HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/04/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jfl St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
APRIL 8, 2013
The meeting convened at 6:38 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tern Susan Sanger, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross
(arrived at 6:41 p.m.), Sue Santa, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), City
Engineer (Mr. Brink), Director of Parks and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Director of Community
Development (Mr. Locke), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Senior Planner (Mr.
Walther), Community Liaison (Ms. Olson), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), and
Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes).
Guests: April Crockett (Mn/DOT Project Engineer), Michael Schroeder (LHB Corp.), Mark
Fuhrmann (Met Council Program Director- Twin Cities LRT), Jim Alexander (Met Council SW
LRT Director of Design & Engineenng), Chris Weyer (Met Council SW LRT Project Director),
Sophia Ginis (Community Outreach Coordinator for St. Louis Park & Minneapolis), Sam
O'Connell (Community Outreach Manager), and Jeff Miller(HKGi).
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—April 22,2013
Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for April 22nd
2. Highway 100 Project Update
Mr. Bnnk presented the staff report and introduced Mr. Michael Schroeder, LHB Corp., and Ms.
April Crockett, Mn/DOT Project Engineer.
Mr. Schroeder explained the process undertaken regarding Visual Quality stating the goal is to
produce ideas that tie together the Highway 100 corridor and pull together ideas shared by
members of the Visual Quality Advisory Committee (VQAC). He stated the VQAC divided the
visual quality elements for this project into three categories, including major mainline structures,
local features, and supporting elements, and the VQAC is interested in public art that is reflective
of the community and is innovative, visionary, vibrant, welcoming, and embracing, and should
also include branding specific to St. Louis Park. He stated the VQAC envisions a corridor that
respects the environment and reflects a commitment to the environment and social stewardship,
adding it was important to the VQAC to incorporate art as integrated pieces of a well-planned
whole. He then presented several drawings developed through the VQAC process intended to be
innovative and unique and that establishes a signature along the corridor. He discussed the noise
walls and retaining walls and stated the VQAC worked to find ways that the noise walls on the
northern end of the corridor act as gateway elements for St. Louis Park by clearly marking
beginning and end points and that break up the verticality of tall walls. He then presented
several drawings of possible noise walls indicating that native materials would be used in the
foundation. He advised the VQAC recently finished its discussion on local features that support
the major mainline structures and identified a series of locations that could typify local character,
including a streetscape feature along Utica Avenue and an alleyscape on the east side of Utica
Avenue that incorporates natural lighting; other potential locations include the Minnetonka
Boulevard bridge railing and bridge lighting and the Highway 7 interchange. He stated the
Study Session Minutes -2- April 8, 2013
VQAC also defined parameters for where public art should be incorporated in conjunction with
Mn/DOT requirements, e.g., Monkey Island and the Holiday right-of-way remnant area. He
indicated that supporting elements include earthwork and grading, drainage and ponding, signs
and sign bridges, highway lighting, and landscape design concept and will be discussed by the
VQAC at an upcoming meeting. He advised that an open house focused on visual quality will
occur during June and the Visual Quality Manual will be done by the end of June.
Councilmember Spano requested further information regarding lighting related to the bridge
structure.
Mr. Schroeder advised the VQAC has been considering the use of a small reveal with a strip of
LED lights in order to highlight a portion of the bridge and at the ends of walls as a way to make
sure they stand out as architecture pieces.
Councilmember Mavity suggested using down lighting on the pedestrian areas of the bridges that
would be set into the wall itself and that would not be distractive to drivers.
Councilmember Ross suggested using some type of low-maintenance groundcover. She also
suggested the VQAC give consideration to possible alternatives to standard Mn/DOT signage as
a way to create another public art opportunity.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger suggested having the name of the community or name of the road set
into stone.
Ms. Olson advised that staff proposes to contract with Andrea Myklebust and Stan Sears of
Myklebust+Sears on the public art for this corridor and noted that Myklebust+Sears was selected
to work on the Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue public art project.
