HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-09 City Council Regular Meeting MinutesPage 1
MINUTES
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARINGS
2020 RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT CITY HALL
DECEMBER 9, 2019
6:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the special meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
II. ROLLCALL
Answering rollcall were Members Anderson, Brindle, Staunton, Hovland.
Absent: Member Fischer.
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV. MEETING AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED
Member Brindle made a motion, seconded by Member Anderson, to approve the meeting
agenda as presented.
Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Staunton, Hovland
Motion carried.
V. COMMUNITY COMMENT
No one appeared.
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD – Affidavits of Notice presented and ordered placed on file.
VI.A. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-112, WEST 58TH STREET NEIGHBORHOOD ROADWAY
RECONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT NO. BA-456 – ADOPTED AS AMENDED
Director of Engineering Millner introduced staff and thanked everyone for attending. He explained this
staff-initiated project that proposed to reconstruct West 58th Street from Wooddale Avenue to Xerxes
Avenue and involved narrowing the roadway, new sidewalks, curb and gutter, and upgraded utilities. He
spoke about the budget work plan and need to maintain physical assets and infrastructure to provide clean
drinking water, sanitation, and flood control then spoke about current pavement grading conditions and
the Melody Lake project that was delayed until 2021. He reviewed the project on 58th Street that included
72 properties and the Prospect Knolls A area of 92 properties then reviewed the current assessment
policy and range of benefits per Statute that would include the final assessment amount due fall 2021. Mr.
Millner reviewed the turf restoration trial done last year that resulted in no differences in turf condition
but led to more staff time to manage and the intent to return to the previous model and bid with each
contract.
Council confirmed all former turf concerns had been addressed then commented about concrete failure
reports. Mr. Millner spoke about the included two-year warranties to address any concrete failure
concerns then outlined the West 58th Street reconstruction project in detail that included one mile of
road. He reviewed the public engagement process, existing right-of-way conditions, RRFB at Pamela Park
and decorative street light based on street lighting survey, sidewalk on France Avenue based on petition,
traffic signal, and the E-Line shelter location. He said the overall project cost was estimated at $6,110,500
and funding would be a combination of special assessments, Municipal State Aid, Hennepin County,
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety and City Utility funds. Staff analyzed the project and felt the project was
necessary, cost-effective, and feasible from an engineering standpoint with the signal not included but
through MSA with cost share. He reviewed the 37.41 REUs of $370,359 for $9,900 per REU then
reviewed the proposed schedule with award and construction in spring 2020 and completion by fall.
Minutes/Edina City Council/December 9, 2019
Page 2
The Council asked about the additional lighting and of the 75 properties, 26 responses were received with
14 opting for some change and if the community wanted the addition, what would the added expense be.
Mr. Millner said the cost would be included in the assessment and while staff hoped for a better response
since only 30% wanted the additional lighting configuration, staff concluded there was not enough support
for the addition.
The Council asked about the E-Line, spoke about bikers moving into the street and how the proposed
area was too tight and suggested marking Fillbrook as an alternative. Mr. Millner responded this area was
not a typical biking facility as others that were 8 feet wide and hoped families would use the trail and not
this area and said while we could divert bike traffic onto Fillbrook most would go straight. He noted the
did not have boulevard flexibility from 58th to Xerxes and gain a foot or two on the south side and spoke
about the offer to put trees back and fences.
Transportation Planner Scipioni said the metro transit corridor study analyzed three alignment options
that would be coming to Council in December for approval of the France Avenue alignment.
Mayor Hovland opened the public hearing at 6:36 p.m.
Public Testimony
Jessie Kingston, Pamela Park neighborhood, addressed the Council.
Donna Folk, 4424 West 58th Street, addressed the Council.
Alyssa Figarella, 4316 West 58th Street, addressed the Council.
Laura Wolfman, 4320 West 58th Street, addressed the Council.
Christopher Krug, 3913 West 58th Street, addressed the Council.
