HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/07/25 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes
City council study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
July 25, 2022
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Larry Kraft, Nadia
Mohamed, and Margaret Rog
Councilmembers absent: Tim Brausen
Staff present: Deputy City Manager (Ms. Walsh), Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Engineering
Project Manager (Mr. Sullivan)
Guests: none
1. Connect the Park update
Mr. Sullivan presented the report and overview of the Connect the Park program.
Councilmember Rog asked for clarification on the capital requests within the budget and levy .
Ms. Heiser stated any new programs and new capital are submitted in a memo, noting these
are not part of the levy, and are new asks. These including a new CIP for $350,000 and
additional budget for services.
Councilmember Rog asked if the virtual online trail map has the capacity to find directions from
one place to another. Mr. Sullivan stated no, adding google can provide that information, and
staff is able to provide updates on areas and trails to google as well.
Councilmember Kraft asked if google prefers that different types of bike routes are included.
Ms. Heiser stated google will receive routes and trails but does not determine level of stress.
She noted Bikes for People is a different site that provides levels of stress.
Councilmember Kraft asked who the audience for the city’s online map is. Ms. Heiser stated in
the past the city had a trail and sidewalk map, but now the bike trail map has been included
and everything is in one place for the public.
Councilmember Kraft asked if this is about map and route. Ms. Heiser stated no, adding this
information is available on various apps, outside of the city’s trail map.
Councilmember Kraft asked if a map can be provided that is only protected bike trails. He
stated seeing a network of bikeways that is protected and including places where anyone would
be comfortable biking is a critical thing in getting folks out there. He stated he would like to see
the protected bike trails or share the road where traffic is low.
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Ms. Heiser asked if Councilmember Kraft is looking then for a paper map or static map or PDF .
Councilmember Kraft reiterated he is looking for anything where an interested but concerned
biker can find trails that are protected, adding this is key in getting people to use it and parents
may send their kids to those bike trails that are safer and protected. He noted this is the
network the city needs.
Councilmember Kraft added this online map is a great planning tool ; however, it would be best
to connect this information of protected bike trails on the online map to get the most utilization
for bikers. Mr. Walsh added this would be a planning tool then, and Councilmember Kraft
agreed that is correct.
Ms. Heiser stated a PDF can include this information to provide layers to the trails map.
Mayor Spano added as an interested and concerned cyclist, he would definitely be interested in
this. He added staff should keep in mind this layered type of map would be useful and helpful
to the public. Mayor Spano stated on the online map, the less cluttered look is best, pointing
out the Dakota Avenue bridge area. He added the trails shown do not differentiate various
features of Connect the Park, and that would be something to include in the future.
Councilmember Mohamed asked if the kiosks would be in 6 key locations and what they are.
Mr. Sullivan stated one would be in the skate park as there are all types of wheelers and
walkers there, and Texas and 33rd Street, Texas and 36th Street, and near the West End. He
noted, however, these areas are not finalized yet. Ms. Heiser added locations will also depend
on where there is a signal in place already.
Councilmember Mohamed asked if this will be interactive. Ms. Heiser stated it will just be a
map.
Councilmember Budd asked if the price listed is for the 6 kiosks. Mr. Sullivan stated yes, the
$15,000 price point is correct, adding that each one will be unique to the neighborhood and
with a “you are here” locator as well.
Councilmember Rog noted the feasibility reports adding she finds them useful for the Fern Hill
area specifically related to cost, tree, and landscaping impacts along with all the data points.
She added there are some sidewalks that are not continuous and asked how these would be
dealt with.
Ms. Heiser stated until Fern Hill, staff did not get this direction from council. Now staff is
introducing this continuity as a criterion, so future feasibility studies will include this.
Councilmember Rog stated people are very happy about the sidewalks in Fern Hill, and she is
supportive of the sidewalk feasibility reports. She noted on the bikeways segments there is
non-static information included, and she feels this information is not as useful . She is, however,
supportive of more protected bikeways.
Councilmember Dumalag added the continuous criteria and ease of access are areas she is
concerned about as well. She stated all or nothing protected bikeways are important, and she
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has had feedback from residents on this. She asked if there is a way to project future bike use.
Ms. Heiser stated there is no way to predict this or pedestrian traffic .
Councilmember Kraft stated he agrees with both Councilmembers Rog and Dumalag and if
there are bikeways with any type of stress, they do need to be separated . He added on the
bikeway information there was a lot of work on something that might not be done and asked if
there is a way to come back and discuss further.
Councilmember Kraft stated it would be helpful to have a transportation commission to help
staff with the types of maps that are useful for end users. He encouraged a bike advisory
committee be created.
