11-02-98 WorksessionCITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Study Session
November 2, 1998
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; Michael Sandahl;
Kristal Stokes; and Russ Susag.
Staff Present : James Prosser, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works
Director; and Steve Devich, Administrative Services Director.
Item # I ANNUAL MEETING WITH FRIENDSHIP CITY COMMISSION
Chair Bill Bullock presented a status report on the Friendship City Commission.
Major items of the status report included the following:
• Summer visit of Heredia, Costa Rica delegation examining the public works
operation.
• Ox and ox-cart in the Fourth of July parade.
• Organizing a Richfield trip to Heredia
• Assisting Costa Rica with a soccer tournament in January
• Working with Northfield and Roseville -cities that also have sister cities in Costa
Rica.
• Working with the Richfield schools to explore the idea of a teacher exchange.
Mr. Bullock stated that there will be three vacancies on the Commission this spring.
He stated that the Commission has had excellent participation from their student
commissioners.
Study Session Minutes -2- November 2, 1998
Council Members thanked Mr. Bullock for the achievements and hard work of the
Commission.
Item # II REPORT FROM I-35W SOLUTIONS ALLIANCE AND DISCUSSION OF
PENDING ISSUES. S. S. LETTER NO. 48
Public Works Director Eastling introduced Robert Tennessen, consultant; Gray,
Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennet PA; and Minneapolis Council Member Steve Minn who
presented a brief introduction to the Report from the I-35W Solutions Alliance.
Mr. Tennesen presented a brief history of the Solutions Alliance and their efforts in
the I-35W Corridor. He stated that in the future the Solutions Alliance will have to focus
on projects such as the mega projects and transit funding.
Mr. Minn stated that the Solutions Alliance presented an opportunity for
Minneapolis to join a regional effort to forward transit issues. He stated that the Alliance
was instrumental in getting important transit projects such as the HOV lanes and light rail
forwarded.
Mr. Eastling identified a few future regional transit projects that are directly related
to Richfield such as the I-35W and I-494 intersection including frontage rounds, fly-overs,
and impact on local traffic.
Item # III YMCA PRESENTATION.
Jean Fox, YMCA Representative addressed the City Council regarding the
Southdale YMCA and the services available through that facility to the City of Richfield.
Item #IV I DISCUSSION OF SENIOR/ELDERLY CONCERNS BY RICHFIELD
COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING COUNCIL. S. S. LETTER NO.
49
Camillo DeSantis, Richfield Human Services Planning Council (RCHSPC)
introduced the subject matter and the individuals who would be presenting.
Hal Freshley, Department of Human Services, summarized the 2030 Aging
Initiative Project. Mr. Freshley made a slide presentation to the Council highlighting
pertinent statistics regarding the aging population demographics in the future.
General discussion took place regarding the potential impacts of these changes.
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Jean Massey, South Hennepin Regional Planning Agency (SHeRPA) addressed
the City Council with information and statistics pertaining to aging trends in Richfield.
Camillo DeSantis asked that the City Council help establish a study of these issues
in Richfield for the future and how the community plans to meet these future needs.
Council Member Susag asked if statistics could be prepared to reflect all of the
current facilities available to Richfield seniors.
Mr. DeSantis stated that the statistics could be prepared.
Janet Pierson, Richfield Board of Health, stated that many of the issues referenced
in the data she has seen first hand in Richfield through her work.
Item #V ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS ISSUES
Public Works Director Eastling reported on the progress that has been made
regarding the pond and parking lot areas on the site.
Jeff McDonell, Architect for Academy of Holy Angels, stated that AHA will follow
through with completion of the items that have been a concern to the neighbors. Mr.
McDonell stated that he would personally respond to complaints from the neighbors.
There was general discussion concerning the plans for completing the north pond
along 66th Street. Mr. McDonell stated that Holy Angels will try to install a wet pond
versus the dry pond as originally planned.
Item #VI DISCUSSION OF STATUS OF AIRPORT RELATED ISSUES. S.S. LETTER
NO. 50
Council Member Sandahl reported on the City's presentation and letter sent today
to the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Mr. Sandahl described the discussion that
followed the City's presentation. He stated that in his opinion the MAC may be willing to
resume meetings regarding the unresolved issues.
City Manager Prosser added that Mr. Himle stated that in further discussion
between the MAC and the EQB, the EQB indicated that a number of the EQB's concerns
about the EIS have been resolved.
The City Council asked that assessing check if MAC is purchasing property long
the west side of Cedar Avenue north of the Transmission Shop.
Study Session Minutes -4-
ADJOURNMENT
November 2, 1998
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:10 p.m.
Date Approved:
Steven L. Devich
Acting City Clerk
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
James D. Prosser
City Manager