02-05-90 agenda~~
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Council Study Session Letter No. 6
Agenda February 5, 1990
Issue Statement•
Issues important to Richfield's consideration of I35W concerns.
Background•
Richfield is a member of
created four committees.
Committee, has requested
unit of the I35W Council
in the I35W traffic Corr
the I35W Council. The Council has
One of those committees, the Solutions
each member agency/city/governmental
list its concerns about or major issues
idor.
The Richfield 135W/I494 Ad Hoc Traffic Committee reviewed the
attached summary at its February 1, 1990 meeting. This list,
unless amended by the. City Council, will be provided to the I35W
Council Solutions Committee on February 8.
Recommended Motion:
Approve the attached summary of Richfield's stances with regard
to the I35W traffic corridor having made any additions or
deletions as deemed appropriate.
Basis of Recommendation:
1. The summary is from various Council approved minutes and
other Council related documents.
2. All members of the I35W Council have been asked to submit
this type of information.
Alternative Recommendation:
1. Do not submit the request information to the Solutions
Committee of the I35W Council.
2. Change, add to or delete from the attached summary as deemed
appropriate.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
If the information is to be submitted at the February 8 meeting
of the Solutions Committee of the I35W Council, action, at least
in terms of general consent, should be taken at February 5 City
Council study session.
Respectfully submitted,
Ja a D. Prosser
Ci y anager
JDP/sdr
Attachment
February 1, 1990
CITY OF RICHFIELD
SUMMARY OF
FORMAL and INFORMAL STANCES
WITH REGARD TO THE
135W TRAFFIC CORRIDOR
Page 1 of 2
- Comments on the Draft Scoping Decision Document for Interstate
I-35W Reconstruction Project
Impacts of the proposed reconstruction project are of major
concern to the City of Richfield and should be carefully
considered in determining the scope of the Environmental
Impact Statement. A wealth of factors will have impacts on
remaining neighborhoods and business districts. The
ultimate design of the I-35W reconstruction improvements
must minimize all negative impacts and maximize all positive
impacts.
- Right of Way Acquisition, Minimum Number of Homes
The City of Richfield supports the following statement in
Chapter V of the Draft Scoping Decision Document:
"The number of neighborhoods affected by right-of-way
acquisition will be minimized to the extent possible.
Preference will be given to acquiring non-residential
properties where that option is feasible."
The City of Richfield wishes to stress that the number of
private homes to be acquired and the number of residents
to be relocated should be kept to the minimum number
possible.
• (! o~-
- Storm Sewer Systems
The City of Richfield is very concerned about storm sewer
systems. To minimize the impact of surface and storm
water runoff, there must be construction of suitable
accommodation facilities where necessary.
- Do It Right
With respect to the ultimate design and reconstruction,
the City of Richfield and its residents realize there are
many factors and variables to be considered but the
project must be designed and constructed properly to
avoid a less than satisfactory situation in the future.
It is particularly important to settle upon a solution
that will not require future reconstruction with the
incident repeated uncertainty which that creates in our
community.
- Judicious Timing
It is further realized that to do things right, it will
take time. However, judicious consideration should be
given to arriving at an ultimate design and scheduling
construction at the soonest possible time.
- Transportation Guidelines for the City of Richfield have been
adopted for local streets. Details available upon request.
~ v
February 1, 1990
CITY OF RICHFIELD
SUMMARY OF
FORMAL and INFORMAL STANCES
WITH REGARD TO THE
I35W TRAFFIC CORRIDOR
Page 2 of 2
- Effect of increased traffic on Crosstown 62 between I35W and
TH77 should be examined (widen if needed).
- The "ring road" concept for the 135W/I494 interchange appears
to be the only alternative to provide full access. "It is the
opinion of the City of Richfield that access in all directions
to and from I35W and I494 is of utmost importance to the City
of Richfield."
- "The philosophy of the City (of Richfield) is to minimize the
impact of traffic flow through the City by maximizing the
capacity of the I35W corridor."
- "Richfield does not favor an additional transportation corridor
through Richfield which would be created if the Soo Line
corridor was chosen for Light Rail Transit (LRT). If there is
to be LRT, the City prefers the LRT placement within the I35W
corridor."
~~~
- Comprehensive Plan (currently being updated with complete or
partial details available upon request) policies include:
- To encourage the improvement of the geometry and structure
of frontage roadways and freeway interchanges in Richfield.
- To provide safe and free movement for cyclists.
- To provide safe pedestrian access to major community
facilities.
