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03-04-96 Worksession CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m. Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Russ Susag; and Don Members Present: Members Not Michael Sandahl. Present: James Prosser, City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; William Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; Michael Eastling, City Engineer; and Thomas Foley, Transportation Engineer. Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 8 regarding presentation City of the 1995 Annual Report of the Richfield Advisory Board of Health. Carlene Ulmer, Chair of the Advisory Board of Health, summarized and submitted the 1995 Annual Report of the Advisory Board of Health to the City Council. Advisory Board of Health member Cynthia Dubansky summarized the activities of the Addictions Workgroup which focused on prevention of tobacco use by youth. Advisory Board of Health member Laura Holten reported that a compliance check of licensed Richfield tobacco retailers indicated the need for retailer education as to who Advisory Board of Health member Chris McHan stated a letter will be sent to the retailers giving them the results of the compliance check; reminding them of the laws regarding the sale of tobacco products; and informing them of future checks with the consequence of reporting those in violation to the Public Safety Department. He stated Mayor and the Advisory Board of Health had sent letters to each member of the House Commerce Committee to ask for support of Senate File 558 without preemptive language to allow each community to enact stronger ordinances if desired, regarding minors access to tobacco products. Mr. McHan stated that Senate File 558 had subsequently been approved 76-54 without the preemptive language. He reported that three commission members are working on the Tri-City Assist Coalition to reduce minors access to tobacco products. Advisory Board of Health Chair Carlene Ulmer reported on the following activities of the Family Issues Workgroup: $3,000 grant had been received from the Minnesota Department of Education to ¦ further the work of the Richfield Coalition Against Family Violence which was utilized as follows: Purchased and distributed blue ribbons for Child Abuse Prevention month. Video camera purchased for the Police Department to record domestic violence scenes to help prosecute perpetrators. In October (Violence Prevention Month) 6000 brochures were printed and distributed to students in public and private schools, grades kindergarten through sixth; to apartment residents through the Richfield Apartment Managers Association; commission members, elected officials and Chamber of Commerce members. Co-sponsored a Town Meeting (“Breaking Silence Domestic Abuse Hurts ¦ Our Children”) with Cornerstone. Sheila Wellstone was the moderator. Had a booth in the evenings of a two day domestic violence workshop sponsored by Allina. Arranged for presentation on domestic violence to Neighborhood Watch ¦ Captains. One member attended a state seminar on violence. ¦ Sun-Current article on the Coalition. ¦ Cable television show on domestic violence. ¦ The City Council commended the Board for their work on these community issues. Study Session Minutes City Engineer Eastling reviewed Study Session Letter No. 9 regarding the status of the following surface water management issues: The change in drainage boundaries due to the new pipes connecting Richfield Lake and Wood Lake to the Minnesota River. A $243,000 Municipal Agreements Grant has been received to fund the Wood Lake dredging project. The impact of the connection of Richfield Lake and Wood Lake on the ability to control water levels. The new emphasis on centralized ponding rather than site specific ponding in storm water management. An example is the provision of modified ponding at Wood Lake for the Meridian Crossings Development. Potential impacts of I-35W work on Richfield’s drainage system. Consulting Engineer Pete Willenbring of WSB Associates, Inc. reported on the possible change in PCA policy on wetland mitigation which would allow Richfield to look at alternatives to the removal of the apartments at I-35W and 62 Crosstown for stormwater storage as a result of the I-35W project. The status of the capital budget and capital improvement programs funded or to be funded by the storm water utility. City Manager stated that acquisition of several properties on the 6900 block of Penn Avenue had been completed through the voluntary sale process, however, several remain. He stated the City Council may wish to consider eminent domain to acquire the remaining properties, however he is reluctant to recommend this procedure since relocation benefits were not provided in the voluntary acquisitions. He suggested the City Council could wait another year to see if the situation changes and instead advance the construction of the Columbus Avenue storm It was the sewer project to 1996 in place of the 6900 block of Penn Avenue. consensus of the City Council to wait another year to see if willing sellers come forward on the 6900 block of Penn Avenue and to move forward with the Columbus Avenue project. A map depicting major drainage improvements completed by the City of Richfieldin the last 10 years and proposed for the next 5 years. Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked if all the projects depicted on the map were financed through the storm water utility fund. City Engineer Eastling stated that some projects, such as 77th Street, were funded through other sources. Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked about the procedure for citizens to receive assistance through the grant program. City Engineer Eastling stated that citizens may apply to the Community Development Department. He indicated the Engineering Division provides technical Discussion followed regarding publishing information depicted on the storm drainage improvement map in Your City. City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 10 regarding the scope of work to include in the design of the 76th Street west of I-35W Project. City Engineer Eastling reviewed and discussed the following issues for the City Council to consider prior to hiring a consultant to do the design work for the project: limiting reconstruction to the segment between Sheridan Avenue and Xerxes ¦ Avenue; replacing the south side sidewalk between Newton Avenue and the I-35W ¦ bridge as part of the l-494 Integrated Corridor Traffic Management Project in placing private utilities underground; ¦ ¦ eliminating two bus turnouts from the design. ¦ It was the consensus of the City Council that design work for the project include: limiting reconstruction to the segment between Sheridan Avenue and Xerxes ¦ Avenue; replacing the south side sidewalk between Newton Avenue and the I-35W ¦ bridge as part of the l-494 Integrated Corridor Traffic Management Project in considering a traffic signal at Sheridan Avenue and 76th Street; and ¦ eliminating two bus turnouts from the design. ¦ It was the consensus of the City Council that further information on the public and private costs of undergrounding the utilities is necessary. City Engineer Eastling discussed communication techniques to be used for the residents of the area regarding these issues. Potential opportunity for implementation of Comprehensive Plan elements ¦ dealing with bikeway/pedestrian trails. The potential reuse of the excess space along 76th Street east of I-35W. ¦ Additional measures to discourage through traffic from using 76th Street. ¦ A concept design making the streetscape attractive for a residential ¦ neighborhood. for consideration City Engineer Eastling discussed the public involvement process City Manager Prosser discussed and reviewed issues related to the Dual Track The review by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will be the best opportunity to challenge the outside of litigation. Issues of concern to Richfield related to the adequacy of the particularly regarding the south runway and noise mitigation will be presented to the EQB. The City of Minneapolis released its MSP Airport Task Force report this week. Some South Minneapolis Council Members do not agree with the support of the north-south runway. The Minneapolis Planning Director has expressed concern about the adequacy of the DEIS. Richfield will aggressively approach the EQB and other methods short of litigation. March 4, 1996 impacts. Council Member Susag stated that Mr. also suggested that a pilots advisory group review these issues. Council Member Priebe suggested the pilots union may be helpful in forming such a Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, commented on the recently reported recommendations by Eagan and Minneapolis regarding the Dual Track Airport Study. Manager Prosser stated that these recommendations came from the need for City those cities to form their policy on the issue, something Richfield had done early in the Mr. Wozniczka suggested the City should make a recommendation to oppose the north/south runway and recommend the north parallel. CityManager Prosser stated that the City has taken the position that the airport will remain at its current location and that the MAC must address the mitigation of environmental impacts of the airport to adjoining communities. Mr. Wozniczka asked if the proposed 77th Street underpass crossing Highway 77 was compatible with an expanded MSP airport. City Manager Prosser responded that it was compatible. Mr. Wozniczka suggested that if MSP was expanded and the MAC acquired additional property from the City, the City should ask that the property remain under the jurisdiction of Richfield. He also suggested that the City should require that noise levels not increase or mitigation be provided if the airport remains. City Manager Prosser stated that the MAC does not have the authority to acquire any property west of Cedar Avenue and that the City has requested noise mitigation. Council Member Susag asked about the status of the deer population at the Wood Lake Nature Center. City Manager Prosse.r stated that seven-nine deer remain and additional alternative control methods will need to be explored. Council Member Susag passed out copies of a recent article about Don Pablo’s restaurant which appeared in the Mpls-St. Paul Magazine. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at p.m. Date Approved: Mayor Martin J. Thomas P. FerberJames D. Prosser City Manager City Clerk