uses north of the freight rail line away from the Highway 7/Louisiana interchange. LRT Pl atf or m Transit Pl az a New Str e et Proposed Ped/Bike Connection on Removed Switching Wye * Park an d Ri d e Locatio n Ped/Bike Underpass Office / Medical OfficeMixed Use Office with Street Level Retail Office / Flex / Lt. Industrial Transit PlazaPedes t r ian S t ree t New S t ree t New Str e etNew S t ree t 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 6 North Station - Development Concept KEY ELEMENTS: • Create a convenient, transit-oriented, loop street east of Louisiana Avenue. • Retail/mixed-use development at strategic locations near LRT station and along Louisiana Ave. • Park & ride located at Oxford Street along the freigh rail line. • Transit plaza and drop-off/pick-up area created in front of LRT station. • Creation of a linear plaza/green space or pedestrian street that connects the medical campus to the LRT station. • Potential expansion space for medical campus to create a northern front door oriented to the LRT station. • Potential for private north-south street connection from medical campus to Edgewood Ave. • Industrial businesses continue to be located east and west of immediate LRT station area. • Office uses extend north along Louisiana on the west side of the road to Highway 7. • Hotel and retail/restaurant use at the EDA site south of Highway 7. • New trail connection in vacated freight rail spur between LRT station and neighborhoods to the east (Brooklawns, Creekside) • Trail connections to Minnehaha Creek and nearby Meadowbrook neighborhood to the south. Ped/Bike Underpass Transit Pl az a Pedes t r ian S t ree t DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY: Land Use Category Estimated Development Sq. Ft. Light Industrial 183,000 Office / Medical 1,000,500 Office (Stand Alone)165,000 Office (Mixed Use) 445,000 Retail (Stand Alone)17,000 Retail (Mixed Use)52,000 Hotel 90 Room Total Approximate Development Square Feet:1,862,500 Light Industrial Redevelopment (2 Story) (2 Story) (2 Story) Off./Med. (5 Story) Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Mixed Use Office/Retail (4 Story) Light Indutrial Redevelopment Off./Med. (3 Story) Off./Med. (5 Story) New Str e et Mixed Use Office (3 Story) (2 Story) Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Off./Med. (5 Story) Off./Med. (5 Story) Structured Parking (5 Levels) Structured Parking (5 Levels) Structured Parking (3 Levels) Structured Parking (3 Levels)Structured Parking (3 Levels) Structured Parking (3 Levels) Office (3 Story) Office - (3 Story) Retail Retail Hotel - (3 Story) Surface Parking Surface Parking Surface Parking Existing Light Industrial (Hardcoat) Existing Light Industrial (Highway 7 Business Center) Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Surface Parking Surface Parking Surface Parking Surface Parking New Str e et New S t ree t Proposed Ped/Bike Connection on Removed Switching Wye *Park & Ride Ra mp Mixed Use Office/Retail (4 Story) Structured Parking (3 Levels - includes Park & Ride) 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 7 South Station - Access + Circulation KEY ELEMENTS: • Expand street network, including: »creating a transit-oriented loop street east of Louisiana Ave., and; »extending Edgewood Ave south to medical campus loop street. • Expand pedestrian network and access to the LRT station, including: »adding sidewalks to all existing and new streets; »adding trail bridges across Minnehaha Creek to the Meadowbrook residential neighborhood; »converting the south freight rail spur to a multi-use trail connection, and; »creating a pedestrian network that connects neighborhoods, the future transit-oriented district, natural areas, parks and other destinations • Create a convenient biking network and access to the LRT station, including: »adding a mix of on-street bike lanes and multi-use trails to Louisiana Ave.; »adding trail connections to the Cedar Lake Trail, and; »converting the south freight rail spur to a multi-use trail connection. • Explore the potential to create convenient bus-LRT connections by bringing Louisiana Ave. bus routes through the station area on the new loop streets east of Louisiana. LRT Pl atf or m Proposed Ped/Bike Connection on Removed Switching Wye* Canoe Launch*Canoe Launch* Transit Pl a z a New Str e et New S t ree t Park an d Ri d e Locatio n On-Street Bike FacilityPedestrian Bridge over Creek District Branding / Wayfinding Multi-use trail connectionPedes t r ian S t ree t 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 8 South Station - Land Use + Development Character KEY ELEMENTS: • LRT station and plaza are located in the center of the future transit- oriented development district. • LRT station is directly adjacent to the existing medical campus and right on Louisiana Ave. • Expansion area for office/medical district land uses is larger, encompassing the area around the LRT station north of the south LRT route alignment. • Park & ride is located at northern edge of the future transit-oriented development district. • Transition existing large surface parking areas to structured parking to provide opportunities for