Ms. Walsh indicated that Ms. Myklebust and Mr. Sears are familiar with Mn/DOT guidelines
and are comfortable working with Mn/DOT on these types of projects. She stated that given the
short timeframe and Mn/DOT restrictions, staff feels that Myklebust+Sears represents the best
choice for the City.
It was the consensus of the City Council to proceed with contracting with Myklebust+Sears on
public art opportunities along the Highway 100 corndor.
Councilmember Santa urged the City to incorporate innovative landscaping into this project
particularly given the City's sustainability program. She also urged the City to incorporate
stronger branding into the project.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger thanked Mr. Schroeder and Ms. Crockett and the VQAC for all their
work on this project.
3. SW LRT Update
Mr. Locke presented the staff report.
Mr. Fuhrmann stated he is the Program Director for light rail in the Twin Cities and introduced
Mr. Chris Weyer, Met Council SWLRT Project Director; Mr. Jim Alexander, SWLRT Director
of Design & Engineering; Ms. Sam O'Connell, Community Outreach Manage; and Ms. Sophia
Study Session Minutes -3- April 8, 2013
Ginis, Community Outreach Coordinator for St. Louis Park and Minneapolis. He advised that
the SW LRT project includes five partner cities and will include 17 light rail stations with three
stations located in St. Louis Park. He reviewed the SW LRT development timeline indicating
that final design will be completed dunng 2014 and 2015 with construction taking place through
2017 and final testing and operations beginning in 2018. He stated that Preliminary Engineering
(PE) plans will be submitted to cities to begin the municipal consent process in the third quarter
of 2013. It will be followed by a public hearing process with the goal of receiving municipal
consent the end of 2013.
Mr. Alexander presented the SW LRT PE technical issues stating that technical issues #13, #14,
#15, and #16 relate to light rail stations specific to the City of St. Louis Park, technical issue#21
relates to freight rail, and technical issue #23 relates to the Operation and Maintenance Facility
(OMF) site. He discussed the municipal consent elements and major scoping decisions that
serve as guiding principles for issue resolution. He reviewed the SW LRT Advisory Committee
process that includes public involvement of business and community representatives and stated
there has also been an ongoing extensive public outreach process. He presented information
regarding the Hiawatha OMF and advised that the OMF site that will be needed for SWLRT line
will be approximately 15 acres in size and house approximately 150 to 180 employees. He
stated that four potential OMF sites have been identified in St. Louis Park. He advised that as
part of its due diligence, Met Council developed evaluation cntena to identify potential OMF
sites. These criteria will be used to assist in narrowing the number of candidate sites from 18 to
five or six sites. He then presented aerial drawings of the OMF candidate sites in the City.
Councilmember Mavity stated there are existing uses in the OMF candidate sites that would
result in jobs or businesses being removed.
Mr. Alexander stated that economic development considerations are included in the OMF
evaluation cnteria adding that relocation costs will need to be factored into these considerations.
He acknowledged that SW LRT will exist in an urban environment and there are existing uses in
a lot of these sites.
Mr. Locke indicated that the number of potential OMF sites was expanded from what was
contained in the DEIS, and the City submitted a letter to Mr. Alexander indicating the City was
not in support of the use of any of these sites as an OMF.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger asked what weight would be given to a local community's land use plans
for a potential OMF site.
Mr. Alexander stated that Met Council will consider the evaluation critena as well as a
community's future land use plans when making its decision regarding the OMF site.
Councilmember Mavity asked what kind of noise and light would be generated outside or within
an OMF facility.
Mr. Fuhrmann advised that an OMF operation is much quieter than a rail yard and the Hiawatha
OMF has much of its activity confined indoors. He acknowledged there is some operational
track noise from trains leaving the yard to get back onto the mainline. He advised.that an OMF
facility is a 24/7 operation and the site is lit for security, adding they will work closely with the
host community on lighting, including down lighting on the building to restrict ambient light
from migrating into the neighborhood.
i 1
Study Session Minutes -4- April 8, 2013
Mr. Alexander stated the Business Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Committee
discussed the potential OMF sites at their respective meetings March 27th and March 28`h, noting
that the Community Advisory Committee suggested the OMF presented an opportunity to serve
multiple purposes on one site, e.g., OMF and park and ride. He reviewed next steps stating that
an open house will be held in each of the potential OMF host cities and Met Council anticipates
selecting the OMF site by June or July.
