07-09-14 CC/TC Worksession CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
" �i eea� rrent Cit Council
c 6 Special Concu y
and
Transportation Commission Worksession
July 9, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
The concurrent worksession was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 7:05 p.m. in the
Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Pat Elliott (via WebEx); Sue Sandahl; Edwina Garcia;
Present: and Tom Fitzhenry.
Transportation
Commission Members Martin Kirsch, Chair; Gary Ness, Ken Severson; Tim Carter; David Taylor;
Present: Gerry Charnitz; and Ted Weidenbach.
Transportation
Commission Members
Absent: Ghislaine Ball and Terry Ahlstrom.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Kristin
Asher, Assistant Public Works Director; Jeff Pearson, Transportation
Engineer; Liz Finnegan; Civil Engineer; and Cheryl Krumholz, Executive
Coordinator.
Others Present: Jim Grube, Hennepin County Engineer; Maury Hooper, Hennepin County
Project Engineer; Bill Klingbeil, Kimley Horn &Associates; Jack Broz, Avenue
Design Partners; Craig Churchward; Avenue Design Partners; and Chris
Olson, Richfield Bike Advocates.
Item #1 DISCUSSION REGARDING 66TH STREET RECONSTRUCTION (COUNCIL MEMO
NO. 64)
Mayor Goettel stated that there may not be time this evening for the public to comment on this
project but another opportunity would be provided at a future worksession. Tonight's worksession is
information gathering for the City Council and Transportation Commission.
Public Works Director Eastling provided the background leading up to this evening's
discussion, emphasizing the proposed reconstruction project is a 50-100 year decision and nearly$40
million investment in 66m Street. He also discussed the Crosstown `Pinch Point' and potential
additional capacity.
Public Works Director Eastling stated that much of the discussion will involve the section of the
corridor between I-35W and Xerxes Avenue.
Jim Grube, Hennepin County Engineer, discussed the Hennepin County Board's perspective
on the corridor reconstruction related to their responsibility to the public, including transportation
choices, support of active living, complete streets, and attaining a balance for the region, the City and
Special Worksession Minutes -2- July 9, 2014
residents along 66th Street. He stated the values between competing interests and reaching a
compromise should be considered on this 50 year decision.
Jack Broz, Advanced Design Partners, discussed the design process to date, including the
vision, context, problem, goals/measures, alternative analysis and right-sizing design.
Mayor Goettel stated that, along with Council Member Elliott, she has concerns with the taking
of 17-20 homes along 66th Street, overbuilding, creating an auxiliary freeway, business viability and
parking issues. She expressed additional concern regarding the residential impacts and suggested
broader conversations are needed. She supported complete streets but that may not be viable in all
areas of the City.
Council Member Fitzhenry stated that different parts of the City have impacts and
reconstruction needs to fit with the neighborhoods.
Mr. Broz revised the preferred concepts for the 66th Street Corridor east and west of Nicollet
Avenue resulting in the lowest impacts to the adjacent properties:
Concept#2 On-street bicycle lanes and sidewalk and multi-use trail
Concept#4B One-way cycle tracks with two sidewalks, boulevard between vehicle and cycle
track.
Council Member Fitzhenry suggested 66th Street be included in the MnDOT GPS traffic
management center.
Jeff Pearson, Transportation Engineer, stated that MnDOT only includes regional systems.
Mr. Grube explained 66th Street is referred to as a Crosstown reliever.
Council Member Elliott responded that 66th Street may be called a reliever but it is used as an
alternative to Crosstown.
Maury Hooper, Hennepin County Project Engineer, discussed the traffic analysis and design,
including safety review, traffic volume and operations review and crash analysis. He stated that if the
reconstruction continues with the low impact design, there will be no change in the crash summary
data, but prohibiting turns may decrease crashes.
Bill Klingbeil, Kimley Horn &Associates, will provide more detailed crash data, including peak
periods and if a neighborhood resident was involved.
Transportation Engineer Pearson discussed a three-lane conversion along the corridor which
would result in some traffic constraints.
Public Works Director Eastling added that restricting turns could put more traffic in the
neighborhoods.
Council Member Elliott stated he was distressed regarding the lack of communication and
inadequate community involvement. He added that he did not have a lot of faith in design and
concept models being used as predictors. There appears to be no connectivity in the models and that
the options are short-sighted and not reducing the volume of traffic and utilizing 66th Street as it was
intended.
Transportation Commission Member Weidenbach questioned how a three-lane conversion
would be safer for pedestrians.
Transportation Engineer Pearson explained the low impact three-lane concept achieves
pedestrian safety along 66th Street due to islands for crossing. He added the City has not contacted
the owners of the seven properties to be acquired along 66th Street between I-35W and Penn Avenue
but three have contacted the City to state they are willing sellers.
Mr. Hooper explained the existing right of way west of Penn Avenue and that a variance would
be needed to reduce the existing 84 feet to 82 feet which does provide a boulevard.
Mr. Grube explained the variance request process which has reasonably good success. He
stated that his overall position along the whole corridor is that he would not support reducing the
Special Worksession Minutes -3- July 9, 2014
gutter lane to 18 inches and having no boulevard. The boulevard is needed for snow storage and to
not provide that is a failure to pedestrians.
Public Works Director Easting stated that to provide the boulevard on 66th Street between I-
35W and Penn Avenue, the taking of seven homes is required.
Council Member Sandahl stated she did not support reconstructing of the 66th Street Corridor
without a boulevard between the street and pedestrians.
Transportation Commission Member Severson questioned if re-orienting to the north side of
66th Street was still being considered.
Transportation Engineer Pearson responded that would result in considerably more property
acquisition upfront because the grades are different. That option is still under review but there was
not time to prepare for that discussion this evening.
Council Member Elliott agreed the north and south sides of 66th Street should be explored so
the property loss is limited as much as possible.
Mr. Severson suggested the removal of driveways onto 66th Street be considered.
Mayor Goettel stated the traffic should be calmed and the street be given back to the
neighbors. She added the business community should be informed of the impact realities.
Mr. Grube explained that during construction, access to the businesses is kept open.
Mr. Pearson stated there were two meetings with the businesses along the corridor a few
months ago. He added that property owners should continue to make improvements because that will
be reflected in their market value.
Mr. Weidenbach stated that the biggest comments he has heard is that there should not be a
three-lane conversion along the corridor between Nicollet and Xerxes Avenues but that Mayor Goettel
and Council Member Elliott support that option.
Council Member Elliott stated all aspects should be explored with the lowest impact on
properties but not to sacrifice safety.
Council Member Sandahl said best alternatives given all the factors deemed important should
be considered for the long-term interest of the community.
Transportation Commission Member Carter stated that from the business standpoint, 66th
Street is economically a regional powerhouse and traffic should not be restricted but safety cannot be
sacrificed.
Mr. Grube asked the City Council and Transportation Commission if there was reasonable
satisfaction with what has been proposed and presented for the 66th Street Corridor east of I-35W.
The consensus was to proceed with the reconstruction process of the 66th Street Corridor east
of I-35W and continue communication with the residents along the 66th Street Corridor to the west of I-
35W.
The concurrent worksession was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:17 p.m.
Date Approved: July 22, 2014. / _±�
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Cheryl K um � Steve L. Devich
Executive Coordinator City Manager