Sue Nissen, 4408 West 58th Street, addressed the Council.
Annie Mackinnon, 4412 West 58th Street, addressed the Council.
Member Brindle made a motion, seconded by Member Staunton, to close the public hearing.
Ayes: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Staunton, Hovland
Motion carried.
The Council responded to questions raised during public testimony regarding the 8-foot pathway as
concrete and the 11-foot drive, 2-foot boulevards with 5-foot sidewalks on each side, but the 8-foot
concrete walkway on the south side and why it was determined important as opposed to the two 5-foot
sidewalks. Mr. Millner responded the reason was to reduce property impacts and the desire to not have
street bike facilities. He noted concrete stemmed from the guideline documents as the bike ped master
plan that supported connecting parks and biking with families and allowed room to get by each other. He
responded that parking bays would be added on park property and be part of the final design and motion
sensors were a possibility and crosswalks where they would be used and added later as needed in order to
reduce maintenance.
The Council spoke about how the bike lane was a departure from the past as two-lanes and suggested
only one if shared. Mr. Millner responded families with bike trailers would use the roads and like lose 80%
of the biking group unless the facility was off road. He suggested if changes were made, more
neighborhood feedback should be sought and, in the meantime, staff could begin work on the utility system
design until the layout was determined. Discussion was held on the benefits of safe biking, public health
and environmental, and sustainable reasons.
Minutes/Edina City Council/December 9, 2019
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Manager Neal explained whenever a project is proposed, it was based on opportunity and noted it was not
possible to construct the entire project at once which was one of the reasons for this proposal. He
explained enough approval could be given to begin design and assessment but deferring key design
elements for neighborhood input could be difficult. Mr. Millner stated the bike ped plan resulted from a
lot of public input and resulted in the current plan.
The Council spoke about how to address the remaining 60 property owners on any proposed change. Mr.
Millner suggested approval of the resolution as utilities and assessment amounts would not change then
return in January with neighborhood feedback because if delayed, bid prices could increase.
The Council spoke about the extensive public engagement process and their desire to see bike traffic
routed to Fillbrook to relieve some of the public safety concerns. The Council also spoke about the twin
loops and an 8-foot shared path on one side or the other or interlineate a proposed compromise by the
neighborhood with a 5-foot sidewalk on each side with 2-foot boulevard on each side.
Member Anderson introduced and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2019-112, as amended,
Ordering Improvement For West 58th Street Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction
Improvement No. Ba-456, Approve Utilities Design And Preliminary Assessment then
Provide for Feedback with Property Owners on Alternate A and B and on “Millner”
Alternate 1 From July 16, 2019, for further consideration between now and January 2020.
Member Brindle seconded the motion.
Rollcall:
Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Staunton, Hovland
Motion carried.
VI.B. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-111, PROSPECT KNOLLS A NEIGHBORHOOD ROADWAY
RECONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. BA-458 - POSTPONED
Assistant City Engineer Ditzler stated staff initiated this project to reconstruct Shannon Drive, Lee Valley
Road, Tralee Drive, Down Road, Wexford Road, Kerry Road, Dublin Road, Antrim Terrace, Antrim
Court, Antrim Road, West 70th Street and Dublin Circle with pavement reconstruction, new curb and
gutter in most areas, and upgraded utilities. The overall project cost was estimated at $4,481,000 and
funding would be a combination of special assessments and City utility funds. Staff analyzed the project and
felt the project was necessary, cost-effective, and feasible from an engineering standpoint. Mr. Ditzler
explained the project included 91 properties of 1.64 miles then explained pedestrian facilities of 5-foot
concrete sidewalk proposed for installation in 2022 and outlined existing watermain and sanitary sewer
and storm sewer conditions of cast and ductile iron pipes and clay, proposed watermain improvements,
current pavement condition. He reviewed the Traffic Safety Committee recommendation that included
one-sided parking on Kerry Road then reviewed the petition request for Shannon Drive and Lee Valley
Road and said the current condition of Shannon Drive did not warrant full road reconstruction. Mr.
