DRAFT Minutes 09-01-10RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
7:00 p.m. | Richfield City Hall | Council Chambers
Commission members in attendance: Martin Kirsch (Chair); Gail Lund; Andrew Wittenborg; Pat Sorensen; Barb Kritzman; Peter Easterlund; Tim Carter; Bob Shotwell; Maureen Scaglia; Gary
Ness; Sara Nutter.
City Staff: Jeff Pearson, Karen Barton.
Others: Tom Whitlock
Absent: Council Member Sue Sandahl
CALL TO ORDER
M. Kirsch called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Kritzman to approve agenda, s/Ness. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Motion by Kritzman to approve July 7, 2010 meeting minutes, s/ Wittenborg. Motion carried.
66TH STREET CORRIDOR STUDY
Karen Barton, Community Development, explained the planning efforts that are taking place in conjunction with Hennepin County. She noted that the ultimate goal is to put together a
revitalization plan for the future of the 66th corridor between the roundabouts. This would be similar to what was created for the Penn Avenue corridor.
Barton explained that they are currently in the information gathering process. A walking tour was held August 12th and a Public Input Open House will be held on September 15th. Barton
then introduced the consultant on the project, Tom Whitlock of Damon Farber Associates. Mr. Whitlock reviewed the schedule for the project and that it will last about 6-8 months.
He summarized some of the concerns heard at the walking tour.
RICHFIELD PARKWAY STUDY
Pearson summarized the study that was completed looking into possible routing for the new Richfield Parkway. He explained that the north and south connections were left very vague on
purpose. Since then however, the City has been working with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District on possible stormwater improvements to Taft Lake that would require the frontage road
around the lake to be removed. In order to do this, a connection from Bloomington Avenue to Richfield Parkway in front of Home Depot would have to be completed.
Pearson explained that a consultant would be hired to help in the process. He will likely be at the October Commission meeting to kick off the process. The Transportation Commission
will lead the roadway connection portion of the project, especially the public involvement process.
ARTERIAL ROAD PRIORITIZATION
Pearson reviewed the very rough draft of the segment summary report. He asked the commission if there were any major changes they would like to see before the report was advanced.
General consensus was to continue as drafted for next month.
UPDATES
Pearson provided updates on the NTP Bike Routes, Metro Sewer, and Mill & Overlay
projects. He also mentioned the proposed replacement of the Xerxes Avenue bridge over I-494 and the construction of an auxiliary lane on WB I-494.
Bob Shotwell commented on the effect that the stop signs are having on traffic in the neighborhoods.
Pat Sorenson stressed the need for bike lanes on the Xerxes Avenue bridge when it gets reconstructed.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
The Commission will be getting involved with both the 66th Street Study and the Richfield Parkway North Connection design in the upcoming months. There was also interest in pursuing
the removal of the No Turn On Red signs in several locations.
ADJOURNMENT
M/Ness to adjourn the meeting, s/Easterlund. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:07 P.M.
THE NEXT TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 6, 2010 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.