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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/03/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council special study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota March 1, 2021 The meeting convened at 5:40 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Lynette Dumalag, Rachel Harris, Larry Kraft, and Margaret Rog Councilmembers absent: Nadia Mohamed Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening) Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Senior Engineering Project Manager (Mr. Sullivan), Transportation Engineer (Mr. Manibog), Senior Management Analyst (Ms. Solano) Guests: none 1. Connect the Park update Mr. Sullivan presented the reports. Councilmember Harris commented on way-finding signs and noted a group in the past that focused on these signs. She stated a group of graduate students is currently working on this initiative, adding it would be helpful for them to be referenced in this area. Councilmember Rog stated she agrees with the goals and noted on goal 2, she would like to add “through better pedestrian, bike and mass transit connections in the city”. She stated this would be an improvement and the same can be added to goal 3. Councilmember Kraft agreed with the goals. He asked on goal 1 if adding “reduce carbon output” would be a better way to phrase the goal. He stated it is assumed but not explicit in the goal. Mayor Spano stated he is fine with the current phrasing of the goal and given the language in the CAP, it is clear the city is working to reduce its carbon footprint. Councilmember Brausen agreed with Mayor Spano and stated he does not want to spend time wordsmithing the goals. Councilmember Dumalag agreed with the goals and asked if goal 1 should be a separate goal to address reduction of carbon output. Councilmember Kraft stated if the council is fine with this, he is in agreement as well. Mayor Spano asked about the interested and concerned bicyclist . Mr. Sullivan stated this will be addressed within goal 2 and will be inclusive and easy for the community to understand. DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 Special study session minutes -2- March 1, 2021 Councilmember Rog noted the first bullet on goal 3, strategies, which mentions reduce versus eliminate and she asked why. Mr. Sullivan stated this is in the context of Connect the Park, but that they will look at other words to include here. Councilmember Brausen noted from a legal point of view the word “eliminate” might be brought up in court later and might have an impact on discretionary decisions . Councilmember Rog referenced the metrics and asked about public input as part of the evaluative stage and how it will influence the metrics selected . Ms. Heiser stated there is the overall plan metrics and then a segment-by-segment metrics component as well. Councilmember Rog asked if neighbors with the loudest voice will get a sidewalk versus others that may not voice their wants or needs. Mr. Harmening stated amendments can be added to the implementation plan, but there is no set process for this . He stated staff will work on formalizing that process versus making changes on a one-by-one basis. Councilmember Kraft asked if goals will be set against the metrics and measured over time . Ms. Heiser stated there have been no goals set on the metrics as yet but noted that is a good suggestion. Ms. Heiser stated staff will work with ESC liaison Ms. Ziring on this. Councilmember Harris stated a great deal of thought has gone into the metrics matrix to create a system to attain goals and how we are getting there, which is important for citizen engagement. She recalled the visioning 3.0 effort to gather feedback from people of color communities and asked if city-wide attitude surveys will be conducted with BIPOC communities or will their information be weighted. Mr. Sullivan stated there has been some attitude surveying done and more to come this summer, adding this will be an ever -evolving process and with better methods to grow and expand as well. Councilmember Harris asked for clarification on living streets sidewalks and if adding a living street sidewalk would be more feasible in some areas. Ms. Heiser stated each year a living street project will be conducted, and sidewalks included, especially when a living streets project is in process. Councilmember Harris asked about outreach to neighborhoods and i f it has been made known that folks can ask for a sidewalk. Ms. Heiser stated staff is asking neighbors for input about adding sidewalks and has had a good response so far. Councilmember Harris noted people are asking for different modes of transit and asked for a metric that relates to behavior change, noting a buddy system for cautious bikers. She asked if this type of model of encouragement has been used. Ms. Heiser stated that has not been used but added staff can explore questions about this within the attitude survey. Councilmember Harris noted the Health in the Park program within the city could demonstrate routes through the city, to encourage folks to bike. DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 Special study session minutes -3- March 1, 2021 Councilmember Dumalag asked if the metrics noted are still applicable. Mr. Sullivan stated the metrics will be the check-up on Connect the Park and will help to see if the city is hitting the mark on the goals, and over time. Councilmember Dumalag asked about the timeline as it relates to the BIPOC community, and if there will be enough time to meet the goals here especially with the departure of Mx. Sojourner. Mr. Sullivan stated staff can carry on but that is a good question to evaluate and will be brought back to council for further discussion. Councilmember Brausen stated the more data the better. He likes the use of the suggested metrics and added usage and safety will show how Connect the Park is working the past 7 years. He added another metric to add will be about carbon emissions and clean air . Councilmember Brausen added in Ward 4 there is still more buildout to be done. He is concerned about pushing out the completion date of Connect the Park and that means some of it might not ever be done due to the CAP needs. He added he looks forward to the metrics and data to come. Mayor Spano appreciated the quantitative and qualitative information of the goals and metrics. He asked about the People for Bikes group and who they are. Mr. Sullivan stated this group can provide good data that is readily available and at a good price, wit h cutting edge information. Mayor Spano stated he is concerned about the interested but concerned bikers . He noted this is the area where he wants the most data, and he is disappointed the report does not address targeting the interested but concerned user. Ms. Heiser stated the goals will address all ages and abilities, adding in next steps the interested but concerned person will be addressed, and options included. Mayor Spano asked if the interested but concerned person will be the default design . Ms. Heiser stated the proposed bike lanes on Wooddale will address the interested but concerned biker as an option and look at routes, materials, and costs. Councilmember Rog noted throughout the report it notes residents are concerned about winter use of sidewalks and hoping we can address this in future discussions. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7