And general comments in the Comprehensive Plan are:
- The one bottleneck that may affect traffic in Richfield more
than any other is the west junction of I35W and the
Crosstown Expressway. Traffic commonly backed up a half
mile and more on the east bound lanes of the Crosstown.
Congestion at this junction diverts traffic to other routes
through Richfield and unquestionably contributes to
deficiencies on 66th Street....Improvements at the junction
of I35W and the Crosstown would not only help relieve
traffic congestion on Richfield streets, but would reduce
congestion at that intersection which is one of the busiest
in the state....
- Safety considerations are a major concern of the City of
Richfield in decisions involving transportation planning and
traffic control.
- Richfield is concerned about environmental issues including,
but not limited to, sound pollution and air quality.
~~
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Study Session Letter No. 3
Agenda, February 5, 1990
Issue Statement•
Recommendation by the Richfield Advisory Board of Health to draft
an ordinance which would prohibit the sale of cigarettes or
tobacco products from vending machines in the City of Richfield.
Background:
The Advisory Board of Health believes that the sale of cigarettes
or tobacco products from vending machines must be prohibited so
that cigarettes and tobacco products are not easily accessible to
the youth of Richfield.
At their November 20, 1989 meeting, the Richfield Advisory Board
of Health approved a motion to endorse and recommend to the
Richfield City Council that an ordinance be drafted which would
prohibit the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products from vending
machines in the City of Richfield.
Recommended Motion:
It is recommended that the City Council direct staff to draft an
ordinance prohibiting the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products
from vending machines in the City of Richfield and that a first
reading of the ordinance be placed on the February 26, 1990
Council agenda.
Basis for Recommendation:
1. The Advisory Board of Health's charge is to "advise,
consult with or make recommendations to the Board of Health
(City Council) on matters relating to the development,
maintenance, funding and evaluation of community health
services in the City of Richfield."
Alternative Recommendation:
1. The Council could decide not to direct staff to draft an
ordinance. This would mean that cigarettes and tobacco
products would continue to be dispensed by vending machines
in the City of Richfield.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
Consideration of a recommendation from the Richfield Advisory
Board of Health to draft an ordinance which would prohibit the
sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from vending machines and
set a first reading date of the ordinance for February 26, 1990.
Resp lly Submitted,
Jame Prosser
City Manager
~~
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Council Study Session Letter No. 4
Agenda February 5, 1990
Issue Statement•
Discussion of assigning residential trash hauling days throughout
the City of Richfield.
Background:
Richfield currently licenses six residential waste haulers. All
residential haulers are required, by ordinance, to collect
recyclables and yard waste separately on trash collection day.
Through much of the year, each hauler may send as many as three
vehicles by its customers on trash collection day. Some of the
haulers share recycling pickup which somewhat mitigates this
traffic.
The primary advantage to this type of system is that residents
have the choice of which hauler they want to collect their waste.
A disadvantage is that it is likely that more than one hauler
would serve a given block, perhaps on a different day, creating
additional truck traffic and the possibility that waste may be
set out on different days.
All haulers collect waste in easternmost Richfield on Monday and
work their way westward through the week. According to haulers'
route sheets, the vast majority of blocks have waste collected on
one or two consecutive days per week. However there may be
circumstances where some blocks are picked up over a longer
period of time. The increased separation of garbage into
recyclables, yard waste and refuse also provides for more
traffic. No changes in collection are recommended at this time.
Consideration should be given to include this topic in a future
resident survey.
Recommendation•
Encourage haulers to voluntarily coordinate pickup schedule and
monitor results.
Basis of Recommendation:
1. Organized collection may reduce competition among waste
haulers, decreased competition may result in increased
prices.
2. Organized collection is generally an extremely volatile
public issue. The public values its' right to choose their
own hauler. Some haulers may not be able to continue to
offer their services under an organized collection system.
3. There are other options to organized collection which may
address this concern. These options include voluntarily
cooperative efforts among the haulers.
~~/
4. Some consideration has already occurred without
governmental interference. This may partially address the
concern.
Alternative Recommendation:
1. Gather additional information regarding resident concerns.
A survey of residents would allow the Council to better
gauge sentiment about organized collection, City
contract collection, and other collection options.
2. Contract for garbage services. The City could enter into a
contract for collection. This option has generally proven
to be more controversial and costly than organized
collection.
3. Operate a City collection service. This option is much
more costly than either organized collections or contract
services.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
Since this is a study session, no formal action is expected to be
taken.
Respectfully submitted,
James Prosser
City nager
JDP/ j kf
CITY OF RICHFIELD
Study Session Letter No. 5
Agenda, February 5, 1990
Issue Statement•
Policy and Strategy Recommendations for Airport Related Issues.
