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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980/07/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular1. Ca 11 to Order 2. Roll Call MINUTES CITY COU��CIL INFORMATIONAL SESSI0�1 ST. LOUIS PARK, NINNESOTA July 1, 1980 An informational session of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Phyllis McQuaid at 7:09 p.m. The following Councilmen were present at roll call: Ronald Backes Martha Elstrom Jerrold Martin Councilman Lyle Hanks p.m. Also present was City Manager. Keith Meland John Ralles Phyllis McQuaid arrived at 8:30 the Acting 3. Hi hwa 12 I rovement Mayor McQuaid explained that this infor- ro ect mational session was being held in order , that the City Council could make a response to the Highway 12 improvement plans presented to the Council by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) on June 9, 1980. Mn00T had requested that the Council make a state- ment on improvement proposals within 30 days of its presentation. Mayor McQuaid also related that she had recently attended a Metropolitan Council study session on light-rail transit (LRT). At that meeting, the Highway 12/southwest diagonal corridor was identified as one of the highest priority study areas in the metropolitan region. 3a. Overview of the Project � Acting City Manager William Thibault gave a historical overvie�v of improvement plans along the Highway 12 corridor. He then outlined the present improvement plan and its relationship to St. Louis Park. The current proposal is a full freeway design with interchanges at Highway 100, Vernon Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, Boone Avenue and County Road 18. The desiqn features two eastbound and two westbound lanes as well as two re- versible high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Additional ramps would be needed for egress, ingress and collector-distributor roadways. The free- r�ay design would provide a capability to add third lanes in each direction east of Highway 100. The HOV lanes component would require 44 feet of right-of-way. Access to the HOV lanes r►ould be provided in St..Louis Park at Highway 100, Texas Avenue and County Road 18. MnDOT is now pre- paring an environmental impact statement for the Nighway 12 improvement Project which includes the HOY lanes. -217- �: City Council Informational Session Minutes, Ju1y 1, 19E0 3b. Presentations from Jim 7acheny, ]664 South Kilmer Avenue, Weighborhood Groups spoke as a member of the Kilmer Pond I�omeowners Association. He addressed cost-benefit issues involved with Highway 12 improvements. While there may be a benefit to the western sector of the metropolitan region, Mr. Tacheny believed that the benefit accrued primarily to the outer suburbs. There are several "cost" issues to St. Louis Park: (1) Pollution; (2) Losses in the tax base due to property condemnation and population displacement; (3) Secondary impacts in terms of "feeder" road maintenance and improvemenis; (4) AccesSibility to the freeway would be reduced; and (5) Major dis- ruptions during the five-year construction period. Mr. Tacheny rec- omnended that interstate highway funds available for improving Highway 12 be transferred for other types of improvements on Highway 12, to upgrade other highway corridors in the region and to mass transit facilities. Allen Olson, 1330 Lancaster, president of the Kilmer Pond Homeowners Association, quoted from a position statement made by the St. Louis Park City Council in 1974 on the improvements needed on Highway 12. His excerpt related the 1974 Council's belief than an exclusive mass transit facility is needed in the western suburbs. t4r. Olson be- lieved that the mass transit facility now needed is a fixed-guideway system; HOV lanes are not the long-term solution for transit. Colin Campbell, 4712 01d Cedar Lake Road, presented the views of the Cedarhurst Homeonwers Association. He acknowledged that the congestion which exists on Highway 12 should be relieved, but not at the expense of threatening the quality of life in the Cedarhurst - neighborhood.. Mr. Campbell contended that there would be more congestion �� under the proposed plan than at present because fewer access points would inc�ease the distance vehicles are queued. Neighborhood streets will be more highly used by motorists.trying to avoid congested feeder �i roads. The increased traffic and congestion would hinder the move-. �,, ment of emergency vehicles. The more widespread congestion would increase pollution. If energy conservation is a goal, it may not be � achieved with more vehicles idling as we11 as backing up at the Lowry tunnel. Mr. Campbell felt that residents would want to move . out of St. Louis Park to regain the quality of life they would lose. David Cooperman, 220$ North Willow Lane, president of the Lake Forest Association, identified three major areas to be considered in the up- grading project. First is the increase in local traffic, primarily �' in the West 14th Street/Westvrood area and the South Tyrol Hills area during rush hours. There had been rumors that MnDOT or the Bryn Mawr Association in Minneapolis was proposing an interchange at France � Avenue and Highway 12. Mr. Cooperman felt that the increase in traffic '�; resulting from this connection v�ould destroy the Lake Forest neigh- borhood. The second issue is the effect of the proposed highway on urban sprawl. The Twin Cities area currently has one of the lowest development densities in the country; I-394 would only encourage development west of