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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/02/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IIf St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA FEBRUARY 7,2011 The meeting convened at 7:02 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tem Susan Sanger, Phil Finkelstein, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, and Sue Santa. Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs and Councilmember Paul Omodt. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Organizational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg), Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). 1. Finalize 2011 City Council Workshop Agenda Ms. Gothberg presented the staff report and the proposed agenda and desired outcomes for the City Council Workshop on March 12`h Councilmember Ross expressed concern as to whether a one-day workshop would be sufficient given the number of significant issues needing to be addressed by the Council and she suggested a two-day workshop in order to avoid the need for additional study sessions due to the larger issues currently on the that Council should be discussing. Mr. Harmening stated that other priorities identified by Council and staff include the replacement of the Virginia Avenue railroad bridge, the policy regarding what the City charges residents for things such as replacing water and sewer service lines and removal of trees on boulevards, a request for a Reilly Tar 101, as well as the Nestle/Novartis property. Councilmember Mavity stated that she felt the Louisiana Avenue/Highway 7 project was critical and an appropriate discussion topic for the March 12th meeting. She agreed that the civic facilities discussion should occur on March 12t. She added that freight rail is also an important topic and represents one of the biggest issues the City will be dealing with this year. She indicated that if this item were added to the March 12th agenda, she does not want to get into a discussion of facts and issues, but rather would like to discuss the process by which the Council will be discussing this topic. Councilmember Finkelstein agreed that the City budget is an important topic but it does not make sense to discuss this on March 12th because the State budget process will not be far enough along to have a meaningful discussion and suggested this topic be deferred until late summer. He also suggested that Council meet on a fifth Monday or to schedule a longer study session if it cannot cover everything on the workshop agenda. Councilmember Santa stated that the first two items on the workshop agenda are critical and the Council should spend the time it needs to cover these two items. She agreed that the Louisiana Avenue/Highway 7 project is critical and it makes sense for Council to spend time productively in making decisions on this topic. She stated that she felt the civic facilities discussion needs to be in an open meeting where more people are likely to be in attendance. She agreed that the budget discussion is premature and can take place at a later date. Councilmember Mavity stated that she is interested in discussing freight rail only in terms of how the Council wants to manage this in a way that has integrity for the public and for the Council in its relationship. Special Study Session Minutes -2- February 7, 2011 Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated that she would like the civic facilities discussion to include a review of the survey data with staff and to understand what happens next. She indicated that she would prefer not to hold a discussion regarding freight rail at the workshop to avoid any perception that Council is discussing overall freight rail issues. She stated that she is much more interested in talking about any communication issues immediately after a meeting when someone feels a violation has occurred and to not discuss these types of communication issues weeks later because it does not have the same impact as talking about it immediately after a meeting. She also noted that Council developed its norms for working together. Councilmember Santa stated that the communications discussion on March 12th will provide an opportunity to work better with each other and to facilitate a better understanding of each Councilmember's communication style. It was the consensus of the City Council to include agenda item #1 (Carver Governance Model) and agenda item#2 (Council Communications)on the March 12th workshop agenda. It was also the consensus of the City Council to include Civic Facilities and Louisiana Avenue/Highway 7 on the March 12th workshop agenda. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger recessed the Special City Council Study Session at 7:25 p.m. in order to convene the City Council meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Sanger reconvened the Special City Council Study Session at 7:53 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only. 2. Report on Freight Rail Alternatives 3. Highway 100 Project Update Mr. Harmening presented the staff report. Mr. Rardin presented graphic illustrations of Concepts B and C as well as a matrix comparing all concepts and project design criteria developed by staff. He provided historical background information regarding the Highway 100 project to date and stated that it is important to recognize that the Highway 100 project is being driven by Mn/DOT. He noted that the 2006 concept was never finalized and no community discussions took place regarding the 2006 concept. He advised that Mn/DOT has recently advised that the West 27th Street entrance ramp will have to close to meet Mn/DOT safety standards. He discussed the municipal consent process whereby Mn/DOT must obtain approval from the City when Mn/DOT is buying additional right-of-way or changing access points. Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated that she felt it would be irresponsible for the City to agree to the 27th Street closure without first taking the issue to the Birchwood neighborhood and until the City has a much clearer idea of what will happen with the Nestlé site and how much traffic will be generated by whatever comes next in that area. Councilmember Ross agreed that the 27th Street closure could impact a business that may be looking at the Nestlé site. Councilmember Finkelstein stated that the City has few north-south routes and the Highway 100 reconstruction project will have a regional effect involving the community as a whole, starting Special Study Session Minutes -3- February 7, 2011 with Birchwood and expanding to the entire City. He added that the City cannot wait to see what happens with the Nestlé site before stating a preference on the proposed concepts. Mr. Rardin explained that the Highway 7 and Minnetonka Boulevard bridges are Ch. 152 bridges that are mandated for replacement as structurally deficient. He stated that $35 million has been set aside for replacement of the two bridges and Mn/DOT has advised staff that it may be possible to move this project up by one year, with a late 2014 letting. He added that depending on how large the project gets, the City will be required to pay its fair share of the local component, e.g., moving public utilities or streets / appurtenances owned by the City. He advised that the City has retained SEH to provide technical assistance to the City in critiquing the various concepts as well as the impacts and mitigation associated with a possible 27th Street closure. He added that Mn/DOT has indicated that it would be okay with a hybrid of the concepts and is open to having an east side two way frontage road south of Minnetonka Blvd. He noted that there has been some confusion regarding lane widths and clarified that Mn/DOT is planning 12' lanes throughout the project in order to meet all safety standards. Councilmember Santa stated that she is unable to state a concept preference because Council does not yet have enough information. She stated that the concepts comparison matrix prepared by Mr. Rardin was helpful, but it will be important to understand how local drivers further out will access Highway 100 and how the 27th Street closure will impact traffic not only in the immediate vicinity but further out as well. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger requested that SEH identify and analyze, to the extent possible, neighborhood congestion and cut-through traffic if 27th Street is closed under Concept B or C. She also requested that SEH attempt to analyze where traffic will go if 27th Street is closed. Councilmember Santa stated that it will be important for the Council to take a bigger view of things, for planning purposes, and to be proactive in giving Mn/DOT direction that makes sense for the entire community. Councilmember Mavity stated that the issue of how Minnetonka Boulevard functions and its access to Highway 100 is critical and suggested that SEH analyze that issue as well. Mayor Pro Tem Sanger requested that SEH look at the impact to businesses on Minnetonka Boulevard and to also analyze whether one or another of the concepts puts a greater constraint on the City's ability to do a north-south road over the railroad tracks such as was discussed approximately one year ago. She also requested that SEH address the bike trail question and the ability to connect to Cedar Lake trail. She expressed frustration regarding the uncertainty surrounding Mn/DOT's position with respect to the homes on Toledo Avenue. Mr. Harmening agreed that staff will work with our consultant to provide Council with a clear understanding of the concepts or a hybrid of the concepts including the 27th Street closure and what it will mean to the community, particularly within a '/4 or Y2 mile radius in terms of increased congestion, cut-through traffic, unintended consequences, as well as commercial impacts. He stated that this information may be available before the end of February for review by Council. The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m. dit Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk Jeff Jac lbFay r