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Minutes 8.6.08RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 6, 2008 7:00 PM | Richfield City Hall | Council Chambers Commission Members in attendance: Martin Kirsch (Chair); Peter Easterlund (Vice-Chair); Bob Shotwell, Maureen Scaglia; Steve Lindgren; Pat Sorensen; Sara Nutter; Gerald Charnitz; Gary Ness; Bob Elliott Others in attendance: William Svoboda, Chuck Lowinske; Vern Luettinger City Staff in attendance: Tom Foley; Sarah Trumm Excused absences: Barbara Kritzman; Council member Sue Sandahl CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by M. Kirsch at 7:00 PM. OPEN FORUM B. Elliott motioned to have a three minute time limit for each person whom wished to present to the Commission during the open forum. P. Easterlund seconded. Motion carried. Vern Luettinger (6711 Lakeshore Dr.) advised there is a safety issue when making a left hand turn from Lake Shore Dr. onto Lyndale Ave. What can be done to improve the safety of the intersection? S. Lindgren proposed “no left turns” certain parts of the day. T. Foley noted the left turn was reviewed during the development of City Bella and showed only 2% of turns were left turns, 98% were right turns. R. Shotwell advised he drives to 66th St. by making right-turns to ensure safety when turning. Directive: Staff to prepare a report for the September agenda. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES P. Easterlund motioned to accept the June 4, 2008 meeting minutes. P. Sorensen seconded. Motion carried. LYNDALE AVENUE BRIDGE INCENTIVE PROVISIONS At the June 4, 2008 meeting, the Commission asked City staff to investigate the use of incentive provisions in the Lyndale Bridge construction contract to ensure the bridge opens on schedule. T. Foley spoke with Jay Hietpas of Mn/Dot on incentives in construction contracts and presented the following: Why Incentives?: Incentives attempt to minimize lack of performance from the contractor. What could we do?: Disincentives (liquidated damages used to recoup agency cost, does not correspond to damages caused to businesses and residents by delay); Liquidated Savings (used instead of damages); No Excuses Clause (can not blame weather, delay of material, incentive payment if project is completed by a fixed date no excuses); Straight Incentive (daily bonus for each day project is completed earlier than date set in contract); A+B Bid (incentive combines cost + time to complete as basis for awarding contract). T. Foley advised that the Right-of-Way acquisitions for the Lyndale Ave. Bridge are not complete as four parcels are currently in the condemnation process. To ensure adequate funds, City Staff does not recommend an incentive. Mn/DOT has not agreed to cover cost overruns. T. Foley noted that the Penn Ave. Bridge had extra funding sources available that allowed the City to absorb cost overruns. There is no extra money for this project. S. Lindgren motioned to have City Staff do everything in their power to include an incentive clause to get the bridge opened earlier than November 1, 2009 and to have the contractor hold off on closing access to businesses until they are actually needed. B. Elliot seconded. Motion carried. G. Ness motioned that if bids come in lower than the Engineer’s estimate of cost, use the difference as the incentive. B. Elliot seconded. Motion carried. Directive: T. Foley to further investigate including an incentive clause to get the bridge completed earlier than November 1, 2009. SIDEWALK PLAN At the June 4, 2008 meeting, the Commission asked City Staff to review the rationale behind the Sidewalk Plan. T. Foley spoke with Craig Vaughn of SRF Consulting and presented an explanation of the overall objectives and discussion of specific sidewalks in the Sidewalk Plan. The overall objectives include: enhance streets to become a multi-use trial; connect major recreation, shopping and schools; focus new sidewalks on east-west streets to minimize private property impacts; and space sidewalks at intervals of ¼ mile as it happens that most lakes, parks, schools and city buildings are spaced about ¼ mile apart. S. Nutter proposed a sidewalk from 71 ½ Street to Adams Hill Park as it leads children safely to the library. It could be included in the Safe Routes to School study. A sidewalk would also be needed on the west side of Xerxes Avenue to get to the library. This is in the City of Edina. G. Ness said the sidewalk plan at 73rd Street and Upton Avenue may impact a redevelopment proposed that has been discussed with the Community Services Commission. P. Sorensen recommended bike ramps on the 73rd St. Bridge over I-35W. He believed that there was adequate right of way to add the ramps. T. Foley noted that the bridge would be replaced when I-35W is rebuilt. Directive: The Commission agreed with modifications listed in a memo from T. Foley plus the comments listed above that were made by Commissioners. PETITION FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT INCLUDING SIDEWALKS At the June 4, 2008 meeting, the Commission asked for information on the City’s current policy governing petitioning for sidewalks. T. Foley reviewed Chapter 429 Minnesota State Code. He advised that residents may petition the City Council for public improvements, including sidewalks. The cost of the improvement is usually assessed to the benefiting parties. A petition signed by less than 35% of the affected property owners requires a 4/5 vote of the City Council to be ordered. A petition representing more that 35% of the affected owners requires a 3/5 vote. Council is cautious about approving petitions of less than 50%. The City has not received a sidewalk petition with more than a few signatures for a long time. OLIVER AVENUE BIKE STREET AND PEDESTRIAN / BIKE PATH ALONG 35W AND HWY 62 T. Foley advised that the City of Richfield was notified on July 3, 2008 that it had received two federal grants: (1) to complete a pedestrian/bicycle path along 35W and Hwy 62, and designate Oliver Ave. as a safe alternative route for bicyclists and pedestrians. T. Foley noted that 60% of the trail along 35W and Hwy 62 is currently being constructed by Mn/DOT as part of the Crosstown Reconstruction. The City would simply fill in the remaining 40%. (2) To build a regional pedestrian/bike trail along the west side of Richfield Parkway from 65th Street to 63rd Street including possible modifications to a bike trail in Taft Park. T. Foley advised that bike route signs would be posted down Oliver Ave. to Best Buy and a raised median would be constructed at the intersection of Oliver Ave. and 66th St. The purpose is to ensure a safe direct north-south route through Richfield as an alternative to Penn Ave. S. Lindgren suggested Oliver Ave. be included in the Safe Routes to School study. A public information meeting is scheduled for August 14, 2008, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM at the Monroe Park Shelter (6710 Irving Avenue) to discuss these proposed routes. All are welcome to attend. COMPLETE STREETS ARTICLE T. Foley provided for the Commission’s review an article entitled, “Complete Streets: We Can Get There from Here” from the ITE Journal, May 2008. The article addressed how to redesign streets to accommodate needs. Options were listed in the article 66TH STREET AND PORTLAND ROUNDABOUT The Commission presented positive feedback that the public is doing well with the roundabout in place. The City is using changeable message signs at the intersection to instruct traffic how to use. No accidents have been reported. FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS: 11th Avenue Public Information Meeting. City Staff would like to hold an information meeting to obtain feedback on either August 20th or 21st. Results of Oliver Avenue Bike Street Public Information meeting on August 14th. Review the safety of Lake Shore Dr. left turn onto Lyndale Avenue. MEETING ADJOURNED G. Ness motioned to adjourn the meeting. P. Sorenson seconded. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM. Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 7:00P.M., Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers.