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Minutes 11-01-06Richfield Transportation Commission Wednesday, November 1, 2006 7:00 p.m. Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers DRAFT Minutes Commission members in attendance: Barbara Kritzman (Chair); Bob Shotwell; Sara Nutter; Pat Sorensen; Council member Suzanne Sandahl; Steve Lindgren; and, Gary Ness. Others in attendance: William Svoboda; Larry Wozniczka; Steve Noess; and, City Staff: Tom Foley and Kristin Asher. B. Kritzman called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. B. Elliott (Vice-Chair) was excused from attending the meeting. Motion to approve the agenda made by S. Lindgren, seconded by P. Sorensen. Motion passed unanimously. Motion to approve minutes of October 4, 2006 meeting, made by S. Lindgren, seconded by G. Ness. Motion passed unanimously. Lyndale Avenue Bridge T. Foley reviewed the City’s responses to the written public comments received at the September 21, 2006 Public Open House jointly sponsored by Bloomington and Richfield. He distributed the revised layout showing changes in local access and proposed closure of parts of the frontage roads on both sides of I-494. These revisions were made in response to the comments received at the Open House. S. Lindgren asked that the layout for the bridge be dated October 10, 2006, the date when the Council received the latest revision to the layout. He also asked that the latest layout be sent as part of the response to people who commented in writing at the Open House. City staff agreed to include the current layout in the City’s response to commenters. Bikeway Planning T. Foley explained that a bikeway-planning workshop would be held on November 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Richfield Community Center. The attendees would be encouraged to work in small groups. Discussion of publicity led to the suggestion that the city hall marquis be used to advertise the bike workshop. He also reviewed a survey that assessed the status of bikeway planning in the city. Comprehensive Plan Update T. Foley announced that the city is holding a kick-off forum to begin the update of the comprehensive plan. A member of the Commission is invited to serve of the comprehensive planning task force. After some discussion, all commissioners were encouraged to attend the kick-off forum on November 16, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. It was also decided to postpone the selection of a representative to the task force until the next Commission meeting. Neighborhood Stop Sign Demonstration K. Asher reported that the new stop signs were installed. One sight obstruction may lead to the installation of an advanced warning sign. In 2007 traffic counts will be taken to see if speeds and volumes have changed on area streets. One resident observed that motorists are making rolling stops at the new stop signs. Roundabout Communications Plan K. Asher reported that a roundabout brochure had been mailed to residents alerting them to an open house on November 15, 2006 on roundabouts. The open house will try to answer questions citizens may have on roundabouts. K. Asher explained that the County staff questioned the usefulness of advanced notice of future roundabouts on county rights of way. The Commission directed staff to send a letter to County Commissioner Randy Johnson about this. Other Business T. Foley reported that Hennepin County staff responded to his inquiry on why no advanced notice was given to businesses on Penn Avenue before that road received a mill and overlay. Advanced notice was given to businesses along Nicollet Avenue when similar repair work was done. The County staff believed that a road work sign was put up at least one or two days prior to the work being done. The County staff believes that mill and overlay work is a form of maintenance work that does not block driveways or prevent cars from using the road, although a lane of traffic may be blocked for a short period of time. T. Foley called Mike Titzer who resigned from the Transportation Commission. The Commission asked city staff to have Mike Titzer submit his resignation in writing. Staff was also asked to assemble a list of people who have shown interest in transportation issues and alert them by letter that vacancies exist on the Commission. The staff was asked to bring copies of the application for commission membership to regular commission meetings. R. Shotwell agreed to attend meetings on an Edina study of West 70th Street. The first meeting would be at 8:00 p.m. on November 16th. Topics for Next Meeting Comprehensive Plan Update Richfield Parkway Cross Section Bikeway Workshop and Plan Appointment to Comprehensive Plan Task Force Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. in a motion made by S. Lindgren, and seconded by G. Ness. Motion passed.