HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/03/16 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session J1/ St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
MARCH 16, 2015
The meeting convened at 6.45 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tem Jack Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg
Lindberg, Anne Mavity, and Susan Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Director of Engineering (Ms. Heiser), Senior
Engineering Project Manager (Mr. Shamla), Interim Communications Coordinator (Ms.
Pribbenow), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes)
1. Update on 2015 Minnesota Department of Transportation Construction Projects
Ms. Heiser presented the staff report and advised that MnDOT has announced a pavement rehab
project on Highway 169 scheduled to start in late 2016. She stated that MnDOT has informed
the City that the Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge will close on Monday, March 23, and the tear
down of the bridge will occur the following weekend. , She referenced the City's
communications plan and reminded Council that this is a MnDOT project and City staff will
work to enhance MnDOT's communications and make sure consistent messages are being
provided to residents.
Councilmember Sanger stated she contacted April Crockett at MnDOT about providing signage
to the businesses that will be impacted along Minnetonka Boulevard but has not yet heard from
Ms. Crockett. She expressed concern that people will not know that the businesses between
Ottawa and Salem are still open for business during construction
Ms. Heiser stated that City staff participates in weekly meetings with MnDOT and agreed to
follow-up with Ms. Crockett about signage. She discussed several pinch points on the west side
of Highway 100, including the intersection near Most Holy Family, Dakota Avenue by the high
school, and Highway 7 and Wooddale Avenue and advised that staff has indicated to MnDOT
there may need to be a flagger, especially at the school She also discussed the City's Traffic
Committee and advised that the City will continue to monitor the traffic and see if any of the low
cost options would work to resolve traffic-related concerns.
Councilmember Brausen urged the City to make sure communications are being provided to the
schools and School District as well as some type of announcement to parents. He stated part of
the problem is around the junior high school where parents drop off their kids and suggested that
the City encourage more parents to send their kids to school on the buses to avoid traffic issues.
Ms. Heiser also discussed the traffic modeling done at Wooddale and Highway 7 and possible
measures to ease traffic and address safety concerns.
Councilmember Mavity asked if a sign could be installed instructing cars to stop for trail users in
the crosswalk.
Councilmember Sanger stated she did not agree with the suggestion of restriping Wooddale
Avenue into four lanes because of continued concerns over pedestrian safety, which would be
worse with four lanes of traffic.
Special Study Session Minutes -2- March 16, 2015
Ms. Heiser stated that staff recently received clanfication from MnDOT about temporary traffic
signals at this location and MnDOT has confirmed that this location would not need the
interconnect to the railroad tracks because the location of the signals would be slightly further
than the rules allow. She indicated that temporary installation of signals would take
approximately three weeks to design and cost approximately $150,000 to install, adding that staff
continues to meet with MnDOT about the ramps and temporary signals and has asked MnDOT
to design the temporary signals so they are ready for installation. She stated that staff has also
had conversations with Three Rivers Park Distnct about installing a temporary pedestrian
activated flasher at the trail crossing.
Councilmember Sanger suggested shutting down the ramps from Highway 7 and having dnvers
exit at Louisiana Avenue.
Ms. Heiser indicated that staff discussed this possibility but other things need to be completed on
the Louisiana Avenue project, including permanent signage, road stnping and completing the
landscaping, scheduled to be completed by mid-June. The City would have further discussion
about the possibility of changing the detour from Wooddale to Louisiana.
Councilmember Mavity asked for staff's recommendation on protecting the trail users.
Ms. Heiser replied staff would like to explore installing a centerline crosswalk sign. She stated
that Three Rivers has indicated it is open to installing a flashing pedestnan crosswalk sign and
this sign would cost approximately$15,000-$20,000.
Council continued its discussion regarding mitigation of traffic concerns at Wooddale and
Highway 7.
It was the consensus of the City Council that all-way stop controls at Highway 7 and Wooddale
should not be installed. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to continue
working with MnDOT on installation of temporary signals at Highway 7 and Wooddale and to
continue working with Three Rivers Park Distnct on installation of a flashing trail crossing sign.
Councilmember Sanger suggested installing speed humps to slow people down at the trail
crossing.
Ms. Heiser agreed to follow-up on this.
Mr. Shamla advised that MnDOT has committed to a police officer at the top of the ramps on
Highway 7 and Wooddale during peak times until it is determined how traffic flows in this area.
Ms. Heiser discussed the upcoming MnDOT projects on I-394 and I-494 and indicated that
further updates will be provided to Council as staff learns more details about these projects She
requested that any comments or complaints be directed to Apnl Crockett or Bobbie Dahlke at
MnDOT with copies provided to Mr. Shamla.
Mayor Pro Tern Spano adjou ed the meeting at 7:94 p.. .
Ii W '. , I _SiiA
1,v .,
Mel ssa Kennedy, City Cler J. e S S.• o, M-., ►.a1Y'ro Tem