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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/09/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session J/1 St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 The meeting convened at 6:35 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs (arrived at 6:42 p.m.), Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan Sanger, and Sue Santa. Councilmembers absent: Phil Finkelstein and Paul Omodt. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Inspection Services Manager (Ms. Boettcher), Communications Coordinator(Mr. Zwilling), City Engineer(Mr. Brink), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). 1. Southwest LRT Project and Planning Update Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and reviewed the policy questions for Council consideration. Ms. McMonigal discussed the overall organization for completing the SWLRT project and stated that 30,000 daily rides are projected, the project is projected to have a capital cost of $1 25 billion, and 17 stations are planned along the 15 mile corridor. She advised that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently authorized the project to move into the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase and the FTA will fund up to 50% of the project, with other funders including the County Rail Authority, CTIB, and the State. She pointed out that the Met Council's job is to design and construct the LRT, including PE. She also provided an update regarding the Community Works project, intended to maximize economic community development, and the City's station area planning efforts intended to guide land use and new development. She reported that grants have been received from the Met Council to study surface water management and conduct a public process for creating design guidelines at the Beltline station area. She indicated that further information regarding this process will be presented to Council in the coming months Councilmember Ross requested further information regarding the various businesses that will be impacted by the project. Ms. McMonigal stated that the Met Council and SW Community Works are working together to form a business advisory team. Councilmember Santa asked if there will be opportunities for the station area advisory committees to work together or to at least be kept updated as it relates to station area planning for all the stations. Ms. McMonigal agreed this was a good idea and would serve to create a community feel to the station areas. She advised that the City is working with Barr Engineering and SRF Consulting on the Beltline station area planning and will look for creative ways to create a system that does not impede redevelopment. Councilmember Sanger stated it will be important that the engineering analysis include looking at whether to create a grade separated crossing at Beltline. Special Study Session Minutes -2- September 19, 2011 Councilmember Ross requested further information regarding mitigation, noting that it appears the FTA sets the preliminary guidelines and will dictate a lot of what will happen during the project. Ms. McMonigal stated that the idea is to get ahead of mitigation and to make decisions with timely thought and analysis, which will be part of the Community Works analysis. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to outline a structure for community input and moving forward on activities related to SWLRT. Mayor Jacobs stated that he liked the idea of incorporating a St. Louis Park theme at the different stations in the City. Councilmember Mavity asked if there would be any process for public input during the surface water management component. Ms. McMonigal explained that the current work is technical but public input will be sought when there is something to share. She indicated that the City Engineer serves on the selection committee for PE, which is expected to start March 1st. She added that Community Works is using some of the HUD money to do transitional station area planning and will potentially start in December or January. Mr. Harmening stated that staff has been working with the City Attorney on a response to the FTA's PE letter and proposes to send a letter to the Met Council requesting clanfication regarding certain aspects of the FTA's PE letter, particularly related to freight rail. He indicated that the letter will seek clarification regarding the depth of the study, how the study will be incorporated into the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for SWLRT, and how the Met Council plans on meeting that particular requirement. Councilmember Santa stated it was interesting that the FTA focused so much on the freight rail reroute as part of SWLRT and indicated she would like some idea of the Met Council's thinking in their approach to what the FTA is asking for. She added she would also like clarification regarding the FTA's reference to a flyover bridge. Councilmember Sanger agreed that a letter to the Met Council should be sent focusing on the points outlined in the staff report. She stated that it appears clear that the County has misrepresented the City's consultant's findings and felt that the City's letter should clanfy the City's consultant's findings in terms of relative cost differentials, safety issues, etc. and should ask Met Council how it is going to incorporate this issue into their PE planning. She felt this was not an issue that could be ignored by the Met Council in its PE planning and hoped that Met Council would not spend a lot of money on PE until it has a clear idea regarding freight rail. She indicated that she has been asked by several members of the community to find out if there will be opportunities for public input, observation, and/or participation in meetings during the PE process. Councilmember Ross indicated she would also like input regarding not only what is being planned for the reroute, but whether FTA and Met Council feel that freight rail and light rail can co-exist. Special Study Session Minutes -3- September 19, 2011 Councilmember Sanger suggested that the FTA could be helpful to the City in encouraging the County to communicate with the City. Mayor Jacobs requested that the letter seek clarification regarding what is being assumed in terms of co-location or re-routing as part of the PE process. He stated he would also like clarification regarding how serious FTA is in telling the parties to get this figured out because at some point, when this matter goes before the Court of Appeals, a judge is going to ask if the parties have negotiated this and he would like to have this done sooner rather than later. Councilmember Mavity advised that at two recent meetings, she has reiterated that the City has sent a letter to the County requesting a meeting and indicating the City's willingness to sit down and talk about this with the County. Mr. Harmening stated that one of the questions to be asked regarding the PE letter relates to what is being assumed in terms of co-location. He indicated that if a DEIS is being prepared, there is typically a requirement for some kind of alternatives analysis and the City will ask how that is being handled. Councilmember Sanger indicated that the PE letter made a point about needing to resolve operational funding once the LRT is built. She requested that the letter ask how much clanty and commitment is needed and the timeframe for this commitment. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare a letter to the Met Council in response to the recently issued FTA letter regarding PE for the SWLRT project. Councilmember Mavity asked if Mn/DOT and/or Met Council should be included in the City's discussions with the County. Mr. Scott stated that the City is currently appealing Mn/DOT's decision and felt that it would not be appropriate at this time to include Mn/DOT in the City's discussions with the County. 2. Project Update — Trunk Highway 169 Proposed Visual Barrier and Access Closure Project Mr. Brink presented the staff report. Councilmember Ross stated that most residents in her ward are supportive of the access closure project. Councilmember Santa stated that even though many residents in her ward use this access as a shortcut, they are generally supportive of the project It was the consensus of the City Council to pursue the proposed visual barner construction and access closure project as proposed. Wntten Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: Special Study Session Minutes -4- September 19, 2011 3. Deer Management Policy Councilmember Mavity requested clarification regarding notification procedures in the deer management policy. Council discussed the deer management policy's population reduction methods. Mr. Harmening stated that the language contained in the policy is consistent with the language used by Edina and Plymouth. He agreed to further review the policy and provide Council with any proposed revisions. 4. Administrative Rules for Allowing Chickens Mr. Harmening noted that staff is interested in discussing this further with Council before moving forward. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. -,,i, Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Jaco s, ayo