I-494. Such outward development could lower the school-aged population and create a loss in the tax base. Ac- cording.to a model formulated by the Federal government, lower pop- -218- City Council Informational Session Minutes, July 1, ]ggp ulation densities also increase the costs of maintaining local streets. A higher urban density mix like St. Louis Park's would require 3250,000 in yearly street maintenance costs. The lower population density mix which could be anticipated would raise these maintenance costs to �400,000. Finally Mr. Coopern�an questioned whether MnDOT's I-394 plan was congruent with the policies of the Metropolitan Council in terms of minimizing the amount of land used, of studying the interrelationship of�transportation and land use, and of utilizing Highway Trust funds for other modes of transit. Richard Brooks, 1460 Independence Avenue, represented the Crestview/ Westdale Homeowners Association. He stated that ho�owners in his area approved of some type of improvement on Nighway 12. The re- alignment of County Road 18 as s!�own in the MnDOT plan was acceptable to the Homeowners Association. The Crestview/Westdaie Assvciation did not, in general, approve of the plans presented by t�1nDOT in terms of the cost of the proj ect, the land that would be required - especially with the FIOV component - and the issue of energy canser- vation. Instead, traffic planners should investigate other transit systems as well as the possibility of dispersing traffic along Highways 7, 12 and 55. �Ar. Brooks also believed that the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) should have more involvement in planning transportation systems in the western suburban area. Mr. Brooks con- cluded by mentioning pvssible imnediate and long-range costs to St. Louis Park. These costs involved transportation transfer facilities, maintenance of the street system, land use impacts, and utility rearrangement. He believed that the Council should consider these costs while studying the Highway 12 improvement proposals. David Olson, 2113 France Avenue, represented residents of the Cedar Lake areas of St. Louis Park and Minneapolis. He related that home- owners in his area are opposed to the present proposal which puts on one corridor all the money available for highway and mass transit improvements. The cities•of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley would lose much more than other comnunities. The new highway would remove commercial and residential properties, thus red�cing the tax base. He estimated that real estate values imnediately adjacent to the highway would drop 20 percent and invite the type of decay and blight which exists along I-35W. Lower assessed property valuations and hence, tax revenues, could be in the range of 3100 million. A proposed France Avenue connection with Highway 12 would further destroy the neighborhood. Mr. Olson concluded by saying that Mn00T feels coripelled to apply for Federal monies simply because they are avail- able even if it means building a freeway that primarily benefits the outer suburbs. Larry Kirchner, 1300 Melrose Avenue, spoke as the co-chairman of the West Suburban Coalition and as the chairman of the highways committee of the Kilmer Pond Homeowners Association. He noted that the St. Louis Park City Council has traditionally proposed a balanced trans- portation system. Mn�OT is proposing two options: Build I-394 or do nothing. Mr. Kirchner stated that a third option is also available through the transfer of project funds. The transfer request must -219- r � City Council Informational Session Minutes, July 1, 1980 be initiated by units of local government through a resolution. The resolution would be reviewed by the Govenor of Minnesota and the United States Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Ad- minisiration. The �ederal government has already said that I-394 is not essential to the national interstate system. The transfer of funds could be used to upgrade Highway 12 and other highways as well as funding mass transit improvements. Mr. Kirchner proposed a plan which would require an $80 million expenditure to improve Highway 12 while leaving it as an expressway and would appropriate $40 million for transit. This proposal would save $60 million in condemnation costs and g50 million for HOV lanes and demolition of the existing roadway. Mr. Kirchner indicated that this proposal had been re- viewed by Congressman Frenzel and had received his approval. Two local attorneys had reviewed the transfer of funds issue and were of the opinion that this move was legal. Mr. Kirchner suggested that the City Attorney also review the transfer of funds proposal. He then presented a resolution which in summary called for a transfer of monies to a Highway Transfer Fund and to leave I�ighway 12 as an expressway. 