HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/05/24 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
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CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
MAY 24, 2010
The meeting convened at 7:38 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Phil Finkelstein, Anne Mavity, Paul Omodt, Julia
Ross, Susan Sanger, and Sue Santa.
Councilmembers absent: None.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke),
Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), and
Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes).
Guests:Jami LaPray and Tom Miller, "Safety in the Park" representatives
1. Update and Policy Discussion of SWLRT project and Hennepin County MNDOT
Kenilworth Freight Rail Relocation Study
Mr. Harmening introduced the topic.
Councilmember Sanger introduced Jami LaPray and Tom Miller, two residents who started "Safety
in the Park." She stated that Ms. LaPray and Mr. Miller organized the recent freight rail meeting at
the high school.
Mr. Locke presented the staff report and indicated that the County is in the process of selecting a
consultant for the Kenilworth Rail Relocation Study which will look at how this might work if the
St. Louis Park route were selected; this study will include heavy involvement by the community. He
stated the SWLRT DEIS is currently underway and will be wrapped up this year. He explained that
the past year has been dedicated to selecting the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for routing of
the SWLRT and the Metropolitan Council is scheduled to adopt the LPA into the region's
Transportation Policy Plan on Wednesday, May 26th; this action is necessary for federal funding.
Councilmember Sanger explained that she served on the City's railroad task force from 1997 to
1999, along with Councilmember Santa. She stated she has also been involved in the Policy
Advisory Committee for SWLRT and is a big supporter of light rail. She expressed several concerns
regarding freight rail relocation and the process undertaken to date, particularly with respect to the
County's statement that it now wants to do another study to determine how to engineer the
relocation. She stated that the task force indicated that it did not want freight rail relocated to St.
Louis Park, but if freight rail and transit cannot be done in Kenilworth, the task force report
discussed how mitigation of impacts on St. Louis Park should be handled.
She expressed concern that the County appears to make it sound as though St. Louis Park said it
would like to have the railroads come through the City, and that statement is inaccurate. She stated
that she is concerned about the rail company's ability to utilize longer and heavier trains in the City
as well as its ability to haul hazardous material through these neighborhoods. She stated that the
County realignment study from 2009 includes no comparison among the six routes regarding nearby
Study Session Minutes -2- May 24, 2010
homes, how many homes are impacted, how close those homes are to the tracks, whether there are
schools in the vicinity, or whether there are any hospitals or other sensitive uses in the area. She
added the study also does not address the number of at-grade road crossings and does not consider
traffic implications. She further stated the cost estimate to relocate the train traffic to each of the six
locations does not include mitigation of homes, environmental impact, or traffic impact, except as it
relates to Kenilworth.
She addressed Exhibit 10 of the TCWR Freight Rail Realignment Study and indicated it appears the
County is saying if light rail and freight rail are going to be parallel to each other in the Kenilworth
corridor, the County would have to buy 35 properties, despite her encouragement to the County to
evaluate light rail and freight rail in the same corridor and to relocate the bike trail. She reminded
Council that a letter was sent to the Hennepin County Commissioners last year which succinctly
outlined the City's concerns and which requested a response by the County to the concerns raised by
the City; no detailed response from the County was received.
Councilmember Sanger proposed that the Council consider sending another request to the County
for sufficient data and to continue to work with the County to help it understand that the cost to
relocate freight rail traffic to St. Louis Park exceeds one or more of the other alternatives She also
asked that the Council consider joining with Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Edina, and some other
communities to push for relocation further west to outstate Minnesota in order to get the train
traffic out of the metro area and out of residential neighborhoods. She suggested that the Council
pass a resolution clearly restating its opposition to relocation of freight rail in the City and clearly
stating its position with respect to mitigation. She also requested that the City submit a formal
request to the County to reopen and redo the analysis of all the alternative routes. She stated that
the City's residents need to' know that the Council pushed for as much detail as possible from the
County on this important issue.
Councilmember Omodt agreed with Councilmember Sanger.
Mayor Jacobs stated that he was also concerned about public safety as it relates to the potential
rerouting of train traffic. He added that the City should push for more mitigation with whistle free
zones if it is determined that freight rail will be relocated to St. Louis Park.
