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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979/01/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular1. 2. Call to Order Roll Call MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINAJESOTA January 20, 1979 The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of discussing the proposed Capital Improvement Program for 1979-1983. The following Councilmen were present at roll call: Ly le Hanks Keith Meland Martha Elstrom Ronald Backes .Tohn Ralles Jerrold Martin Al�o present were the City Manager, Director of Public Works, Planning Director and City Engineer. 3. 1979-1980 CAPITAL The Director of Public Works gave a brief IMPROVEMENT PROGR.AM introduction on the purpose of the Capital Improvement Program. He indicated the program has been prepared each year since 1969 and covers the succeeding f ive-year period. Projects contained in the five-year program are returned individually to the Council in the form of preliminary engineering reports. Street Improvements The Director of Public Works reviewed the proposed street improvements for 1979. He indicated it was a lighCer program than the 1978 program primarily because of carry-over projects. Councilman Meland made several comments relative to program. Regarding the proposed reconstruction of Bridge, Councilman Meland recommended sidewalks be Avenue from Texas Avenue to Cedar Lake Road. Councilrnan Ralles indicated Virginia Avenue cluring the road construction. . It was moved b the Texa-Tonka schedule. the street improvement the Virginia Avenue propo�ed for Virginia his concern with increasing traff ic on time of the bridge reconstruction �nd the Councilman Meland, seconded by neighborhood area be included in The motion passed 6-0. � -29- Councilman Bac.kes, thaC the 1980 street improvement 5peci�l City Council I�i.nutes, January 2� � X9�9 cilman Meland requested that the streets in theludedhinrthed be Coun g air are inc revised to ensure only those needin reP Xylon and program. He also requested that stafS�reetsWtoydetegmine the condition Yukon Avenues between West 33 anshould be included in the Capital of the streets and whether they Improvement Program. Councilman Hanks commented on the proposed Minikahdu10akveryrearlyr�.nect. He indica�ed a neighborhood meetiegtSho�erseof cthe details of the project. the planning stage to inform prop y Councilman Ralles questioned the condition of the bHedgndicatediheawasAvenue between Minnetonka Boulevard and Cedar Lake Road. concerned about closing Louisiana Avenue duringe�intopeniat•a1l�times explained a minimum of one traffic lane would during the reconstruction of, the bridge. Councilman Meland expressed eoncern abour the assessments relative to Texas Avenue between Highway 7 and Walker Street. He indicated he favored the assessments levied against the Knollwood Plaza business; he would not favor any assessments levied against residential properties. The City Manager briefly described the status of the Belt Line Boulevard project and indicated the reason for the 1980 scheduling date. Funding is the critical item on this project and 1980 is th e recommended year to review the City's financial position. Councilman Hanks indicated the City should seek Federal Aid Urban funds for the construction of this roadway. The City�Manager explained the City would have to pay approximately 75 percent of the cost of the upgrading of Belt Line Boulevard. Councilman Martin questioned whether the railroad would be receiving benefit from the construction and assessed for the project. It was explained there was every intent to assess the railroad its proportionate share. Councilman Hanks requested further information on the West 36 Street extension. It was mentioned Federal Aid Urban funding had been requested for this segment; however, none was received. Councilman Hanks indicated he would like to see staff attempt to obtain Federal Aid Urban funding for this section of roadway. The Planning Director indicated the funds comprising the FAU appropriations are diminishing and probably would not be readily available in the next couple of years. Street Assessment The proposed street assessment rate adjustment for Rates 1979 was presented. Considerable discussion followed on whether the assessment tate should be increased or maintained at $11 per foot. There was discussion regarding increasing the rate to $13 per front foot effective in 1980, with the 1979 projects constructed at $il per front foot. -30- Special City Council Minutes, Januarq 20, 1979 �he Council directed staff to calculate the increase in cost for the proposed 1979 residential street improvement projects aC the increase of $2 per f ront foot as compared with no increase. Retaining Walls The Director of Public Works explained the retaining wall policy as utilized by staff at this time. He suggested the Council should consider construction criteria, maintenance responsibilities, and cost. It was moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Elstrom, that a resolution concerning retaining wa11s be brought to the City Council on . February 5, 1979, containing the following components: 1) criteria relating to retaining wall construction; 2) criter.ia related to the maintenance responsibility of the property owner relative to the retaining wall; and 3) a policy to stipulate the