3c. Presentations from Public Mrs. LaDonna Reynolds, 3320 Alabama, Agencies and Officials chairman of the St. Louis Park School District, expressed the concern of the ' school district over two aspects assoc- iated with the plan. First is the issue of student safety. Westwood �unior High School will open this fall with an enrollment of 800-900 students, 20 percent of whom will walk to school. Many of these students must cross Texas Avenue during the morning rush hours. Ten buses will also serve the school. Both the students and the buses must compete with the increased traffic on Texas Avenue which will occur because Texas Avenue is proposed as a feeder road to an HOV lanes access at Highway 12. Central Junior High School was closed in part because of the noise levels and traffic volumes along High- way 7. These could recur�at Westwood if the plan were implemented. The second issue of concern to the school district is the possible negative financial impact which could occur. The taking of homes and property.would reduce assessed property valuation and remove families with school-aged children. State aid to education is based on enrollment: state aid is currently about $1200 per pupil. Mrs. Reynolds urged that the Council defeat the MnDOT proposal. Representative Sally Olsen noted that she has worked closely with groups in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley on the issues surrounding the improvements along Highway 12. She and other legislators also worked for the $]50,000 light-rail transit feasibility study which is now being performed. Representative Olsen outlined several specific recommendations to the St. Louis Park City Council. She urged that the Council closely follow the progress and results of the LRT study and that it insist that MnDOT give careful consideration to implementing the results of the study. If highway improvements are constructed, she commented that the MTC should be contacted to determine service plans during and after construction. Public safety departments should review safety enforcement and safety access -22�- _� City Council Informational Session Minutes, July 1, 1980 issues. In particular, the issues of traffic and pedestrian safety on Texas Avenue in front of Westwood Junior High School should be studied thoroughly. Representative Olsen believed that the benefits of the project�will accrue to high income residents to the west. Minneapolis would be req�ired to build expensive parking facilities. She thought that the plan was still based on the cheap energy costs of five years ago. 1�1MOT seemed to be more concerned with building highways than transit facilities. Representative Olsen suggested that the many governmental bodies involved in the upgrading project look at other Federal matching grant programs. Representative Elliot Rothenberg said that a conversation with MnDOT Comnissiqner Braun indicated that an interchange at France Avenue is not being given serious consideration. Representative Rothenberg suggested that the Council remain vigilant on this issue nonetheless. He also believed that some sort of action or comnunication was needed to make governmental agencies examine and react to changing conditions. While the current MnDOT plans may have been well-conceived for the conditions of the late 1960s and early 1970s, they do not appear to relate to the phenomena of increasing gasoline prices, reduced big car sales, increasing car costs, decreased gasoline consumption and the movement of people to closer-in residential locations. Representative Rothenberg concluded by cormiending the officials and citizens of St. Louis Park for their sophistication in pro- posing alternatives to�the F1nDOT plan. Samuel Stern read a prepared statement on behalf of Senator Irving Stern. Senator Stern acknolwedged that serious reservations exist through the community about the disruption of neighborhoods and the taking of property which bould result from the construction of HOU la�es. He also noted the concerns in terms of right-of-way requirements, inadequate population density and the continued reliance on petroleum-based fuels. Senator Stern then spoke of the alternative of electrically-powered light-rail transit. He noted its system advantages of flexibility, right�of-way requirements, complementarity with other modes of transit, lessened pollution, durability, lower initial investment costs, efficiency and reduced reliance on petroleum. Senator Stern urged the City Council to consider LRT closely while developing transit plans. 3d, Presentations b Indivi ua s was outdated, especially ternatives to cars. Mr. been successful in other Harold Kaiser, 4007 Basswood, stated his opposition to a proposal v�hich would benefit western suburbs and ruin • close-in suburbs. He believed the plan by eliminating all alternative transit al- Kaiser also felt that HOV lanes have not cities. Bob Berkwitz, 2425 France Avenue, presented a petition signed by 312 persons opposing an interchange at France Avenue and Highway 12 -221- City Council Informational Session Minutes, July 1, 1980 as well as any changes to the alignment of France Avenue itself. He asked the Council to adopt a resolution'opposing a France Avenue interchange. Howard George, 2112 Parklands Road, indicated his approval of the remarks of public leaders and private citizens during the meeting. He comnented that proposals for upgrading Highway 12 have met with significant opposition for 12 years.. Mr. George opposed the design features and cost of the current proposal and asked that legislators be directed to work toward a transfer of funds. Delmar Brandt, 2��08 Toledo Avenue, ►vondered who would fill the gap created by the loss of taxes through the acquisition of residential and cor.imercial properties. He suggested that a four-lane limited access highway be built while maintaining the capability for monorail transit. Robert Sigelman, 4006 Basswood Road, said that he did not want to see the mistakes of other metropolitan areas repeated in terms of highway planning. He wished that LRT and other transit alternatives would be examined. Louis Schoen, 4115 Sunset Boulevard, opposed any access from France Avenue to Highway 12 or I-394. He wished to see the Council go on record against this access. He was a�lso opposed to subsidizing western suburban residents with a gasoline-based transit system. Robert Aske, 1640 Kilmer Avenue, said that the 2-2-2 lane concept is misleading because i� does not include exit and entrance ramps and collector-distributor roadways. !