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12-07-1992 Study SessionCITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION December 7, 1992 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Martin Kirsch; William Bullock; Michael Sandahl; and Kristal Stokes. MEMBERS ABSENT: Ivan Ludeman. STAFF PRESENT: James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative Services Director; Thomas P. Ferber, City Clerk; Donald Fondrick; Community Services Director; Jack Erskine, Public Safety Director; Byron Wallace, Community Development Director; William Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; Mike Eastling, City Engineer; and Bridget Walstrom, Finance Manager. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m. Item #I DISCUSSION REGARDING REQUEST TO PARK TRAVEL TRAILER (RV) ON CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY. S.S. LETTER NO. 40 City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 40 regarding a request by Randy Bednar, 7344 Chicago Avenue, for a variance from the RV ordinance to allow the parking of a RV travel trailer in the right-of-way area. Council Member Sandahl stated support for referring the case to a hearing examiner but stated concern about setting precedent. Council Member Stokes stated concern about fire safety related to the proximity to the garage and the visual impact. She spoke in support of referring the case to a hearing examiner. Council Member Bullock stated it was a community standards issue and he had concern about setting precedent. He spoke in support of referring the case to a hearing examiner. City Manager Prosser asked if the application cost for a residential zoning variance should be applied to this request. It was consensus of the Council that the staff should refer the case to a hearing examiner for consideration of the variance and charge the actual costs of the case to the applicant. Study Session Minutes -2- December 7, 1992 Item #II DISCUSSION WITH JAMES DENN, COMMISSIONER FOR MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, REGARDING TRAFFIC CORRIDOR STUDIES CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO I35W TRAFFIC CORRIDOR. S.S. LETTER NO. 39 City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 39 and introduced James Denn, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Vern Luettinger, Chair of the Richfield I35W/I494 AdHoc Traffic Committee, reviewed the findings of the Committee supporting the I35W High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) option on the basis of safety, local traffic impacts, cost, and ridership. George Karnas, Richfield I35W/I494 AdHoc Traffic Committee, stated the HOV option was the best available and that financing LRT was prohibitive. ' Sue Sandahl, Richfield 135W/I494 AdHoc Traffic Committee, stated concern about the diversion oft traffic to local streets that LRT would create. Don Anderson stated concerns about the diversion of truck traffic to local streets. Tom Scaglia, Richfield I35W/I494 AdHoc Traffic Committee, stated that safety should be a major concern and that the 135W/62 commons and the 135W/I494 intersection need to be improved. He indicated a concern about right of way (ROW) encroachment on Donaldson Park. Mr. Scaglia also advocated some type of transit alternative to address the future. City Manager Prosser stated that the City supports a more flexible enhanced bus mass transit. Community Services Director Fondrick indicated that the ROW acquisition from Donaldson Park would only require minor parking lot adjustments and would not affect the athletic fields. Bob Nelson, Director of Information Systems ISD No. 280, speaking on behalf of the Richfield School Board, stated their opposition to LRT on the Soo Line based on safety, environmental, and traffic issues. Sharon Miller, representing "Save our Richfield'", stated that the group position Line, but if LRT is built, it should be in She described the group's differences with position. Vern Luettinger expressed concern abo~ LRT to the east-west travel in Richfield. Valued Environment in opposes LRT on the Soo the I35W right-of-way. the City's official it the disruption of Study Session Minutes -3- December 7, 1992 City Manager Prosser reviewed the opposition expressed by the Academy of the Holy Angels about LRT on the Soo Line and their support of the HOV option for I35W. Pat Rickert, Visions 2004, stated that the Visions 2004 Board of Directors had passed a resolution supporting the I35W HOV lane option. Doris Rubenstein, Woodlake Village Homeowners Association, stated it was the consensus of the Homeowners Association not to support the HOV option but to support either LRT in the I35W ROW or other options such as new technology instead of freeway expansion. Tim Erlander, Planning Commission, spoke in opposition to LRT based on cost, flexibility, and ridership. Lawrence Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, read a statement requesting mitigation of highway impacts, safer sidewalks crossing I35W, opposition to LRT on the Soo Line, support for a Soo Line recreation corridor, assurance of full freeway access at Lyndale Avenue and at 66th Street, consideration of air quality, and noise reduction. Gertrude Ulrich, 7601 Aldrich Avenue, presented information regarding a new optical technology for traffic management, and stated her opposition to LRT. Ray Warner, Edina resident, reviewed the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) public transportation system and spoke in support of PRT as the solution to the I35W problem. David Paxson, 6732 Emerson Avenue, suggested PRT could be the visionary answer and that it may be