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Minutes 06-04-08Richfield Transportation Commission Wednesday, June 4, 2008 7:00 p.m. Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers DRAFT Minutes Commission members in attendance: Martin Kirsch (Chair); Peter Easterlund (Vice-Chair); Bob Shotwell; Barbara Kritzman; Council member Sue Sandahl; Maureen Scaglia; Steve Lindgren; Pat Sorensen; Jay Hermann; Sara Nutter; Gerald Charnitz; and, Gary Ness. Others in attendance: Larry Wozniczka; Tanya Smiley; William Svoboda; and, City Staff: Tom Foley. Excused absence: Bob Elliott M. Kirsch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Agenda was approved in a motion moved by B. Kritzman; and seconded by S. Lindgren. Motion passed unanimously. Motion to approve the minutes of May 7, 2008 meeting was made by P. Easterlund, seconded by B. Kritzman. Motion passed unanimously. Annual Report to Council Chair Kirsch discussed his presentation of the Transportation Commission’s Annual Report to the City Council. S. Lindgren accompanied the Chair in submitting the report. Mention was made of the need to be patient with the extent of road construction this year and next. Richfield Arterials Design Study A revised planning process and schedule for the Arterials Design Study with emphasis on public involvement have not been prepared yet by the City’s consultant, Howard R. Green. The Commission had asked City staff to check with the funding agency, Transit For Livable Communities (TLC,) on the acceptability of delaying the study until the fall of 2008. T. Foley of the City staff reported that Transit For Livable Cities was accepting of a delay in the study given the extent of road construction occurring in Richfield this year. Transit For Livable Communities staff was most concerned about the findings of the study being used to apply for the next funding cycle for Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program funds. T. Foley explained that that was not the City’s intent. Richfield would need many years to rebuild city streets and would not be relying on federal grant funds from TLC. Sidewalk Plan of the Comprehensive Plan T. Foley reviewed the current city sidewalk policy with the Commission. Commissioners remembered some of the history of how sidewalks were developed in Richfield. As they recalled, years ago residents opposed sidewalks because Richfield wasn’t like Minneapolis. Richfield was a suburb and suburbs didn’t have sidewalks. The City Council offered the citizens a compromise- certain streets, i.e. arterials and collectors, would have sidewalks but residents wouldn’t have to remove the snow. The City would be responsible for removing snow from sidewalks. Today, there are 40 miles of existing sidewalks. The cost is considerable for the City to maintain them. J. Hermann pointed out that City sidewalk plows cause a lot of damage to lawns and do not do a good job of cleaning the sidewalks. Maybe residents could do the job better than the city. S. Lindgren asked staff to provide some historical information on the development of the City’s sidewalk policy. S. Sandahl remembered that the City plowed the sidewalks in 1979, so the policy must have been adopted earlier than that. S. Lindgren suggested that point number 6 (dealing with a resident petition for new sidewalks) in the City’s existing sidewalk policy be revised to add that residents petitioning for new sidewalks in residential areas will also be expected to maintain them. A question was raised about the percentage of signatures needed on a petition in support of new sidewalks to obtain city approval to build new sidewalks. T. Foley said he would check on this. He also said he would check on the percentage of the sidewalk cost that is assessed. He thought it was 100%. T. Foley reviewed the proposed Sidewalk Element of the draft Comprehensive Plan. There was general agreement with the proposed sidewalk that showed sidewalk spacing of approximately ¼ mile. The plan also emphasized the need for additional east-west sidewalks while stating that most north-south sidewalks already exist. The Commission asked for the rationale for certain segments of proposed new sidewalks from the consultant. They also asked that the sidewalk map show the existing and proposed paths and trails in the City, such as behind the 77th Street noise wall and along Highway 62. There was interest in adding sidewalks on private property such as the sidewalks in Cedar Point and the HUB Center. A question was raised about the existence of internal sidewalks on the HUB Center property to allow residents to access the site. The Commission thought the existing walking paths needed to be advertised so more people will know they exist and will use them. Pat S. asked about the status of adding ramps to the pedestrian/bike bridge at 73rd Street over I-35W. T. Foley said no recent discussion has occurred on this; however, Mn/DOT has indicated its interest in removing the bridge. Limited right of way would make it difficult to make the bridge handicapped accessible by adding ramps. T. Foley discussed good sidewalk design that focused on the need for adequate sidewalk setbacks. The Commission asked that the discussion of sidewalk design about possible obstacles in boulevards include placing fire hydrants and streetlights behind the sidewalk. S. Nutter was interested in a new sidewalk on 73rd Street and asked how soon new sidewalks could be built. T. Foley explained that within the next 6 months the results of the Safe Routes To School study would be done. If the study identifies new sidewalks on school routes, the City could pursue funding for them. Updates Lyndale Avenue Bridge- T. Foley reported that the schedule shows bids being opened in mid-August and construction starting in mid-September. The old bridge would be torn down in January 2009. S. Lindgren asked if the contract contains an incentive clause to finish the project early. T. Foley will check on it. Aldrich Avenue Parking- S. Sandahl reported that the Resident Parking signs appear to be working. Cedar Point Traffic- S. Lindgren asked that Mayor Goettel receive a report on steps to be taken to address traffic concerns of residents living west of the shopping center. 66th Street and Portland Avenue Improvement- T. Foley reported that the utility work for the project is continuing. 76th Street Bridge-T. Foley reported that underground utility work is occurring now and the project will be completed by November 2008. 35W/62 Crosstown- T. Foley distributed a map showing the schedule of ramp closures and detours. The map is regularly updated and is available on Mn/DOT’s web site. The information is subject to change. Check the project web site for the latest information. 66th St. & Richfield Parkway Roundabout- Commission members asked for a traffic count to see how much traffic is using the intersection and compare it with projections used in the design. Staff was asked to see if flags on yield signs would improve compliance. Edina is working on an education program for its three roundabouts. Future Agenda Items The Arterials Study, innovative design of a residential street, the Safe Routes To School Plan and will be discussed at future meetings. Upcoming Meetings On Wednesday, June 18th the Planning Commission will host an Open House on the Draft Comprehensive Plan from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Richfield City Hall. On Saturday, June 21st there will be an Open House at the new City Maintenance Garage, 1901 E. 66th Street from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All are invited. The next Transportation Commission meeting will be held on August 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Richfield City Hall. There will be no meeting on July 2nd. Adjournment Motion to adjourn by M. Kirsch, second by J. Hermann, and passed. Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.