Background•
The Richfield Airport Strategy Group has met and reviewed issues
and events related to the airport. R.A.S.G. has provided
recommendations for policy and strategy implementation. Recent
developments regarding the airport include the following:
• New Ford Town Redesignation Plans. The City Council has
redesignated New Ford Town and amended its Comprehensive
Plan to expand the area's future land use alternatives.
Consultant Tom Martinson presented several alternatives
for future redevelopment of New Ford Town. All of the
alternatives make the airport interact better with
existing land uses.
• Met Council's Aviation Development Guide/Policy Plan
Amendment. The Met Council is amending its Guide/Policy
Plan in order to present an updated version to the State
Legislature this session. The State Advisory Council will
also receive the update.
The City of Richfield submitted comments because much of
the updating has been misleading, incorrect or incomplete.
The Met Council acknowledged receipt of the city's
comments, but changed little. The Transportation Advisory
Board however, formed a task force to address the
updating, and Mayor Quam was appointed to that task force.
Mayor Quam worked with staff and consultant Bob Collette
in drafting and substantiating specific proposals for
change in the Guide/Policy Plan amendment (enclosed).
The Task Force adopted Mayor Quam's proposals (enclosed),
as did the Transportation Advisory Board. On January 11,
1990, the Met Council adopted an amended version of the
Guide/Policy Plan, including Mayor Quam's proposals.
• Possible Metropolitan Council Member Vacancy. Carol Flynn
is presently the Metropolitan Council Member for Council
District 4, which covers South Minneapolis. She has
announced she will be running for State Senator this year.
If elected, she will resign as Council Member and a
vacancy will exist.
• FAR Part 150 Funding. The MAC's FAR Part 150 application
is scheduled to be adopted April 1990 by the FAA. The
City of Bloomington is submitting a pre-application for
funding, and there was a concern whether Richfield should
also.
i ~ i
Staff and consultant David Braslau researched
Bloomington's pre-application, and how Richfield would
benefit by also submitting one. Bloomington's pre-
application is to identify houses in the overlay zone
which would be eligible for retrofitting.
• Air Conditioning Included in Retrofitted Schools. When
MAC undertook the sound insulation project at four
schools, two of the schools received air conditioning and
Centennial Elementary School was one of the two which did
not.
Staff researched this with MAC and discovered that the two
schools which received air conditioning requested it, and
gave reasons why it is needed. Centennial has indicated
they want the air conditioning. In :addition, Assumption
and Mount Calvary Schools have been identified as needing
sound insulation.
• MAC 1990 Capital Improvement Program. The Met Council has
received MAC's 1990 Capital Improvement Program for review
and comment. Staff and the strategy group analyzed the
CIP for items deserving comment.
• Executive Summary of the Joint Airport Adequacy Study.
Smith Patterson & Co. have submitted a proposal to draft a
communications piece on the Airport Adequacy Study,
primarily for use .with the state legislature. A couple of
other firms are expected to submit proposals.
• "Counterpoint" Article. Bob Collette, one of the
consultants retained by Mendelsohn Associates for the
Joint Airport Adequacy Study, submitted an article to the
Star Tribune in December 1989. It was never printed, but
editors have since asked that it be shorter and less
technical. Mr. Collette has re-drafted the article
(enclosed)..
• Runway Use System. The MAC is conducting an Environmental
Assessment Worksheet for the RUS. Comments from the city
were submitted (enclosed) and are consistent with the
city's desire for equitable noise distribution.
Recommended Action:
With this background, the following recommendations are provided
to address these issues:
• New Ford Town Redesignation Plans. The strategy group
recommends continuing to work with Mr. Martinson should
the council pursue redevelopment plans. Cooperation with
airport officials (e.g. MAC, FAA, etc.) is included in Mr.
Martinson's alternatives. This cooperation is critical to
any redevelopment effort.
.y.~
The strategy group also recommends giving the
redevelopment concept broad exposure. The city should
also try to get other organizations to take a firm
position either supporting the concept or not. Those
other organizations could include Northwest Airlines, City
of Bloomington, Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce.
MAC, etc. A communication plan is attached.
• Met Council's Aviation Development Guide and Policy Plan
Amendment. The strategy group recommends that no further
action is necessary at this time.
• Possible Metropolitan Council Member Vacancy. The
strategy group recommends discussing the possible vacancy,
and recommending candidates.