worthwhile postponing a decision until the feasibility of the PRT alternative is determined. Council Member-Elect Rosenberg spoke in opposition to the HOV option. She stated support for LRT on the Hiawatha corridor and improved bus service. Council Member-Elect Priebe stated he did not share the concerns expressed about the diversion of traffic to local streets. He stated this will be exacerbated during any construction on I35W. He stated expanding I35W will generate increased traffic and development, therefore, making the highway obsolete again. He stated he favored no expansion of I35W except for safety improvements to the 135W/62 commons area. He endorsed LRT on the Hiawatha corridor. Council Member-Elect Susag spoke in opposition to LRT. He stated it is an outdated technology, not flexible, and takes dust as much ROW. He stated that he supported the HOV lane option which accommodates the most traffic. Study Session Minutes -4- December 7, 1992 Council Member Bullock stated that the information in the DEIS convinced him that LRT is not feasible and that the HOV option is the best alternative. Council Member Stokes spoke in support of the HOV option noting the need for flexible transit to serve the fobs and development in the suburbs. Mayor Kirsch spoke in support of the HOV option. He stated it will lessen the diversion of traffic to local streets. He stated an improved flexible bus transit system will serve the area the best. MnDot Commissioner James Denn reviewed the approach he has taken to make a decision on which option to pursue for the 135W and I494 traffic corridors. He stated he expects to make an announcement for both corridors in January 1993. Mr. Denn also reviewed the funding issues related to both projects. The meeting was recessed at 8:45 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 9:00 p.m. Item #III POLICY AND STRATEGY RECO1rIIrlENDATIONS FOR AIRPORT RELATED ISSUES. S.S. LETTER NO. 41 City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 41 summarizing the status of the following airport related issues: • New Ford Town/Rich Acres Acquisition • FAA Part 150 Program • Draft EIS for Proposed Extension of Runway 4-22 • MAC 1993-1999 Capital Improvement Plan • MAC Public Hearing on Various Options at MSP for Noise Abatement • Noise Mitigation Funding Legislation • FAA Capacity Task Force Study • MSP Symposia Council Member-Elect Priebe stated his concern that the sound insulation was being provided for more homes in the southeast quadrant than the northeast quadrant of the City. City Manager Prosser reviewed the criteria for determination for the sound insulation based on noise contours and how more sound insulation for the northeast quadrant can be accomplished in the schedule. Council Member-Elect Priebe stated concerns about the possible impacts on the City and airport if Northwest Airlines files Chapter 11 or Chapter 7. Council Member Sandahl reviewed the results of such action on other cities. i L~ 1 Study Session Minutes -5- After City Council discussion, it council that staff prepare an initial report back in 60 days. December 7, 1992 was the consensus of the scoping of this issue and Item #IV REVIEW OF 1992 REVISED/1993 PROPOSED BUDGET. S.S.LETTER NO. 42 City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 42 regarding the 1992 Revised/1993 Proposed Budget. He stated that it is possible that because the State's sales tax revenues are up in 1992, the City may receive an additional $250,000 in LGA. He cautioned that the State still forecasts a $769 million dollar budget shortfall for the next biennium. Therefore, he would recommend that if the City does receive the additional revenue, the City Council take action to place it in a special account only to be accessed by City Council. He indicated it is very likely that LGA could be cut in 1993 to help solve the State's budget shortfall, and this revenue could be used to cushion that loss in 1993. It was the consensus of the Council that this approach would be appropriate. City Manager Prosser stated that Council Member Ludeman could not attend this meeting but had expressed that the City should-consider not funding membership in the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), National League of Cities (NLC) and the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (AMM). Council discussion followed regarding participation in these organizations, attendance at national conferences, and travel. It was the consensus of the City Council that the Council will discuss at a future study session setting a policy regarding membership, participation, and travel related to such organizations. Council Member-Elect Priebe asked why the average increase was 8.9$ for the City portion of taxes as compared to less for other taxing jurisdictions. Administrative Services Director Devich stated that the City levy increase is 4$ and that the tax base value has shrunk by 6$. The result of those factors combined reflects a larger tax increase impact on some individual properties in the City. City Manager Prosser indicated that further budget cuts could be made but that would mean a reduction of services and programs. City Manager Prosser reviewed the adjustment required to the General Services pay plan to be in compliance with Comparable Worth requirements. He stated that the penalty for being out of compliance is 5~ of the City's LGA allotment. Study Session Minutes -6- December 7, 1992 ~IDJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consen 10:07 p.m. Date Approved : 12/ 14/ 92 ~~~lr~ ' a in J. i s ayor %~„Yt~vCGS4 ~ --Qs~ Thomas P. Ferber ame D. Prosser City Clerk C t Manager 1