Minutes 05-06-09RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
MAY 6, 2009
7:00 p.m. | Richfield City Hall | Council Chambers
Commission members in attendance: Martin Kirsch (Chair); Peter Easterlund (Vice-Chair); Bob Shotwell; Barb Kritzman; Pat Sorensen; Gary Ness; Maureen Scaglia; Gerald Charnitz; Steve
Lindgren; Gail Lund; and, Council Member Sue Sandahl.
Others in attendance: Tom Johnson of Hennepin County; Jack Broz and Joel Odens of Howard R. Green Company; Jeff Pearson.
City Staff: Mike Eastling and Kristin Asher Osberg.
CALL TO ORDER
M. Kirsch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to approve the agenda by Lindgren, s/Kritzman. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Motion by Lindgren to approve April 1, 2009 meeting minutes s/Sorensen. Motion carried.
RICHFIELD ARTERIALS STUDY
T. Johnson from Hennepin County shared the County’s perspective on the Arterial Roads Study. He first commented that the County is moving away from the existing four-lane section because
it presents safety concerns. Johnson felt that roadways with 15,000 average daily traffic (ADT) or less offer a good opportunity to use an alternative design. Hennepin County is willing
to discuss most of the design concepts but has some reservations where the shoulders are less than the minimum.
Broz led a discussion on Portland Avenue, reviewing the Commissioner’s scoring of the roadway alternatives (4-lane, 3-lane, 2-lane).
Motion by Kritzman recommending the three-lane section for all four arterials (Portland, Nicollet, Lyndale and Penn) s/Lund. Ness brought up the need to continue to allow parking on
Sundays. Motion carried.
Broz moved on to the values determination. The three-lane section could accommodate either Concept B (Bikes) or Concept C (Parking).
Motion by Sorensen recommending Concept B (Bikes) on Portland Avenue because of the Minneapolis connection, s/Kritzman. Motion carried.
Motion by Kritzman recommending Concept B (Bikes) on Nicollet Avenue, s/Sorensen. Motion carried.
The location of the Best Buy Campus in relation to Penn Avenue was discussed. Motion by Sorensen recommending Concept B (Bikes) on Penn Avenue, s/Easterlund. Motion carried.
Lyndale Avenue offers the Concept D (landscaping) alternative in addition to Concepts B (Bikes) and C (Parking) because it is a City street. Motion by Lindgren to table the Lyndale
Avenue discussion until after the May 20, 2009 Open House, s/Kritzman. Lyndale is not a County road and public comment can be received for consideration. Motion carried.
UPDATES
METRO SEWER PROJECT UPDATE
Asher reported that the project has been postponed until April 2010.
LYNDALE AVENUE BRIDGE UPDATE
Asher reported that Lunda Construction is on schedule with the bridge project and that underground work on Lyndale Avenue has begun.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Topics for upcoming meetings include the Arterials Design Study, Richfield Parkway and 66th Street East Design Study, Recommendations for State Transportation Program (STP) funding,
and a report on 35W Bus Rapid Transit.
ADJOURNMENT
M/Kritzman to adjourn the meeting, s/Sorensen. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 9:05 P.M.
THE NEXT TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 3RD AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE RICHFIELD CITY HALL.