increasing development near the transit station. • Preserve land for industrial uses east and west of the future office/ medical district. • Enhance compatibility of long-term industrial areas with the future transit-oriented office/medical district and enable street circulation improvements by promoting redevelopment of edge industrial areas over time. • Focus opportunities for development of street-level retail to blocks along Louisiana Avenue and adjacent to the LRT station. • Connect the creek corridor, wetlands, Cedar Lake Trail corridor, parks, open spaces and trails into a network of usable green space amenities. • Allow highway commercial land uses near the Highway 7/Louisiana interchange. • Promote business park land uses north of the freight rail line away from the Highway 7/Louisiana interchange. LRT Pl atf or m Transit Pl a z a Park an d Ri d e Locatio n Office / Medical Office Mixed Use Office with Street Level Retail Office / Flex / Lt. Industrial Transit Plaza New Str e et Proposed Ped/Bike Connection on Removed Switching Wye*New S t ree t Pedes t r ian S t ree t 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 9 South Station - Development Concept KEY ELEMENTS: • Transit-oriented loop street created east of Louisiana Ave to make circulation around the transit station easier for all travel modes. • Larger transit plaza developed at LRT station that fronts onto Louisiana Ave and new loop street, which creates a highly visible and accessible public gathering space and center for the station area. • Mixed-use building fronting onto new loop street and transit plaza. • Park & ride located in a parking structure located adjacent to existing freight rail corridor. • Small retail/restaurants developed along Louisiana Ave near LRT station. • Medical campus expands to create a front door and outdoor plaza adjacent to the LRT station. • Private north-south street connection from medical campus to Edgewood Ave. • Industrial businesses continue to be located east and west of immediate LRT station area. • Office uses extend north along Louisiana on the west side of the road to Highway 7. • New trail connection in vacated freight rail spur between LRT station and neighborhoods to the east (Brooklawns, Creekside) • Trail connections to Minnehaha Creek and nearby Meadowbrook neighborhood to the south. Mixed Use Office/Retail (4 Story) Off. / Med. (4 Story) Existing Light Industrial (Hardcoat) Existing Light Industrial (Highway 7 Business Center) Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Light Industrial Redevelopment (Single Story) Light Industrial Redevelopment LRT Pl atf or m Off. / Med. (4 Story) Off. / Med. (4 Story) Off. / Med. (4 Story) Structured Parking (3 Levels) Structured Parking (4 Levels) Structured Parking (5 Levels) Structured Parking (4 Levels) Structured Parking (4 Levels) Surface Parking Surface Parking Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Office (4 Story) Office (2 Story) Retail Retail Office (2 Story) Transit Pl az a Structured Parking (3 Levels) New Str e et Sur face Pa rk ing Surface Parking Surface Parking Surface Parking Surface Parking Off. / Med. (4 Story) Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment Existing Light Industrial Reinvestment DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY: Land Use Category Estimated Development Sq. Ft. Light Industrial 114,000 Office / Medical 940,000 Office (Stand Alone)220,000 Office (Mixed Use) 250,000 Retail (Stand Alone)18,000 Retail (Mixed Use)42,000 Total Approximate Development Square Feet:1,584,000 (Single Story)Proposed Ped/Bike Connection on Removed Switching WyePark & Ride Ra mp Mixed Use Office/Retail (4 Story) Structured Parking (3 Levels - includes Park & Ride)New S t ree t Pedes t r ian S t ree t Off. / Med. - 180K S.F. (6 Story) 0 200’100’400’N SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 - DRAFT LOUISIANA STATION AREA PLANNING + DESIGN GUIDELINES City of St. Louis ParkHoisington Koegler Group Inc. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 2) Title: SWLRT: General Update and Update on the Louisiana LRT Station Area Planning Page 10 Meeting: Study Session Meeting Date: September 9, 2013 Discussion Item: 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TITLE: Deer Management Policy RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff desires direction from Council on the policy question noted below. POLICY CONSIDERATION: Does the Council desire to amend the current Deer Management Program/Policy? SUMMARY: At the October 3, 2011 Council meeting, the City Council passed a revised Deer Management Policy that included language to allow the removal of deer on public property in areas other than the Nature Center and on private property with the consent of property owners. The City did attempt to remove deer from public property in 2013 but has not given authorization to remove deer on private property. The City did not remove any deer in 2011 and 2012. Our current program and rational behind it is included in this report. At the July 15, 2013 City Council study session, staff provided background information about our current policy and asked council