Ditzler spoke about the cost range per REU was $22,700 to $29,500 or 88.17 REU. He spoke about
market benefit estimate that estimated average price of $12,000 to $20,000 per lot then reviewed
estimates for District 1 of 62 properties or $32,900 per REU. He outlined the project schedule with bid
opening in March, award contract and construction in the spring with completion by fall 2020.
The Council asked for clarification on restoration, repositioning of mailboxes or irrigation lines and if
those items were assessable and if Shannon Drive was better than other roadways in area. Discussion was
held about delaying portions of the project and mill and overlay south on Dewey Hill being adequate and
confirmed there was no localized water intrusion due to current conditions. The Council spoke about
how to continue street assessments and do streets that need to be done and how the benefit matched the
costs with a broad range of benefits by assessment above mid-point. Mr. Ditzler said market analyses
were not done on each property and that estimates were conservative.
Mayor Hovland opened the public hearing at 8:22 p.m.
Minutes/Edina City Council/December 9, 2019
Page 4
Public Testimony
Rhonda Bland, 7000 Kerry Road, addressed the Council.
John Elliott, 5904 Lee Valley Road, addressed the Council.
Greg Good, 7028 Shannon Drive, addressed the Council.
Hamid Mohtadi, 7013 Dublin Road, addressed the Council.
John Berg, 7104 Shannon Drive, addressed the Council.
Bart Muldowney, 6 Antrim Terrace, addressed the Council.
Peter Lee, 7012 Kerry Road, addressed the Council.
Charlie Blomme, 7019 Kerry Road, addressed the Council.
Bill Brown, 7120 Shannon Drive, addressed the Council.
Joel Hutchinson, 7021 Antrim Road, addressed the Council.
Mike Sabre, 5011 Shannon Drive, addressed the Council.
Annie Seidel, 7005 Antrim Road, addressed the Council.
Robbie Fast, 7017 Antrim Road, addressed the Council.
Connie Ganche, 5812 Lee Valley Road, addressed the Council.
Member Staunton made a motion, seconded by Member Brindle, to close the public hearing.
Ayes: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Staunton, Hovland
Motion carried.
The Council responded to questions raised during public testimony regarding reasons for property
placement in specific areas, information on alternates, and concerns about special benefit and sufficient
confidence in the appraisals appropriate for each District. Mr. Millner spoke about the method used which
was consistent with the REU process and supported properties and while individual appraisals could be
done it would be expensive and outliers would be different but unique to the neighborhood. He explained
about utilities and spoke about barrier curbs done most unless in a very special case for surmountable
curbing.
The Council spoke about policy changes regarding assessments and a new system of properties paying all
costs and how the tipping point possibly was reached and while there was no clear solution and result in
project delay they suggested a different approach by breaking up the project even further to bring down
the assessable value that was fair to smaller properties. Mr. Ditzler replied if we widened project limits
and added denser neighborhoods it could bring the average cost down but would risk more dense
properties having an increased assessment that did not meet the benefit.
The Council discussed the issue further and referred to a local option sales tax and how the REU system
did work in neighborhoods more dense or with property values based on a broad range of homes and
trips per day and suggested tabling the item and use the project as a catalyst to go forward with a
community conversation. The Council spoke how the street improvement hearing process was about
design but the assessment hearing was a year from now and suggested staff review project design more as
street condition and table the item for notification to residents when the process continued.
Minutes/Edina City Council/December 9, 2019
Page 5
Member Staunton made a motion, seconded by Member Brindle, to indefinitely postpone
consideration of Resolution No. 2019-111 Ordering Improvement for Prospect Knolls A
Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction Improvement No. Ba-458.
Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Staunton, Hovland
Motion carried.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business on the Council Agenda, Mayor Hovland declared the special meeting
adjourned at 9:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, January 7, 2020.
James B. Hovland, Mayor
Video Copy of the December 9, 2019, meeting available.