03-03-97 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Study Session
March 3, 1997
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; and Kristal Stokes.
Members Absent:Michael Sandahl and Russ Susag.
Staff Present:James Prosser, City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Steven
Devich, Administrative Services Director; Gretchen Blank, Leisure
Services Coordinator; Randy Hughes, Operations Coordinator;
Michael Eastling, City Engineer; Bruce Palmborg, Community
Development Director; Steve Sutter, Fire Marshall/Assistant Chief;
Vaughn Lambert, Police Captain; Rick Regneir, Acting Chief
Building Official; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; and Gary
Kalstabakken, Police Patrol Lieutenant.
Item # IPRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING UPDATE
Lt. Gary Kalstabakken presented a report on the process and ramifications of the
Community Notification Act regarding released sex offenders in the community. He
reviewed the following:
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Law background
x
Offenders living in Richfield
x
Facts on sex offenders
x
Release and notification process
Study Session Minutes-2-March 3, 1997
x
Levels of Risk
Level I - lowest risk to reoffend
Level II - moderate risk to reoffend
Level III - high risk to reoffend
x
Factors used in determining risk
x
Minnesota Statutes 244.052
NOTIFICATION PLAN
x
Level I - Only victim, witnesses and law enforcement
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Level II - Same as Level I and
Education Institutions
Day Care Establishments
Other institutions potentially targeted
Method - Mailing of Offender Fact Sheets
x
Level III -Same as other levels and General Public
Method - Public meetings, request for publication in Richfield Sun-Current
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Specifics for Level III Notification
x
Points to Remember
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Offenders already live in Richfield
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We don’t know all offenders
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Protect you and your loved ones from any criminal
Captain Vaughn Lambert reviewed and answered questions regarding the status of
two programs that are a part of the Community Oriented Police philosophy:
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Neighborhood Watch/Crime Prevention
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251 Block watch groups
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5200 homes
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National night out
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3 block captain meetings per year
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Crime Free Multi-Family Housing
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29 apartment complexes
x
3041 units
x
41 managers and owners have received some training
Captain Lambert discussed the possibility of adding an additional civilian crime
prevention specialist to sustain and expand these two programs along with increased
community education programs.
City Manager Prosser stated that the community survey will focus on some of these
issues. He stated the additional staffing or other approaches will be discussed as part of
the budget process.
Study Session Minutes-3-March 3, 1997
Item #IIDISCUSSION OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN RICHFIELD CITY CODE
SECTION 400 TO:
x
UPDATE CITY BUILDING REGULATIONS TO LATEST VERSION OF
STATE BUILDING CODE
x
UPDATE CITY FIRE PREVENTION REGULATIONS TO LATEST
VERSION OF STATE FIRE CODE. S.S. LETTERS NO. 5 & 6
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 5 & 6 regarding proposed
changes in Richfield City Code Section 400.
Steve Sutter, Assistant Fire Chief, and Rick Regnier, Acting Chief Building Official,
reviewed provisions and applicability of the State Building Code and State Fire Code.
They recommended that City ordinances be updated to reflect the latest versions of the
State Building Code and State Fire Code. They stated formal adoption would update the
City Code to reflect the standards that are currently being enforced in Richfield.
Item #IIIDISCUSSION OF STATUS OF AIRPORT RELATED ISSUES.
S. S. LETTER NO. 7
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 7 regarding recent
developments in the status of the following airport issues:
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Proposed Tolling Agreement concerning Runway 4-22 Litigation
x
Termination of Rich Acres Lease Agreement and Relocation of Recreational
Assets
x
Final EIS of the North-South runway
x
MSP Mitigation Committee comments on the MSP Noise Mitigation Program
x
MAC Part 150 Sound Insulation Program
x
New Ford Town and Rich Acres Acquisition
x
Memo from Council Member Susag regarding a proposed meeting with the
Metropolitan Airports Commission
It was the consensus of the Council to support the approach proposed by Council
Member Susag in his memo and to authorize him to represent Richfield in working with
Nigel Finney to plan the event.
Council Member Stokes gave a report on the last MASAC meeting and
Bloomington’s request for information on the noise impacts from increased use of runway
4-22 during reconstruction on the parallel runway.
Study Session Minutes-4-March 3, 1997
Item #IVDISCUSSION OF LAYOUT TO ADD THIRD LANE FOR HIGH
OCCUPANCY VEHICLES ON I-35W FROM I-494 TO 42ND STREET IN
MINNEAPOLIS. S.S. LETTER NO. 8
City Engineer Eastling reviewed Study Session Letter No. 8 regarding the
request of MnDOT for layout approval from Minneapolis and Richfield for the proposed
extension of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-35W from I-494 to 42nd Street.
He discussed the following key issues:
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the need for noisewalls including resident input on the decision;
x
acquisition of land needed for storm water ponding;
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a transit station on the freeway;
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gateways for 66th Street and Lyndale Avenue;
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traffic impacts on local streets;
x
bikeway/pedestrian crossings of the freeway; and
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the potential for redevelopment opportunities.
