06-01-98 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Study Session
June 1, 1998
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
City Council
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Russ Susag; Kristal Stokes, Michael Sandahl
and Susan Rosenberg.
Staff Present :James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative Services
Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Michael Eastling, Public Works
Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Bruce Palmborg,
Community Development Director; and Randy Hughes, Operations
Coordinator.
City Manager Prosser reviewed the status of storm damage clean up in the City and
the communications plan to provide information to residents regarding the storm damage
clean up process.
Item #1ANNUAL MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Human Rights Commission
Members Present:Connie McDonald, Chairperson; Tashika Sykes; Anthony Bibus;
Scottye Holloway; Odell Brown; and Linda Wilkins.
Connie McDonald presented and discussed the Richfield Community Hate Crime
Response Partnership and the Richfield Police Department Bias Crime Information/Referral
form.
Study Session Minutes-2-June 1, 1998
Discussion followed regarding the Human Rights Commission’s role in leading the
process of creating a local community response partnership to address bias and hate crimes.
Item #IISTATUS REPORT ON WATERSHED BOUNDARY CHANGE MOVING
RICHFIELD LAKE SUBWATERSHED FROM MINNEHAHA CREEK
WATERSHED DISTRICT TO RICHFIELD BLOOMINGTON WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONSTUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 27
.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed Study Session Letter No. 27 regarding the
status of potential watershed boundary changes. He discussed the following issues:
x
Desires of various communities to remain in or be assigned to another watershed.
x
The flow of water within each watershed.
x
Water quality.
x
Past, current, and future plans to re-rout the flow of water from one sub-watershed
to another.
x
Stormwater management.
x
Flood/erosion control.
x
Lake restoration/wetland management.
x
Timing.
Public Works Director Eastling described the following Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District (MCWD)/Richfield Watershed Management Organization (RBWMO) boundary
options:
x
Richfield Lake and Augsburg Pond moves to RBWMO in all alternatives.
1.Along the Minneapolis/Richfield municipal boundary.
2.Along strict watershed lines.
3.Grass Lake and Legion Lake stay in MCWD.
4.Negotiated agreement regarding Grass Lake.
Peter Willenbring, WSB & Associates, Inc., consulting engineer, described the
proposed watershed boundary changes the City would like to see occur to the
subwatersheds within and adjacent to Richfield related to Augsburg Pond, Richfield Lake,
grass Lake, and Legion Lake. He discussed the related special district tax implications and
control issues.
Public Works Director Eastling recommended that Grass Lake and Legion Lake
remain in the MCWD, that Richfield Lake and Augsburg Pond become part of the RBWMO,
and that staff negotiate an agreement with MCWD and the City of Minneapolis regarding
Grass Lake.
Council Member Susag reviewed the Blue Water Commission report on water quality
related to Legion Lake and Minneapolis lakes. He requested Council consideration of a
resolution to support the recommendation of Public Works Director Eastling be scheduled for
the June 8 City Council meeting.
Study Session Minutes-3-June 1, 1998
Item #IIIDISCUSSION OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR 6901 BLOCK OF
PENN AVENUE. STUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 28
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed Study Session Letter No. 28
and presented a status report on the following issues regarding the development proposals
for the 6901 block of Penn Avenue:
x
Two concept proposals submitted to develop townhomes on the site.
x
Staff hosted open house to receive comments on the pond and development
concepts.
x
Acquisition of the two remaining properties.
x
Potential use of some property to provide additional off-street parking for the
dentist office on the block.
x
Possible timeframe for development.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council that the priority order is as
following: 1) ponding, 2) housing, 3) parking.
Item #IVPROGRESS REPORT FROM MAINTENANCE FACILITY TASK FORCE.
STUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 29
Maintenance Facility Task Force Chairperson Dave Gepner presented a progress
report indicating that the Task Force has reviewed the Maintenance Facility Program Space
Needs Report and reviewed potential sites. He requested that the City negotiate with the
MAC regarding the potential for exchange of the New Ford Town Park and Rich Acres Park
land for a maintenance facility site on airport property along Highway 77. He stated that it
was the intent of the Task Force to present two to three site alternatives to the City Council
with cost estimates for each one.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed a transportation plan proposed by the MAC
for the Highway 77 corridor which included a new bridge and upgraded intersection
configuration at 66th Street and the 77th Street underpass. He reviewed the potential for
residual land from the transportation plan being available for a maintenance facility site.
Discussion followed regarding feasibility, traffic, timing, costs, impact on the golf
course, compatibility with the airport mitigation plan, project review, and communications
regarding this transportation plan. It was the consensus of the City Council that the City
explore the potential for obtaining a maintenance facility site in conjunction with the
transportation plan proposed by the MAC.
Study Session Minutes-4-June 1, 1998
Item #VDISCUSSION OF STATUS OF AIRPORT RELATED ITEMS. STUDY
SESSION LETTER NO. 30
Audrey Duffee, Bill Duffee, Tony Fernandez, Jim Straighton, and Debbie Gustafson,
members of the CARE TEAM (Caring Citizens Concerned about Richfield Environment;
Together Everyone Achieves More), gave a report on their efforts regarding the following
objectives;
1.Raise awareness of low frequency noise and its impacts;
2.Establish that low frequency noise is a legitimate problem;
3.Support a mitigation plan; and,
4.Follow the MAC-Dictated time line to success.
They invited public participation by the public in their meetings which are scheduled
every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Elliot Education Building.
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 30 reporting on recent
developments regarding airport issues including the following:
x
Runway 4-22
x
Closing of Standish Avenue
x
Proposed Runway 17-35
x
Airport Mitigation concept meetings
x
Richfield Care Team
x
MASAC
x
Minnesota Valley Wild Life Refuge issues with the E.I.S.
x
Resident and non-resident calls regarding airport noise.
Item #VIDISCUSSION OF AIRPORT MITIGATION PROPOSAL. STUDY SESSION
LETTER NO. 31
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 31 regarding the Draft
Airport Mitigation Proposal.
Don Brauer, The Brauer Group, Inc., presented and answered questions regarding
the Draft of the Airport Mitigation Proposal.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, questioned whether there was a
mechanism to prevent the MAC from retaining title to the land.
Council Member Susag stated that the mitigation proposal does not request the MAC
to purchase the property but instead asks for funding for the City to carry out the acquisition
and redevelopment.
Study Session Minutes-5-June 1, 1998
Mr. Brauer accepted comments and requests for additions and clarifications of the
draft from the City Council and Planning Commission members.
City Manager Prosser stated that the Airport Mitigation Proposal is scheduled for
Council consideration at the June 8 City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 10:00 p.m.
Date Approved: _______________________________________________
Martin J. Kirsch, Mayor
____________________________________________________________
Thomas P. Ferber, City ClerkJames D. Prosser, City Manager