cost-sharing in terms of retaining wall construction in cases where the wall is justified by the policy and in cases where it is not. The Council directed staff to review a guarantee on the retaining wall which would be consistent with the guarantee on the abutting street. Councilman Hanks asked that a portion of the resolution deal with an individual property owner requesting a wall which would not be justified by the policy; allowing the property owner to pay the difference in cost between sodding the area and building the retaining wall. Meadowbrook Road/ The Director of Public Works reviewed the proposed Excelsior Boulevard project as presented by Hennepin County�in the preliminary layout. Councilman Hanks recommended that underground conduits be installed at Meadowbrook Lane and �xcelsior Boulevard for future installation of traff ic signals. In addition, the Council indicated its approval with the comrnent of staff on the increased lane widths. ' The Planning Director commented briefly on the policy plan developed by the Streets and Highways Subcommittee as it relates to the Excelsior Boulevard improvement project. The City Council directed staff to prepare a resolution ordering the final design to commence with the appropriate modifications as discussed at this meeting for consideration on February S, 1979.. Councilman Martin questioned where the miscellaneous concrete and bituminous repair items were in the Capital Improvement Program. Specifically, he. questioned the inclusion of �he project at Virginia Avenue and West 31 StrEet. It was exp lained that this repair was.inadvertently deleted from the program and would be included in the final draft. -31- . ' ., :::�. _ . . City Council Mi-nutes, January Zp, 1979 The Direc�or of Public Works brief ly explained Sidewalks � tihe sidewalk program for 1979 through 1983. Councilman Meland suggested that the City study lacing sidewalks on both rhe possibilities of uila Avenues. Staff sides of Minnetonka Boulevard frofo esidewalks only on the north side. indicated the present concept is Counc ilman Elstrom requested further information on the roadtatnWestthe sidewalk between the pedestrian brindicatedtthisrwould be brought ta 26 Street and Highway 100. Staff.i, ineerin report. the Council in the form of a preliminary eng g Councilman Elstrom requested further infoo aclearingmpolicyance of the City as related to the sidewalk sn Bus Plazas responsibilitir� The-Director of Public WorSs16Xhermanent busde indicating the City now ha P shelters within the City limits. He reviewed the 1979-1983 construction program. In response to a question from Councilman Martin, the Director explained bus plazas are lighCed, however, the heating systems eliminated because of vandalism. Trails of Public Work� have been The Director of Public Works reviewed the trail program. It was mentioned the Trail Committee would be meeting in the future on a new trail program for the City. Pedestrian Bridges Councilman Martin wanted to know the status of the Federal Air Urban funding for the Shelard Park pedestrian bridge over Highway 12. There was considerable discussion by the Council on the cost of pedestrian bridges and whether they were a practical method for handling pedestrian traffic. No changes were made in the program schedule which was presented. Storm Sewer Construction installed in 1978. Water System The Director of Public Works presented the S-year storm sewer program. Councilman Hanks mentioned he is interested in reviewing th e success of the Dakota Avenue, West 27 Street storm�sewer system The water system proposals were reviewed. It was mentioned the improvement was recommended in the 1976 water system study. Councilman Hanks questioned when the water rates were last reviewed; he suggested the water rates be analyzed and brought to City Council for possible revisions. -32- � Special City Council Minutes, January 20, 1979 Traff ic Signals The program f or 1979-1983 was presented by the Director of Public Works. Councilman Hanks suggested the need for left-turn arrows at Excelsior Boulevard and West 38 Street. He also indicated the traffic signals proposed for Shelard Park at Ford Road and Betty Crocker Drive should be assessed to the Shelard Park Development Corporation. Councilman Hanks recongnended that signals be installed at the entrance to the proposed A,mhurst Development area off West 36 Street. Landscaping The 1979-1983 ro ram was P g presented. Councilman Martin stated he felt the emphasis on the landscaping program was too heavy and more emphasis should be placed on basic City services such as police and �ire. A question was asked about the for the Blackstone neighborhood. Staff explained the project was directed at screening the neighborhood from the railroad tracks o and the industrial areas on the �orth and east. � Street Lighting on this subject at Community Relations sub j ect . essential landscaping primarily n the west � The 1979-1983 street lighting program was presented. The Council then discussed the decorative program proposed by staff. Councilman Hanks suggested further study be done by the City future Council study session. It was mentioned Commission has spent considerabie time reviewing Council tha�t the this 4. There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m. Attest: Chester J Recording Secretary President Pro Tem r ^ ^ ` • .� �