Councilmember Mohamed stated her mom lives near Blake Rd, and she lives near Target, and it
is about a 25-minute walk. However, when taking shorter routes, the trip is shorter, and she
asked if the city would find those shortcuts and thereby connect the city. She added she likes
the feasibility reports.
Ms. Heiser noted staff cannot put informal trails on the map.
Councilmember Rog asked for clarification on Connect the Park, pavement management, and
sidewalk policy. She also asked about feasibility reports for sidewalks and noted the response
was that staff completed a feasibility report on Connect the Park sidewalk segments and
bikeways, and if a transportation project does not have a Connect the Park segment, staff will
not complete a feasibility study on that portion. She stated when she thinks about Fern Hill,
many were part of the sidewalk management and yet were in the feasibility report, and she
asked about this.
Ms. Heiser stated staff did that intentionally and to reduce confusion the sidewalk feasibility
report had all proposed sidewalks, adding it would be confusing to not include Connect the Park
in the study. She stated this is confusing and can be discussed further, adding that Connect the
Park is a plan which will take another 13 years to complete.
Councilmember Mohamed asked if trying to meet the needs of interested but concerned cyclist
would be costly. Ms. Heiser stated meeting these cyclists on Louisiana Avenue is a $3.5 million
project and meeting those needs on an alternate route is $100,000 .
Mayor Spano stated he has heard from residents that on high volume vehicle roads, drivers are
concerned about hitting cyclists. He added because of this, having a couple of approaches and
alternative plans will help both drivers and cyclists plus get to a more cost-effective place for
the concerned but interested biker.
Councilmember Rog added now is not the time to invest in the counters given the budget
constraints. She added on the wayfinding, she likes the box wraps which are affordable and a
cool design. She asked, related to the street signs, are those required to be used. Ms. Heiser
stated yes.
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Councilmember Rog noted the street signs can be invisible and asked if they could be elevated
with colors or by other means. She added maybe university on how biking is shown on the
signs.
Councilmember Rog noted signage on the Three Rivers Trails which include restaurants and
other items. She asked if this might be included as well for the city.
Mayor Spano asked about collaboration with other cities to work together and go in on signs
together like other collaborations such as public safety, services, and roads.
Councilmember Kraft asked if staff would look at demographics and race. Ms. Heiser stated
they would look at real time video and to the best of their ability try to provide demographics
information to know who is using the trails. Councilmember Kraft asked for staff to consult on
the privacy issues involved here.
Councilmember Kraft stated this information and data will be very helpful in the future . He
added however he realizes there are budget issues now but asked if there is a trade-off that can
be made now, and he would like this to be discussed in the overall budget discussion.
Councilmember Dumalag added Mayor Spano’s suggestions of collaboration with other entities
would be helpful here. She asked if a Connect the Park signs could be included and noted she
likes the wraps as well, noting areas of commerce versus restaurants.
Councilmember Rog asked about smart phone data usage. Ms. Heiser stated the city has looked
at this and noted the bike and pedestrian data is not very accurate and can be under or
overrepresented.
Councilmember Budd asked about Hennepin County data. Ms. Heiser stated Hennepin County
has stationary counters that collects data 24/7 365 and the data is normalized, so they can look
at average daily users on any given day and time.
Ms. Heiser stated they will look further at the feasibility reports, sidewalk grids, and adding
policy. She noted on the bikeway feasibility reports they will add protected and alternate
routes. She stated counters will be looked at further in relation to the budget discussion, as well
as wayfinding kiosks. Ms. Heiser stated bike signage will also be continued and retrofitted. She
stated she will also review the digital maps and layering more with engineering.
Mayor Spano stated he would not want to deviate from the standard wayfinding template for
signage.
Councilmember Kraft reiterated that council is not the customer on the digital maps or the
signage, and that staff needs to think about the end users when developing these two items.
Ms. Heiser noted the report related to the West End and that this can b e brought back for
further discussion with council.
Councilmember Rog stated her preference is the 4th option.
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Communications/meeting check-in (verbal)
Ms. Walsh stated police are investigating the antisemitic flyers and noted resident can call the
non-emergency police number which is 952.924.2618.
National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 2, and Councilmembers will be participating in various
meetings.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
2. Connect the Park: West End Trail bridge feasibility study
3. Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana improvement project update
4. June 2022 monthly financial report
5. Second quarter investment report (April – June 2022)
6. Quarterly development update – 3rd quarter 2022
7. Bridgework Condominium Homeowner’s Association HIA development agreement
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
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