09-13-00 Special
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Meeting
September 13, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Sue Sandahl; Susan Rosenberg; Russ Susag;
and Kristal Stokes.
Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager; John Stark, Community
Development Manager; Julie Urban, Planning and Zoning
Administrator; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; Mark Andrle,
Community Development Technician; and Bruce Palmborg,
Community Development Director.
Item #1PRESENTATION ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR BEST BUY CAMPUS PROJECT.
City Manager Orduno reviewed the process for which the meeting will proceed.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Julie Urban reviewed the purpose of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and explained the four stages of the EIS which
include the scoping environmental assessment worksheet, the draft EIS, the Final EIS and
the determination of adequacy of the document.
Ms. Urban stated that the EIS looks at two alternatives with expected development
and maximum development. Alternative one had five buildings and alternative two has
four buildings. She described the proposed features for each alternative and reviewed the
expected and maximum development features.
Council Meeting Minutes-2-September 13, 2000
Ms. Urban then reviewed the issues the EIS addresses which include erosion
control, water runoff, traffic, 76th Street, air quality and solid waste.
John Stark, Community Development Manager, continued the presentation
describing the impacts on traffic noise, cultural resources, water supply, waste water,
lighting, shadows, compatibility of the comprehensive plan, public services and social and
economic impacts.
Transportation Engineer Tom Foley reviewed the proposed roadway improvements
in the area of the Best Buy project which included improvements to the Penn Avenue
bridge, improvements to Penn Avenue and 76th Street and the intersection of Penn
Avenue and 76th Street.
Rick Nau, BRW Traffic Consultant, reviewed the traffic study they conducted for the
area. Mr. Nau stated that they studied 18 intersections looking at turning movements,
peak traffic counts, trip generations and looked at projected traffic counts for 2003 and
2022. He stated that all intersections will operate at acceptable levels of service with the
7500 employee alternative. One turning movement at 76th Street and I-35W would require
a mitigation measure.
DellaKolpin of Best Buy reviewed the Travel Demand Management (TDM) plan,
which tries to reduce the number of employees driving to work at peak hours. The TDM
will also identify how many employees would use alternative transportation, where most
employees live and how to get alternative transportation options to them.
Ms. Orduno reviewed the process for the comment period and stated that
comments and questions need to be limited to only the EIS, not other issues regarding the
Best Buy project.
Council Member Rosenberg stated that she has safety concerns with pedestrian
and bike traffic west of Penn Avenue and the 76th Street and I-35W ramp. She stated that
the neighborhood north of 76th Street needs better access, off site park and ride needs to
be looked at and the use of residential streets for commuting cannot be allowed.
Peggy Handt, 7545 Colfax Avenue, stated that she has concerns with traffic during
construction, the number of additional buses needed, added congestion and pollution from
the buses and pedestrian safety. She supports the no build alternative.
Connie McDonald, 6400 15th Avenue, stated that a three-dimensional model of the
site would be helpful to get a better perspective of the project. Also, the holding ponds
should include native plantings.
Barbara Jerich, 6604 Indian Hills Edina, Walser attorney, stated that the traffic
analysis is inadequate and the entire project is moving too fast.
Jim Benshoof, Transportation Engineer for Benshoof & Associates, was hired by
Walser to conduct an additional traffic study. Mr. Benschoof stated that his study found
that the Draft EIS is incomplete for the following reasons:
Council Meeting Minutes-3-September 13, 2000
x
Discrepancies between traffic forecasts in the EIS and existing volumes found by
Benshoof.
x
Improvements to the intersection of York Avenue and 76th Street are stated in the EIS,
but there is no plan for making them.
x
Traffic impacts on I-494 were not analyzed.
x
Traffic impacts were not analyzed for the five-year period when Highway 100 and 34th
Avenue will be under construction.
x
The weaving issue on I-494 and I-35W was not addressed.
x
The analysis doesn’t consider ramp metering in the intersection levels of service.
x
The traffic analysis did not address traffic impacts on local streets due to trips diverted
from entrance ramps.
Donald Cedarholm, 6214 Fifth Avenue, stated that he is against the project.
Dwayne Sietsema, 6724 Vincent Avenue, stated that he is concerned with
increased congestion and feels the east side of Richfield would be a better location for
Best Buy.
Deb Nordmarken, 6933 Sheridan Avenue, stated that she would like to see
additional traffic calming features and is concerned with pedestrian safety.
Jim Bergin, 7627 Oliver Avenue, stated that Mr. Benschoof failed to address the car
pool lanes on the metered ramps.
Council Member Susag stated that since the EIS doesn’t address traffic issues west
of Penn Avenue that the City of Richfield take another look at this. He feels the TDM
program will need a full time staff person and will need to have upper management
involved.
Terry Ahlstrom, 7600 Morgan Avenue, stated that overall the project is good. The
project will increase school enrollment, employment opportunities and will correct the traffic
problems on 76th Street.
Mike Triggs, 7639 Penn Avenue, stated that the project will correct the
environmental problems in the area.
Julie Erlandson, 6410 Morgan Avenue, stated the project is too big for the area and
doesn’t feel Best Buy employees will change their driving habits.
Frank Pafko, 6801 Elliot Avenue, stated he is concerned with congestion and air
quality. He feels the TDM is a good plan, but will need additional encouragement. He
feels there should be an alternative site for Best Buy.
Council Member Sandahl stated that she is concerned with traffic and pedestrian
safety west of Penn Avenue. She would like to see a detail of the pedestrian and bike
access on the site and is concerned with pedestrians crossing Penn Avenue at 77th
Street.
-4September 13, 2000
Dorthy Johnson, 7717 Chicago Avenue, stated that she is concerned with
employees will live in Richfield.
George Holter, 6424 Emerson Avenue, stated that he is concerned with the
failure in the future.
Dick Ziemer, 6400 Vincent Avenue, stated that he is concerned with inadequate
organization should look at the EIS.
John Enger, 732
open to all residents. He has concerns with traffic, view of the ramp and additional usage
of water.
additional commuting time for people trying to leave the site.
Crystal Olson, 4040 15th Avenue, Minneapolis, stated that she has concerns with
Robert Hall, 7309 Oliver Avenue, stated that the EIS needs to further address
flooding and runoff in the area and lunch traffic. He has concerns with additional taking of
, impact on taxes because of lost
housing, additional side street traffic and pedestrian safety in the area.
olleen Fowler, 8698 Pheasant Run Road, Woodbury, stated that she has concerns
about commuting to Richfield with additional congestion.
congestion and additional side street traffic.
Arlene Dickson, representing Fountainhead Apartments, stated that she has
quality.
Stan Cromer, 6833 16th Avenue, stated that he has concerns about traffic af
accident and feels the economy won’t remain strong to support Best Buy.
Shari Kawiecki, 7600 Thomas Avenue, stated that she is in support of the project,
Dennis Manson, 6901 Park Avenue, stated that he would like to see more public
Mike Dillion, 6521 Fifth Avenue, stated that he would like to see a model that would
show how traffic will flow within the City and he has concerns with increased taxes.
Council Meeting Minutes-5-September 13, 2000
Carol Koch, 6245 Logan Avenue, stated that she has concerns about construction
on the Crosstown being done at the same time as Best Buy.
Deb Nordmarken, 6933 Sheridan Avenue, stated that the east side of Richfield
should be studied to determine if Best Buy would be a better fit in that area.
Stan Cromer, 6833 16th Avenue, stated that he doesn’t want Best Buy on the east
side and feels it is too big for Richfield.
ADJOURNMENT
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
MarkSamantha Orduno
Recording Clerk