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09-24-02 Worksession I I I CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Special Worksession September 24, 2002 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Sandahl at 5:05 p.m. Mayor Pro Tempore Sandahl stated that Mayor Kirsch would be approximately 15 minutes late because of a prior commitment. Members Present: Martin Kirsch, Mayor (arrived at 5:20 p.m.); Susan Rosenberg; Gertrude Ulrich; John Enger; and Sue Sandahl. Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant to City Manager; John Stark, Community Development Manager; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary. Staff Present: Item #1 City Manager Orduno stated Council Member Enger requested discussion regarding the noise wall at 77th Street near Portland Avenue because of safety and security concerns at Roosevelt Park. She said staff is awaiting City Council direction on the removal of the wall from the south edge of the park. Mayor Pro Tempore Sandahl stated neighbors in the area expressed security concerns because the wall restricts seeing park activities and there have been recent safety incidents. She asked the cost of removing the wall and the cement pillars. Public Works Director Eastling said approximately $5,000 to $10,000. He said the pillars would need to be repaired if the wall is repositioned. Mr. Eastling discussed the park ranger program used last year, but was discontinued this year because of budget cuts. Council Member Enger discussed an incident when concession stand workers were fearful for their safety and no options to contact Public Safety were available. He said problems appear to be from activities at the basketball court. Mr. Enger added the parking lot and playground area need to be in view. He said he is not in favor of removing the entire wall, but removal of the section by the park will make it more secure. Mayor Pro Tempore Sandahl said that as a result of the incident at the concession stand, Public Safety supplied a cell phone on site, which will be available again next year. She suggested Special Worksession Minutes -2- September 24, 2002 contractors be contacted to receive estimates on the wall removal, but possibly leaving the pillars in place. She expressed interest in Public Safety opinion if the wall removal expense is justified. Council Member Enger stated he believed the former Police Chief did not support the wall and asked staff to contact him to get his comments. Mayor Kirsch arrived. Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer stated a meeting will be held with the Little League Board and Public Safety to discuss the safety concerns and prevention of future incidents. Council Member Ulrich stated agreement with obtaining Public Safety's opinion, getting the cost estimates for the full and partial removal of the wall and its re-installation elsewhere, and the expenses related to the Park Ranger patrol person. She expressed a preference for the involvement of people and a Park Ranger versus the driving by of the Police. Council Member Enger asked for an explanation of the Park Ranger's role. Public Works Director Eastling explained the role of the ranger in the parks. Council Member Enger requested that he be invited to the meeting with the Little League. Council Member Sandahl requested that the entire City Council be notified of the meeting. The City Council requested a City Council Worksession be scheduled after the meeting with the Little League to further discuss this issue. Item #11 Council Member Enger requested discussion of this item follow Item III because the 17th Avenue neighborhood group was present. The City Council agreed. Item #111 City Manager Orduno stated discussion of this item was scheduled at the request of Council Member Sandahl. She added that Jean Biever, a resident on the 6700 block of 17th Avenue, has asked the City Council to reconsider its acquisition strategy for purchasing property in the Airport Noise Acquisition Program area. I I Council Member Sandahl explained that at the September 12, 2002 City Council meeting she tabled action on the purchase of the three apartment buildings on Cedar Avenue and requested a City Council Worksession to discuss policy issues and property purchasing strategy for the Airport Noise Acquisition Program. She stated she did not want to change the policy currently in place and to buyout the 17th Avenue homes, but rather to preserve the neighborhood. Jean Biever, 6701 17th Avenue, representing the residents on the 6600 and 6700 blocks of the east side of 17th Avenue, read a statement related to the impacts their neighborhood will I experience due to the proposed new roadway connecting Cedar Avenue to 18th Avenue at 67th Street. Ms. Biever stated she spoke with Jeff Hamiel, MAC Executive Director, that afternoon who said he was willing and able to support the 17th Avenue buyout if the City Council voted to take single family homes. She said that based upon what the City has been saying, their top priority is to the homeowners versus the apartments. I I I Special Worksession Minutes -3- September 24, 2002 Residents representing the following addresses spoke to the City Council to express what they believe will be their neighborhood impacts; including increased traffic, safety issues, lack of privacy, increased air and noise pollution, decreased property values and increased crime. 