05-13-1997CITY OF R10HRELD
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May 13, 1997
SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION
7:00 p.m.
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1. . .............. .... 11
ITEM #1 PC Letter #14 Review the 1998 Capital Improvement Budget and
make a recommendation on the 1999 -2003 Capital
Improvement Program
ITEM #2 76th Street (East of I -35V) Corridor Study presented
by Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.
Requests must be made, at least 96 hours in advance to the Administrative
Service's Director at 861- 9702."
Planning Commission Letter
May 13, 1997
Agenda Section: Old Business
Item #: 1
Letter #: 14
Case #:
Type of Request:
Applicant /Owner:
Location:
Zoning:
Existing Land Use:
Proposed Land Use:
Comp. Plan:
References:
Zoning Code
City Code:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Review the 1998 Capital Improvement Budget and 1999-200' )
Capital Improvement Program and make a recommendation on the
Capital Improvement Program.
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
See attached)
N/A
N/A
Public Notice: N/A
Hearing Examiner: N/A
City Council: Planning Commission action is required for the City Council to
complete the annual budget process in a timely manner.
HRA: N/A
ANALYSIS
Proposal: Review additional budget information and make a
recommendation on the 1999 -2003 Capital Improvement
Plan.
History: The Planning Commission is required by City Charter to
prepare and recommend a Capital Improvement Program
for inclusion in the annual budget message of the City
Council.
On March 25, 1997, the Planning Commission met in joint
session with Community Services Commission and
reviewed the 1998 Capital Improvement Budget and the
1999 -2003 Capital Improvement Program. The
Commission deferred action on the Capital Improvement
Program until May 13, 1997, so that questions regarding
specific budget items could be addressed. Administrative
Services Director, Steve Devich provided the Planning
Commission with the information pertaining to those
specific budget questions directly. That information
however, is also included with this report.
Issues: As a point of clarification, the Planning Commission is
required to recommend the Capital Improvement Program;
not the Capital Improvement Budget. The Capital
Improvement Budget is presented to the Commission as an
information item for review. The specific action the
commission takes is to recommend the five year Capital
Improvement Program.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Recommendation: Recommend that the City Council approve the 1999-2003) Capital
Improvement Program.
Basis: 1. The Capital Improvement Program has been prepared and
submitted for the Planning Commission's review and approval.
2. The Planning Commission is required by City Charter to act on
the Capital Improvement Program
Alternative: Defer action until May 27, 1997.
1999 -2003
Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
April 22, 1997 Meeting Follow -up
At the April 22, 1997 concurrent meeting between the Community Services Commission and the
Planning Commission, two questions regarding proposed projects needed a response with further
information. The two issues are:
Retaining Wall Replacement - The retaining wall replacement summary indicated that it would
be done with the funding split evenly between the City and the County. However after reviewing
the project further, Maintenance Services indicates that the retaining walls to be done in 1998
CIB) which total $45,000 would be split evenly by the City and County. The projects in the
2000 CIP would be paid for solely by the City. This results in a slight reduction of Special
Revenue funding needed for the project in 1998. The total $40.000 cost in 2000 would be paid
out of Special Revenue funds.
Traffic Calming - The traffic calming was a project requested by the City Council to address
future traffic related issues in the community. It is currently planned to do traffic calming efforts
in the two neighborhoods east and west of Penn Avenue, north of 66th Street in 1997. While
there are no specific project areas identified for the future at this time, the project funding has
been proposed because it seems quite certain that each year will bring new neighborhood traffic
problems to the forefront.
CITY OF RICHFIELD
Memorandum
DATE: April 25, 1997
TO: Planning Commission Members
FROM: Gretchen Blank, Acting Recreation Services Director
SUBJECT: Wood Lake Nature Center HVAC
The heating and air conditioning project in the Manager's 1998 CIB involves replaceing
two separate furnaces and one airconditioning unit. Because of their placement and
age, there is considerable involvement in removeing the old units and there is also
freon abatement required. Replacing the units will increase efficiency from 67% to
93 %, which should reduce enrgy costs significantly each year.
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i. Executive Summary
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i BACKGROUND
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The City of Richfield is undergoing continuous change and one of the more
i dramatic recent changes has been the reconstruction and widening of 77`h Street.
