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Minutes 07-11-07Richfield Transportation Commission Wednesday, July 11, 2007 7:00 p.m. Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers DRAFT Minutes Commission members in attendance: Bob Elliott(Chair); Bob Shotwell; Gary Ness; Steve Lindgren; Jackie Heinen; Council Member Sue Sandahl;; Pat Sorensen; and, Martin Kirsch (Vice-Chair). Others in attendance: Mayor Debbie Goettel; William Svoboda; Larry Wozniczka; Jane Parker; and, Matt, Jenny and Isabella Lux;, and, City Staff: Tom Foley; Aaron Holmbeck; and, Kristin Asher. Maureen Scaglia, Sara Nutter and Jay Hermann had excused absences. B. Elliott called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Agenda was amended to include discussion of 66th Street and Portland Avenue Roundabout Project under Other Business. Agenda was approved in a motion moved by S. Lindgren; and seconded by B. Shotwell. Motion passed unanimously. Motion to approve June 6, 2007 meeting minutes was made by M. Kirsch, seconded by P Sorensen. Motion passed unanimously. Implementation of Crosswalk Policy K. Asher reported on results of a survey of pedestrians crossing along Lyndale Avenue and along 65th Street and asked the Commission to recommend possible removal of certain mid-block crosswalks that don’t meet the City’s new policy. Motion by S. Lindgren and seconded by J. Heinen to remove east-west crosswalk at 64th Street and Lyndale Avenue. Few pedestrians are using this crosswalk. Motion passed. It was noted that redevelopment of the Lyndale Garden Center could increase pedestrian cross traffic in the future necessitating a reevaluation. The mid-block crosswalk on Lyndale Avenue in the middle of the 6500 block has a high number of users and a high percentage of users are crossing legally. The City staff recommended keeping the crosswalk and adding stop bars consistent with City policy. A review of crosswalks on 65th Street showed only 4 people crossing at the mid-block crosswalk at Wentworth Avenue during the six hours surveyed. The Commission asked that the crosswalk be painted and that City staff does another pedestrian count in a month to determine if the painted crosswalk improves pedestrian compliance. High pedestrian traffic on both sides of the railroad tracks resulted in a motion by B. Shotwell, second by J. Heinen to add marked crosswalks on 65th Street at both sides of the railroad tracks stop signs located at East and West Pleasant Avenue. Motion passed. Comprehensive Plan Update T. Foley reported results of public meetings held in four quadrants of the city on the Comprehensive Plan. The citizen comments are posted on the city’s web site at http://www.cityofrichfield.org/CD/CompPlan/. Commission members are encouraged to review them. Three topic areas deal with transportation issues that can guide us in updating the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan. He also said that SRF, our consultant on the Transportation Plan, will begin providing the Commission with draft sections to review some time in August. Lyndale Avenue Bridge T. Foley reported that the City will submit an application for a federal grant to build the intersection of 77th Street and Lyndale Avenue. This is being done to lessen the City’s responsibility of paying for excessive costs of building the bridge. The project may need to be broken into two stages. The work at 77th Street and Lyndale Avenue may be done at a later date than 2008-09 if the grant application is approved. He also noted the cities of Richfield and Bloomington have begun the right of way acquisition process. Parking on Aldrich Avenue T. Foley reported that Council referred the issue of on-street parking on the 7600 block of Aldrich Avenue to the Commission. In the interim No Parking from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday signs would be installed on the west side of the 7600 block. Jane Parker, 7600 Aldrich Ave., said that with No Parking signs they would still have problems with speeders on the block. She also was opposed to No Parking signs because one person in her household works the late shift, goes to bed at 6 a.m. and would have to get up to move his car at 11 a.m. Jenny Lux, 7620 Aldrich Ave., doesn’t want to lose her home due to no place to park. Motorists frequently turn around in her driveway. The situation is worse today than previously. Regular Kensington customers park on the street. While the owners of Kensington have been cooperative, the new management firm for Kensington has not helped. Matt Lux, 7620 Aldrich Ave., said the owner of Salon La Mode has said that it is too inconvenient for his employees to walk to off-site parking. The Liquor store parking lot is too far to walk. Lots of parking space opened up on Aldrich Avenue when the liquor store parking lot was opened to Kensington employees. City staff will send a letter to residents on both sides of Aldrich Avenue alerting them to what is proposed before any No Parking signs are installed. The letter would explain the proposed resident parking permit program, too. Staff will evaluate the affect No Parking signs have on parking problems west of Kensington Park. For the next Commission meeting Community Development staff will be asked to provide a background report on parking at Kensington Park and evaluate how the underground parking at Kensington Park is being used. 66th Street and Portland Avenue Roundabout S. Lindgren was concerned that elected and appointed officials were accused of not caring for safety. City staff will recommend that the City Council hire a national expert to review the issues surrounding roundabouts and this particular location for one. Roundabouts K. Asher encouraged Commissioners to alert civic groups to view the educational video on operating a vehicle in a roundabout. City staff is available to speak to civic groups. Commissioners suggested placing a roundabout flyer in the water bill that explains how people should drive in a roundabout. Staff plans to provide a walking tour for school children located close to the roundabout. Upcoming Meetings T. Foley corrected the date for the next Edina West 70th Street Study meeting. It now will occur on August 9 at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room A at the Southdale Shopping Center. The next Transportation Commission meeting will be held on August 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the Richfield City Hall. Adjournment Motion to adjourn by M. Kirsch, seconded by S. Lindgren and passed Meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.