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Minutes 12-04-03Richfield Transportation Committee Minutes December 4, 2003 Committee members in attendance: Steve Lindgren and Barb Kritzman (Co-chairs), Bob Shotwell, Don Anderson, Gary Ness, Bill Kilian, and Todd Nollenberger. Others in attendance: Gertrude Ulrich, Ken Meter, Judy Goebel, Lois Andersen, Gordon Maenke, Robert Carlson, Ernie Lindstrom, Dan Casey, and Larry Wozniczka. Richfield staff: Tom Foley and Mike Eastling. MnDOT staff: Alana Getty and Chris Roy. WSB staff: Tony Heppelmann and Nancy Hanzlik. Barb Kritzman served as Chair for the meeting. The agenda was amended to include item # 2a. Request to Council for guidance. The agenda was then adopted. Ken Meter was given an opportunity to speak to the Committee following item #2a. New Item – #2a: Request to City Council for Guidance Mike Eastling asked the Committee to consider asking for guidance from the City Council on the Committee’s use of ten evaluation criteria, particularly as they relate to the City Council’s Sept. 24, 2002 resolution to not acquire homes for the 35W Project. Residents have questioned the Committee’s approach to reviewing alternative designs. A petition dated December 3, 2003 from 22 residents of Humboldt/Girard/Fremont Avenues and submitted tonight to the Committee also refers to this issue. The Committee directed staff to prepare a written request to the City Council asking for guidance and attach the petition. Neighborhood Petition Ken Meter presented a petition asking that a layout be drawn that protected all the homes east of 35W while retaining ramp access to 35W. (The petition is attached.) The committee did not take any action on the petition. Steve Lindgren verified that the petition had 22 signatures. Review of Layouts of 22 Alternatives Tony Heppelmann quickly reviewed the 22 alternative layouts WSB prepared. The layouts included the six alternatives selected by the Committee for further study. All six alternatives were shown on two different alignments. The first alignment was that shown in the Final EIS for I-494. The second alignment shifts 35W mainlines to the west to reduce the right of way impact on homes located east of 35W. Also, sub-alternatives were drawn for the five alternative designs that provide HOV bypass lanes to 35W. The sub-alternatives showed each alternative with and without High Occupancy Vehicle Bypass(HOV) ramps. As part of the discussion of the alternative layouts, Alana Getty reported the results of her discussions with Federal Highway Administration officials about possible impacts on Donaldson Park resulting from shifting the alignment of 35W to the west.She reported that the Federal Highway Administration indicated that it may be possible to impact the park to avoid taking homes if that is the position of the city..MnDOT would have to redo the 4(f) statement that was prepared for the I-494 project. The4(f) procedures would apply to Donaldson Park. According to FHWA a new separate Section 4f document would need to be prepared. It would take approximately nine months to complete this process. The City of Richfield would have to issue a letter of consent to take park property in order to save homes. The Section 6f process which is more involved is required for parks where the land was purchased using federal funds or federal funds were used for park improvements Replacement of lost parkland is part of the review process for Section 6f approval. Tom Foley reported that Donaldson Park has a 1957 deed restriction on it that the land, if not used for park purposes, should be returned to the donor, in this case the Donaldson Department Store Company, or its successor. City attorneys would have to be involved to assure that the City was not violating the deed restriction. If used for a road, it is possible that the City would have to condemn that portion of the park to void the deed restriction. Tony Heppelmann showed that none of the 22 layouts avoided taking homes. Bill Kilian suggested a few minutes be provided for questions from the audience after each major topic - just to raise questions. Ken Meter wanted an explanation of why the alignment couldn't be shifted further west to reduce the right of way impact on the 7500 block of Humboldt Avenue. Explanations by both Tony Heppelmann and Chris Roy were provided that there are limits to altering the alignment of the 35W mainlines and limits on introducing new curves on 35W. It was believed that an existing tangent starting near 90th Street in Bloomington might limit the flexibility to adjust the alignment further to the west without impacting parcels in Bloomington. Discussion of Evaluation Factors #1, 2, 8, 9 and 10 Tony Heppelmann reviewed information he and Alana Getty had gathered on five evaluation factors: Factor 1-Environmental Factors, 2-Safety, 8-Travel Advantages, 9-Affected Neighborhood Social, 10-Citywide Social Impacts. He discussed how well each alternative measured against the five factors. There was concern that residents west of I-35W are not aware of possible impacts on their neighborhood. Gary Ness has spoken with some residents west of 35W about the 76th Street ramp study. Tom Foley mentioned that the study’s progress will be shared with residents at the January 24, 2004 Remodeling Fair. Ken Meter said he thought it was inappropriate for the city’s consultant to comment on neighborhood impacts; that residents in the neighborhood should assess the impacts of the alternatives on them. Steve Lindgren received a letter from Robert D. Nelson about the ramp study. City staff will contact him and report back to the committee. Agenda for the Next Meeting- The committee will review information gathered on the five remaining evaluation factors. The Committee will discuss the possibility of obtaining 3-D graphics of selected alternatives to assist in making a recommendation. The committee may want to discuss possible refinements in the alignment of the 35W mainlines. Mike Eastling offered to provide 30 minutes prior to next meeting for a briefing for those committee members who are absent tonight. The Committee thanked Tony for his presentation. Tony will put the alternative layouts on either a MnDOT or City web site for public review. The next regular Committee meeting will be on Monday, January 5, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at Richfield City Hall. Steve Lindgren moved and Todd Nollenberger seconded a motion to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Attachments Ken Meter’s e-mail dated December 1, 2003 Petition dated December 3, 2003 Anthony Heppelmann’s memo dated December 3, 2003 to Richfield Transportation Committee on Evaluation of 76th/I-35W Interchange alternatives Relative to Evaluation Criteria Alana Getty’s Memo dated November 30, 2003 on Section 4f Procedures for Donaldson Park Letter from Robert D. Nelson dated December 4, 2003 Public Involvement Plan on the Design of the 35W/62 Crosstown Commons Project.