• FAR Part 150 Funding. The strategy group recommends not
submitting a pre-application. The strategy group also
recommends waiting until MAC has a plan and determines
which areas do/don't get retrofitted. It will be easy and
quick to identify the eligible houses in Richfield once
MAC has a plan. City staff should be able to make that
identification. In addition, Richfield will not be
prejudiced in future applications by not submitting a pre-
application now.
• Air Conditioning Included in Retrofitted Schools. The
strategy .group recommends city staff continue working with
Centennial and MAC to install air conditioning. Staff
should also work with Assumption and Mount Calvary to
determine their insulation and air conditioning needs, and
to coordinate that with MAC.
s MAC 1990 Capital Improvement Program. The strategy group
recommends submitting comments on the following items:
- Noise Monitoring System - 51,350 000
Supporting the installation of such a system as soon as
possible. The noise monitoring system should be designed to
.reduce false .readings/reports of .noise..
- Runway 4/22 Extension - 511,000 000
Refer to the Scoping Document and reiterate the comments made
at that time (i.e. opposing the extension, requiring an EIS
of the Preferential Runway System, etc.)
- Land Use Modifications - $3,800,000
Support implementation of the FAR Part 150 Program. The land
use modifications would include property acquisition and
sound insulation. Staff should continue to work with MAC to
include Assumption and Mount Calvary Schools in the noise
attenuation program.
_.~ :~
- NWA A320 Maintenance Base Facility - 550,000,000
Support MAC's efforts to implement these facilities at MSP
Airport, and expect that they will continue to work with
Richfield in any development.
• Executive Summary of the Joint Airport Adequacy Study.
The strategy group. recommends continuing to develop a
workable document to present to the legislature and other
groups.
• "Counterpoint" Article. The strategy group recommends
reviewing the article, and endorsing it.
s Runway Use System. The strategy group recommends no
further action at this time.
Alternative Recommendation:
A variety of alternative recommendations may be discussed at the
February 5, 1990 Study Session.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
These matters will be discussed at the February 5, 1990 Study
Session.
submitted,
James Prosser
City M .ager
JDP:mba
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. ~
i7i~i7OMi~~Vri
T0: TAB Aviation Task Force Members
FROM: Mayor Steve Quam
DATE: December 29, 1989
SUBJECT: Aviation Development Guide Amendments
At the last Aviation Task Force meeting, Steve Quam was asked to
present specific proposals to the Task Force on the Aviation
Development .Guide/Policy Plan. These proposals are being
provided to you for review prior to the meeting on Wednesday,
January 3, 1990, at 3:00 PM in Conference Room 4B.
SQ:mba
r
'~
The Aviation Development Guide/Policy Plan contains both errors
and omissions that should be addressed.
Forecasts Figure 14, page 73, erroneously represents the FAA and
HNTH projections for the year 2018. Since the Adequacy Study,
both the FAA and HNTH have revised their methodology and
projections. Met Council's projection now stands alone, 25$
higher than HNTB's current projection for the year 2020.
pelays Table 5, page 9, "Delays at Selected U.S. Hub Airports,"
should be updated to include 1988 data, and the last column
should either be deleted or show the difference in minutes. In
addition, 1988 FAA ATOMS data for percentage of "operations
delayed 15 minutes or more," and for "aircraft delayed per 1000
flights should be included. This updated information will show
that delays are being reduced at MSP and are approximately one-
half the national average.
Page 41, paragraph 2 conveys the conclusion not based in fact,
that MSP is experiencing capacity "problems" with increasing
frequency. The following new sentence should be added after
sentence two. "These delays at MSP are one-half the national
average."
North-South and Far Parallel Figure 3, page 18; Table 19, page
91; page 93, paragraph 3; and page 90, paragraph 4, all specify a
north-south runway, and/or a far north parallel. By doing so,
the Met Council preempts MAC's airport planning process. The
MAC's Comprehensive Improvement Plan (CIP) must be submitted to
Met Council which will review it for consistency with the
Aviation Development Guide Plan. MAC's January 1, 1991 proposal
for maximum airport capacity, being developed by HNTB may be
inconsistent with the north-south and/or far north parallel
recommendations. The last phrase of sentence 3, paragraph 4,
page 90, "and a new "North-South runway by 1998," should be
deleted. All specific references to a north-south runway or a
far north parallel should be replaced with more Qeneral terms
like "physical/runway expansion end enhancement of MSP."
.MSP Re-use Page 65 and .following, draws detailed Guidelines and
Princi les based upon conclusions that are premature. This
portion of the report should be deleted. It is more appropriate
for the Reuse Strategy that is to be developed by January 1,
1993, to incorporate additional considerations (for example,
pages 4-10, EDAW study attached).