�e wondered if Kilmer Pond would need to be partially filled as a result of the TH 12/CSAH 18 interchange design. He wished to see traffic spread over Highways 7, 12, and 55. . 4. Council Discussion Mayor McQuaid declared the public hearing closed and opened the meeting to Council discussion. Councilman Martin said that he was not prepared to make a motion that the Council give a recommendation to MnDOT on the pro- posed Highway 12 improvements. He preferred to wait for a report from the Streets and Highv�ays Comnittee of the Planning Commission which would be ready July 7. Councilman Martin commented that the freeway proposal as presented is not wanted, but that improvement is needed on Highway 12. He said that the Council is looking at the alternatives of LRT and a transfer of funds. Councilman Martin stated that he is against the current proposal. He recommended that the Council adopt a resolution setting up a consortium of cities and governmental agencies which would study such alternatives as removi�g at-grade crossings and implementing modern transit features. The consortium would also assess the social and economic � -222- City Council Informational Session Minutes, July 1, 19�0 impacts of the highway improvements in terms of land use. Council- man Martin indicated that he would a]sa try to have a transfer of funds. Councilman Ralles concurred with Councilman Martin's remarks. He said that streetcars left St. Louis Park in 1941 and that he wished they would return. ' Councilman Elstrom supported an elimination of the HOV lanes concept. She added that she will not support a France Avenue access to High- way 12 and that the Council should make a statement to this effect. Councilman Backes asked when the Streets and Highways Committee and Planning Cornmission reports on Highway 12 improvements aro uld be presented. The Acting City Manager responded that the Streets and Highways Committee report would be ready by July 21 but that the Planning Commission needed to hold a special meeting before it could prepare a report. Council�an Backes stated that the Council needed to speak out strong and to speak out soon. He suggested that staff draft a resolution stating the Council's opposition to a France Avenue/Highway 12 interchange for the July 21 meeting of the City Council. Councilman Elstrom commented that parties in the City of Minne a- polis would appreciate a statement from St. Louis Park in order to give them definite direction in planning improvements on High- way 12. 14ayor McQuaid stated that she would also like direction from the Council to assist her in.speaking the position of St. Louis Park at the several meetings she attends regularly. Councilman Elstrom moved to direct staff to prepare a resolution for the July 7 meeting declaring the opposition of the City Council to any direct access between France Avenue and Highway 12 or I-394 at any time. This resolution would be one which could stand alone but be included with the final resolution adopted by the Council regarding the proposed improvements on Highway 12. Councilman Backes seconded this motion. Councilman Nanks questioned a piecemeal approach to the component issues of the improvement proposals. Ne favored an integrated, comprehensive approach to the entire proposal. Councilman Hanks asked that the City Attorney examine the question of transferring funds and that the Police and Fire Departments review the plans with respect to accessibility for e�ergency vehicles. Councilman �artin agreed with Councilman Hanks' comnent that the Highway 12 improvement be examined as a package. Ne stated that it was clear the package before the Council was not wanted. Councilman Qackes concurred and stated that there is also a need to work with other governmental agencies. He mentioned that the -223- City Council Informational Session Minutes, July 1, 1980 whole process could be made simple by vpting on the plan instead of trying to redesign the improvement proposal package. Councilman Elstrom said that the France Avenue interchange is currently not in any plan; it is a separate issue which deserves to be addressed independent of the Highway 12 proposals. The motion passed 7-0. Councilman Hanks said that position with regard to specific issues of the Highv�ay 12 improvements need to be elaborated uoon when making a final position statement or resolution opposing the current proposal is considered. He believed this course instead of a blanke� resolution of opposition would strengthen the Council's position. Council�an Backes noted that the time frame is critical. He did not want a date in August or September to be one on which the Gduncil 4�ould take a final position to modify Resolution 6491 passed in February of 1930. He asked if a preliminary position statement co�ld be prepared for the July 7 meeting of the Co�ncil. There would still be time later to develop the elaborations requested by Councilman Hanks. Mayor McQuaid said that she would work with the Acting City Hanager to prepare a preliminary statement for the July 7 Council meeting. She did not want silence to be viewed as agreement. Councilr�an Hanks moved that the meeting be adjorned. Councilman Ralles se�onded the motion. The motion was approved 7�-0. Attest: � Cr ig n Recor ' g Secretary � � , �' Phy . �1cQuaid, Mayor -Z24-