for direction on next steps. At that time, Council asked staff to bring back additional information on various items including possible deer contraception along with any standards and specifications for contractors who remove deer. Staff followed up with the DNR and was told that the DNR would not give out a permit to trap and relocate deer. The DNR is not allowing the option of using contraception for deer at this time. Staff also contacted the DNR regarding standards/specifications for deer removal contractors. The DNR indicated they leave the vetting of contractors up to the individual Special Permitee (e.g. city) To assist Council with its consideration of the policy question noted above, staff has outlined the following options: 1. Continue to utilize the policy as adopted on October 3, 2011. 2. Amend the policy to require that nearby property owners be notified when deer removal efforts will be undertaken on public or private property. 3. Amend the policy to revert to the original program adopted in 1994 which allows only for deer removal at the Westwood Hills Nature Center. FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable at this time. VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. We will increase environmental consciousness and responsibility in all areas of city business. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion Provisions for Deer Management Program Deer Management Units and Preferred Habitat Map 2013 Aerial Deer Survey 2011 Deer Density from Deer Population Model Prepared by: Cindy Walsh, Director of Operations and Recreation Reviewed by: John Luse, Police Chief Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Page 2 Title: Deer Management Policy DISCUSSION BACKGROUND: When originally adopted in 1994, the primary objectives of the City’s Deer Management Program were: • To provide for the health, safety and welfare of area residents and park users; • To protect and preserve the Westwood Hills Environmental Education Center in accordance with its original intent and mission; • To assist area residents in the protection and preservation of their property; and • To control and manage the community’s highly valued deer population in the safest and most humane way. At the October 3, 2011 City Council meeting, the City Council revised the “Adopted Provisions for an on-going Deer Management Program”. Under the current program, the City can obtain permits from the DNR and remove deer from public property throughout the City without special notification. PRESENT CONSIDERATIONS ON DEER REMOVAL OPTIONS: The City of St. Louis Park is divided into Deer Management Units (DMU). Permits to remove deer are applied for from the DNR based on appropriate numbers of deer for each DMU. The DMU numbers are based on carrying capacities (biological). An explanation of each is provided below. As mentioned earlier, the DNR does not currently allow for the use of contraception or for us to live trap and relocate deer. At the present time, our only real option for deer removal is to use a firearm. Police Chief John Luse believes that outside of the Nature Center, and under controlled circumstances, there are safe areas in our City to remove deer using a firearm. We have done so successfully for many years at the Nature Center. Staff recommends we continue with this practice at the Nature Center. In the past we have been unsuccessful in removing deer from other areas of our City. If the past is any indication of the future, tampering of live traps would occur again. If the City Council desires to continue removing deer in areas other than the Nature Center through the use of a firearm, and amends our Policy to require notification of area property owners, we would likely find ourselves in a situation where people would take steps to tamper with or hinder the removal process and create an unsafe condition for removal. Although our flyover numbers indicate that we are able to remove deer in the City based on the Biological Carrying Capacity (BCC), some residents do not agree that there are too many deer in these areas. Until the residents can agree that both the BCC and the Cultural Carrying Capacity (CCC) indicate the need to remove deer, staff does not believe we will be successful in removing deer in areas other than the Nature Center CARRYING CAPACITY: “Carrying Capacity (CC) refers to the maximum sustainable size of a population. CC of a population is limited by any number of constraints, both biological (BCC) and Cultural Carrying Capacity (CCC). The effective and appropriate management of deer populations must consider both biological and cultural carrying capacities.” Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Page 3 Title: Deer Management Policy BIOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY (BCC): “The Biological Carrying Capacity (BCC) is based on the point where the habitat can support a species sustainably. BCC is determined by the capability of the area to provide the habitat components of a wildlife species – food, water, cover and space. As deer populations grow, individual animals compete for the resources their habitat provides, with less of the four requisites (food, water, cover and space) available per deer.” The recommended number of deer to manage per acre of habitat varies, but the Minnesota DNR and the University of Minnesota both recommend 8-10 deer per square mile of habitat. Even when food is sparse or competition for food is high, deer continue to multiply. Areas stripped of vegetation still can have too many deer; they just don’t grow as large. When that happens, the deer have outnumbered the BCC of their environment. The first step in determining population objectives within an urban area is to determine what areas of the city are supporting deer populations and review those areas in terms of their biological carrying capacities. For our management purposes, those areas that can provide adequate food, water, shelter and space to sustain a healthy population are then identified as “preferred habitat”. Although residential lots, open space and maintained parklands may provide some food base, these areas do not supply all components of the habitat requirement and should not be considered preferred habitat. Based on a number of factors, large areas are divided into smaller areas which are sometimes known as “deer management units” (DMU’s). The key factors in establishing DMU boundaries are natural or artificial barriers/deterrents to deer movements, preferred habitat locations, and density of deer observations. Concentrations of deer and other specific conditions may vary widely between and within DMU’s and focused research and discussion based on those specific conditions must be done (see map for defined Deer Management Unit Areas and Preferred Habitats). The State of Minnesota DMU’s are shown for 2011, with a large portion of the State retaining a preferred range of 8-18 deer per square mile (see 2011 Pre Fawn Deer Density from Population Model map). City Calculation for Deer Density based upon 2013 Flyover Data (see attached map for defined Deer Management Unit Areas and Preferred Habitat) Minimum Deer Removal Required Per Unit 2013 Deer Manage ment Unit Fly over count DNR - 2013 (*Projected Deer count from 2011 Flyover) Preferred Habitat in Sq. miles (D) Deer Density goal (E) Maximum # of deer per goal & Habitat (F) Total deer to remove (actual count) Total deer to remove (projected count) 1 13 22 0.70 5 3 10 19 2 0 0 0.13 25 3 0 0 3 0 0 0.12 30 4 0 0 4 25 15 0.22 25 5 20 10 5 0 0 0.17 25 4 0 0 6 0 0 0.20 15 3 0 0 *Based upon DNR calculations for urban deer (20% increase) (DXE=F) Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Page 4 Title: Deer Management Policy Cultural Carrying Capacity (CCC) Cultural Carrying Capacity of a species refers to the degree humans tolerate or accept deer in the area they live. Some in our community strongly disagree with the BCC approach that the City of St. Louis Park and other cities use. The argument made is that we should take into account the view of stakeholders in order to create a strategy that is most acceptable. There are three aspects to the CCC: deer abundance, deer/human interactions, and human attitudes and tolerances regarding deer. The CCC can take into consideration the number of complaints and compliments that are received about deer. When creating management strategies, it would be ideal if both the BCC and CCC methods could be combined to come up with an appropriate herd size. The data provided on deer abundance, preferred habitat, crash data and residential attitude toward deer would be used to determine what the Cultural Carrying Capacity is of the urban area and for each management unit. The difficultly in using the CCC as a rational to determine the number to remove is in getting residents to agree on a number of deer that is acceptable in an area. People can tolerate different numbers based on their personal beliefs or the level of damage to their landscape. Determining Deer Density Objectives Using the identified preferred habitat areas, the aerial counts completed, and the ranked ecological and cultural components of each habitat (DMU), the deer density for each DMU can be assessed. The deer density is calculated factoring in the number and location of car/deer crashes occurring within the City, the number of non-harvest deer deaths occurring within the year, as well as the number and location of deer nuisance complaints/compliments received by the City. Data provided on deer abundance, preferred habitat, crash data, and complaints/compliments could be used to determine the Cultural Carrying Capacity (CCC) for each DMU. Appropriate management goals could then set for each DMU. Staff Recommendation If Council wants to amend the ordinance to require notification of residents when deer are removed from areas outside of the Nature, staff recommends that until such time specific neighborhoods have reached consensus about the need to remove deer in their area, that the policy revert to the original program adopted in 1994 which allows only for removal of deer in the Westwood Hills Nature. