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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-18 TPC MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: March 18, 2021 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Transportation Commission WebEx February 18, 2021 I. Call To Order Chair Richman called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Commissioners Ahler, Johnson, Kane, Lafferty, Plumb-Smith, Richman, Atri, Clark Khariwala. Staff present: Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni, Traffic Safety Coordinator Nick Bauler III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion was made by Commissioner Plumb-Smith and seconded by Commissioner Lafferty to amend the agenda by moving Annual Elections to Item A under Reports/Recommendations. All voted aye. Motion carried. Motion was made by Commissioner Kane and seconded by Commissioner Ahler to approve the amended agenda. All voted aye. Motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion was made by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Plumb-Smith to approve the January 21, 2021 meeting minutes. All voted aye. Motion carried. V. Reports/Recommendations A. Annual Elections Commissioner Lafferty nominated Commissioner Johnson as Chair. Motion was seconded by Commissioner McCarthy. All voted aye. Motion carried. Commissioner Ahler nominated Commissioner Plumb-Smith as Vice Chair. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Plumb-Smith. Ayes: Ahler, Johnson, McCarthy, Plumb-Smith, Richman Nays: Kane, Lafferty Motion carried. B. 2020 Traffic Safety Summary Report Traffic Safety Coordinator Nick Bauler presented the 2020 Traffic Safety Summary Report. Comments from Commissioners included: • The year-to-year breakdown is helpful to see, could help identify growing problems or track progress in certain areas. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: March 18, 2021 • More requests might mean more people are reporting a problem rather than the problem getting worse. • It would be helpful to see a breakdown and A-, B- and D-items by quadrant to see if there are patterns in what gets approved. It’s also worth noting that one or two quadrants are more diverse than others. • The mechanisms by which requests come in are also important to track. Differences in mechanisms used by quadrant may indicate a difference in access to the submission tools. Maybe the City can promote the submission tools better. • Staff Liaison Scipioni clarified that the Transportation Commission only reviews and comments on the Traffic Safety Reports, not approves. • It is interesting to see how many more requests are made in the northeast quadrant; this seems to be a consistent trend over the last few years. Staff should consider tracking requests per resident in each quadrant. • The northeast quadrant was buzzing with activity this year; it is not surprising to see more requests in this area given the density and observed activity. • Coordinator Bauler clarified that the members of the Traffic Safety Committee are himself, Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni, Director of Engineering Chad Millner, Traffic Safety Specialist Save Snaza, Public Works Director Brian Olson, Assistant City Planner Emily Bodeker, and Police Sergeant Nate Mandel. C. Traffic Safety Report of January 26, 2021 The Commission reviewed the Traffic Safety Report of January 26, 2021. Commissioner Plumb-Smith left at 6:59. D. 2020 Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Fund Summary Report Liaison Scipioni presented the 2020 Pedestrian and Cyclists Safety Fund Summary Report. Comments from Commissioners included: • Staff clarified that the City’s Conservation and Sustainability Fund also contributed to the City Hall improvement project and that the new electric vehicle charging stations are meant for visitors and city vehicles. • It is disappointing not to see anything proposed for 2021 or 2022 on Valley View Rd under Highway 62. Staff explained that MnDOT has a bridge redeck project scheduled for 2026 and that the City is advocating for improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities under the bridge. • Staff clarified that the City regularly repairs pavers at 50th & France and assesses the costs back to the business district. • The variation in cost per lineal foot from project to project seems extreme. Staff explained that there are several factors that impact project cost, including scope, topography, when the project is bid and whether is it combined with similar projects. Commissioners suggested that staff include a comment with each project to explain the costs that were included. • Staff explained that the equity criteria will be applied later this year. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: March 18, 2021 E. 2021 Work Plan Updates • #1 Organized Trash Collection – Kick-off meeting with the VANTAGE team is tentatively schedule for the first week in March. • #2 Street Funding Task Force – Commissioner Scherer resigned from the Commission and will conclude his work with the Task Force next month when the final recommendations are presented to City Council. Two options will be recommended to Council; replacing 50% or 100% of assessment costs with City taxes. The Task Force will also recommend that subcut and retaining walls costs no longer be assessed. • #3 CloverRide – No update. • #4 Traffic Safety Reports – Commission commented on the 2020 summary report. • #5 Capital Improvement Projects – Commission commented on the 2020 annual report. • #6 Traffic Impact Studies & TDM – Staff is awaiting studies for projects at 4917 Eden Ave, 4040 W 70th St and 4660 W 77th St. The project application for 6600 France Ave was withdrawn. VI. Chair and Member Comments Commissioner Ahler thanked Commissioner Richman for her years of service as Chair. Commissioner Johnson noted that there are some benefits to virtual meetings and that a hybrid model should be considered if Commissions go back to in-person meetings. Commissioner Kane thanked Commissioner Richman for her service as Chair. Kane noted that it is great that the Commission is open to serious discussions. Kane congratulated Commissioner Plumb-Smith on being elected Vice Chair and lamented Commissioner Scherer’s resignation. Commissioner Lafferty noted that the virtual meetings have been very effective but has no comparison to in- person meetings. Lafferty also appreciates that the Commission is discussing costs. Commissioner McCarthy thanked Commissioners Richman and Johnson for their leadership and looks forward to working with Commissioners Johnson and Plumb-Smith. Commissioner Atri thanked Commissioners Richman and Johnson for serving as Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Khariwala thanked Commissioners Richman and Johnson for serving as Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Richman thanked all of the Commissioners and looks forward to working with new leaders. Richman noted that she received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and thanked Liaison Scipioni for his assistance with the Commission. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: March 18, 2021 VII. Staff Comments • City Council approved staff’s recommended approach for lowering local speed limits last night. Staff will begin preparing an implementation plan with Police, Public Works and Communications. • Chris Brown was appointed to the Transportation Commission last night and will begin serving in March. An alternate will be selected to fill Commissioner Scherer’s seat. • Hennepin County has an overlay scheduled on France Ave between W 50th St and Excelsior Blvd in 2022 and is interested in adding bike lanes. • The next meeting is Thursday, March 18. VIII. Adjournment Motion was made by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Kane to adjourn the February 18, 2021 meeting at 7:49 p.m. Ayes: Ahler, Johnson, Kane, Lafferty, McCarthy, Richman Absent: Plumb-Smith Motion Carried. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE J F M A M J J A S O N D # of Mtgs Attendance % Meetings/Work Sessions 1 1 2 NAME Ahler, Mindy 1 1 2 100% Johnson, Kirk 1 1 2 100% Kane, Bocar 1 1 2 100% Lafferty, Peter 1 1 2 100% McCarthy, Bruce 1 1 2 100% Plumb-Smith, Jill 1 1 2 100% Richman, Lori 1 1 2 100% Atri, Nihar (s) 1 1 2 100% Clark, Anna (s) 1 1 50% Khariwala, Anand (s) 1 1 2 100% Scherer, Matthew RESIGNED 0 N/A