03-10-09 CM Minutes
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
March 10, 2009
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer,
City Manager Tom Burt, Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre and Public Works
Director Jeannine Clancy.
The meeting began at 6:30 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) Regional Interceptor
Deborah Manning of MCES and Bill Cook of the Metropolitan Council provided an
update on efforts to identify the route for a new sanitary sewer interceptor to relieve
capacity constraints to the 1-GV-461 interceptor which starts in the southwest quadrant
of 1-394 and TH 100, crosses TH 100 to the east and moves through the South Tyrol
and North Tyrol neighborhoods up to TH 55 and east to Cedar Lake Road in
Minneapolis. They anticipate constructing a new force main and are looking for the most
cost effective route. At this time the preferred route is north along the Wayzata
Boulevard frontage road, across TH 100 to Turners Crossroad, jogging at Glenwood
Avenue and continuing up Turners Crossroad to the TH 55 frontage road and joining a
force main from Plymouth that follows TH 55. The design staff is still exploring the best
way to tie into the TH 55 force main and could recommend a more easterly route. This
force main would require a lift station at the starting point in St. Louis Park.
MCES would like to conduct more detailed designs and then start significant
discussions this fall with the cities of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley and the
neighborhoods that would be impacted by the construction. The schedule provides for
detailed design to occur in 2010 with construction anticipated in 2011 or 2012. Mr. Cook
estimated that construction would take about nine months, but noted that property
owners would have ongoing access to their property.
The Council asked about its role in this process. Mr. Cook explained that MCES like to
work with cities and neighborhoods to develop a design that is satisfactory to all.
Jeannine Clancy explained that MCES would be required to get a right-of-way permit,
and additionally may need an agreement with the City providing for the construction.
She noted that a pavement management project for the Spring Green neighborhood is
planned for 2011. The Council suggested routes along the TH 100, CP Rail or Xenia
Avenue right-of-way. Mr. Cook explained that the state does not permit easements that
parallel its highways and MCES checked the CP rail route but found the right-of-way too
narrow to accommodate their facilities. He indicated that the Xenia route could be
explored.
Golden Valley Town Square Landscaping (Winnetka Avenue/Golden Valley Road)
Rick Martens and Shasta Frandrup attended the meeting to present a plan to revise the
landscaping and planting at the northwest corner of Winnetka and Golden Valley Road.
The plan would create greater visibility for the Town Square Center and would be easier
to maintain. Mr. Martens suggested that he could provide half of the cost of the
improvements and requested the City to provide the other half, estimated to be $25,000.
The Center would coordinate the improvements and take over the landscape
maintenance if the City agrees to proceed and, along with Hennepin County, gives them
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
March 10, 2009 - Page 2
a permit to work in the right-of-way. He noted that they would not take on the
responsibility for the fixtures at the corner. Staff noted concerns about lack of symmetry
with the other corners, possible damage to the irrigation system and the fact that there
is no funding source for the proposed City contribution.
The Council discussed concerns with removal of trees, finding funding and whether
Town Square would also pick up litter in the area. Mr Martens expressed interest in
proceeding with the project this spring if possible, but said they could also break the
project into segments that could be phased over time. The Council will further discuss
its approach at the upcoming Council Workshop, but asked staff to work with Mr.
Martens on a phased approach to the project with attention to: possible funding
sources, maintaining the integrity of the irrigation system, reviewing options to deal with
the trees and considering an in-kind labor contribution from the City. Any plan
developed through this process would come back to the Council for approval.
Comprehensive Plan Update
Tom Burt reminded the Council that the final public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan
is set for the next Council meeting and asked if they had any questions. Council
Member Freiberg asked that the Council be provided with a copy of the proposed land
use map that identifies parcels that are proposed for land use changes with information
on the existing and proposed land use for each property.
U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Coalition
Tom Burt explained that the former Mayor of Jordan has put forth a request that Golden
Valley join with other cities along the US 169 highway corridor to lobby for
improvements to the corridor. The Council declined to participate at this time.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Jeanne Andre
Assistant City Manager