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Page 5 Title: Deer Management Policy ADOPTED PROVISIONS FOR AN ON-GOING DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (As revised by City Council on October 3, 2011) I. Population Maintenance of Deer: The herd size is to be maintained at the DNR recommended standard. A. The City will contract with Three Rivers Park District and/or the DNR on an annual basis to conduct a mid-winter aerial survey of the deer population throughout St. Louis Park. B. The City will continue to enforce the current deer feeding ban on all properties. C. The City will use data produced from the annual mid-winter aerial survey to determine the size of the deer population in other areas. A permit from the DNR will be obtained by showing the City’s Biological Carrying Capacity (“BCC”) relative to how many deer are seen in the flyover. The BCC is the number of deer that an area can sustain without damaging habitat. The permit from the DNR is then issued for the difference between the number of deer that are seen in the flyover versus the BCC. D. On all public properties, the City is to implement population reduction and maintenance methods which have been approved by the DNR and are deemed to be both safe and efficient in order to achieve desired population levels consistent with current Deer Management Units. E. On private properties throughout the community, the City will, with full knowledge, consent, and signature of the property owner, make arrangements to implement the population reduction of deer. Property owners will be asked to sign a contract with the City ensuring their willingness to participate. The City will notify the property owners directly adjacent to the property where the removal will occur. Deer will be removed using St. Louis Park police officers or a contracted private company. All deer removed will be processed and transported to a designated food shelf or other charitable organizations to be distributed to those in need of venison. II. Other On-going Programs: Concerns about funding, public education and program continuity must also be addressed. A. A comprehensive educational program has been developed by Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Community Education to keep the public informed on wildlife issues, with specific emphasis in the area of protecting private property from wildlife predation. Parks and Recreation staff will annually promote, through several city publications, the city’s ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer. Staff will continue to enforce this ordinance. B. City staff will continue to work with the DNR and neighboring municipalities in an attempt to develop a unified strategy for dealing with this regional issue, and to ensure that the wildlife management efforts of St. Louis Park are not in conflict with the policies and programs of surrounding communities. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Title: Deer Management Policy Page 6 0 0 80 25 11 13 3 4 3 1 1 13 21 2 4 7 2 3 3 4 310 GV East GV West SLP West SLP East GV Theodore Wirth Park Plymouth SE SLP Central SLP South Plymouth SE §¨¦394 §¨¦394 £¤169 £¤169 ?A@100 ?A@55 ?A@7 ?A@100 ?A@100 GWX3 GWX40 GWX17 GWX102 GWX25 GWX81 GWX156 GWX70 GWX66 GWX5 GWX153 GWX25MINNETONKABLVD GLENWOOD AVEDOUGLAS DR NWINNETKA AVE NMEDICINE LAKE RD LAK E S T W GOLDE N V A LLEYRDDULUTHST COUNTY R O A D 2 5 City of Golden Valley, Saint Louis Park, MinneapolisAerial Deer Survey Completed on 1/8/2013Total Count 57 N 1 Miles This map is a compilation of data from varioussources and is provided "as is" without warrantyof any representation of accuracy, timeliness, orcompleteness. The user acknowledges and acceptsthe limitations of the Data, including the fact that theData is dynamic and in a constant state ofmaintenance, correction, and update. 12th Avenue NorthNorthwest BlvdMap Created: 01/11/13 Department of: NRMCreated by: sth Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Title: Deer Management Policy Page 7 Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 3) Title: Deer Management PolicyPage 8 Meeting: Study Session Meeting Date: September 9, 2013 Discussion Item: 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TITLE: Public Right of Way - Ownership, Maintenance, and Replacement Policy RECOMMENDED ACTION: This item is on the agenda at the Councils request. Staff desires direction on the policy question noted below. POLICY CONSIDERATION: Does the Council desire staff to create a comprehensive right of way management policy for Council to review, comment on and adopt. Such a policy would provide clarity to the Council, staff and adjacent property owners as we undertake future maintenance, construction and storm cleanup operations in the public right of way SUMMARY: The term right-of-way (ROW) refers to the street and area on either side of the street used to support the use of the road including the sidewalk, roadway shoulders, ditches and boulevards. This also extends to the area below and above the roadway. This space becomes the conduit for vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and the many public and private utilities that traverse the City. This area is governed by the City and all activities within this area are regulated by City Code Chapters 24 “Streets, Sidewalk and