HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/01/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - Economic Development Authority - RegularM IC R O F IL M E D
MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
January 19, 1993
1. Call to order
President Meland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll call
The following commissioners were present at roll call: Jeff Jacobs, Allen
Friedman, Larry Mitchell, Gail Dorfman and Keith Meland.
Also present were the Interim Executive Director (Mr. Pires), City Attorney
Steilen, Dir. of Community Development (Mr. Hagen) and Dir. of Public
Works (Mr. Grube).
Traffic impact study: Request for Proposal
President Mel and said this was the only piece of business with a request
to take action basically to put it on the February l, 1993 agenda for
final action to solicit proposals.
Karen Coggins, Excel Neighborhood Committee and John DeKoster, Park Nicollet,
were in attendance.
Mr. Pires said the Authority had asked for additional information from
staff, specifically (1) whether Hennepin County or MnDOT have completed
any traffic studies related to the subject area, and (2) whether Hennepin
County or Mn DOT coul ct help fund the EDA' s proposed traffic study si nee
it includes a county road and state highway area. He asked Mr. Grube
to address those two issues.
Mr. Grube said to staff's knowledge, neither Hennepin County nor MnDOT
has conducted studies that woul ct be of benefit to the Authority. He sai ct
MnDOT is presently evaluating the Hwy. 100 corridor from 27th St. to
36th St. Regarding the second issue, i.e. potential for financial contribution,
representatives of the County and State indicate both agencies in the
past have participated in projects of this nature and may be amenable
to paying some portion of study costs. Both representatives did indicate
they would participate only insofar as it immediately affects their
facilities. He anticipated the maximum the Authority could expect in
financial assistance from the County and State would be 25% to 1/3. The
State would require an agreement with the City prior to financial commitment;
the County does not require an agreement but also gives no guarantee
of financial participation.
Mr. Meland gave an opportunity to Ms. Coggins and Mr. DeKoster to speak.
Karen LeMay Coggins, 4033 Quentin Ave. So., said members of the neighborhood
had expressed concern about some of the areas not being addressed in
the RFP. She asked about the potential for some Federal funding to improve
the exit ramps from northbound Hwy. 100 to Excelsior Blvd., perhaps increasing
it to four lanes. She noted the proposed study did not include the inter-
section as a whole and whether there is any development or not, it is
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a major concern of the neighborhood. She felt it imperative this be considered
in any impact study. Secondly, the neighborhood is concerned about W.
39th St. no 1 onger being used as a through street. They understood the
medical center's desire to create a campus-like setting with reduced
pedestrian traffic using the street. They would like to have as part
of a traffic study that a consultant 1 ook at W. 39th and determine if
what is proposed is the best possible configuration.
John DeKoster, Park Nicollet Medical Center, spoke. The Center shared
the neighborhood's concern about the Hwy. 100/Excel si or interchange.
Because of the complications contained therein, they focused their planning
efforts on the campus itself and W. 39th St. It was a vision to route
more traffic out the W. 36th St. interchange, a currently under-utilized
route. The issue of W. 39th St. is absolutely imperative if the Center
is to keep on construction target.
Commissioner Dorfman asked about the timetable for the traffic study.
Mr. Grube said the RFP indicated a Feb. 15 return date meaning a Feb.
1 release date.
Commissioner Friedman concurred with Ms. Coggins concerns relative to
the impact on Hwy. 100 as well as throughout the whole area and the neighbor-
hoods. He was also concerned about the Tower Place property. He was pleased
that the Authority was dealing with a quality employer with a unique
concept. He wanted the RFP to incorporate closure of W. 39th St.
Commissioner Mitchell asked how the Authority would deal with this on
Feb. 1.
President Me 1 and said the Authority would receive a fi na 1 draft of the
RFP and then voted on by the Authority to deal with the various consultants.
Closure of W. 39th St. would be part of the proposal.
Councilmember Friedman requested that a neighborhood contact be allowed
input at any time he/she might desire and may meet with the engineers
and planners during the process.
The direction given by the Authority was to refer the traffic impact
study: RFP to staff to being back to the Feb. 1 EDA meeting for final
action to solicit request for proposal, and. to be returned to the Feb.
15 meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Interim Executive Director