Finance Pages 84 and 85, NEW MAJOR AIRPORT recommends that
financing studies take place 180 days after site selection. A
new airport would be the largest public works project ever
undertaken in the upper Midwest, twice the cost of the proposed
LRT system that is expected to take over 20 years to finance,
using all Sources available. Financing should be determined
prior to site selection. Page 105, last paragraph. states that
financial planning does not need to be completed until 1996. The
#~ ~o
Met Council should amend its guideiines to set a date for
substantial completion of financial planning as early in the
process as possible, prior to the site selection.
Capacity Page 74, capacity projections are for "average
capacity" based upon hypothetical runway improvements that may
never take place. Capacity .planning under Treck A should strive
for optimum capacity (14$ higher) and should rely upon a much
broader analysis of airport enhancement options (for example, see
the section of the Mendelsohn Study Summary, attached).
The Council should note that forecasting studies now underway
will necessitates review of the aviation guide chapter.
The following reports and studies have not been included in the
Guide Plan Amendment preparation: Reliever Airport; Search Area;
MSP 2000+ Study; Study of Regional Forecast; and Air Carrier
first Annual Contingency Report. The Aviation Development
Guide/Policy Plan amendment should at a minimum, note their
temporary exclusion.
TRANSPORTA71ON ADVISORY BOARD
Mears Park Centre, 230 East Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
DATE: January 8, f 990
TO; Transportation Advisory Board
FROM: TA8 Aviation Task Force
SUBJECT: Review of Proposed Aviation Development GuidelPolicy Plan Amendment
The Aviation Task Force campleted its review of the proposed Aviation Development
Guide/Policy Plan Amendment. At its initial meeting on this subject on December 7, 1989, it
acted to forward the review comments of the Technical Advisory Committee to the
Transportation Advisory Board for consideration by the Board at its December 21, 1989
meeting. The Task Force withheld formulating any additional comments until concerns
expressed by the Clty of Richfield could be more fully discussed. At its January 3, i 990
meeting these matters were discussed resulting in the following comments being
recommended to the TAB for approval and forwarding to the Metropolitan Council.
1. In the discussion of air traffic forecasts on page 77, paragraph 4, the most recent
forecasts of consulting firm of Howard, Needles, Tammen and Bergendorf (HNTB)
should be noted.
2. An additional item entitled "Delays", employing multiple benchmarks, should be
added to the listing of"Assessment Factors and Benchmarks" on page 54.55 that are
to be monitored for annual assessment in the contingency planning process.
3. The references to the north-south runway option that occur in several places in the
document can be misleading. The north-south runway is only conceptual at this
point and several other capacity enhancements are also being reviewed. tt is
recommended that the Summary Report of the Guide document that is currently
being prepared by the Council clarify this point.
4. The discussion of "MSP Re-Use" on pages 85-87 should be revised. The use of
terms "principles" and "guidelines" Connotates more finality then would appear to be
warranted from the workings of a one-day expert panel. ft is suggested that the
section be distilled to simply list a series of items and/or issues that would need to
be addressed in a re-use study, including cost benefit analysis, and the impacts of
reuse on surrounding communities.
b. On page 74, Table 1 B, the following footnote should be added at the bottom of the
table "Under certain circumstances greater capacities may be achievable."
6. The Summary Report of the Guide document should convey that the Guide Chapter
will be dynamic for several years, and that demand forecasts will be revisited on a
regular basis.
7, The Summary Report should note that several significant studies still need io be
completed or initiated and as such are not part of the Guide Chapter. These include
Reliever Airport Study, Major Airport Search Area, MSP 2000+ Study, First Annual
Contingency Report.
C~ 1. ~ 1. 90 Q8 3^A2~ri mFL~HT MOIRTGAGH ~1 ~0 F'O3 ~~=d'
A new airport adequacy report has xecently been completed by
Mendelsohn Associates, Inc., a Washington-based consulting firm
recognized as an guthority in this type of study, The Mendelsohn
study enumexates over 50 ways in which the capacity at MSP could
be enhanced without the cost of a new airport. These improvements
include airspace chstsges, changes in operating procedures,
physical. improvements to the airfield arad use of the latest
technology.
It has often been said among airport planners that anybody who
tries to anticipate airport needs more than 10 years ahead is
dealing with fantasy. That's why MSP airport projections 30 years
hence should be more properly labeled as guesses,
The difficulty in attempting to project z 30 year forecast is
best evidenced by recently released figuxes. `1A C's airport
consultant released findings on MSP's 30 year growth last
?~'ovember. They estimated operations would be a full 25~ below the
Metropolitan Couneil's 30 year forecast.
