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01-17-07 Worksession ....... CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Special Worksession January 17, 2007 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 7:25 p.m. I ROLL CALL Staff Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; Bill Kilian; and Fred Wroge. Steven Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Kristin Asher, Assistant City Engineer; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary . Members Present: Item #1 DISCUSSION REGARDING 66TH STREET AND PORTLAND AVENUE INTERSECTION LAYOUT (COUNCIL MEMO NO. 11) Public Works Director Eastling stated that as the 66th StreeUPortland Avenue project moves further into final design, recent discussions with area property owners and consultants have presented a layout adjustment option that needs policy direction. Assistant City Engineer Asher presented the project background and property acquisition status. She also reviewed the following: . T & T Automotive . gas tanks . land trade . Cornerstone preferred . Zalesky offered - rejected ~ Impacts to property . Layout Alternative . Operations . Safety - Nilsen example . Hennepin County guidelines . Land Use . Portland redevelopment . T&T . Cornerstone . Vacant . Cost comparison . Neighborhood inpuUnotification . . Decision at February 13 City Council meeting Assistant City Engineer Asher reviewed the T & T cost comparison: Special Worksession Minutes -2- January 17,2007 1. No land exchange 2. Land exchange agreement (Zalesky) 3. Land exchange agreement (Cornerstone) Council Member Wroge questioned why Hennepin County 't'ould provide funding for the development of four additional properties on the east side of Portland Avenue. Public Works Director Eastling explained the Community W~rks funding from Hennepin County. Development of those properties is a separate project and nothing is yet certain. Hennepin County determines if the area has been so disturbed that it may re~ult in a development project. Council Member Sandahl said previously Hennepin County funding has not been focused on first ring suburbs. . Community Development Director Palmborg added that it isl a surprise the County does support development along major thoroughfares but part of their cqncern is transit and an opportunity to increase population density. i . ! Council Member Kilian said if the additional four properties ~re available, it is more attractive to developers and provides denser housing. i ! Council Member Kilian added that it would be nice if the T 81 T driveway could have a dual purpose for potential redevelopment so no additional driveways were near the intersection. I Assistant City Engineer Asher said the Cornerstone alternative moves the T & T access to Oakland Avenue which improves safety operations of the intersectibn and the bus stop. i Council Member Wroge expressed concern with turning left10n Oakland Avenue out of T & T and then left onto 66th Street with the proximity of the roundabout. I He also stated concerns with vehicles going south on Oakland Avenue to 67th Street to PortlandAvenue. I Public Works Director Eastling said 300 feet for a left hand turn at Oakland Avenue is a reasonable distance from the roundabout. I I Assistant City Engineer Asher added there could be consid~ration of restricting access. ! Council Member Wroge said he believed the frustration lev~1 of drivers will increase on Oakland Avenue with trying to make a left turn onto Portland AvenL~e because theoretically, there will be no break in traffic because of the roundabout. I Public Works Director Eastling explained there would be nol platoon of cars like at a stop light intersection but rather a constant movement of traffic with some ga1ps. This leg of access on 66th Street is the lightest traffic and is not projected to get the higher volume as the other parts of 66th Street, even with the Cedar Commons development. I Council Member Sandahl asked if there would be enough right-of-way to continue the length of the median at a later date. I I Assistant City Engineer Asher said it could be made sure thbre was enough right-of-way. I Public Works Director Eastling added that signage directing' the flow of traffic is an option to prevent certain movements. i i I Council Member Kilian said the idea of the roundabout is sq no long medians are needed. Most likely people would enter the business on Oakland Avenue arid exit on Portland Avenue. i Council Member Sandahl questioned the access to Nilsen'sl property when going east on 66th S~~. I I Public Works Director Eastling stated that access needs to pe reviewed in more detail. Council Member Wroge said his concern was that the neigHbors on Oakland Avenue would have increased traffic when people realize there is access to T & TI off Oakland Avenue. i i i ! Special Worksession Minutes -3- January 17,2007 Council MemberWroge suggested returning to the original plan to buy Zalesky's and putting the gas tanks in the back. He questioned the need for