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09-08-09 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minutes September 8,2009 Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer, City Manager Tom Burt, Finance Director Sue Virnig, Park and Recreation Director Rick Jacobson, Golf Operations Manager Ben Disch, Recreation Supervisor Jeanne Fackler, City Planner Joe Hogeboom, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, City Engineer Jeff Oliver and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre. The meeting began at 6:30 pm in the Council Conference Room. 2010-2011 Proposed Budget Other Funds The Council reviewed the proposed budgets for enterprise funds including Storm Sewer, Brookview Golf Course, the Human Services Foundation, Recycling and Motor Vehicle Licensing. Staff addressed Council questions, but no changes were directed by the Council. The Council asked staff to assess the reserve levels for the various funds and identify how to address fund balances that are declining. Transit for livable Communities Funding Opportunity - Douglas Drive Joe Hogeboom provided background information on the grant project proposed by Transit for Livable Communities (TLC) for improvements in the Douglas Drive corridor. Although the City proposal only provided for a sidewalk on the east side of Douglas Drive, from the Luce Line Trail to Duluth Street., TLC has expanded the scope of the project and allocated additional funds. However the additional funds will not cover the cost of the expanded project, which would include converting the street to three vehicle lanes, two on- street bike lanes and a new sidewalk on the east side.TLC has also requested the City to pursue a speed limit of 30-35 mph on Douglas Drive from Golden Valley Road to Medicine Lake Road. The County Engineer has recommended a speed study to review speeds and is sending a letter to outline the process. Staff is ready to meet with TLC to further define the project, identify potential impediments and determine if the City should proceed with an interim project as proposed by TLC. Staff informed the Council that it is working with the Hennepin County Transportation Department to pursue the complete rebuild of Douglas Drive from Highway 55 to Medicine Lake Road through the county's Capital Improvement Program, sometime after 2015. With some discussion the Council directed staff to pursue a consulting agreement to design the project to a 30 percent level in order to better identify the costs, timing and construction issues related to this project. They also asked staff to identify possible funding sources the City could tap to compliment the grant funds and go forward with the project as recommended by TLC now. The Council vision for this interim project includes: street mill and overlay to convert the street to three vehicle lanes and two bike lanes, a permanent concrete sidewalk on the east side of the street with new concrete curbs, undergrounded private utility lines, and permanent railroad and creek crossings. The mill and overlay would be from Golden Valley Road to Medicine Lake Road, while the new sidewalk would be from the Luce Line Trail to Duluth Street. The Council definitely wants to pursue underground private utilities under the new sidewalk and would also like to know the cost of additionally undergrounding utilities between Duluth Street and Medicine Lake Road as part of this project. Tom Burt explained that the Council would also need to consider a policy regarding the cost allotment for private utility connections that would be needed to connect to new underground trunk lines. Also, some easements might be necessary to build the sidewalk. Council/Manager Meeting Minutes September 8, 2009 - Page 2 The Council expressed an interest in working with Hennepin County to reduce the speed limit but noted concerns about a TLC caveat that the construction be done by August 10, 2010, which would be a difficult timeline to meet. Council directed staff to negotiate the project parameters, as discussed at the meeting, with TLC to see if the grant requirements can be adjusted in keeping with the Council direction. 2010 Pavement Management Program - Project Issues Jeannine Clancy and Jeff Oliver reviewed some of the issues that staff has been studying and consulting about with the neighborhood in preparation for the Public Hearing for the Project. . Enhanced green space (and reduced roadway) at Meander Road near Paisley Lane - A concept for native plantings was presented. The Council supported the approach but asked that some of the area include no-mow turf in order to create an area where neighbors could congregate. . Water Main - Watermains will be replaced in the vicinity of Paisley and Meander Lane as part of this project. . Surmountable Curbs - An initial request to consider surmountable curbs in the Paisley/Meander portion of the project has been withdrawn. . Harold Avenue Cul-de-Sac - This portion of the street was built to standards in 1992- 93. Staff is recommending storm drainage