Councilmember Sanger identified a number of steps the City should undertake as follows — build an
alliance on this issue with Golden Valley and Edina; the Council should coordinate its efforts with
the School District; the City should develop a strong public relations strategy around this issue, the
City should document how many properties are impacted, how many properties are adjacent to
railroad tracks and how close those properties are to railroad tracks, particularly as it relates to the
railroad's setback requirements; continue to work with the Safety in the Park committee; retain the
easements in the City's name that were obtained over the Golden property when it was redeveloped;
and send a letter to the Met Council by May 26th outlining the City's position on the possible
rerouting of freight rail in St. Louis Park She stated that the City should keep in mind that the last
possible resort may be litigation.
Mayor Jacobs stated that he did not want the City to be viewed as an impediment to light rail.
Study Session Minutes -3- May 24, 2010
The City Council discussed the County's alignment cost estimates and the process for obtaining
federal funding for the project.
Councilmember Mavity expressed her appreciation to Councilmember Sanger for her thoughtful
comments on this issue and stated that she has concerns about the City being perceived as a fly in
the ointment as it relates to light rail, when in fact the City supports light rail She stated she is
supportive of submitting another request to the County for additional detail.
_ Mr. Locke stated that one of the benefits of the rerouting of freight rail is the elimination of some
surface crossings on streets, while at the same time recognizing that other areas would get more
traffic. He indicated that one of the challenges is to figure out what the mitigation price would be
for the City and who will pay for that mitigation. He added that an opportunity is presented to
figure out what it is the City needs to make this work.
Councilmember Santa stated that it would be helpful to have an understanding of the federal
guidelines with respect to the railroads.
Mr. Harmening stated that based on Councilmember Sanger's comments it appears there are three
specific tasks requiring immediate attention as follows (1) passage of a resolution by the Council
restating the City's formal position regarding the relocation of freight rail, (2) submission of a formal
request to the County asking the County to reanalyze the routes for freight rail in greater detail, and
(3) that staff contact the Met Council to let it know the City's position as it relates to SWLRT and
to outline its concerns regarding the potential rerouting of freight rail.
Councilmember Finkelstein stated that the resolution should make clear that that the City supports
the concept of light rail, that it accepts the LPA, and that the City does not seek to delay
implementation of the planning.
Mr. Locke reminded the Council that a resolution was passed on January 19, 2010 supporting the
County's selection of LRT Route 3A as the locally preferred alternative; that resolution was provided
to the Met Council and could serve as the basis for an updated policy position for Council adoption.
He added that the City previously raised the issue of secondary and cumulative freight rail impact as
it relates to light rail environmental impact; the City should remind the County to address that issue
as well.
Councilmember Sanger stated that the letter to Met Council should state that the City does not
want freight rail relocated to St. Louis Park, but if in the end that is what is determined, there needs
to be sufficient mitigation with funding sources identified, and the City should request a good
explanation for why freight rail is being relocated within the City.
It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare a resolution for Council adoption
that expresses the City's position regarding the relocation of freight rail in the City. It was also the
consensus of the City Council to direct staff to request the County re-look at all of the options for
rerouting freight rail. It was also the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare a letter
_
to the Metropolitan Council indicating the City's support for SWLRT and outlining the City's
position with respect to the rerouting of freight rail in St. Louis Park.
Study Session Minutes -4- May 24, 2010
2. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—June 7 and June 14
Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for June 7 and the proposed
study session agenda for June 14. He presented a summary of topics that Council has asked be
brought back for further discussion and requested that the Council review this list and rank the
items in order of importance for follow-up.
3. Communications (Verbal)
Mayor Jacobs stated that St. Louis Park resident Catherine Tarsney recently won a national debate
contest and requested that staff invite Ms. Tarsney to a Council meeting so that she may be properly
recognized for this important accomplishment.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
4. April 2010 Monthly Financial Report
5. City/School Cable TV Operations Agreement
6. Policy Statement Minority-Owned, Women's Business Enterprises and Small Business
7. 2009 Solid Waste Annual Report
8. Inspections Department 2009 Activities Report
9. Hwy 7/Wooddale Project Update
Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk Jeff co , ayor