HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/05/31 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session flySt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
MAY 31,2011
The meeting convened at 7:06 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).
Guest: Dave McKenzie(SEH, Inc.)
1. Draft MN&S EAW Comments and Mitigation Measures
Mr. Locke presented the staff report and draft MN&S mitigation measures.
Mr. Harmening noted that the EAW comment period closes at the end of business on June 15t.
He suggested that Council authorize the submission of the City's EAW comments at its June 6th
City Council meeting with the understanding that additional comments may be added pnor to
formal submission of the EAW comments on June 15t. He added that Council could also review
and/or discuss the EAW comments at its regular study session on June 13th.
Councilmember Ross asked if input was received from the high school regarding mitigation.
She also questioned whether mitigation needs to be included related to the windows at the high
school in terms of a sound bamer.
Mr. Locke stated that the School District identified new windows on their list of proposed
mitigation and the City has identified sound improvements at the high school. He added that in
some cases where vibration from the trains generated noise, improved windows will not help and
the focus becomes improvements to the track itself to reduce sound and vibration.
Councilmember Santa expressed concern regarding the number of blind curves around Library
Lane and appropriate mitigation for those blind curves, which may mean realigning streets. She
felt that the blind curves needed to be addressed more strongly. She also expressed concern that
the language regarding right-of-ways does not state what the City feels is a reasonable right-of-
way. She indicated that the EAW refers to a right-of-way of 50' off the centerline and the City
has stated that it does not feel 50' is adequate, but does not precisely state what that right-of-way
should be.
Councilmember Sanger stated that she felt the distances need to be clarified to reflect distances
from the property lines and not distances to homes. She indicated it is Just as inappropriate for
the County's actions to result in people being unable to use their backyards because of noise and
vibration as it is to say people cannot use their homes because of noise and vibration. She
requested that the mitigation measure related to better fencing and signing be clarified because
the EAW references appropriate fencing, but does not define what appropriate fencing means.
She also requested that the mitigation measure related to expansion of the MN&S right-of-way
include the acquisition of homes east and west of the tracks in order to avoid a situation where
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there is insufficient right-of-way to buffer the homes that remain in this area. She suggested that
the home purchase program be expanded to ensure that sufficient homes are taken to allow
adequate right-of-way between the homes and the tracks with enough room to include the bike
trail. She requested that the mitigation measure related to removal of the wye and construction
of a southern interconnect be linked as one mitigation measure. She also requested that the
mitigation measure with respect to sound and vibration at the high school be amended to include
sound and vibration mitigation improvements for other nearby property owners. She suggested
that the mitigation measures include potential loss of economic property values of homes, noting
that homes along the tracks are having a harder time selling or are selling for less than some
other homes. She added that the City will need more data to help evaluate this loss but to the
extent that there are homes whose property values have declined because of the increased
amount of freight rail traffic in their backyard, there needs to be a program to compensate
residents for that loss. She referenced the studies that discuss decreases in property values for
properties in close proximity to trains and did not believe that this should be left out of the
mitigation measures. She also suggested that the mitigation measure regarding expansion of the
right-of-way in residential areas be clarified to set a northern boundary of West 25-1/2 Street.
Councilmember Finkelstein cautioned the City about requiring remuneration for economic loss
of property values because of the difficulty in determining when a loss has occurred.
Mr. Locke explained that all of the City's work has been based on the idea of a minimum width
of 50' on either side of the centerline of the railroad track. He stated that the proposal to expand
the rail right of way used a minimum distance of 50' from the center line of the tracks to any
residential lot property line as the basis for deciding which properties would need to be acquired.
The intent was to provide a safe buffer between trains and residential lots while acquiring as few
homes as possible. The conclusion was reached that you could get a 50' buffer on both sides of
the tracks by acquiring properties on one side of the tracks and moving the tracks over to get the
full 50' of width on both sides. You would only need to acquire properties between Minnetonka
Blvd and 27th Street to have enough land to provide a 50 ft buffer on both sides of the tracks. He
added that it appeared that some of the townhome property north of 27`h St. would be within 50 ft
of the tracks. However the property within 50 ft of the tracks is the backs of garages which the it
was felt would be less impactful than the backyards of a single family homes.
Councilmember Ross requested that the City include those garages in its calculations because
this is livable area.
Councilmember Omodt requested that the sound and vibration improvements include all the
schools and other properties and not just the high school.
Councilmember Mavity requested that the mitigation measures include impacts to residents and
businesses during construction.
Mayor Jacobs stated that he would like to include noise and vibration impacts to the Lake Street
businesses. He also requested that the reference to removal of the wye be clarified to state that
the tracks should be removed. He indicated that in the event the MN&S reroute occurs it will be
imperative that the County act on its acquisition of homes and not leave residents in limbo, as
has occurred on Toledo Avenue.
Councilmember Sanger stated that no reroute can be contemplated unless approvals and funding
are in place for SWLRT.
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Councilmember Santa expressed frustration that there is no apparent timeline for this project and
communication has been very sporadic and ill informed. She suggested that the mitigation
measures include a request for information in a timely manner.
Councilmember Sanger suggested that the mandatory environmental requirements include a
reference to replacing wetlands because of their benefit and value to the community. She stated
that she did not agree with creating a loan program as part of a structure improvement program
and felt this should be strictly a grant program.
Mr. Locke noted that the County is currently meeting all regulations with respect to wetlands and
if more wetlands are to be created, it will require the City to identify what will be taken away in
order to create more wetlands in St. Louis Park.
Council discussed preserving and enhancing the City's housing stock and the need for affordable
housing in the City.
Councilmember Santa requested that the City's comments to the EAW include Reilly Tar, the
soil conditions, soil testing, and any potential impacts due to construction and the potential
running of trains between two testing wells for City water quality. She stated that the City spends
a lot of money each year monitoring these wells and if this project exacerbates the soil
conditions, the County needs to pay for it and take responsibility for enhanced mitigation as well
as continued monitoring.
Mr. Locke then presented the draft comments on the EAW from the School District as well as
draft general comments on the EAW prepared by Mr. McKenzie.
It was the consensus of the City Council to meet in special study session on June 6th at 6:30 p.m.
It was also the consensus of the City Council to review the MN&S EAW comments and
mitigation measures again on June 13th prior to formal submission of the City's EAW comments.
Mr. McKenzie stated that residents can provide comment on the EAW online via the City's
website or directly on Mn/DOT's website. He added that Mn/DOT is hosting a public open
house regarding the MN&S EAW on Wednesday, June 8th, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Rec
Center.
Councilmember Sanger stated that she felt there needs to be one overarching comment submitted
to the EAW that states there is an inherent contradiction between the EAW's premise that the
purpose of the "proposed action" is to provide TC&W with a connection to St. Paul that is
consistent with the State 2030 Rail Plan and then conducting analyses based only on the number
of trains there operating today. She indicated that this is contradictory and the EAW does not
take into account the potential future increase in rail traf c
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Nancy Stroth, Ci y Clerk Jeff cobs, ayor