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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-10-15 Minutes MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, October 15, 2009 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Geof Workinger, Jennifer Janovy, Marc Usem, Warren Plante, Tom Bonneville, Jean White, Usha Abramovitz, Julie Sierks MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Schroeder STAFF PRESENT: Jack Sullivan, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by chair Workinger. II. Comments a. Chairman Comments Chair Workinger asked that electing a vice-chair be added to the next meeting’s agenda. b. Community Comments None. III. Approval of Minutes a. Regular Meeting of September 17, 2009 Motion made by Commissioner Usem and seconded by Commissioner Janovy approving the regular meeting minutes of September 17, 2009. All voted aye. Motion carried. IV. New Business a. Metro Transit – Route 6 Revisions Assistant city engineer Sullivan said at the last ETC meeting, the Commissioners made a motion recommending to the Council that Metro Transit and residents meet; and, although Metro Transit had agreed to meet with residents, they later decided that they would not would not make any changes to the route for 12 months, therefore, a meeting to discuss changes would result in no route revision. Mr. Sullivan asked the Commission to adopt the following revised motion:  Acknowledging that Metro Transit cannot determine total change in ridership and other impacts to the new route at this time, thus allowing 12 month maturing of the route in order to determine impacts.  Metro Transit has the authority to manage operations within the City. 2  The new route does not conflict with the City’s recent Comprehensive Plan Update.  The concerns of residents regarding the new route should be addressed by Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit.  ETC suggests Metro Transit inform all originally notified residents of their current plan to operate the new route for 12 months. Mr. Sullivan said that he would like to present the Commission’s recommendation to the Council at their next meeting, November 2. Chair Workinger asked the Commission if they felt that a meeting would not take place as agreed upon by Metro Transit, and the consensus was that the meeting would have taken place. Public Testimony Scott Edstrom, 305 Coventry Lane, addressed the Commission. Pat Thompson, 7420 Edinborough Way, addressed the Commission. Mike Bochert, 213 Coventry Lane, addressed the Commission. John O’Malley, 7420 Edinborough Way, addressed the Commission. After discussion and expressed disappointment with Metro Transit, the Commission agreed not to adopt staff’s recommended revised motion but instead made the following motion: Motion made by Commissioner Usem and seconded by Commissioner Bonneville that they recommend to the City Council that the residents meet with Metro Transit as previously requested and that they acknowledge communication between staff and Metro Transit in which Metro Transit indicated that they would not make changes to the route; and that Metro Transit stop the new bus route until the meeting with residents, which is to take place within 30 days from November 2. Rollcall: Ayes: Abramovitz, Bonneville, Janovy, Plante, Usem, Workinger Nay: White Motion carried. b. Complete Streets Update Assistant city engineer Sullivan said recently, the Commission was given an overview of Complete Streets by staff, along with resolutions including one from Hennepin County. Mr. Sullivan said one common definition for Complete Streets is streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. He stated further that Mn/DOT has commissioned a study and later in the year is expected to report to the legislators how Complete Streets will affect them and since the city uses Mn/DOT as a guide, staff is waiting for the study to be completed. In the meantime, Mr. Sullivan said staff is conversing with other municipalities that have formed technical committees and the topic will also be addressed at the American Public Works Association 2009 fall conference. Mr. Sullivan reiterated that this approach is not new to the city because staff does consider movements by pedestrian, bikes, etc. when planning street reconstruction projects. 3 V. New Business No new business. VI. Planning Commission Update (Commissioner Brown) None. VII. Bike Edina Task Force Update (Commissioner Janovy) a. Bike meeting minutes (September 10, 2009) Commissioner Janovy reported that they continue to work on Safe Routes to School, in addition to an art project, and that they are fine tuning their bylaws to limit membership. VIII. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.