Excessive optimism expressed in high forecasts can easily lead to
moss serious consequences than erring o~z the Iow side. Chief
among the dangers ?n overstating projection probabilities in the
case of MSI~ Gould result ire enormous public costs to be born by
every citizen and every business.
deep in mind that these new, lower projections are based solely
an changes w~.thin the airline 3ndustxy~itaelf. This 25~ xeduction
in operations would be experienced without even adopting any of
the improvements from the Mendelsohn Study.
~~~
Delays at MSP have been declining s~.r~ce 1986. In 198$ the FAA's
Air Traffic Operations Management System indicated deJ.ays at MSP
were exactly half the nat~.ona1 average of Similar size airports.
Traffic ati MSP has alsc been. declining since 1986. Aircraft
operations have decreased a fu11 seven percent through 2989,
dropping from k01,000 to 374,040 f~.ights.
MSP can ar~d most certainly shou7,d be improved to accommodate
future growth, Ymprovemer~ts such as new radar systems, improved
approach aids, advanced ai.r 'traffic automation coupled with
procedural and airspace changes would add extensively to the
present level of MSP's CapaC~.ty.
Among the top 100 airports it the United Ste,tes over half are
present~.y either planning or are in the process of censtrue~tirfg
r.ea runways or extensions of existing runways, Together they
account for some seventy runway pro~eets in various Stages of
planning or completion. An orderly schedule of airport expansion
at MSF should clearly includa Consideration for additional runway
Capacity.
MSF has the potential to service all air travel demands as far
a.s forecasters can reasonably project. It can be done at Costs
that recognize the economic, environmental az~d political needs of
the metropolitan area and the people of the state of Minnesota.
Robert ~, Collette
j-- ~ I ~
City of Richfield • 5700 Portland Avenue • Minnesota 55423
City Manager Mayor Council
James D. Prosser Sieve Quam Edwina Garcia Ivan Ludeman
Martin Kirsch Michael Sandahl
January 22, 1990
Mr. Nigel Finney
Deputy Executive Director,
Planning and Environment
Metropolitan Airports Commission
P. 0. Box 11700
Twin City Airport Station
St. Paul, MN 55111
RE: Comments on the Environmental Assessment Worksheet for
Runway Use System Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'1 Airport
Dear Mr. Finney:
Please add the following comments to the public record for the
Runway Use System:
The City of Richfield has gone on record in support of the
permanent adoption of the Runway Use System, and does so again
here. The RUS is a step closer to equally distributing airport
noise.
~~-/a
The city asks that when the area to the northwest of the airport
is described, "North Richfield" be added to the South Minneapolis
descriptor throughout the Environmental Assessment Worksheet.
When South Minneapolis is impacted by airport noise, North
Richfield is similarly impacted. The EAW already pairs South
Richfield with Bloomington when describing the area to the
southwest of the airport.
Thank you for your consideration of this addition.
S' erel ~.
n ~~~~L
J ~s D. Prosser
City Manager
JDP/mba
Telephone 869-7521 (612)
An Equal Opportunity Employer
~~
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Study Session Letter No. 2
Agenda, February 5, 1990
Issue Statement:
Consideration of alternative parking arrangements for City Hall.
Background•
City Hall is experiencing a shortage of parking. Residents in
the 6600 block of Fifth Avenue have complained about employees
and patrons of City Hall parking on the residential street. The
parking lot is frequently full and visitors to the City Hall
complain that there is insufficient parking available.
The City Council has previously directed staff to consider
alternatives to resolve the parking problem. Staff has reviewed
a number of alternatives including:
® Car pooling.
® Van pooling with City supplied van.
® Remote parking for employees.
® Use of Memorial Park land.
® Construction of underground garage.
® Acquisition of residential properties in the
vicinity of City Hall for parking.
General non-contract City employees were surveyed regarding the
first three options. The only option which appeared to be able
to gain support of the .employees is an option which would provide
an incentive to employees to park on 68th Street adjacent to
Memorial Park. Other options were either too expensive to
implement, required additional study, or did not gain favorable
review.
The Capital Improvement Budget for 1990 includes $10,000 for a
City facility analysis. The analysis would assess the adequacy
of work and parking space at City Hall, and provide
recommendations to resolve any deficiencies identified.
Recommendation•
The Council should advise staff of their opinion regarding a plan
to provide an incentive to employees who park on the north side
of 68th Street along Memorial Park. The incentive would be one
day of vacation of each six months the employee parks in that
location.
