HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/04/16 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session II/ St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
APRIL 16, 2012
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tern Susan Sanger, Steve Hallfin (arrived at 6:32 p.m.),
Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Sue Santa, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling),
Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), City Engineer (Mr. Brink), Senior Planner (Mr.
Walther), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes).
1. Pedestrian and Bicycle System Implementation Plan and Policy Review
Mr. Rardin presented the staff report and proposed Community sidewalk classifications as well
as the proposed future sidewalk, trail, and bikeway system depicted on several exhibits.
Councilmember Santa expressed concern with sidewalks leading nowhere and liked the idea of
connecting the City's sidewalks. She noted that public sentiment may have changed since the
original sidewalk plan was introduced several years ago and the City may need to capitalize on
that.
Mr. Harmening indicated this master plan came out of the Vision work in 2006 and has been
adopted into the City's Comprehensive Plan. He stated Council has indicated it wants to
implement further improvements to the City's sidewalks and trails system and staff is trying to
get to a point where Council is comfortable with a concept so questions can be answered and
priorities established, as well as having discussions about how to pay for it and undertaking a
public process. He suggested that Council make a list of proposed sidewalk or trail segments
that it is uncomfortable with and staff will come back to Council for further discussion.
Councilmember Santa felt that all of the sidewalks are needed but noted that residents were not
happy about the segment on 33'1 between Texas Avenue and Louisiana Oaks Park, as well as the
segment on 3 l s` Street.
Councilmember Ross indicated that she would like to see the segment on Flag Avenue go in but
there will likely be some pushback from residents.
Councilmember Mavity explained that she requested the City consider using creative or new
technologies related to sidewalks to mitigate the negative impacts of putting in sidewalks. She
suggested that the definition of Community sidewalk be amended as it relates to activity nodes
so that these segments are addressed on a case by case basis. She stated that not every street
around a particular activity node will require a sidewalk because of a lack of traffic while other
areas such as 39th and 40th between Joppa and the area leading to Minikanda Vista and Susan
Lindgren are more heavily trafficked. She asked that this be considered for some of the more
high traffic areas around parks and schools.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated the difference between Community and Neighborhood sidewalks
is nebulous and felt that the volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic was critical to
differentiating between the two. She stated Council needs greater clarity on that and suggested
Special Study Session Minutes -2- April 16, 2012
creating a threshold for how the City measures pedestrian and vehicle traffic. She added this
would help residents understand why a sidewalk is classified a Community sidewalk or a
Neighborhood sidewalk.
Councilmember Mavity suggested that the first goal of developing an interconnected network of
pedestrian and bicycle routes be revised to state "... establish a citywide grid-system of
sidewalks approximately every '/ mile." She also stated the goals could include a statement
about completing sidewalk segments that are not contiguous.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated the goals should put more emphasis on adding sidewalks in areas
with high traffic volumes whether or not the sidewalks are located every '/ mile.
Councilmember Ross agreed and noted there are going to be some decisions made that will not
be popular with all residents but safety should be the first priority.
Councilmember Mavity requested clarification regarding the bridges that would be part of a
future system and how they fit into the timing of this plan.
Mr. Rardin stated that as trails are built along a particular segment, e.g., Minnehaha Creek west
of Methodist, it is intended that the bridge will be built in conjunction with that segment. He
noted that this will be part of a future discussion with Council as part of the CIP.
Councilmember Sanger stated this leads to the larger question of creating more north-south
connections for vehicles and asked if the plan for sidewalks and trails coordinates with a plan for
future north-south connections, e.g., a new north-south connection west of Highway 100.
Mr. Rardin stated that the City Engineer has started a process to look at traffic connections
through the area around Highway 100 and agreed it would be easier to put a sidewalk and trail
segment in at the same time.
Mr. Harmening stated all of the plans will need to merge at some point and to the extent that the
City does not yet have clear answers on road extensions, certain sidewalk and trail plan specifics
may not be available until that is figured out. He stated that once Council is comfortable with
the concept plan, next steps include talking about specific priorities and financing, followed by
the public input process. He requested that Council further review the plan and forward
comments or concerns regarding those segments that should not be included in the plan. He
requested that these comments be submitted to him or Mr. Rardin by the end of the week.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated that Council should also discuss the principles to be applied in
order to prioritize the plan.
The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
Nancy Strot�� YClerk Susan Sanger Mayor Pro Tem