Councilmember Spano stated the OMF locations are situated directly adjacent to light rail
stations and Council has previously talked about the economic development that will be
generated by these light rail stations, and pointed out that the potential OMF locations flies
directly in the face of that economic development.
Mr. Alexander discussed technical issue #21 regarding freight rail stating that the FTA has
tasked the Met Council with developing designs for both relocation and co-location of freight
rail. He presented a map of the co-location and relocation options as shown in the SW LRT
DEIS and pointed out there will always be some form of co-location in the vicinity of Highway
169 and in Minneapolis at the east end of the SW LRT line, no matter which option is chosen.
He stated that TC&W has indicated if they are relocated, it will need to be on some configuration
that is no worse than the Kenilworth corridor, adding that TC&W raised concerns regarding the
DEIS proposed relocation route; and, TC&W is assisting Met Council with the design of both the
co-location and relocation alternatives. He presented an aerial drawing of the west portion of the
preliminary co-location scenario (Co-to-1), noting that this has a relatively confined right-of-way
and is tight as the trains move north of the Midtown Greenway. He presented an aerial drawing
of the middle and eastern portions of the co-location scenario (Co-lo-2 and Co-lo-3) stating that
the maximum horizontal curve is six degrees and the maximum compensated grade is 1.18. He
presented an aerial drawing of the western section of the relocation scenario (Re-Lo-1) and stated
that one of the concerns raised by TC&W is the eight degree curve from the Bass Lake Spur to
MN&S and the maximum compensated grade of 1.86%. He presented an aerial drawing of the
next portion of the relocation scenario moving east (Re-Lo-2) and stated that TC&W raised
concern about the "S" curves in this area near SLP High School. He indicated there are three
curves along the DEIS proposed route that have a maximum compensated grade in excess of
1.18, causing TC&W to question whether they can operate on that configuration. He also
presented aerial drawings of the rest of the relocation scenarios (Re-Lo-4 and Re-Lo-5). He
stated they are currently defining existing conditions and anticipate completion of the design
options in May for both relocation and co-location scenarios.
Councilmember Santa indicated that comments have been made about how narrow and tight the
Kenilworth segment is and asked if Met Council has considered the close proximity of houses
along the reroute in the City, along with the close proximity to the high school and Peter Hobart
as well as the number of street crossings. She added she wanted to make sure the City's
concerns are being given the same consideration as the concerns raised regarding Kenilworth.
Mr. Alexander replied in the affirmative, adding that right-of-way has been factored into both the
co-location and relocation options.
Councilmember Mavity indicated there has been some discussion about moving the Louisiana
Avenue light rail station further south toward Methodist Hospital and asked how that would
impact the relocation and co-location as well as station area planning.
Study Session Minutes -5- Apnl 8, 2013
Mr. Alexander advised they have been working with the City on station locations near Methodist
Hospital, and moving the station could be possible in either a relocation or co-location scenario.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger asked if the Kenilworth analysis makes the assumption that the light rail
tracks would go through the corridor precisely as defined in the DEIS or whether Met Council is
open to moving them. She also asked if Met Council was open to moving the bike trail in the
Kenilworth corridor in order to create more space for potentially relocated freight rail.
Mr. Alexander replied that they are looking at opportunities for both light rail and freight rail
through that corridor, including potentially relocating or elevating the trail and other options.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger asked if Met Council would be costing out all of the alternatives.
Mr. Alexander replied in the affirmative and stated they intend to have those numbers as they
develop the designs for both co-location and relocation.
Councilmember Mavity stated that in either scenario one of the issues that St. Louis Park has
dealt with includes the switching yard and storage and indicated that the City has stated on more
than one occasion that removal of the storage and switching yard would be required.