Other Public Places” and Chapter 30 “Traffic and Vehicles”. The multitude of items within the ROW can be categorized in to three types of ownership: 1. City owned facilities. a. Items such as roads, utilities, signs, trees, art and retaining walls, etc. 2. Utilities owned by private companies and granted egress by City Code. a. Items such as CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy, Fiber Optic communications, etc. 3. Privately owned facilities that are either placed in the ROW under permit or done so without City approval. a. Items such as driveways, landscaping, irrigation, electric pet containment, etc. The ROW needs to be carefully regulated and managed by the City to ensure the public’s interest is protected and to minimize issues when activities happen within the ROW. Typically items within the ROW are impacted by planned construction activities (pavement management), routine maintenance (snow plowing/removal, tree removal) or by emergency situations (storm damage). FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Any modifications to the current management procedures and practices will have a direct result on the City’s operating budget. VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: None Prepared by: Jack Sullivan, Interim Director of Engineering Reviewed by: Cindy Walsh, Director of Operations and Recreation Mark Hanson, Superintendent of Public Works Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 4) Page 2 Title: Public Right of Way - Ownership, Maintenance, and Replacement Policy DISCUSSION BACKGROUND: The topic of who owns and is responsible for maintaining the items in the ROW is most often brought up during construction activities such as the City’s pavement management program or in other instances when these facilities have been damaged. In addition, the recent Council approval of the Sidewalk, Trail and Bikeway Capital Improvement Project will have considerable impact to the current facilities within the right of way. Many of these new sidewalks will be placed in the ROW boulevards that currently have vegetation, irrigation systems or electric pet containment fencing. The following is a list of many of the typical items that can be found within the right of way of any given street in the City. CITY OWNED Streets/curb and gutter Sidewalks/trails Street Lighting Watermain/fire hydrants Sanitary Sewer Storm Sewer City Fiber Optic Street signs/sign monuments Other Cities (Minneapolis Water) Trees Art Retaining walls Fences/Bollards/Monuments PRIVATE COMPANIES Water/Sewer services Gas-Centerpoint Energy Electric-Xcel Street Lighting (by Xcel) Communications Fiber Optic/Communications Bus benches/shelters Eruv Wires RESIDENT OWNED Sidewalk and out-walks Driveways Landscaping (grass, trees, flower beds) Fences Irrigation Electric pet containment fences Driveways (standard/heated/decorative) Little Libraries Retaining walls Mail boxes Signs Sump pump discharges Dumpsters (temporary) There are currently inconsistences between how these various items are managed by the City and how and by whom such items are repaired/replaced if they are damaged. This inconsistency creates confusion and frustrations by property owners and staff. Staff has surveyed our neighboring communities to understand their policies on ROW management. The majority of the other cities consider any private items that are damaged within the ROW to be the responsibility of the private owner and not the City. Although we have a similar position, we acknowledge that this is more of a practice than a policy. For items such as trees or sidewalks in the public right of way the policy of who is responsible for these varies from city to city. Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 4) Page 3 Title: Public Right of Way - Ownership, Maintenance, and Replacement Policy WHO OWNS THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY? According to the City Attorney, although there may be instances where the city has complete ownership of the right of way, in most instances the city's interest is an easement for use as a public right of way. If the city vacates the right of way because it is no longer needed, ownership reverts to the underlying fee owners, which would typically be the abutting property owners. As the owner of a right of way easement, the city generally has the right to preclude any encroachments or use of the right of way by adjoining property owners which can potentially interfere with the city's use of the right of way, In an urban setting, this usually translates into the cities right to exclude virtually any private activity in the right of way if it chooses to do so. Some cities will allow an adjoining owner, by an encroachment agreement, in limited circumstances to put certain non-structural site improvements in an unused portion of a right of way on the condition that the property owner remove the improvement at his or her expense if the city needs to use the right of way NEXT STEPS: If the Council desires to change any of the regulations or policies associated with our ROW, additional discussion and research will be necessary to determine the legal and