a shared access for T & T and the proposed development. Public Works Director Eastling explained there is no fully developed plan for the block but one access would be preferred instead of two side-by-side. T & T is not satisfied with the dual access and wants the Cornerstone property. Cornerstone is vacant and wants to sell. Council Member Wroge said wanting to be bought out is not a reason to buyout homes. City Manager Devich stated there is a balance needing to be struck because of the possible downside for the Oakland Avenue neighbors. Public Works Director Eastling said zoning indicates the southeast quadrant of the 66th Street/Portland Avenue intersection is commercial. Council Member Kilian stated someone else could buy the Cornerstone property and develop it commercially with access only on Oakland Avenue. Council Member Wroge asked if BP Amoco liked the proposed plan. He asked what was driving this change in plans. Public Works Director Eastling stated the discussions between T & T and BP Amoco are a private negotiation. Mayor Goettel said if the rest of the block is bought out, T & T could have all the block and the access point to a proposed development could be moved. Community Development Director Palmborg discussed the lack of depth to the parcel and possible development options for housing. Council Member Wroge questioned how many developers looked at the sites. Community Development Director Palmborg said one, but only preliminary feedback was trying to be obtained. Public Works Director Eastling discussed there could be a determination that the damages to T & T could be so much that it could result in a total take. Council Member Kilian said there could be some enter/exit restrictions on Oakland Avenue but there was going to be disruption no matter what happened. Improving safety and access to the bus stop on 66th Street are important factors to consider. Public Works Director Eastling discussed the potential enforcement issues with a restricted access. Assistant City Engineer Asher discussed the Hennepin County funding for transit improvements. Mayor Goettel asked about Hennepin County providing funding for the Cornerstone property. She said it made sense to use more of the Zalesky property. Public Works Director Eastling said funding could be discussed with Hennepin County since there are some restrictions on the property until 2010. Council Member Sandahl discussed the City insisting upon landscaping or berms to provide screening for the neighbors. She said Zalesky should be used for a potential housing development and 66th Street used for commercial properties. Council Member Kilian said residents should not look at a gas station and the property should work with the neighborhood to make it more palatable. Special Worksession Minutes -4- January 17,2007 Council Member Sandahl stated that during open houses regarding the roundabout, the residents wanted to retain the businesses. J Council Member Wroge added that at that time, residents idn't know the possible increase in traffic. He asked if the home behind Zalesky's was zoned comme1Cial. Public Works Director Eastling said it is commercial because of the high visibility area and intersection. I Council Member Wroge suggested the problem needs to be solved before it becomes one. The property behind Zalesky's needs to be reviewed. He added th:e City Council needs to hear from the residents. i , Assistant City Engineer Asher said an open house would b~ held on January 29 or February 1. I Council Member Kilian stated it needs to be determined h01 to best mitigate the issues to satisfy the residents. I Council Member Sandahl continued that information be pro~ided on how similar situations were handled. I Council Member Rosenberg said she has traffic concerns dn Oakland Avenue. i Assistant City Engineer Asher said a traffic count can be dqne on Oakland Avenue. I Council Member Sandahl stated landscaping guidelines need to be met. Public Works Director Eastling discussed that the business! on this corner could be much different than what is there now. . i Council Member Wroge asked about the appropriateness ~f approaching other businesses about locating on this corner. ! Community Development Director Palmborg stated that seeking information from others would be acceptable. I Council Member Kilian said he would worry about going so :far with one person and then seeking someone else. ' i Mayor Goettel stated she would like to see the outcome of the open house. It may be a better deal to do the buyout and develop the area. . Council Member Wroge suggested the residents on Oaklarld and Park Avenues from 66th/67th Streets be notified of the open house. , ! There was discussion regarding the crosswalk on 66th Str~et at Park Avenue. Council Member Wroge suggested the City check into the €ost of speed monitors on poles in various places in the City, similar to S1. Paul, to help with reducing Ispeeding. Item #2 , i DISCUSSION REGARDING CELEBRATION COMM'SSION PROGRESS , Council Member Rosenberg stated advisory commission interviews are being conducted with new appointments to be approved at the January 23 City Council meeting. She said that brought forward this discussion of the progress of the Celebrations Commi~sion and tasks accomplished to date related to the 2008 Centennial events. She said there are issUes needing to be addressed on this commission before appointments are made. Special Worksession Minutes -5- January 17,2007 Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director and commission liaison, reviewed the proposed work plan dated January 25, 2007 and said the commission needs to stay focused. Tom Rublein, Commission Chair, stated volunteers and funding are needed to implement the work plan. Council Member Rosenberg said that as City Council liaison, she was concerned regarding availability of the Chair for meetings and the difficulty of staying on task at meetings. She asked the other City Council Members about their comfort level on the work plan and pace of the commission. The City Council discussed the work plan including articles in the Sun Current joining events already in place with the focus on the Centennial, logo on the City's Marathon T-shirts in 2008, antique gardens, Richfield Beautiful, Garden Club and involvement of service clubs. Council Member Kilian said there needs to be a commission liaison to work with all the organizations. Mr. Rublein discussed the commission being a catalyst to other groups. Council Member Sandahl asked how many members were actively involved. Mr. Rublein discussed the difficulty with membership. Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer said there has been a core group of seven. Council Member Kilian asked how often the commission met. Mr. Rublein said not as often as he'd like and that he tried once a month but it didn't work. Council Member Kilian said there needs to be a plan for meetings - a set date/time/place so people can get it on calendars. If some members are lost, at least there is a core group. Then liaisons to the various groups should be selected among commission members and have a report given at each meeting. Mr. Rublein said some of the appointed members were originally interested in other commissions. Council Member Wroge asked if members had a chance to be decision makers or were told what to do. Mr. Rublein explained how the members participated and responses to ideas. Mr. Rublein said the real issue tonight was that the City Council did not want him to continue as Chair. Council Member Rosenberg said that was correct because of not staying on task at meetings, the lack of his availability because of travel, and that his style was a deterrent and negative impact. Mr. Rublein discussed the background related to the Centennial logo and T-shirts. Council Member Kilian requested the appointment letter to new commission members include meeting information. Mr. Rublein discussed the $20,000 budget for funding Centennial events but that clarification is needed. Council Member Kilian requested the City Council be presented with a Centennial plan that paints a vision for celebration events, including cost and funding options. City Manager Devich discussed the $20,000 funding by the City of Richfield to the Historical Society for a history book which was blended into financing Celebration events. Special Worksession Minutes -6- January 17,2007 Council Member Sandahl requested the City Council be presented by the commission with a plan and budget. I Recreation Services Director T opitzh;ter said the base WO~k plan will be discussed at the first meeting in February. He added this commission has had a rocky ~oad because of the dynamics of the group. I Council Member Wroge said there are ways of funding evehts including T-shirt sales. He suggested an article in the Sun Current asking people what they'd Ilike to see for the celebration ~~. i I Mr. Rublein discussed how that has already been tried and!how other ways and ideas have been solicited. I I I Mr. Rublein stated he was notified of tonight's meeting by aity Manager Devich on January 12 and that Council Member Rosenberg should have called him. He ~ontinued that if Council Member Rosenberg did not want him as Chair, he was finished. I Council Member Rosenberg said the open meeting law prohibited her from talking with him. i Council Member Sandahl suggested the next meeting be organizational, including selecting a co-chair and secretary, setting regular meeting dates, having an a~enda, minutes and assignments of specific tasks. Mr. Rublein stated it has not worked as smoothly as that. ~e discussed the idea of a commissioned Centennial commemorative music piece for marchi?g bands. I The City Council agreed that the commission appointment letter include the regular meeting date and a co-chair be selected. The regularly scheduled meeting should not be canceled. I ADJOURNMENT , The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:351 p.m. I I Date Approved: February 13, 2007