6601 17th Avenue 6721 17th Avenue 6733 17th Avenue 6715 17th Avenue 6621 17th Avenue 6609 17th Avenue 6745 17th Avenue 6739 17th Avenue 6639 17th Avenue 6627 17th Avenue 6615 17th Avenue 6727 17th Avenue 6709 17th Avenue 6633 17th Avenue Council Member Sandahl reviewed the properties to be acquired in the program. Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the estimated future traffic flow, volume and impacts on 18th Avenue. Council Member Enger asked about the current traffic count on 18th Avenue. Public Works Director Eastling said a typical residential street is 300 - 500 vehicles per day. He added that it is estimated that 18th Avenue could have approximately 5,000 vehicles per day related to the connection with Cedar Avenue. Ms. Biever asked the reason for the removal of the 18th Avenue homes south of 67th Street. Public Works Director Eastling explained that some of the homes on that block would have to be removed to create a cul-de-sac and that because some of the homes in the 6700 block were needed to construct the street, the City requested the entire block be taken. Assistant to City Manager Dmytrenko stated everyone in the 87dB noise contour is suffering airport noise impacts. She explained the commitments already made and the constraints of the funding and contract. She added that trying to amend the agreement may affect the outcome of the remaining $10 million. Council Member Rosenberg asked why Mr. Hamiel stated he would work with the City if the agreement were amended. City Manager Orduno stated mixed messages were received from MAC. She said staff worked on the agreement with Nigel Finney and MAC legal counsel Tom Anderson, not Mr. Hamiel, and Mr. Finney was adamant about following program guidelines. Council Member Rosenberg stated the acquisition of the apartments was part of the original agreement. She asked how many homes on 17th Avenue would need to be purchased and if there was adequate funding to purchase them if the apartments were not acquired. Assistant to City Manager Dmytrenko answered there are 16 homes on 17th Avenue and there would be remaining funds after their purchase, but not enough to acquire the apartments on Cedar Avenue. Council Member Rosenberg stated she was not certain that the apartments should be acquired before the homes because many poor people may be displaced. She asked about the impacts for the west side of 17th Avenue. Ms. Biever said the west side is not in the 87dB and they were not informed of any buyout. City Manager Orduno stated staff would clarify with Mr. Hamiel his statement to Ms. Biever. Council Member Sandahl clarified that the apartment tenants are eligible for relocation costs which may assist them to purchase a house. Mayor Kirsch stated that the City has spent millions on airport impacts. He said it is very important not to pit one neighborhood block against another. He said the acquisition of the apartments would make it easier for a developer to purchase the remaining homes and redevelop the area. He urged the residents to speak with their Legislators about providing funding assistance to Richfield. Special Worksession Minutes -4- September 24, 2002 City Manager Orduno asked Ms. Biever to repeat her conversation with Mr. Hamiel. She said it is frustrating because local FAA, National FAA and MAC all say something different. Ms. Orduno stated FICAN reviewed the low frequency noise study and invalidated the entire study so, in the eyes of the FAA, low frequency noise does not exist. She said the FAA has no plans to develop national standards and the 87dB contour lines mean nothing to the FAA or MAC. Ms. Biever stated her conversation with Mr. Hamiel included that he is very up-to-date on what's going on and is following it closely; she needs to have the City Council vote in her favor and he is willing to work with that. Ms. Biever also stated Glen Orcutt from the FAA drove around her neighborhood. Council Member Enger suggested that since Mr. Hamiel expressed to Ms. Biever his willingness to re-address the agreement, the City should pursue this option. He said the City's original intent was for acquisition of all affected single family homes and duplexes before businesses and apartments. He added the homeowners were most impacted, not the apartments which may be eligible for the Part 150 insulation program. Mr. Enger stated if the situation could not be handled, the State of Minnesota should be held accountable for keeping the airport at its current location. He suggested a noise study with noise monitoring equipment be implemented along 18th Avenue before the new runway is operational to obtain the difference in impacts. Council Member Ulrich stated the pressure needs to be kept on the Legislators to provide assistance. She announced two upcoming Legislative candidate forums and urged residents to attend. Council Member Rosenberg requested the City Council be notified of staff's discussion with Mr. Hamiel regarding his comments to Ms. Biever. Council Member Enger referenced the September 10, 2001 City Council staff report regarding the use of funds for airport mitigation purposes, emphasizing traffic impacts. City Manager Orduno referenced a letter from Nigel Finney dated September 18, 2002 regarding the use of funds and roadway impacts. Due to the need to begin the Regular City Council meeting, the discussion regarding the on- street parking ban in Richfield was deferred to the next City Council Worksession. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:39 p.m. Date Approved: October 8. 2002 ?1;M0..t& 0 Mq,rttn-d. Kirs h-J Mayo~ ,__ (!lh'~ t/~~w1 Cheryl Krumholz Recording Secretary I I I