Traffic Engineer Foley reviewed the proposed layout and stated that the City
Council would have the following options:
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Approve the layout
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Approve the layout with conditions
x
Reject the layout
He stated the Council would be asked to take action on the proposed project layout
on March 24. He presented and reviewed the public involvement efforts in the review of
the proposed layout for this project. He presented the following issues and concerns:
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62 Crosstown Lyndale Avenue access
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Transit hub
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Gateway entrances
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Bikeway/pedestrian crossings of the freeway
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76th Street bridge
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73rd Street pedestrian bridge
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66th Street
x
Noise and retaining wall: local decision
x
66th Street configuration at I-35W
x
Richfield Lake storm water pond
City Engineer Eastling reviewed and discussed the approach and cost issues
regarding the I-35W Richfield Lake drainage proposal:
TWO APPROACHES-
Recovery of actual costs as they occur
x
Risk of cost uncertainties remains with MnDOT
x
“Actual” stormwater costs recovered
Study Session Minutes-5-March 3, 1997
x
Process may take several years
x
Chance for a surprise in applying policy
Negotiated settlement now
x
Risk of cost uncertainties given to Richfield
x
Settlement may not equal “actual” costs
x
Process completed soon
x
Allows certainty in redevelopment planning
Costs
x
Land Acquisition
x
Lyndale Garden Center
- Land
- Relocation
- Demolition
x
Less the residual land value
x
Pond Construction Cost
x
Construction of treatment pond
x
Dredging of sediments
x
Shaping the lake
Pete Willenbring, WSB & Associates, Inc. consulting engineers, responded to
questions regarding water quality, water treatment, design, location, and storm water pond
principles as they relate to the Richfield Lake area.
Council Member Rosenberg suggested that the staff make efforts to better explain
that the storm water pond is not just to add capacity but to clean and filter the storm water
before it would enter Richfield Lake.
Discussion followed regarding the status of the Lyndale Garden Center if the pond
were to be constructed on that property and the probable need for acquisition of the
property leading to potential redevelopment.
Lawrence Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked questions regarding
whether the existing path would have to be torn out and recreation/wetland replacement
related to the new City garage.
City Engineer Eastling stated that some path adjustments may need to occur and
that the new pond could be a potential replacement wetland for the City garage site.
Lawrence Wozniczka spoke in opposition to any up front negotiated settlement with
MnDOT instead of recovery of actual costs.
Steve Lindgren, 7141 Oak Grove Boulevard, President of the Richfield Chamber of
Commerce, stated concerns about the proposed acquisition of the Lyndale Garden
Center, staff communication with the ownership of the Lyndale Garden Center about this
issue, and that other options need to be further explored.
Study Session Minutes-6-March 3, 1997
City Engineer Eastling explained the evolution of the options related to the
stormwater pond issue.
Council Member Stokes stated concerns about the perception that this is the only
alternative that is being considered and the City is selling this alternative. She stated that
it is important to consider and publicly review the alternatives because of the divergent
views on this issue.
City Manager Prosser stated that having a specific proposal provides a basis for
discussion and reaction. He stated that this alternative was subsequent to the original
proposal for removal of apartment buildings.
Adam Josephson, MnDOT I-35W Project Manager, stated that after the I-35W
project was scaled back, the taking of the apartments became unnecessary because less
ponding area was required. He stated that the acquisition of 4-5 residential homes in the
area could accommodate the ponding area as one alternative.
Discussion followed regarding residential vs. business acquisition. It was the
consensus of the Council that staff provide more information regarding alternatives to
accommodate the stormwater pond.
Lawrence Wozniczka requested that there be an economic analysis of the
alternatives.
Item #VDISCUSSION OF COLUMBUS AVENUE STORM SEWER PROJECT. S. S.
LETTER NO. 9
City Engineer Eastling reviewed Study Session Letter No. 9 regarding the revised
design and costs of the Columbus Avenue Storm Sewer Project. He reviewed issues
regarding the impact on the storm water Capital Improvement Budget.
Pete Willenbring, WSB & Associates, Inc. consulting engineers, presented a report
on the considerations associated with the design and cost changes of the project and the
decision to proceed with the Columbus Avenue Storm Sewer Project. He reviewed and
itemized the estimated $310,000 in additional cost of the project due to the difficulty in
crossing 66th Street near the 48 inch sanitary main and soil conditions in the park.
Lawrence Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked if there was an alternative
place to cross 66th Street that would cost less.
City Engineer Eastling stated the sanitary main would cause the same difficulties at
the nearby intersections. He stated the Council would be asked to award the contract for
this project on March 10.
Study Session Minutes-7-March 3, 1997
Item #VIDISCUSSION OF REDECKING PORTLAND AVENUE BRIDGE OVER I-494
S.S. LETTER NO. 10
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 10 regarding the plans of
the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to redeck the Portland Avenue
bridge over I-494 this summer.
Traffic Engineer Foley reviewed the proposed detour routes including 77th Street to
Nicollet Avenue for southbound traffic on Portland Avenue, and 12th Avenue and 77th
Street for northbound traffic on Portland Avenue which will be used while the bridge is
closed to traffic for seven weeks for the project.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:58 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. KirschMayor
Thomas P. FerberJames D. Prosser
City ClerkCity Manager