03-17-97 Special
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Joint City Council/HRA/Planning Commission/
Community Services Commission
Meeting
March 17, 1997
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch and HRA Chairperson Harms at
7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
City Council
Members Present:Martin J. Kirsch, Mayor; Russ Susag; and Susan Rosenberg; Mike
Sandahl; and Kristal Stokes.
HRA Members
Present:Thomas Harms, Chair; Joan Helmberger; Kristal Stokes; Michael
Sandahl; and Russ Susag.
Staff Present:James Prosser, City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Steve
Devich, Administrative Services Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community
Development Director; and Bruce Norquist, Housing & Redevelopment
Manager.
Planning Commission
Members Present:Mitchell Hadley, David Gepner, William Killian, Terry Ahlstrom, Daniel
Linnihan, Pamela Dmytrenko, and Roger Gordon.
Community Services
Commission Members
Present:Robert Dietl, Maureen Scaglia, Denise Schaefer, and Tim Erlander.
Item #1DISCUSSION OF STATUS OF RICHFIELD LAKE AREA. HRA LETTER NO. 13
Special Joint Meeting Minutes-2-March 17, 1997
City Manager Prosser reviewed HRA Letter No. 13 regarding the presentation of a
status report on the status report on the Richfield Lake Area Planning Study by planning
consultant Fred Hoisington.
Fred Hoisington, planning consultant for the Richfield Lake Area, reviewed the key
events which had occurred in 1996-1997 regarding the Richfield Lake Area Project. He
stated the mission of the project is as follows:
To make the Richfield Lake area, and as a result the community as a whole, an even
better place to live, work, and do business by more and varied housing opportunities,
upgrading commercial/retail properties, and providing fuller enjoyment of Richfield
Lake.
He presented the following project objectives:
x
Proactively work with MnDOT on its Interstate-35W improvement project, ensuring
that Richfield does not suffer a net loss in housing and the project is compatible
with the community.
x
Take advantage of opportunities to provide more and varied housing in the
Richfield Lake area to continue to retain current residents and compete with
developing suburbs to attract new residents.
x
Use redevelopment to provide new commercial investment and upgrade
commercial/retail uses in the area.
x
Take advantage of the aesthetic and recreational opportunities provided by
Richfield Lake, making it a place where residents enjoy spending their free time.
x
Solve existing neighborhood cut-through traffic problems. Improve transit
opportunities.
x
Improve the appearance of the community’s gateways and the distinction between
Richfield and Minneapolis at the city line to reflect the pride residents have in their
neighborhood and community.
x
Involve the community in the planning process, generating ideas, feedback and
review, ensuring that the process results in a plan that has grown out of a high
level of community participation.
x
Realize the kind of redevelopment success on this project that Richfield has
experienced elsewhere in the community.
Mr. Hoisington presented a summary of the March 1 Richfield Lake Visioning Session.
He reviewed a summary of the responses to the questions: 1) What role(s) does the
Richfield Lake area play in the larger Richfield community? (What is this place?) 2) What
does this place want to be? 3) What principles will be important in realizing our collective
vision for the Richfield Lake Area?
Mr. Hoisington reviewed a chart of the ranking by the visioning session groups of
importance of the possible principles. He presented a tentative project schedule indicating
that adoption of a Master Plan could occur in October of 1997.
City Manager Prosser asked for comments regarding the public input process.
-3March 17, 1997
Discussion followed regarding a comparison to the South Lynda
process. Suggestions were made that combinations of portions of any alternatives be
considered, that businesses be involved in the process, and that developers be involved
Lawrence Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, stated concerns regarding the
responsibilities of the City Council, Planning Commission, HRA, and Community Services
stated that he felt there should be an economic analysis of the ideas. He also indicated that
he felt the City may have compromised its ability to negotiate with MnDOT regarding the I-
the Richfield Lake project plan.
City Manager Prosser reviewed the format and process for public input meetings
City commissioners.
ADJOURNMENT
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Thomas P. Ferber
City ClerkCity Manager