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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972/02/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST . LOUIS PARK , MINNESOTA February 7 , 1972 1 . CALL TO ORDER A special meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Frank Pucci at 7 : 05 p . m . 2 . ROLL CALL The following Councilmen were present at roll call : Frank Fleetham Richard Graves Rose -Mary Griak Lyle Hanks James Heltzer Frank Pucci Also present were E . F . Robb , Hennepin County Commissioner ; Herb Klossner , County Engineer ; Sam Fisher , Traffic Engineer ; and Jim Wold , Director of Planning and Programming . Also present were the City Manager , Planning Director , Director of Public Works , Asst . City Engineer and Acting Secretary , 3 . Meeting with Hennepin County Officials - Mr . Robb introduced himself and his staff to the Council and indicated that he appreciated the opportunity to appear before the Council and discuss matters of mutual concern . Mr . Klossnerthen indicated that the staff would attempt to address the following items as proposed by the City staff : ( 1 ) Signalization of intersection of Minnetonka at Toledo , Joppa and Inglewood . ( 2 ) Traffic control at Virginia and Cedar Lake Road . ( 3 ) Plans for improvement of Excelsior Boulevard between Highway 100 and western city limits . (4) Possible closing of old Cedar Lake Road between Natchez and Quentin Avenues . ( 5 ) Construction of sidewalks on County roads at County expense . (6 ) Future extension of Cedar Lake Road and France Avenue . ( 7 ) Status of TOPICS program . ( 8 ) County Five Year Improvement Program . ( 9 ) Additional and improved lighting at the MN & S & Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge . ( 10 ) Usage of salt on County road within St . Louis Park , Traffic Control at Virginia and Cedar Lake Road - Upon questioning by Councilman Grialc , Mr . Fisher indicated that numerous traffic studies made in that area indicated that there was not sufficient traffic volume to warrant installation of traffic control devices . He indicated that because Cedar Lake Road has no sidewalks , crossings should be supervised by school patrols . He also stated that the County follows criteria of the Department of Transportation Highway Bureau warrants and these and state standards have never determined sufficient traffic for such revision . He did indicate that the intersection was awkward in its construction and perhaps should be revised but that it was a local problem . Mrs . Griak stated that the four way stop sign installed when the Louisiana bridge was out apparently worked rather well . Mr . Fisher 29 Council Minutes , February 7 , 1972 responded that criterion of working well and being liked would cause numerous placement of stop signs throughout the country . He further indicated that the last study was conducted in 1968 and that the County I would be happy to conduct another traffic study in the area . Mr . Heltzer asked if the County ever honored petitions for installation of traffic control and not just warrants . Mr . Fisher responded that traffic control installation is not a petitionable item and that to do what is not warranted break ^ down the standardization attempted by the Highway Commission Regulations . Minnetonka and Cedar Lake Road - Mr . Heltzer asked what plans the County had for Minnetonka and Cedar Lake Road . Mr . Klossner responded that Cedar Lake Road was scheduled for improvement but was vetoed by residents and City Council . He indicated that the County would be happy to make some arrangements if the Council warrants and that the original project from Highway 100 to Louisiana Avenue was scheduled for a four lane highway . T•Iith regard to Minnetonka Boulevard , Mr . Klossner stated that the bridge at the MN & S crossing of Minnetonka Boulevard was scheduled for widening to four lanes in 1974 and that in 1975 the County was proposing to widen Minnetonka Boulevard from Wyoming to Webster Avenues . Mr . Klossner stated that Minnetonka Boulevard is presently about 52 feet from curb to curb and is insufficient for four lane traffic . He further stated that before the County would consider widening the bridge at MN & S crossing the Council would have to indicate its desire with regard to widening the remainder of � Minnetonka Boulevard . Mr . Heltzer stated that he was not in favor i of widening either Cedar Lake Road or Minnetonka Boulevard although he recognized the serious traffic congestion problems at present . He indicated that he felt no need for additional four lane traffic through the City which would further divide the City and require the removal of a great number of trees . Mr . Klossner responded that the problem of traffic is not going to disappear and that if forced to traffic will flow through residential areas . Mayor Pucci suggested that the County would be in better position to discourage the further development of private transit , Mr . Fleetham stated he was opposed to the widening of Minnetonka Boulevard but felt that the MN & S bridge could be modified in such a way as to make it safe . Mr . Klossner indicated the COLnty would study the acc :'_ 3ent and traffic patterns at the bridge . Mr . Heltzer asked it widening Minnetonka and Cedar Lake Road was the position of the Hennepin County Board , Mr . Robb responded that if it was the staff ' s position the Board would concur with the recommendations . Signalization at Minnetonka and Toledo - Mr . Fisher stated that very few cars used the Toledo approach to Minnetonka and that there is very little delay in traffic . Mr . Fleetham indicated that because of the difficulty in entering Minnetonka Boulevard many people exit at Highway 7 , cross Highway 7 , and use the Salem Avenue approach to Minnetonka Boulevard . Mr . Fisher stated that the State Highway Dept * will probably close the Highway 7 - Salem access and that at that point the County would probably be required to revise its consideration of Minnetonka and Toledo interchange . Mr , Fleetham also stated that this area was needed badly for pedestrian crossing ability and to enable motorists to make left turns off of Minnetonka Boulevard , 30 Council Minutes , February 7 , 1972 Cedar Lake Road Closing - Mr . Heltzer questioned which part of old Cedar Lake Road would be relinquished by the County . Air . Wold answered that it would be old Cedar Lake Road or the north portion between Quentin and Natchez Avenues . Mr . Klossner indicated that the County will initiate vacation proceedings and in those proceedings Will indicate what the County intends to relinquish . Mr . Fleetham moved that staff prepare a resolution accepting the vacation of old Cedar Lake Road and adjacent property . The motion was seconded by Councilman Heltzer and carried unanimously . Joppa - Inglewood and Minnetonka Boulevard - Councilman Fleetham suggested that the County needs to investigate traffic and pedestrian patterns on Minnetonka Boulevard from France Avenue to Vernon Avenue and that it would be necessary to break up traffic and make it possible for pedestrians to cross . Mr . Fisher stated that senior citizens are a problem especially on four lane traffic and that is why the County installed traffic medians as a refuge for them in crossing the street . The Council stated that since the City has installed lighting on Minnetonka Boulevard there had been no accidents involving senior citizens and that establishes a form of criterion for them to follow . Mr . Heltzer asked if there was any way to encourage traffic to utilize Highway 7 and 12 in place of Minnetonka and Cedar Lake Road . Mr . Fisher indicated that people generally go where they want . Mr . Heltzer suggested that if people believe streets are arterial then they will use them as such . Mr . Robb suggested that if Cedar Lake Road and Minnetonka Boulevard were widened they would probably be filled again with traffic , but that no action on this part may cause residential and commercial area traffic to increase to a greater extent . Hennepin County Budget - Mr . Pucci indicated he would like to receive a copy of Hennepin County Budget and a copy of the Five Year Capital Improvement Program . Mr . Robb promised that the Budget and Improvements Program would be delivered to the City . 4 . ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8 : 00 p . m . . Frank J . Puc , Mayor At t : hWA fitr Richard W . Schrad , Actg . Secretary 31