Basis for Recommendation:
1. This option appears to be the only option which may provide
for some temporary relief of the parking shortage at City
Hall.
2. Parking on 68th Street would provide approximately 10 to 12
spaces.
Alternative Recommendation:
1. Do nothing at this time. Wait for the facility report.
2. Do not encourage parking on residential streets, even in
residential areas is inconsistent with staff direction to
businesses within our community.
~~
3. Advise homeowners on the west side of Portland, south of
City Hall, north of 68th Street, that the City would be
willing to buy their homes should their homes become
available.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
This matter will be presented for discussion at the November 6,
1989 Study Session.
Respectfully submitted,
James Prosser
City Manager
JDP:sae
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Study Session Letter No. 1
Agenda February 5, 1990
Issue Statement:
Major Issues for Legislative Update.
Background
At the February 5, 1990 city council study session, city staff, and
council members will meet with state legislators to discuss proposed
legislation. The following items will be discussed:
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED ELECTION LEGISLATION.
The League of Minnesota Cities has adopted a policy statement
concerning the recent proposed local government election day
bill. The League urges the Legislature to resolve important
election and voter participation issues before consolidating .all
local government elections. Unless such matters are addressed,
cities have serious doubts about whether the changes that will
result will benefit voters at the local level.
From the City of Richfield's perspective, it would be favorable
for a bill to provide for charter cities to decide whether or not
they would hold their elections on a consolidated local election
day basis, or as currently provided by their Charters.
The bill proposed by Linda Sheid includes the following major
features:
® Establishes the first Monday in November of odd numbered
years as Minnesota Local Government Election Day.
e Requires all cities, counties, townships, school
districts, and political jurisdictions to be placed on the
ballot only on Local Government Election Day.
® Requires that all cities, except those under 2,500
population, hold primary elections on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in September.
® Requires cities to maintain the same hours for poling
as required for State elections.
® Requires the use of the same precincts and poling
locations established under the Minnesota Election Law
which provides that voters be able to vote at a single
location.
® Supersedes all local laws and charter provisions related
to elections.
s Gives the secretary State rule making power to coordinate
local elections and to require local elections officials
to cooperate.
PROPOSED THIRTEENTH CHECK LEGISLATION
The City of Richfield is opposed to any State mandate which would
require local Police and Fire Relief Association to pay for a
"Thirteenth Check" for double cost of living. The "Thirteenth
Check" concept would provide that members in a private Police or
Fire Relief Association would get a portion of any investment
earnings over a stated amount each year as a thirteenth monthly
check. In addition, members of those relief associations already
enjoy an annual cost of living increase which, in Richfield, is
tied to the percentage by which Police and Fire wages are
increased the previous year. There are several reasons to oppose
this legislation. The major reasons being:
® Pension benefits for Police and Fire are currently very good,
especially when compared to public sector and private
industry benefit programs. Current Police and Fire pension
programs provide annual increases based on wages of existing
Officers. No other pension program provides increases based
on existing employee's salaries.
® The taxpayer must bear the burden when investment earnings or
other departures from actuary investments .occur.
® The law already provides an option for local pension
organizations to participate in a system which permits
Officers to elect retirement benefit increases based on
raises for active Officers or investment performance.
® Current pension program is already very costly.
® Despite claims to the contrary, the increased benefit would
require additional contributions from the City. These
contributions are paid by City from tax dollars.
® Finally, the real issue is: Who should benefit from
investment earnings - the unions or taxpayers? If the union
members are already receiving a fair pension, then it would
be appropriate for the taxpayers to receive-some tax relief
gains through prudent investment earnings.
COMPARABLE WORTH
There is increasing concern that a new comparable worth bill will
be introduced in the new session. The City of Richfield is
opposed to changes in the current comparable worth law which
would provide for a plan authority vested with the Department of
Employee Relations, use of separate male and female trend lines,
and/or modifications to the comparable worth implementation plans
provided for in the original legislation. The City of Richfield
has complied in good faith with the comparable worth law and is
on a course to completing comparable worth adjustments by 1991.
Changes in the bill would destroy the City's current program and
be extremely costly to Richfield taxpayers. In addition, the
wages paid for certain positions within the City of Richfield, as
well as other public sector entities, will continue to become
further inflated over private sector comparable wages.
The proposed plan changes would also have the impact of
eliminating collective bargaining.
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REQUIREMENT THAT TEMPORARY OR SEASONAL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR MORE
THAN 67 DAYS BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION.