improvements and a mill and overlay as part of this project. Since City policy does not assess a mill and overlay, the assessments to properties served by the cul-de-sac will be modified. . Traffic Concerns on Westchester Circle, Edgewood and Georgia Avenues - The neighborhood expressed concerns about cut-through traffic and traffic speeds on these streets. Staff studied the traffic and determined that about 25 percent of the traffic did not originate on these streets, but most was from adjacent neighborhoods. A speed study showed that speeds were slightly above the posted limit. To respond to these concerns staff is considering signs to promote speed enforcement. Staff is also recommending a T- intersection at Georgia Avenue and Glenwood. Changes to street widths are also under consideration. Options are 24 feet, 26 feet, or 28 feet with 24-foot choker segments. Staff would prefer narrower streets to choker segments, in order to provide the best level of maintenance in all seasons. These options will be discussed with residents at a September 10th neighborhood meeting. . Sidewalks on Georgia and Edgewood Avenues and Winchester Circle - No sidewalks were proposed for these streets, but neighborhood residents are circulating a petition to request sidewalks. Since these sidewalks are not on the City's Sidewalk Plan residents have been informed that an assessment may be required if sidewalks are constructed. If a petition with more than 50 percent support is submitted, staff requested that the Council allow staff to bring the petition directly to the Sidewalk Committee in order to keep the project on schedule for bidding. The Council agreed with this approach. Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element - Functional Classification Designations - Jeannine Clancy reported that staff has identified some City streets that Golden Valley has classified differently than the Metropolitan Councilor the City of St. Louis Park. Staff is looking for direction from the City Council on resolving these incompatibilities. Council/Manager Meeting Minutes September 8, 2009 - Page 3 Mike Kotila of SEH distributed information compiled in response to a meeting earlier in the day with staff from the Metropolitan Council. He outlined some of the incompatibilities. . Plymouth Avenue is classified by Golden Valley as a local street and by the Metropolitan Council as a major collector. Changes to Plymouth Avenue constructed many years ago did not get into the City's Comprehensive Plan and therefore were not communicated to the Metropolitan Council. The Council agreed to start a process with Met Council to reclassify Plymouth as a local street in keeping with its current use. . Other streets such as General Mills Boulevard, Regent Avenue, and Duluth Street are classified as Minor Collectors in Golden Valley, which is not a classification the Met Council uses in inner ring suburbs. . Xenia Avenue is classified as a Major Collector in Golden Valley and a Minor Arterial in St. Louis Park. Jeannine Clancy suggested that if the above-noted classifications for minor and major collectors are upgraded there may be more funding options to improve the streets. The Council requested staff to provide a detailed definition of each classification and a list of streets where changes should be considered, including the termini for each proposed classification. With this information the Council will review the status of the streets and consider reclassifying them at a future Council/Manager Meeting. Residential Zoning District (R-1) Accessory Structures Setback Requirements Council Member Pentel reported that she has had a complaint from a resident regarding an accessory structure constructed three feet from the side-yard setback of another residence, which is permitted under the City Code. Mayor Loomis noted that she had asked the Planning Commission to review this type of situation to see if setbacks to side-yard should be different than those to rear yards. Council Member Shaffer asked for clarification on requirements for fences in rear yards and whether an eight-foot fence is considered a fence or a structure in the City Code. Building Board of Review Council Member Shaffer reported that he would like to revisit previous discussions about disbanding the Building Board of Review (BBR). He stated that the current BBR consideration of a project after all Planning Commission and City Council approvals is problematical to applicants and their consultants and contractors. He suggested that this type of review should be built into the planning process, perhaps through an early Building Official review and submission of comments to the Planning Commission. Another alternative would be site plan review. The Council agreed with this approach. Tom Burt indicated he would seek suggestions from staff on the best way to incorporate landscaping and building review earlier in the process. He will then initiate dissolving the BBR. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 pm. Jeanne Andre Assistant City Manager