S The upgrading of 77`' Street to a minor arterial has changed the role of 761 Street
east of I -35V) and, therefore, the purpose and future configuration of 761h Street
70 needs to be reevaluated.
i The primary reasons for conducting the 761'' Street (East of I -35V) Corridor Study
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i Reduced TraffIC Demand. Traffic volumes on 76`h Street, west of
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Lyndale Avenue, have dropped from 12,000 vehicles a day in 1992 to
under 6,000 vehicles a day in 1996.
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Complaints. Residents have complained about traffic, noise, and
i speeding problems.
Opportunities. Since only two traffic lanes are required for 76`h Street,
excess right of way could be utilized for some other, better use.
Another factor for examining the improvement and enhancement of the 76`h Street
corridor is the need for the City of Richfield to improve the image and value of its
neighborhoods in order to attract and retain residents and enable the City to
compete with developing suburbs.
STUDY PROCESS
In the Spring of 1996, the City Council appointed the 76`h Street Corridor Study
Task Force to prepare a concept plan for future utilization and configuration of
76" Street. The Task Force, composed of six members representing diverse
perspectives and interests, conducted an extensive and thorough study of the
corridor issues and conducted two Public Meetings /Open Houses to solicit
reactions and input from the citizens of Richfield. In addition, an informational
brochure, which is included in the Appendix, was produced for distribution prior
to the second Public Meeting /Open House.
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76"' Street (East Of 1 -35W) Corridor Study 1
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1. Executive Summary
The Task Force, with the assistance of the City's consultant and City staff. looked
at an Inventory/Analysis of the corridor, identified Project Goals, generated 11
Concept Alternatives, conducted an Alternative Evaluation process, and selected a
Recommended Corridor Concept and Implementation Program for the 76`h Street
Project.
Inventory /Analysis
The 76`' Street corridor, for most of its length, has a 60 -foot right -of -way, in-
cludes a 4 -lane concrete roadway, a sidewalk on the north side of the roadway for
the full length of the corridor as well as one on the south side west of Lyndale
Avenue, is located through predominantly single- family residential neighbor-
hoods, contains some overhead utility lines, and has.no landscaping or other
enhancements. It has been designated in the City's Draft Comprehensive Plan as
a bike route.
Project Coals
The Task Force identified 8 Project Goals, which are included at the end of this
section. In terms of bikeways, the Task Force decided that the primary emphasis
should be placed on providing good services to Group B, Basic Bicyclists, and
Group C, Children Bicyclists, since the 761 Street corridor serves primarily
residential neighborhoods and City parks.
Corridor Alternatives
A total of 11 primary Corridor Concept Alternatives were examined and evalu-
ated. They ranged from a Do- Nothing Concept to total reconstruction of the
roadway and inclusion of a wide landscaped median with a two -way bike path.
The Alternative Evaluation process resulted in the selection of three Concept
Alternatives, C3, D1, and E2, for refinement as the Recommended Corridor
Concept.
Recommended Corridor Concept
The Recommended Corridor Concept, which is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
incorporates the following major features.
Utilizes the existing pavement for through traffic lanes and parking bays
Provides parking bays on the north side of the roadway for the full length
of the corridor
76" Street (East Of 1 -35W) Corridor Study
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Requires the removal of the south one - fourth of the roadway and recon-
struction of the south curb
Maintains a sidewalk on the north side of the roadway
Provides an 8 -foot wide, two -way, bituminous bikeway, with one -foot
concrete edge bands, along the south side of the roadway
Incorporates a landscaped boulevard on the south side and landscaped
islands at the corners on the north side of the roadway
Provides new ornamental street lights for the full length of the corridor
Accommodates the existing utility poles (even though it would be desir-
able to remove or relocate them)
Requires adjustment of and construction of new storm water catch basins
at most intersections
The Task Force also investigated overall project costs and looked at Project
Staging and Implementation. Since the total project cost is approximately
2,300,000, a staging plan was developed to construct the project in segments
starting with the westerly end and proceeding east. The first segment could be
built west of Lyndale Avenue as a demonstration project to gain public support to
complete the entire project.
The Task Force believes that the Recommended Corridor Concept represents the
optimum combination of desirable features for the 76`' Street corridor and that it
does the best job in terms of meeting the established 76`h Street Project Goals as
well as overall City of Richfield goals.