Mr. Alexander acknowledged Councilmember Mavity's statement and indicated Met Council
has communicated that statement with the railroad. He then reviewed next steps relative to
freight rail and stated that an open house on freight rail will be scheduled in June or July.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger asked if Met Council expects to have already made a decision regarding
freight rail at the time of the open house.
Mr. Alexander stated that Met Council wants public input before a decision is made regarding
freight rail. He added they will continue to work with the FTA as they move through the design
process.
Mr. Fuhrmann indicated that the FTA wants to know that Met Council has developed a
workable, agreeable solution before taking final action on the preferred option, and Met Council
will continue to develop design details and brief the City and other interested agencies, including
the HCRRA, FTA, and STB.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger requested further information regarding the criteria used to evaluate the
co-location and relocation options. She asked if there were weights assigned to each of these
criteria. Mr. Fuhrmann replied there were not weights assigned to the criteria."
Mr. Fuhrmann stated they will need to look at environmental impacts of either co-location or
relocation, as well as safety impacts and cost impacts, with the decision ultimately residing with
the Met Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated that,in either a relocation or co-location option, a lot of
environmental mitigation will be required beyond what is currently contained in the DEIS. She
asked if they are analyzing those mitigation needs and costing them out. She also asked if this
mitigation would have a bearing on the freight route selected.
Study Session Minutes -6- April 8, 2013
Mr. Fuhrmann felt there was no perfect alignment, and Met Council acknowledges that it will
have environmental impacts to address in either option. He stated that they will identify those
items that cannot be remedied through design and identify mitigation measures required to
address those items, adding that they will have to generate a cost estimate as to what those
mitigation measures entail.
Councilmember Hallfin asked Mr. Fuhrmann about the engineering for both co-location and
relocation and asked if they were going to do the same job for both relocation and co-location.
Mr. Fuhrmann replied in the affirmative and stated they do not have any bias one way or the
other related to engineering for either option.
Councilmember Mavity stated that the officially required mitigation falls far short compared to
the mitigation identified in writing as needed by the City. She assumed that the officially
required mitigation measures would be part of the SW LRT project budget but that the robust
mitigation identified by the City will not be included in this budget, stating that this will be a
problem for the City if it is facing making a decision on municipal consent by the end of the
year. Councilmember Mavity was concerned that there will not be enough time to sort out the
mitigation issues before a Municipal Consent decision is needed.
Mr. Fuhrmann stated that the issues faced here are not unlike other rail projects in other host
cities and indicated that Councilmember Mavity's characterization was fair. He stated there will
be FRA and FTA accepted mitigation measures along with Met Council justified mitigation
measures that the FTA will participate in financially. He agreed there may be other mitigation
measures beyond the FTA authorized mitigation measures, adding that in other projects they
have gone back to the host city or host county to negotiate the mitigation measures whereby
some combination of city, county, and Met Council funding was identified to fund some portion
of the additional mitigation measures.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger stated that it appears there will be significant design changes compared
to what was contained in the DEIS, and she asked if there will be another public comment period
to weigh in on the revised plans.
Mr. Fuhrmann explained that the environmental process allows for projects to make adjustments
to what has been previously published and stated. If freight rail is moved to a completely
different corridor, then they would have to create a new environmental disclosure step to
articulate and disclose to the public for comment. He added that the Final EIS will be published
in 2014 and this document provides a comment period to the public, noting that the FEIS occurs
only after the municipal consent process.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger stated that it was her understanding that when Hennepin County handed
over the DEIS to the Met Council, the Met Council would be taking an independent look at the
DEIS analysis and options. She requested Met Council's assurance regarding this independent
analysis. She stated it was her understanding that Met Council staff participated in Hennepin
County's DEIS process and analysis, and now Hennepin County staff are participating in the Met
Council's review of the options. She questioned whether Met Council would truly be able to
provide a fresh and independent analysis of the options.
