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Home My WebLink About2013-05-16 Minutes 1 MINUTES OF CITY OF EDINA, MINNESOTA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION COMMUNITY ROOM MAY 16, 2013 6:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Answering roll call was members Bass, Braden, Franzen, Iyer, Janovy, LaForce, Nelson, Schweiger, Sierks, Spanhake and Whited. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Motion was made by member Franzen and seconded by member Bass to approve the meeting agenda. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2013 The following corrections were made: page 4, paragraph 1, “…Expect bid delay…” change to “…Expect big delay…,” “…related to their…” change to “…related to the City’s…” Motion was made by member Bass and seconded by member Braden to approve the revised minutes of April 25, 2013. Ayes: Bass, Braden, Franzen, Iyer, LaForce, Nelson, Spanhake, Whited Motion carried. COMMUNITY COMMENT – None. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS Prioritization of Sidewalk Projects Director Houle said there are seven sidewalk projects that were either petitioned by residents or were requested by City Council and with the PACS fund now in place, he asked that the ETC prioritize the sidewalks and recommend to the City Council which one(s) should be built in 2013. He suggested eight principles that could be used in prioritizing the sidewalks and said in the future, they would rely on an updated sidewalk plan and policy as well as the Living Streets Implementation Plan. He said staff has already completed draft feasibility studies and estimates for some of the sidewalks. The seven sidewalks are: 1. School Rd – from Normandale Rd to School Rd along 60th St W, along School Rd from 60th St W to Concord Ave ($310,000) 2. 42nd St W – from Oakdale Ave to France Ave ($440,000) 3. W. Normandale Frontage Rd – from Benton Ave south to Clover Ridge ($190,000) 4. Xerxes Ave – from 60th St w to 56th St W ($480,000) 5. Interlachen Blvd – from Mirror Lakes Dr to Vernon Ave ($700,000) 6. E. Normandale Rd – from 70th St W to 66th St W (feasibility study not completed) 7. Cornelia Ave / West Shore Dr / Dunberry La – between 70th St and 66th St W (feasibility study not completed) Discussion included: • How to evaluate principle #3 “sidewalk on streets with demonstrated safety issues for pedestrians;” no evaluation is in place yet; “demonstrated” was used to differentiate between perception; 2 perception must be considered if the goal is to shift mode; general engineering evaluation practice is to separate pedestrians and vehicles when there are 500-750 cars per day. • How to advocate for a street like Interlachen Blvd with few properties. • The seven sidewalks are in order of how they should be built based on safety, opportunity, etc. • Areas with a safety issue should be a priority, followed by school zones. • Should sidewalks be built based on demands or what is right for Edina? • Start with a map of existing sidewalks to equitably fill in all quadrants. • PACS fund for the first year is not for a full year and it will also fund the transportation planner’s salary and the Wooddale Ave restriping project. • Community input is important. • Money is available to build at least two sidewalks in 2013 and selecting two is the goal; a transportation planner will soon be hired to help them define principles and the Living Streets Policy. • Can we build in phases to get as much done as possible? • Walk/bike to school just took place recently and students from Cornelia Elementary could not participate because there are no safe routes. Motion was made by member LaForce to recommend School Road, Xerxes Avenue, and Interlachen Blvd, in no particular order, pending funding discussion by staff with City Manager. The motion was seconded by member Janovy. After discussion, the motion was amended to include West Shore/Cornelia. All voted aye. Motion carried. Motion was made by member LaForce to recommend connecting the cul-de-sac at 59th St W to Normandale Rd going towards Benton Ave and the motion was seconded by member Whited. All voted aye. Motion carried. Hazelton Road Improvements Director Houle said staff and Byerly’s have been working with Hennepin County since last year to get approval for a right-in/right-out onto France Ave. Hennepin County have agreed to this and will be providing a letter of support. Hennepin County required that the access from 72nd St W to France Ave be reduced to a three-quarter access to prevent vehicles from exiting Byerly’s site and travel across France Ave to 72nd St W. Additionally, they also asked for enhancement to the two accesses east of Byerly’s on Hazelton Rd. Mr. Andrew Plowman with WSB explained that the project will include one lane in each direction, landscaped medians, ¾ access at west entrance, a modified elliptical shape roundabout at east entrance with adequate movement for fire trucks, and right-in/right-out at Byerly’s west entrance. At the Rue De France west entrance, an island will be added to eliminate left turns, and the Szechuan Star driveway will be relocated but location is still to be determined. Director Houle said there will be cost splits with the project that will be worked out with the developer prior to the final development agreement. An open house is scheduled for May 28, 5-6 p.m. to share the proposal with the public and on June 4, the City Council will hold a public hearing for the roadway improvements at the same time they consider final approval for the Byerly’s redevelopment. 