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02-12-08 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minutes February 12, 2008 Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer. City Manager Tom Burt, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Director of Planning and Development Mark Grimes, and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre. The meeting began at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers. Duke Realty - West End Project (Project Update, Community Concerns and Joint Powers Agreement Pat Mascia of Duke Realty presented an overview of the West End site plan and concept images of the retail portion of the project and a prototype office building. He focused on how the new elements fit with the existing office tower and parking decks and the changes to the street and pedestrian facilities related to the project. The new and existing parking facilities (decks and underground parking) are designed to work together, with overflow opportunities for peak usage of office or retail facilities. He provided background on the atrium facility in the retail portion of the project that will provide an indoor public space with a police substation, community room and children's play area at a location accessible to all of the parking venues. This part of the project is under consideration for planning approvals in St. Louis Park now. He noted that St. Louis Park is putting the finishing touches on the Park Place street design that is proposed for 2008 construction, except for pedestrian improvements on the West side which are anticipated in 2009. The Council reviewed the options for three or four office buildings east of Utica, with a 4400-space parking deck located largely in Golden Valley. Council relayed concerns of Golden Valley residents about the number of exits to the parking deck on the east and problems with bike and pedestrian movements under Hwy. 100 to reach the project. They discussed proposed traffic calming measures on the Wayzata frontage road east of Hwy. 100 and the anticipated traffic demand management plan that Duke will prepare for the project. The Council indicated that it would like to address the neighborhood concerns through a regular planning approval process rather than through a joint powers agreement. Mark Grimes will explore how a Golden Valley planning process could be designed to run contemporaneously with a similar process in St. Louis Park. Staff will also prepare a letter to neighborhood residents indicating the Council's desired approach. Staff will communicate with Duke to determine if it will proceed with this approach. Review of Sewer Service Television Inspection and Inflow/Infiltration Update Bert Tracy and Dave Lemke reviewed a recently televised report .of a residential sewer line in the 2008 Pavement Management Program (PMP) Area. They pointed out major and minor defects and discussed the criteria for requiring repairs and how the method of repair is determined. They noted that an Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) Point of Sale handout has recently been updated and has helped residents understand the process. A summary of the 152 private sewers inspected as part of the 2008 PMP with a breakdown of the reasons the lines were non-compliant was distributed at the meeting. Kyle Colvin of Metropolitan Council Environmental Services reviewed the status of the 46 cities that have I & I issues and have been assessed a surcharge. He noted that in 2007 the average expenditure of these cities to reach compliance was $322,000. He also Council/Manager Meeting Minutes February 12, 2008 - Page 2 provided data on amounts expended for I & I compliance for selected other cities along with a calculation of the percentage of the annual sewer fee assessed as a surcharge to various cities. (Golden Valley's surcharge is 24 percent of its annual sewer fee.) The Council asked to be sent this list of expenditures by other surcharged cities. They reviewed the list of corrective activities other cities are undertaking and asked which cities are participating in the new grant program available to residents who have damaged sewer lines and need to make sewer repairs. Mr. Colvin noted that 21 of the cities are doing some sort of private property inspection, and that the Metro Council believes that 70"-80 percent of the I & I in the system is coming from private sources. The Council expressed an interest is having this program seek funding beyond the initial $700,000 transferred from another grant program. letter of Support for Accessible Space, Inc. This group has asked the Council to support its grant request for housing rehabilitation funds for group housing facilities on Golden Valley Road across from the Courage Center. Planner Joe Hogeboom has drafted a letter of support. The Council affirmed that the letter should be sent to support the grant application of Accessible Space, Inc. Golden Valley Days Bike Tour Council Member Pentel reported that she hoped to work with the Golden Valley Community Events Fund to organize a bike tour on Sunday, May 18, as the culminating event of Golden Valley Days. However a conflict this year will prevent her involvement. The Council was generally supportive and discussed the idea of inviting citizens to bike to a Council Social at the American Legion Hall sometime this spring or summer. Wirth lake Total Maximum Daily load (TMDl) Study Mayor Loomis reported that she and Jeannine Clancy met with representatives of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Bassett Creek Water Management Commission, the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park Board to discuss the need to undertake a study of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of sediments deposited in Wirth Lake from adjacent lands. It appears likely that Wirth Lake may be close to being delisted under the provisions of the federal statutes, but the study must be done to verify its status. Golden Valley does not wish to be the lead agency for this study, and it appears the BCWMC or the PCA may take this on. The Mayor reiterated her position that restoration work in the Wirth Lake pond should not occur until regular maintenance funding is secured. The Council supported this position. Open Forum Tom Burt suggested that the Council review its approach to Open Forum, as other approaches might be more effective in communicating with residents. After some discussion the Council decided to ask citizens to sign up for Open Forum at 6:15 pm, which would proceed before the Council Meeting at 6:20 pm, if there are sign-ups. Residents would still be asked to keep remarks to three minutes or less, but the Council would try and answer or address the concern when it is voiced, if research on the topic is not required. Council/Manager Meeting Minutes February 12, 2008 - Page 3 Step To It Challenge Tom Burt reviewed a new Hennepin County wellness initiative that will encourage cities to involve their citizens in a challenge with citizens of other cities. The County would provide promotional materials and t-shirts along with a pedometer for residents to record their steps. An online tool will allow residents to report their steps and calculate totals for the cities in competition. Joe Hogeboom is the contact and has suggested approaching Golden Valley Days about conducting the kick-oft at the May festival. The Council supported this approach. The meeting adjourned at 9:37 pm. Jeanne Andre Assistant City Manager