05-29-01 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Study Session
May 29, 2001
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Gertrude Ulrich; John
Enger; and Sue Sandahl.
Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works
Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Bill Fillmore, Liquor
Operations Director; Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary; and
Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer.
Item # IANNUAL MEETING WITH CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Civil Service Commission Members present: President Philip Mortenson, Patrick
Howard and John Hamilton.
President Mortenson reviewed the commission’s 2000 accomplishments and 2001
goals.
Council Member Enger asked for an explanation of the Promotability Index portion
of the police and firefighter promotional exams. He asked if promotional opportunities are
open to only current City staff. He also asked if Community Service Officers (CSO) who
apply and are current City employees are given extra points.
Public Safety Director Scott explained the Promotability Index. He said promotions
are only for current staff. He also said CSO’s are given five extra points.
Special Study Session Minutes-2-May 29, 2001
President Mortenson thanked the City Council for the opportunity to meet with
them.
Item # IIMEETING WITH RICHFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Steve Kirchner, Chair of the Richfield Chamber of Commerce, addressed the City
Council regarding ten proposed principles for redevelopment prepared by the Chamber.
Each of the board members in attendance presented one of the redevelopment principles.
1.Guidelines for redevelopment should incorporate input from businesses. The
Richfield Chamber of Commerce believes it is the obligation of the City of
Richfield to inform the Chamber and the businesses in an affected are of
potential redevelopment proposals as soon as a developer contacts the
Community Development Department or the Richfield Housing and
Redevelopment Authority. The Chamber respectfully requests potential
developers to contact the Chamber as a courtesy.
2.Redevelopment plans should provide an escape option for potential failure.
3.Under no circumstances should commercial property be taken for parks.
4.Condemnation should continue to be viewed as a last resort.
5.Use of planning consultants should only be in rare circumstances.
6.Tax increment financing is a valuable tool for redevelopment, but should be
used only in districts which have been established after extensive public debate.
7.There needs to be clearly demonstrated evidence of a slide in property values in
relation to the pace of valuation in the entire community.
8.Time frames should be established which assist in providing definite ending
dates for initiation of redevelopment projects which would prevent the needless
apprehension which exists when redevelopment in an area drags on beyond a
reasonable period of time.
9.The City of Richfield should work with the Metropolitan Council after completion
of the 2020 planning initiative to amend the comprehensive plan wherever
appropriate to incorporate “SMART GROWTH” strategies.
10.Given the changes in the community in recent years and the redevelopment
projects, another review of the comprehensive plan should be undertaken to
examine the need for light manufacturing areas of the community.
Steve Lindgren, President of the Chamber, said these principles were submitted to
the Planning Commission and they discussed principles 9 and 10 only. The Planning
Commission thought principles 1-8 were a responsibility of the HRA and City Council.
Mr. Lindgren suggested a review of the Comprehensive Plan upon completion of
the 2020 process and as a way to review specific land use designations. He also
suggested that the City return to the policy of City Council Members serving as the HRA.
Council Member Sandahl asked for clarification of principle 3.
Mr. Lindgren said this was a longtime position of the Chamber.
Special Study Session Minutes-3-May 29, 2001
Council Member Rosenberg asked for clarification on principle 1 - Does the
Chamber desire notification of any developer’s interest or only those serious about
development.
Mr. Kirchner said the Chamber should be notified of any developer indicating
interest.
Council Member Rosenberg said she agreed with principle 8 and the need to
tighten up time frames. She said she was in concurrence with principle 6 - TIF needs to
be looked at closely and developers need to be more accountable for costs. Ms.
Rosenberg said that the Best Buy development fits into principle 9.
Mr.Kirchner said the City and Chamber should have a unified voice in
development. He said sometimes the Chamber is caught in the middle.
Mr. Lindgren said the proposed principles will be presented to the HRA.
Council Member Ulrich asked for a definition of light manufacturing stated in
principle 10.
Mr. Lindgren said the Chamber is working on the definition.
Council Member Enger asked the size of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Lindgren said there are 200 members governed by 12 board members.
Mr. Lindgren thanked the City Council for the opportunity to speak about the
proposed principles of redevelopment.
Council Member Ulrich thanked board member Dave Reinart, owner of McDonalds,
for his help during the census drive.
Item # IIITRANSPORTATION UPDATE
Public Works Director Eastling said City staff was reporting on the status of various
transportation projects. He said the purpose of this report was to bring the Council up-to-
date on current projects and to verify staff is following the policy direction of the Council.
Phil Riveness, Met Council representative, provided background information on
77th Street. He said 77th Street was originally referred to as a detached frontage road.
The street was constructed to preserve the commercial/industrial zone, reduce traffic on I-
494 as a reliever route, and buffer the residential area. Mr. Riveness said the ring road
along I-494 in Richfield and Bloomington is progressing.
Special Study Session Minutes-4-May 29, 2001
Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer, reviewed the 77th Street High Priority funding
and the replacement of the Penn Avenue bridge over I-494 project. Mr. Foley reviewed
the Penn Avenue bridge funding package.
Mike Kotila, SEH representative, reviewed the 76th Street widening from I-35W to
west of Penn Avenue project. He discussed proposed utilities changes, traffic staging for
the 76th Street closure including detour routes. He said the work on 76th Street needs to
be completed by January 2002 which is when the reconstruction of the Penn Avenue
bridge begins.
Mr. Kotila said the primary detour route will be Knox Avenue to 78th Street to Penn
Avenue. The 76th Street closure will be closed for three months (August – November).
Council Member Sandahl asked when 66th Street will be completed.
Public Works Director Eastling said it is scheduled to be completed one month
ahead of the 76th Street closure (July).
Mr. Foley reviewed the I-35W/62 Crosstown reconstruction project.
Council Member Rosenberg asked about extending the noisewall to Penn Avenue.
Mr. Eastling said this is being pursued.
Mr. Foley reviewed the 66th Street and Hwy 77-interchange project.
Mr. Eastling reviewed the noise impacts and acquisition strategy for Metropolitan
Airports Commission’s proposed shifting of traffic to 18th Avenue.
Council Member Enger asked where the money was from to make the acquisitions.
City Manager Orduno explained the funding.
Council Member Sandahl asked about the access to the Cedar Liquor Store.
City Manager Orduno reviewed the entrance and exit for the store. She said the
Cedar Liquor Store has priority placement and stays. Redevelopment will occur around it.
City Manager Orduno stated that homes along 18th Avenue, from 66th to 68th
Streets, were hand delivered a letter last week informing them of the possible acquisition
of their homes for both noise mitigation and traffic concerns. She said American Family
Insurance had also been contacted.
Special Study Session Minutes-5-May 29, 2001
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:53 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Cheryl KrumholzSamantha Orduno
Recording SecretaryCity Manager