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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980/01/28 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 28, 1980 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor McQuaid at 7 p.m. 2. Roll Call The following Council members were present at roll call: Ronald Backes Jerrold Martin Martha Elstrom Keith Meland Lyle Hanks John Ralles Phyllis McQuaid Also present were the City Manager, Director of Public Works and the Planning Director. 3. Lou Park Addition; Resolution No. 6483 Request of Daniel Otten for special permit to allow stockpiling of fill materials at 1347 Dakota Avenue. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Martin, to waive reading and adopt Resolution No. 6483, entitled "a resolution granting permit under Section 14.123.100 of the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code relating to zoning to permit the reclamation of property located in the B-2 district at 1347 Dakota Avenue." The applicant, Daniel Otten, appeared before the Council for the purpose ofanswering any questions related to his request for a special permit. Councilman Backes asked Mr. Otten if he was in agreement with the four conditions for the special permit suggested by staff. Mr. Otten answered in the affirmative. The resolution including the four conditions was adopted by a vote of 7-0. 4. Highway 12 The City Manager explained the purpose Improvement Project of the study session was to review the history and work of the three community task forces studying the Highway 12 improvement project. In addition, background information was to be supplied on some of the latest design proposals for the Highway 12 project. The Director of Public Works reviewed the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane concept and addressed a number of the issues that this proposal. has raised among residents of St. Louis Park. -36- City Council minutes, January 28, 1980 There were a number of questions from the Council to the Director of Public Works concerning egress and ingress for the NOV lanes, particularly as related to emergency vehicles. State Senator Irving Stern appeared before the Council and suggested that one of the rationales for the HOV lane was that at a later date, they could be converted for use as a rapid transit route. Councilman Meland questioned the usefulness of a light rail system in the St. Louis Park area. He felt that the population density was not great enough in the areas adjacent to the suggested routes for such lines to justify their installation. Mayor McQuaid pointed out that light rail systems have been effective in a number of cities in the United States. She further stated that she would prefer to see this type of system in the I-394 corridor if it is going to be considered in the metro area. A discussion ensued concerning the merits of the light rail system and its adaptability to this area. The Council discussion then shifted to the HOV lanes and their impact on the areas adjacent to Highway 12. The main issues discussed on the subject were effect on residential areas near the main inter- sections, traffic patterns into the Lowry Hill tunnel and the need for more egress - ingress to the HOV lanes in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. The Director of Public Works then explained each of the task force areas and the proposed design changes in each area. He also presented the concerns that were raised by residents of the task force areas relative to the design changes. MnDOT, the Director explained, is aware of these concerns. i Council members asked a number of questions about various aspects of the items presented by the Director of Public Works. Councilman Ralles asked if there were going to be more neighborhood meetings after the design plans have become further developed. Councilman Martin stated he wished to have MnDOT present these plans to the City Council before anymore neighborhood meetings are held on the matter. He felt that by doing so, the Council would be better able to address the concerns of citizens following such neighborhood meetings. State Representative Sally Olsen made a presentation before the Council on some of the major issues before the Minnesota House of Representatives and on a bill she is proposing which would prohibit the building of HOV lanes in conjunction with the improvement of Highway 12. She stated two of the major issues facing the Legislature are energy and transportation. She went on to explain some of the options available for financing projects in this area and how they relate to the Highway 12 question. -37- City Council minutes, January 28, 1980 In the course of her presentation, Representative Olsen reviewed the justification for her bill. She stated that there are no federal regulations requiring HOV lanes, and the MnDOT Commissioner had told her that MnDOT may not be able to justify the use of NOV lanes. She pointed out that the MTC will soon be coming out against their use. Finally, she mentioned that the Metropolitan Council is in the process of changing its transportation plans to include greater flexibility in mass transits. Representative Olsen requested that Council give her some direction on various aspects of the Highway 12 improvement project. Following an exchange between Representative Olsen and members of the Council on some of the issues she raised in her presentation, Senator Stern reviewed some of the actions he felt the Minnesota Senate would be taking during the next legislative session. There was a general discussion of the issues surrounding various options available-with mass and rapid transit and the position the Council should take on these items. Councilman Hanks pointed out that the City Council has always favored an examination of the mass transit options and would continue to do so. Councilman Martin stated it was important it be understood the City Council was not giving direction at this time on any of the issues discussed. He further stated the Council's discussion of the Olsen bill did not mean that it was endorsing it at this time. The subject of the Southwest Diagonal transit route was then reviewed. 5. Adjournment There being no further business, it was ! moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Ralles, to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. 502:11,- e- Phy]Ps McQuaid Mayor Attest: %.11' / . . Timothy a igan Recording Secretary -38-