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Home My WebLink About1981/06/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST . LOUIS PARK , MINNESOTA June 1 , 1981 to Order The study session was called to order 1 . Call by Mayor McQuaid at 5 : 15 p . m . 2 . Roll Call The following Counci lmembers were present at roll call : Ronald Backes Keith Meland Martha Elstrom John Ralles Jerrold Martin Phyllis McQuaid Also present were the City Manager , the Director of Public Works and the Director of Planning . 3 . I - 394 The most recent proposal by the Metro - politan Council for improvements on Highway 12 / I - 394 were discussed . State Representative Sally Olsen and Metro - politan Council District 10 Representative Pat Hasselmo were in attendance for this item on the study session agenda . In discussing issues relating to the Highway 12 / Highway 100 interchange , Councilman Backes asked i f detailed plans were available of the Met Council proposal and whether these plans were different from those presented by the Minnesota Department of Transportation ( MnDOT ) last summer . The Director of Planning reviewed the June , 1980 MnDOT layout and the objections stated by the City . He also related that the Met Council had not presented specific details . Rep . Olsen said that the cities of St . Louis Park and Golden Valley need to look at the interchange design ( s ) and request clarification from the Met Council . Mayor McQuaid felt it would be difficult to adopt a resolution of support or disapproval of the Met Council proposal without a design detail of the interchange . Mayor McOuaid said that the Council should be considering three issues at this study session : ( 1 ) If the improvement along Highway 12 is needed ; ( 2 ) Whether diamond lanes or high - occupancy vehicle ( HOV ) lanes , either singly or in combination , are desired ; and ( 3 ) Council would support an extension of Cedar Lake Road Whether the City Council . The Council unanimously opposed andy as proposed by the Met Road and unanimously agreed that improvements are to aloCedng a Highway 12 . needed along Considerable discussion ensued about the numberaffic and kinds of traffic lanes which the City Council would o prefer to be constructed . Rep . - 156 - 11/4 d City Council study session minutes June 1 , 1981 explained that HOV lanes had been proposed east of Highway 100 because projected traffic demands for the year 2000 required that four lanes he available . The Director of Planning stated that with HOV lanes , eastbound traffic on Highway 12 east of Highway 100 would be reduced from three lanes to two . Councilman Martin believed that elimination of at - grade intersections and the existence of two lanes west of Highway 100 and three lanes to the east with the left lanes being diamond lanes would provide the least costly solution for the next 15 years . Councilman Meland noted that traffic volumes would be higher and thus require more lanes because new highway facilities attract more vehicles . Rep . Olsen believed that the City ' s position of questioning the validity of as - sumptions used in traffic projections should be pursued . She noted also that the " let Council proposal has not dealt with enforcement of HOV and diamond lanes and that enforcement has not been successful in other communities . The interstate substitution process was briefly considered . The Director of Planning noted that all past substitution requests had been approved by the Federal Highway Administration , but that the likelihood that such approval might be given on the I - 394 issue is unknown given the unclear policies of the new federal administration regarding highway funds reductions . The City Manager noted that past cases had generally in - volved one large municipality which already had plans on how to use substitution funds . Mayor McQuaid suggested that the St . Louis Park City Council adopt its own resolution supporting diamond lanes west of Highway 100 , opposing HOV lanes east of Highway 100 and opposing the proposed Cedar Lake Road e xtension . Councilman Martin wished that a section be included that the Met Council be encouraged to continue the use of diamond lanes east o f Highway 100 . Councilman Meland said that the statement should still u rge the consideration of transit alternatives in the area , including light - rail transit ( LRT ) . The Mayor set a special meeting for 5 p . m . Friday , June 5 to consider the adoption of a statement or resolution in reaction to thereetlCt ouocil proposal . City staff would prepare a proposed statement for the special meeting . The Director of Public Works presented 4 . Louisiana Avenue a brief history and description of improvement plans for Louisiana Avenue and the four alternatives to upgrade the segment betweenoWest . 32n Rallee and Minnetonka Boulevard . Councilman � iBdckrovi deefour 1 apes and i nter - seconded that Alternative 4 , which medians , be pursued by staff . sectional channelization with The motion passed 6 - 0 . • the street , Councilman Martin believed In discussion about parking along that hardships would be incurred by present and future property - 157 - City Count it study Session minutes June 1 , 1931 the City , the new property owners for those houses 50ldtbons at the time of sale . The Director However , condi lanes or parking bays could be con - would understand otedlthat parking ion he said that of Public inorks no In response to a question , strutted the project . begin in 1983 • Councilman Elstrom suggested that construction would two houses be de molished to create a neighborhood parking lot . lel anti believed that staff should check into any obligations Councilman P owners when their former properties the City may have to former property the would be on the market . He also believed that staff should meet with the re maiming property owners and with residents of the affected neigh- borhood . Citizens League Position Statement Councilmembers discussed the general 5 • thrusts of the Citizens League position on the Metropolitan Council statement which urged that members of the Metropolitan Council be elected rather than appointed . Several comments were made on the pros and cons of having the Mefavorable l eor composed of elected officials . Councilman Meland noted that less favorable impressions of the Met Council ' s operation have depended upon the quality of the chairman . Mayor McQuaid believed that there was no need for the City to take a position regarding the Citizens League report but noted a general disagreement with its statement . • 6 . Solid Waste Management Study In response to a question from the Council , staff said that the $ 25 , 000 needed for a the study is proposed to come from the Elmwood alley paving activity in the 1981 Community Development Block Grant Program . The $ 85 , 000 allocation would be reduced to $ 60 , 000 and be reprogramed as a special assessment relief program for the Elrlvood alley paving area . The $ 25 , 000 difference would be used for the solid waste management study . Councilman Ralles stated that it is appropriate to employ a consultant on this project . The Council unanimously set a public hearing for June 15 , 1931 to consider the reallocations in the 1981 Community Development Block Grant program necessary to fund the solid waste management study . 7 . League of Minnesota Cities - Since not all of the Councilmer► bers Dues Increase had received information from the league crease in dues , the of Minnesota Cities regarding item will -l - be attached to the June 5 , 1931 Council newsletter and discussed at a later date . 8 . Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7 : 10 Po ''~ ' Attest : Mayor / Craig D . n , Recora invie 9 eretary ihtgit — 158 —