financial ramifications of such decisions. Meeting: Study Session Meeting Date: September 9, 2013 Written Report: 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TITLE: Community Development Initiative Process (CDI) – Wooddale Station Area RECOMMENDED ACTION: None at this time. POLICY CONSIDERATION: None at this time. Staff will report back on the process and results. SUMMARY: The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) received a grant through HUD and Met Council to conduct a process for LRT development planning for several station areas along the Southwest LRT line. We are working with LISC on the Wooddale station area to conduct its “Community Development Initiative” or “CDI” process. It is a four meeting community process created to engage the public and professionals on development options and opportunities at a station area. An overview of the process is attached. In brief there are four (4) meetings with a group of city staff and officials and neighbors. The group will look at the City and County properties at the Wooddale station area, as well as a parcel to the east. We will look at development options, opportunities, and feasibility. LISC is notifying people in the 10-minute walk area in the Elmwood, Sorenson and Lenox neighborhoods by postcard. The four meetings will be on Tuesday evenings (September 25th, October 8th, 29th, and November 12th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the Wolfe Park Professional Building), where there will be information shared and a block exercise to look at various scenarios for development and redevelopment. A developer will provide a financial analysis to test the reality of such options, and there will be a developer panel to review and comment on the development possibilities. The results will be presented to the City Council, and incorporated in plans as appropriate. FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Summary Overview Prepared by: Meg J. McMonigal, Planning and Zoning Supervisor Reviewed by: Michele Schnitker, Housing Supervisor Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager Study Session Meeting of September 9, 2013 (Item No. 5) Page 2 Title: Community Development Initiative Process (CDI) – Wooddale Station Area Corridor Development Initiative Overview The Corridor Development Initiative (CDI), coordinated by the Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), is a proactive planning process to assist the planning and development of mixed-use projects, including mixed income, higher density and affordable housing along major corridors, with access to transportation options, retail amenities, parks, and job opportunities. CDI fosters an exciting partnership among neighborhoods, city government, and a technical team of development consultants, design experts, and facilitators to connect market opportunities with neighborhood and city goals and raises the level of dialogue around redevelopment issues. In 2007 the Corridor Development Initiative received the American Planning Association’s National Planning Excellence Award for a Grassroots Initiative. “The Initiative shows the importance of getting residents meaningfully engaged in shaping the future of their neighborhoods,” said APA Awards Jury Chair Carol Rhea, AICP. “Any community looking for a new way to resolve controversial neighborhood redevelopment and infill issues should consider using this as a model,” she said. The heart of the program involves an interactive block exercise facilitated by a neutral team of design and development experts from the Initiative’s technical team. Through this hands-on educational workshop residents, neighborhood leaders, and other participants develop their own housing or mixed- use development proposals and test them to see whether they are financially viable. As a result, participants learn about cost factors and other considerations developers must address when putting together a proposal. “The Corridor Development Initiative pulls citizens out of the reactionary role that they play in community development decisions, and into a proactive role where they play an active part in directing development for their community,” said Gretchen Nicholls, Program Officer at Twin Cities LISC and Corridor Development Initiative Coordinator. “It models a new way to engage cities and communities by raising the level of dialogue around redevelopment issues, and setting the stage for future development. People come to realize how density and affordable housing become tools for creating a viable development project,” she said. Through the Initiative’s consensus approach, said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, citizen energy is harnessed “to build communities far stronger than anything government can do alone.” The Corridor Development Initiative is used in both urban and suburban cities throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and is being replicated in other cities nationally. For more information contact: Gretchen Nicholls Twin Cities LISC / Corridor Development Initiative 651-265-2280 gnicholls@lisc.org Videos and testimonials are available at: www.corridordevelopment.org