The Public Employment Labor Relations Act (PELRA) currently
requires that a temporary or seasonal public employee employed
for more than 67 days during a calendar year be eligible for
exclusive union representation. This applies to positions
typically represented by union. For the Community Services
Department it would be the maintenance-type positions represented
by Local 49. Public employers could be required to negotiate the
terms and conditions of employment for those seasonal employees
working more than 67 days in a calendar year. Previously, a
temporary or seasonal employee was allowed to work for 100 days
before being eligible for exclusive union representation.
The City of Richfield is concerned about the negative impact
created by the 67 day rule. Given the seasonal nature of park
and recreation services, application of the 67 day rule is
detrimental to both employer and employee. The types of
compensation and benefits which unions tend to seek for temporary
or seasonal employees are detrimental to public employers'
budgets, resulting in the employment of fewer people. The
exclusion for students under 22 usually results in temporary or
seasonal public jobs only being offered to those in this
category, limiting non-students or students above age 22.
The City of Richfield requests:
® Reinstate the previous definition of employees covered by
PELRA to be "persons employed for more than 100 days in a
calendar year" instead of the current 67 days.
FOUR-YEAR DEGREE REQUIREMENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
Legislation that would require all new hire police officers need a
four-year college degree will hamper recruiting efforts, especially
the hiring of minorities. The issue is not education, but training -
training based on department and community needs.
CLASSIFICATION OF DISPATCHERS AS ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
The purpose of this proposed legislation is to give dispatchers the
opportunity for binding arbitration. This effort should be opposed.
Presently, dispatchers are not classified as essential employees and
could strike if we were at a contract impasse. Although Richfield's
dispatchers are not currently organized, there is not a need to
classify dispatchers as essential employees.
FIREFIGHTER/DISPATCHER CERTIFICATION.
This issue is one of local control and standards communities wish to
set. Richfield has very high standards and well trained employees.
Certification, voluntary or involuntary, will inevitably lead to
licensing and the city will most likely be in a position where it is
difficult to recruit minorities and women.
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
The City of Richfield supports continuation of tax increment
financing. TIF is the cornerstone of economic viability for many
cities throughout Minnesota. The Legislature must recognize
o TIF is used statewide
s Is equally important statewide
e Must not be dealt with on anything less than a
statewide basis.
e TIF is virtually the only tool available to cities
for positive intervention to arrest the spread of blight
and slums and encourage sound economic development.
s Since cities have the responsibility for preserving
and maintaining the state's physical development,
they must have the authority for discharging that
responsibility.
LAND USE PLANNING:
The need for such a major change has not been demonstrated for
metropolitan cities. The proposal does not adequately address the
interface between the State Act and the Metropolitan Land Planning
Act. The City of Richfield opposes changes which would reduce local
flexibility The City would support legislation containing more
explicit authority for local governments, provided such authority is
permissive. The city would not oppose modification of standards for
granting variances and adjustments as an alternative the current
rigid standards.
LAND USE, ZONING, SUBDIVISION, PLANNING, AND ANNEXATION
The City of Richfield opposes amendments to the existing planning
enabling statutes that would restrict cities current substantive and
procedural flexibility to address unique circumstances.
The legislation should:
e Change the requirement of undue hardship to a more
reasonable standard which would loosen the current
standard to reflect common practice in granting variances.
The City of Richfield is opposed to the following:
® The state should not mandate administrative procedures and
roles of elected and appointed officials which eliminate or
diminish the decision making authority and flexibility of
municipal officials.
® To prohibiting the practice of conditional zoning against
changes in development proposals. Cities should be
authorized to use conditional zoning at the discretion of
local government.
MET COUNCIL ZONING
The Metropolitan Council is seeking zoning authority for the new
airport site. Richfield opposes this legislation as a needless
exercise into local control.
,~_T.
BUDGET BALANCE
The state is facing severe financial shortfalls. After several
years of passing mandated costs to cities, it appears the State
may need to balance their budget by reducing LGA while still
curbing local property taxes. The city should ask our
legislators not to balance the budget by reducing LGA and to
not increase state mandates to local governments.
USE OF FISCAL DISPARITIES TO FUND LRT
There is a proposal to partially fund LRT with fiscal disparities
monies. Richfield opposes this concept. Fiscal disparities is a
"tax sharing" concept used to even out tax burdens among cities.
It is not a magic pocketbook to fund expensive public
improvements. If this concept is approved, other public
improvements could look at fiscal disparities as a funding
source.
COMPENSATION FOR TRASH HAULER
Trash haulers have sought legislation requiring cities to provide
compensation for lost business if cities enact regulations
affecting collection. This sets a dangerous precedent.
Respectfu ly submitted,
James D Prosser
City nager
JDP/ej a