3 Discussion included: • Liked the plan. • Senses that they are creating more driving thru and parking lots (Byerly’s and Macy’s has a cross easement that allows Byerly’s traffic to drive across Macy’s parking lot to Gallagher Dr.) • Now that neighborhoods are defined we should start using this to define notices and mailing area (open house/public hearing notices were mailed to everyone within 1,000 ft. of the project.) • It was noted that the communications committee was to review the communications plan that is in place. Traffic Safety Committee Report of May 1, 2013 Regarding Section A, member LaForce asked if staff was recommending an exception and Director Houle said no. He said it is an offset intersection. Motion was made by member Iyer and seconded by member LaForce to forward the Traffic Safety Committee Report of May 1 to the City Council. All voted aye. Motion carried. Living Streets Policy Update Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager, presented the presentation that she will be giving to boards, commissions and staff about the Living Streets Policy. The Living Streets Policy was developed by the ETC. It will be presented to City Council on July 16 in a work session. Member Bass recommended doing a presentation to the two watershed districts because in Maplewood, their watershed district was very supportive and even provided a grant. Ms. Kurt said the plan is to form an advisory committee (including the transportation planner) and begin meeting in July to finalize the policy. Member Whited volunteered to serve on the committee. Discussion included: • Are we benchmarking to other communities? Not at this time because there really isn’t any to benchmark to. There is software that rates infrastructure but it is heavy on the transportation side but falls short on the ‘green’ side. • Trees do not play a prominent role in this policy – Maplewood has inventoried their mature tree canopy and prioritized planting new trees to account for an expected decline in ash trees. The Energy & Environment Commission (EEC) might want to comment on this. • Make transportation and ‘green’ equitable in the policy. • BARR had good visuals that would help with presentation to the community. • Can add another principle on landscaping and trees but do not want to slow down the process. • Keep going and ask the EEC to help in this area. • Are costs increasing and Living Streets will help to reduce costs? It is more about having data in one place to serve competing interests. • It is transportation-heavy, are we missing benchmarks that other boards and commission could relate to? 4 Updates Student Members Member Schweiger said he will be biking more this summer after seeing the rise in gas price! Member Sierks said she will be reapplying to serve on the ETC and asked for everyone’s support. Bike Edina Task Force Received minutes of April 11, 2013. Member Janovy said the Police are focusing on bike safety and that there is a need for bike education. Living Streets Working Group – None Transportation Options Working Group Member Whited said she met with Manager Neal to clarify that it was her company, PRISM, that would be getting the money and not her. Member Janovy said the ETC knew member Whited’s association with PRISM when they made the recommendation and chair Nelson added that they did look at other options and decided to go with PRISM. Member Whited said her company applied for a Freedom Funds grant for a new vehicle (for this operation) and they’ve made it through the first round. Communications Committee - None Member Bass asked if the City Council received their communications recommendation and Director Houle said they did but they did not offer any comments. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS A. Correspondence relating to transportation issues - None CHAIR AND COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Member Bass said she attended a Living Streets workshop sponsored by Alliance for Sustainability at the League of Minnesota Cities and shared what the ETC have done so far, how they’ve generated support and how do.Town helped to facilitate community engagement around Living Streets. She said one difference is that the ETC’s policy was generated out of a transportation group while others are generated from environmental groups with a real focus on green elements. She said everyone is struggling with how to do community engagement. Member Bass said MnDOT has released solicitation for Safe Routes to School funds. She said the infrastructure is predictable (mostly sidewalks) but most of the non-infrastructure grants are to school districts or other public institutions for hiring Safe Routes coordinator to implement education and encouragement activities. Additionally, school districts are purchasing bike fleets and offering education and maintenance to students and staff. Member Bass shared this as ideas for funding and implementation in Edina. Chair Nelson said the Grandview Area redevelopment is starting up again and they are looking for a representative from the ETC. Member Janovy volunteered. submitted, Allison, Secretary STAFF COMMENTS e A work session with the ETC and City Council is scheduled for July 16. • The next France Ave Urban Design meeting will be June 6 or 17, 7 p.m. at the Public Works and Park Maintenance facility. An email will be sent to confirm the date. • 2014 Reconstruction Projects — an open house was held last year; surveyors are currently working the areas; next month the ETC will receive information for review and feedback. e The Wooddale Restriping Request for Purchase is going to City Council on May 21 for approval. o The Lake Edina Pathway was approved by City Council. Engineering is designing the path and Public Works will build it. Staff will take into consideration concern of golf balls being hit towards the path when deciding how high to build the fence. • 54th St W and bridge improvements are scheduled for 2014 and staff is reviewing four proposals to select a consultant for the project. Park Maintenance, Public Works, Economic Development and Engineering are reviewing the proposals. Public engagement is a key component in the proposal. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned. ATTENDANCE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE - 2013 NAME TERM JF M A MJJASON D Work Session # of Mtgs Attendance % Meetings/Work Sessions 11111 Bass, Katherine 2/1/2014 1 1 1 1 4 80% Braden, Ann 2/1/2014 1 1 1 1 4 80% Franzen, Nathan 2/1/2016 1 1 1 1 4 80% Iyer, Surya 2/1/2015 1 1 1 1 4 80% Janovy, Jennifer 2/1/2014 1 1 1 1 1 5 100% LaForce, Tom 2/1/2015 1 1 1 1 1 5 100% Nelson, Paul 2/1/2016 1 1 1 1 1 5 100% Schweiger, Steven student 1 1 1 3 60% Sierks, Caroline student 1 1 1 1 4 80% Spanhake, Dawn 2/1/2016 1 1 2 67% Whited, Courtney 2/1/2015 1 1 1 1 1 5 100% 5