06-04-1990 JointCITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY/
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION JOINT MEETING
June 4, 1990
HRA MEMBERS
PRESENT: Joan Helmberger, Acting Chairperson; Ivan
Ludeman, Edwina Garcia.
HRA MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Harms, Vern Luettinger
CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steven Quam, Mayor; Ivan Ludeman; Martin
Kirsch; and Edwina Garcia.
CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Sandahl
STAFF PRESENT: James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich,
Administrative Services Director; Bruce
Palmborg, Housing & Redevelopment
Coordinator; Donald Fondrick, Community
Services Director; Byron Wallace, Community
Development Director; John Erskine, Public
Safety Director; Mike Eastling, City
Engineer; Tom Foley, Transportation
Specialist; and Karen Batchelder,
Administrative Aide.
OTHERS PRESENT: Don Anderson, and Morris Nilsen.
The concurrent HRA Meeting was called to order by Acting
Chairperson Helmberger at 6:30 p.m.
Item #I DISCUSSION OF STATUS REPORT AND ALTERNATIVE USES OF
MUNICPAL STATE AID (MSA) FUNDS. S.S.L. NO. 20
Executive Director Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No.
20 regarding the status and alternative uses of Municipal State
Aid (MSA) Funds.
Community Services Director Fondrick described the three
mayor MSA funded traffic projects facing the City within the next
few years:
1) 66th and Portland Avenue intersection
2) 76th and Penn intersection to 1494
3) 77th Street improvements
City Engineer Mike Eastling described the current status of
MSA funding and the estimated funding necessary for the three
projects.
There was general discussion concerning the opticom system
and it's success in the City thus far.
HRA/Study Session Minutes -2- June 4, 1990
Mayor Quam asked staff to prepare a report on the plan for
future opticom installations and greater detail on the success of
current installations.
Administrative Services Director Devich briefly described
the process of borrowing against future MSA allotments. It was
noted by the City Manager that borrowing against MSA allotments
may be necessary to ensure completion ofothe mayor projects
identified.
Item #II DISCUSSION OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENT TO ROADWAY
INTERSECTION AT 66TH STREET AND PORTLAND AVENUE.
S.S.L. NO. 21
Executive Director Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. '
21 regarding proposed safety improvements to the intersection at
66th Street and Portland Avenue.
Transportation Engineer Foley described the alternatives
available to improve the intersection. The two alternatives
reviewed in greatest detail involved the widening of P®rtland
Avenue on either the east or west side. Hoth alternatives would
provide for left turn lanes and some redevelopment potential.
Foley stated that, the County ranks this intersection second in
priority for improvement.
Executive Director Prosser commented on the option of taking
some right-of-way from each side of Portland. He indicated
residents in the area were opposed to such a taking, while the
county would be more apt to do such a right-of-way acquisition
rather than taking entire houses.
Community Development Director Wallace described a
discussion with a potential developer who felt it would be
feasible to construct townhomes on the surplus right-of-way
acquisition area on the east side of Portland Avenue.
Executive Director Prosser stated that the County would not
pay the cost of acquiring the entire property taken through the
right-of-way process, and that a developer would need some
assistance with property acquisition. This would result in a
deficit of between $250,000-$500,000 for the project.
HRA Commissioner Garcia suggested that Council Members all
go to the intersection to observe the traffic interaction at the
intersection before action is taken.
Acting Chairperson Helmberger suggested a 5 year prospective
cost/benefit analysis be prepared of the options.
Executive Director Prosser stated it appears to be a choice
between using $250,000-$500,000 to fund this project taking
properties from only one side of Portland Avenue or taking right-
of-way from both. sides of the street.
HRA/Study Session Minutes -3- June 4, 1990
There was no strong objection to pursuing this project with
taking property from only one side of the street, and which would
provide some resident owned townhouse opportunities.
Item #III DISCUSSION OF STATUS REPORT ON ITEMS RELATED TO ROBERT
LARSEN PARTNERS PROMENDADE DEVELOPMENT. S.S.L. NO. 22
Community Development Director Wallace reviewed Study
Session Letter No. 22 regarding the status of items related to
the Robert Larsen Partners Promenade Development. He reviewed a
report on the progress of the Robert Larsen Partners on the
project including environmental issues. The report indicated
that Larsen had been requested to prepare an EAW for Phase I of
their proposed development known as The Promenade.
Commissioner Ludeman stated that several business persons
contacted him concerning the time delay between acquiring their
properties and the date payment is received for the property.
City Manager Prosser indicated that each business must
negotiate this issue with Larsen Partners.
Housing & Redevelopment Coordinator Palmborg stated that a
part of the deal between Larsen and respective business is the
issue of finding suitable relocation options.
ADJOURNMENT
The HRA meeting was adjourned by
Date Approved:
6/18/90
~~ ~ °-°~~
Thomas P. Ferber
City Clerk
un us consent at 8:04 p.m.
homas arms Chairman
.,~
J e D. Prosser
E e tive Director