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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/01/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jif St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA JANUARY 5, 2015 The meeting convened at 8:19 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Director of Engineenng (Ms. Heiser), Senior Engineenng Project Manager (Mr. Sullivan), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Organizational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). 1. Southwest LRT Wooddale Station Traffic Analysis Mr. Harmening introduced the topic. Mr. Sullivan presented the staff report and provided additional detail regarding the traffic analysis for the Wooddale station area and potential Xenwood underpass. He also discussed the potential development scenario for the former McGarvey site. Councilmember Brausen asked if it was correct that without the Xenwood underpass, dnvers traveling south on Wooddale would not be able to turn into the McGarvey site. Mr. Sullivan stated that drivers would be required to make a U-turn at 36th and Wooddale, adding that staff has expressed its concerns to the SPO about U-turn movements in this area. Councilmember Sanger asked if the SPO would leave the median open if the City were to forego the whistle quiet zone at Wooddale Mr. Sullivan stated that staff has discussed this with the SPO and there was some discussion about putting a traffic signal at this location but traffic is made worse on Wooddale because there are already five intersections within 700'. He advised that any improvements to Xenwood Avenue would not significantly improve the traffic operations on Wooddale and it is staff's observation that the cost associated with design and construction of the underpass would provide benefits to other parcels but not to the traffic operations on 36th or Wooddale. Councilmember Sanger stated if the City is going to spend $13-15 million for the Xenwood underpass, it appears the primary beneficiary would be the development that occurs on the McGarvey site and the City would not get any tax benefit for many years because of the TIF financing. She questioned whether it might be worthwhile to let the McGarvey site stay undeveloped and to skip the Xenwood underpass given the significant infrastructure costs to support a development on the McGarvey site. Mr. Harmening noted that the City has previously discussed creating a TIF District on the McGarvey site and some of that tax increment would go toward the PLACE development and would also help pay for part of the Xenwood underpass. Special Study Session Minutes -2- January 5, 2015 Councilmember Mavity stated the McGarvey site could consist of a development that does not include a lot of parking and felt strongly that development should occur adjacent to the light rail station. She stated she was not sure whether building the underpass could create new problems, but was in support of investing money on the engineering study in order to answer these questions. Councilmember Hallfin agreed this site would not need to have one car per apartment given its close proximity to the light rail station. He stated he was not necessarily in favor of the Xenwood underpass,but felt the City should proceed with the engineering study. Councilmember Brausen stated he would like Council to consider a senior affordable housing project on the McGarvey site and referenced a 36-unit senior affordable housing project in Robbinsdale. He stated he was still not sold on the Xenwood underpass and felt the City could do other things in developing this area. Councilmember Lindberg stated that the density in this area is going to create problems no matter what and residents will continue to drive through this comdor to get from one side of the city to another, adding that the same could be said for the Beltline corridor. Councilmember Spano felt that the City should proceed with the engineering study on both Beltline and Wooddale, adding he felt the City was more likely to do Wooddale than Beltline. He stated there is only so much that can be done with 36th and Wooddale and the real issue is the bridge because it does not currently function as it should and it will not function in 20 years. It was the consensus of the majority of the City Council to continue to move forward on a commitment to fund the design for the Xenwood underpass LRCI as well as the Beltline LRCI. 2. Review Draft Agenda for 2015 Council Workshop Mr. Harmemng presented the staff report and proposed agenda for the City Council workshop and reviewed the proposed outcomes and proposed format for the workshop. It was the consensus of the City Council that the draft workshop agenda and proposed format of the workshop meets Council's expectations. 3. Review of 2015 Legislative Issues and Priorities Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and draft list of legislative issues and pnonties He stated that the City intends to request that the State take a more active role regarding the use of body cameras. He stated the City also intends to seek funding support for the LRCIs related to Southwest LRT. Councilmember Sanger urged Council to adopt a policy statement regarding use of body cameras. She suggested adding a prionty related to the Reilly Tar consent decree. Mr. Harmening advised the City has been working with the MPCA about the possibility of amending the consent decree and Council will be provided with an update in January or February. Special Study Session Minutes -3- January 5, 2015 Other Discussion Mr. Harmening requested input from Council regarding the CAC and BAC interviews and stated that the appointments need to be made in February. Councilmember Spano spoke in favor of scoring the applicants to narrow the list, similar to the process used by Council when appointments were made to the Environment and Sustainability Commission. It was the consensus of the City Council to schedule interviews with the three candidates who have applied for the two open positions on BAC. It was also the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to forward the CAC applications to Council for ranking. Council discussed the current process for interviewing and selecting candidates for appointment to the vanous boards and commissions. Mr. Harmening suggested that Council hold a study session discussion about the City's board and commission appointment/reappointment process. Mayor Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 9:46 p.m. IAda,/ 1 Nancy Stroth, eity Clerk Jeff Jac v`'s, / r