Mr. Fuhrmann stated his commitment to the City as the officially designated lead project sponsor
and added it is incumbent upon Met Council and the Southwest Project Office to
comprehensively, thoughtfully, and creatively review all issues discussed with the City Council
Study Session Minutes -7- April 8, 2013
this evening. He added that the FTA has a significant stake in this project, and Met Council will
continue working on all issues to find the best solutions for the project and the host cities. He
expressed his appreciation to the City for its willingness and openness to engage in the technical
evaluation and indicated that earlier comments made publicly by the City of Minneapolis do not
influence the technical evaluation and design being generated by the Southwest Project Office.
Mr. Alexander stated that information is available online at www.SWLRT.org or residents can
contact Ms. Ginis at 612-373-3895 or sophia.ginis@metrotransit.org.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger thanked Mr. Fuhrmann and Mr. Alexander for the update.
Transitional Station Area Action Plans (TSAAP) Discussion:
Mr. Locke introduced Mr. Jeff Miller of HKGi.
Mr. Miller provided an update on the TSAAP process and stated that this process is intended to
promote opening day readiness by bridging the gap between current conditions and future needs
by addressing station platform locations, park and ride, future development potential, access and
circulation, infrastructure, and creative storm water solutions. He advised that the TSAAP
process is working collaboratively with and parallel to the Southwest Project Office/Preliminary
Engineering teams. He discussed the technical charrette meetings and presented a concept
drawing for the Beltline station, which depicts a possible rerouting of the Cedar Lake trail along
Park Glen Road, as well as improved pedestrian crossings at Highway 25 and at Beltline. He
presented a concept drawing for the Wooddale station that includes a transit plaza. Other
considerations included developing public space around the station and improving walk/bike
crossings in the highway interchange areas and a bus/vehicle drop-off on 36` Street. He noted
that this station is probably the most traditional transit oriented development area along the
corridor, with a lot of focus on this area being mixed use. He also presented a concept drawing
for the Louisiana Avenue station, stating this is one of the most challenging stations with
consideration being given to alternative station locations and alternative rail lines, reorienting the
entrance of the hospital toward Cambridge Street, and increasing walk/bike connections.
Councilmember Ross asked if consideration had been given to using a shuttle system in these
areas.
Ms. McMonigal replied that the use of a shuttle system has been raised several times and stated
that the City is working with Metro Transit on potential rerouting of some of the bus routes to go
to the station areas.
Mr. Miller stated that next steps include expanded stakeholder input on the concepts and moving.
toward development of action plans. He advised that an open house is scheduled for April 18
th
from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Rec Center that will include information on light rail as well as the
TSAAP process and is meant to be aninteractive format where attendees can provide input. He
noted that all materials are posted on the SW LRT website for additional review and comment.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger thanked Mr. Miller for the update.
Councilmember Mavity requested that the Met Council presentation, as well as Mr. Miller's
presentation,be posted on the website.
Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal)
Study Session Minutes -8- Apnl 8, 2013
Mayor Pro Tern Sanger asked if Council was interested in having a discussion regarding
potential amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to mixed use, noting that the City has
seen an increase in commercial uses on the first floor of a building with housing above and
suggested that the City might need stronger codes requiring insulation so that residents living
above a commercial use are not subjected to noise and/or odors.
Councilmembers Santa, Mavity, and Ross supported further discussion of the Zoning Ordinance.
Councilmember Mavity indicated that Council has been exploring the Business Park zoning
classification and stated that during the station area process some pushback was received related
to the Business Park zoning classification around station areas. She requested that Council take
another look at this zoning classification based on the feedback received.
Ms. McMonigal stated the Business Park zoning classification is intended to be a step away from
industrial toward more mixed use. She indicated the City held public hearings on all properties
affected by the Business Park zoning and has been talking with the City Attorney about changing
the PUD Ordinance to allow residential in the Business Park zoning area adding that the City
would like to do an overlay zone in the station areas.
The meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m.
Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
4. February 2013 Monthly Financial Report
5. Wood Waste Facility Contract
6. Zoning Ordinance Amendment—Mobile Medical Uses
--) 1 ij-r".---eLn--- --N9tst_
Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk / Susan S ger, Mayor Pro Tern
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