76" Street (East Of 1 -35W) Corridor Study 3
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The streetscape and landscaping improvements for the 76°i Street corridor
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should be designed with the intent in mind to improve the safety and security
3 of the corridor users as well as the residents living along the corridor. An
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1. Executive Summary
bicyclists as well as to improve the overall lighting level along the corridor.
a 76th STREET (EAST OF 1-35W) CORRIDOR PROJECT GOALS
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Following is a list of the 76`' Street Project Goals and a description of each:
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1. Reduced Traffic Lanes
Goal #3: A bikeway should be provided for Group B and
Goal #1: The traffic lanes on 76' Street should be reduced
from four through lanes to two through lanes.
Convenient and safe designated paths should be provided along 76`h Street
Traffic volumes on 76' Street have been cut in half since through traffic has
shifted to the reconstructed 77°i Street. This means that only two through
lanes of traffic will be required on 76`' Street to handle the projected traffic
volumes. Therefore, the roadway should be reconfigured from four through
traffic lanes to two through lanes.
3 2. Enhanced Security and Safety
Goal #2: All improvements in the 76' Street corridor should
be designed to enhance overall security and safety.
3 The streetscape and landscaping improvements for the 76°i Street corridor
should be designed with the intent in mind to improve the safety and security
3 of the corridor users as well as the residents living along the corridor. An
0 example would be the installation of additional lighting for pedestrians and
bicyclists as well as to improve the overall lighting level along the corridor.
3. Bicyclist Facilities
Goal #3: A bikeway should be provided for Group B and
Group C bicyclists along 761 Street.
Convenient and safe designated paths should be provided along 76`h Street
primarily for Group B, Basic Bicyclists, defined as general adult and teenage
76th Street (saSt of 1-35W) Corridor Study 4
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I. Executive Summary
riders, and Group C, Children Bicyclists. The assumption is made that Group
A, Advanced Bicyclists, most likely will utilize the roadway.
4. Minimized Traffic Impacts
Goal #4: Traffic impacts should be minimized along
761
Street without impairing its collector street
function.
Traffic calming methods and techniques should be utilized to reduce vehicu-
lar traffic impacts in the 76' Street corridor without impairing the roadway's
ability to function as a collector street. Acceptable measures could include a
narrower roadway, street trees and other landscaping for a more enclosed
appearance, and traffic control signs. Measures which would impair the
roadway's ability to serve as a collector street, and therefore would not be
acceptable, include roadway diversions and street closures.
S. On- Street Parking Wherever Possible
Goal #5: On- street parking should be provided along
761
Street, wherever possibly.
Excess right -of -way, where not utilized for other uses such as pedestrian
walkways, bicyclist trails, or landscaped boulevards or medians, should be
used for on- street parking. Extra consideration should be given to under-
served areas, such as at Sh Avenue, where there are no on -street guest parking
spaces for the adjoining residences.
6. No Overhead Utility Lines
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Goal #6: The long -term goal should be to remove all over-
head utility lines from the 76' Street corridor, the
short -term goal should be to remove them as
funding permits.
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76" street (East of 1 -35W) Corridor study 5
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1. Executive Summary
Overhead utility lines cross the 76' Street corridor east of the Soo Line
railroad tracks and they parallel the corridor west of the Soo Line railroad
tracks. Because overhead utility lines impact tree growth and tree canopy
development, the long term goal should be to place all overhead utility lines
along 76`' Street underground or to relocate them to another suitable ease-
ment.
7. Beautified 76' Street Corridor
Goal #7: The 761 Street corridor should be beautified with
lighting and landscaping to the greatest degree
possible.
In order to improve the image and appearance of the 76' Street corridor, as
well as the City of Richfield, the visual environment of the corridor should be
upgraded through the incorporation of the greatest amount of lighting and
landscaping improvements feasible, within the limitations of available
funding.
8. Maintenance Program
Goal #8: The corridor reconstruction plans should incorpo-
rate a maintenance program.
Along with the 76' Street reconstruction plans, a corridor maintenance
program should be developed to make sure that the proposed improvements
will be maintained and will not create an undue burden for the community.
76th Street (East of 1 -35W) Corridor study 6
Recommended Concept Alternative
Combination of Options C3, D', & E2)
Existing Pavement for Centered Roadwayy/Separate New Bikeway on South Side
Landscaped Boulevard on South Slde / Parking Bays wtth Landscaped Islands North
76th Street Corridor Study
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
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October 23, 1996 11111111111
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Recommended Concept Alternative
Combination of Options C3, D', & E2)
Existing Pavement for Centered Roadway /Separate New Bikeway on South Side
Landscaped Boulevard on South Slde / Perking Bays with Landscaped Islands on North Side
October 23, 1996
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76th Street Corridor Study
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