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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984/01/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 23, 1984 I. Call to Order Mayor Lyle Hanks opened the study session at 7:05 p.m. Councilmembers were present: Ronald Backes Keith Meland Thomas Duffy Larry Mitchell Jerrold Martin Richard Strohl Lyle Hanks 2. Highway 7 Corridor Redevelopment Plan The following Bill Weber of BRW, Inc., consultant to the City for this project gave a presentation of the physical aspects of the corridor study, which looked at improvements from subarea to subarea from west to east, and concentrated on the more significant changes which were being suggested. In regard to the Texas Ave. subarea, Councilman Meland had questions about the effect of detaching the north frontage road at Texas Ave. on adjacent housing. He asked if there had been any consideration given to acquiring some houses in conjunction with the tax increment district. He also wondered if it would be wise to acquire all houses on the east side of Texas Ave. south of W. 36th St. Mr. Weber said that this area would be prime for commercial development, but that providing landscaping buffers would be easier, more aesthetic and less expensive. Councilman Meland said that Texas Ave. south of W. 36th St. needed to be upgraded, but that the improvements should be assessed against the Knollwood commercial area. He also asked if a traffic signal would be needed at a detached north frontage road and Texas Ave. Mr. Weber commented that this was a detail outside the scope of the study. In terms of changes to the corridor south of Highway 7 between Texas and Louisiana Aveues, Councilman Meland asked if Cambridge Ave. could carry the weight of buses and if buses could make the turning movement at Cambridge St. and W. Lake St. The Director of Public Works said that the construction of Cambridge St. is marginal for bus traffic. Councilman Meland and Mayor Hanks questioned the need to make a discontinuous south frontage road to Highway 7. Councilman Meland thought that the idea of making Walker St. a cul-de-sac east of Pennsylvania Ave. was a good idea; he was still concerned about access to Oak Hill Park and Walker fields. City Council study session minutes January 23, 1984 2. The Louisiana Ave. and Wooddale Ave. subareas were discussed. The Council made no comments on the plans as presented. The Minnetonka Blvd. subarea plan looked at the issue of the redesign of the Minnetonka Blvd./Highway 7/France Ave. intersections in light of the MnDOT proposal to reconstruct this area in 1984. Councilman Duffy was concerned about traffic eastbound on Minnetonka Blvd. using Inglewood or Joppa Avenues to Sunset Blvd. as a path to northbound France Ave. instead of the current practice of continuing on Minnetonka Blvd. to France Ave. and then making a northbound movement. He wished to discourage traffic from using neighborhood streets. Mayor Hanks said that a short left -turn lane from eastbound Highway 7 to northbound France Ave. could be considered in order to encourage traffic to continue toward Lake Calhoun. Councilman Strohl expressed concern about pedestrian access across Highway 7. The City Manager said that the pedestrian bridge from the W. 36th St./Highway 100 would probably fit in this location. Mayor Hanks suggested that staff negotiate with MnDOT about design modifications and funding for landscaping. He asked if the Streets & Highways subcommittee of the Planning Commission had reviewed the plan, and the Planning Director said that a very similar plan had been so reviewed. Councilman Martin wanted a special meeting before a Council meeting for residents and business operators to comment on it. Councilman Martin moved and Councilman Mitchell seconded to hold a special hearing from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on February 13 and that Council take action on the issue at its February 20, 1984 meeting. The motion passed 5-2 (Councilmen Meland and Strohl opposed). Mr. Weber commented that the dilemma with the area was that it served a regional transportation need and had immediate neighborhood impact. 3. Capital Improvement Program The Assistant to the City Manager introduced the CIP presentation and commented that the 1984 plan would be presented this evening and that the remainder of the program would be presented and discussed at a later time. In discussing the Streets chapter, Councilman Backes was concerned about the expense of staff efforts for projects as questionable as the Louisiana Ave. improvement if implementation were not realistic in 1984. Councilman Meland thought that the neighborhood around the improvement called for on the north frontage road of Highway 7 between Webster and Wooddale Ave. had already been assessed for all side street benefits. He had questions about the percentage of cost which may City Council study session minutes January 23, 1984 3. have to be assumed by the City. No bus plazas were proposed for 1984. In the Sidewalks chapter, Councilman Meland raised several issues which may arise in conjunction with construction of a sidewalk on Minnetonka Blvd. from Aquila Ave. to County Road 18. He wished to see assessment reports reflecting the current sidewalk assessment policy and calculating side street and front yard assessments. He also mentioned that Hennepin County should participate in the cost of construction. In discussing the Trails chapter, Councilman Duffy questioned why the pedestrian bridge at the W. 36th St./Highway 100 interchange should be relocated to W. 36th St. connecting Wolfe Park and Bass Lake Park. Councilman Strohl was concerned that the bridge would not be well used at this site. Mayor Hanks wished to look at other locations. The City Manager said that staff will identify several locations for Council to consider. The chapters relating to Storm Sewers, Sanitary Sewers, Water Utilities, Street Lighting, Traffic Signals, Municipal Facilities and Landscaping were also presented. The Parks and Recreation Director outlined the program of Park Improve- ments during 1984. Councilman Duffy questioned if the budget figure for Wolfe Park in 1985 included an ampitheater. The Parks and Recrea- tion Director said that this was not the case. The Planning Director presented the programmed improvements by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in the Excelsior Blvd. Redevelopment District. Councilman Mitchell said that it was unwise to include improvements along Louisiana Ave. north of Cedar Lake Road in 1984. Councilman Martin said that the City needs to continue working on the plan. Councilman Mitchell said that there may be a suspicion created among neighborhood residents if it is in the CIP for 1984; however, the schedule should be realistic. Councilman Mitchell moved and Councilman Strohl seconded to eliminate all improvements related to upgrading Louisiana Ave. north of Cedar Lake Rd. in 1984. The motion failed 2-4 (Councilmen Backes, Duffy, Martin and Mayor Hanks opposed). 4. On -Sale Liquor Councilman Backes had questions about the dollar amounts and square footage specified in Resolution 5392. He did not know what Council should do in the absence of Councilman Meland (who had left the meeting) who was quite concerned about this issue. The City Manager noted that an entity was concerned about the restaurant City Council study session minutes January 23, 2984 4• classification and liquor regulations in relation to a proposed development. Councilman Backes believed that liquor regulations should be removed from the zoning section of the ordinance code. Councilman Martin thought that Council members and staff should meet with the potential applicant and see if the needs of each could be met. Mayor Hanks thought that a committee should be formed for this topic. Councilmen Backes, Martin and Meland will be on this committee with Councilman Meland serving as chair. Mayor Hanks wanted the committee to report back quickly. 5. Snowplowing Sidewalks The City Manager wanted to have some sense of agreement from the Council about the priority of snow removal as identified by staff. He noted that there were some deletions and additions from the current practice. Councilman Mitchell questioned the deletion of Virginia Ave. from Cedar Lake Rd. to Texas Ave. The City Manager said that this has not been done south of the BNR bridge to W. 28th St. Councilman Mitchell wanted this segment to be added to the list. The City Manager said that this would be added with a No. 2 priority. Councilman Backes and Mayor Hanks questioned the deletion of W. 36th St. bridge over County Road 18. Councilman Backes was concerned about this as a future need rather than a present one. The consensus of the Council was to place it on the list of sidewalks plowed with a No. 5 priority. The Mayor said that this would be placed in final form for the Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting. 6. Executive Session The Council recessed to an executive session. 7. Adjournment The study session adjourned at 10:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Craig D, on, Recordi g Secretary