Minutes 02-11-04Richfield Transportation Committee
Minutes
February 11, 2004
Committee members in attendance: Barbara Kritzman(Co-Chair); Todd Nollenberger; Don Anderson; Bob Elliott; Robert Shotwell; Lezlie Vermillion; Scott Pawelko; David Gepner; Gary Ness;
and, Council member Susanne Sandahl.
Others in attendance: Ray and Judy Goebel; Dan Casey; Larry Wozniczka; Ken Meter; Dick Stembridge; Bill and Lois Andersen; Jay Ford; Gordon Maenke; Robert D. Nelson; Ernie Lindstrom;
Dale Schwie; Council member Gertrude Ulrich; Council member John Enger; Council member Susan Rosenberg; Lori and Bruce Rick; Kim Carlson; Keith Fermanich. Richfield staff: Tom Foley,
Kristin Asher 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 adopted.
Lawyer Investigation – Mike Eastling reported that the City Attorney is still reviewing the restricted covenants on Donaldson Park. Since the Donaldson Company is now under new ownership,
it is likely that revising the old covenants will have to be processed through the court system. It may be difficult to take the parkland for construction of a new frontage road.
Once an alternative is selected as the preferred alternative, a park impact line should be established and reviewed with the Attorney.
Public Meetings Held– Reports were presented of public meetings held since the last Committee meeting.
Businesses- Mike Eastling reported that Steve Lindgren, Tony Heppelmann and he met with representatives of Emerson Congregational United Church of Christ, Meridian Crossings, Shops at
Lyndale; and Best Buy Company. He still needed to visit with the Minnesota School of Business and Galyan’s Trading Company. Most of the businesses opposed the closing of the 76th Street
ramps because they were crucial to their business. Some businesses opposed Alternative 5 the North Loop because it took the School of Business and restricted access to the Church and
Meridian Crossings. Not all invited businesses attended the meeting. Galyans and the Minnesota School of Business have not been contacted to date. Attempts to contact them are ongoing.
Written comments provided by businesses that attended the meeting are attached to the agenda.
Community Services Commission- Gary Ness reported that the Commission was willing to work with the alternatives that shifted the freeway to the west. They
saw the opportunity to make improvements to Donaldson Park. Shifting the frontage road into the park would require moving the tennis courts and rearranging the parking lot or moving
it.
West Side Residents- Tom Foley explained that the meeting with residents west of 35W indicated that their consensus was to save homes. Some people didn’t see the need to keep the west
frontage road open, while others did. There was some discussion of the change in traffic patterns if the west frontage road were closed. Minutes from the neighborhood meeting including
written responses were distributed at this meeting. Some residents expressed concern about impacting the Church access.
East Side Residents Meeting – Barb Kritzman suggested the City conduct a meeting for the East Side Residents. The mailing should include the area bound by Nicollet Ave and I-35W, and
76th Street to 70th Street.
Planning Commission- Dave Gepner reported for Bill Kilian on the Planning Commission’s discussion. They did not have objections although they were concerned that pedestrians and bicyclists
be considered in the evaluation of alternatives. City staff explained that this would be done as the number of alternatives was reduced and more detailed analysis on a few alternatives
proceeds. Dave asked to give a presentation to the Committee at some future meeting on both bikes and aesthetics that he has learned over time.
Evaluation Factor: Business Impacts– Tony Heppelmann reviewed his attached report on the impact of the different alternatives on businesses. The report was based on comments received
by businesses at a recent January 22, 2004 meeting.
The Committee had asked for information on the number of high occupancy vehicles (HOV’s) that use the 76th Street ramp in the peak periods. Tony said that the number of HOV’s varied
based on recent changes in ramp metering. In 1999 there were 100-120 vehicles in the PM peak hour. This number dropped to 30 HOV’s in the peak hour in 2002. This corresponded to the
shut down or easing of the ramp metering that occurred in 2002. In 2003 about 40-60 VPH used the lane in the PM peak hour. It was unknown how many of these vehicles were violators.
Scoring System- Tony Heppelmann explained the scoring system to the Committee for rating alternatives based on the ten evaluation factors. He used an example. The Committee would be
asked to perform their individual ratings and send them to Tom Foley. Scott Pawelko asked what the Committee would see for scoring results. Tony explained he would compile the results
and produce a spreadsheet showing the scores of individual members and then a total score for the Committee. Individual scores will be shown anonymously. Todd Nollenberger asked if
the scoring sheet could be sent by e-mail. Committee members were asked to send their response to Tom Foley by Monday, March 8th before the
next Committee meeting. City staff will send the comments of the east side neighborhood meeting in time for committee members to use in their rankings.
To simplify the ranking process the committee will evaluate the six alternative designs on an alignment shifted to the west with no HOV lane at this time. The consideration of the HOV
lane can be addressed as the analysis continues. The committee will focus on where the alternatives differ and why one alternative is preferred over another. Bob Elliott requested
that the raw data matrix from each of the committee members be distributed with the summary matrix with no names.
Other Business- Lezlie Vermillion asked the Committee to set a policy to have agenda items sent to the city staff at least one week prior to the Committee. This will give city and MnDOT
staff time to evaluate if an idea is feasible and then put it on the agenda. The motion was carried.
Ken Meter presented a design alternative using the same entrance design as currently exists but try to fit the new ramp in as part of shifting the freeway mainlines west. This will be
placed on the March 10th agenda.
Larry Wozniczka asked that the Lyndale Avenue Bridge with access to northbound 35W be included as an alternative. Mike Eastling responded explaining that Mn/DOT and the Consultant are
currently working on this issue. The committee may want to consider having two scores: one with access at Lyndale Ave and one without access at Lyndale Ave.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Attachments
Notes taken by Nancy Hanzlik at January 20, 2004 Community Services Commission meeting.
Minutes of Neighborhood West of I-35W Meeting on February 5, 2004 on the 76th Street/35W Interchange Evaluation
Anthony Heppelmann’s memo on Business Impacts, no date
Humboldt/Girard Neighbors Concerned Steering Committee views, February 11, 2004. A proposal for a new alternative design for the 76th Street ramps.
Memo from Tom Foley dated February 10, 2004 on Clarification of Transportation Issues Raised Recently