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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-17 Minutes MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, April 17, 2008 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Les Wanninger, Jean White, Marc Usem, Paul Mooty, Warren Plante, Steve Brown, Tom Bonneville, Geof Workinger MEMBERS ABSENT: Hilah Almog STAFF PRESENT: Jack Sullivan, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by chair Workinger. II. Welcome Thomas Bonneville, New Commission Member New member Thomas Bonneville was welcomed to the Commission. III. Chairperson and Vice Chair Voting Chair Workinger accepted the vote to be the chair person. Commissioner Wanninger nominated Commissioner White as the vice-chair. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Usem. All voted aye. Motion passed. IV. Comments a. Chairman Comments None b. Public Comments None V. Old Business a. W. 70th/Cornelia Area Traffic Study Next Steps Commissioner Wanninger recommended that staff and consultant prepare a final recommendation to be shared with the SAC on June 4. The SAC is then to arrive at a final plan for recommendation to the Council. Commissioner Wanninger said he is recommending closing the study as soon as possible because he believes they have indentified the issues relating to safety, access, etc. and they have not heard any new information since holding the public hearings. He said further that they have already spent $130,000, not including staff, Commissioners’ and SAC time. Additionally, he said the Mayor and at least two Councilmembers are becoming involved and this undermines the work of the ETC/SAC. Commissioner Wanninger said there is no easy solution and there will not be 100% agreement. 2 After discussion, Commissioner Usem recommended that they not close the study, but instead meet with Council so that Council can provide input on the process that the SAC has been using. He also recommended reviewing the composition of the SAC; however, the composition will remain the same. By consensus, Commissioners Workinger, Wanninger, Brown, Usem and Bonneville will meet with the Council, staff and consultant. Additionally, Commissioners will submit questions to staff for submission to the consultant. Commissioners Brown, Usem and chair Workinger will meet with the consultant and report back to the ETC. Commissioner Wanninger stepped down as chair of the SAC. Commissioner Brown was nominated as his replacement. All voted aye. Motion passed. VI. New Business Commissioner Plante said based on what is happening with the NE Edina Study, he is recommending that the ETC pass a resolution recommending that the Council approve the safety improvements. Commissioner Plante motioned to adopt the resolution. The motion was seconded by Wanninger. All voted aye. Motion passed. RESOLUTION CALLING FOR APPROVAL OF THE NE EDINA TRANSPORTATION STUDY RESIDENTIAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, over 15 years of studies, complaints from area residents and spending over one million dollars of Edina taxpayers’ money, the City Council directed the Edina Transportation Commission to conduct a study to evaluate traffic and safety issues in NE Edina; WHEREAS, the NE Edina Transportation Study was successfully completed and unanimously approved by the City Council in 2006; WHEREAS, the NE Edina Transportation Study was conducted in an unbiased manner with an open process which allowed all interested parties to participate; WHEREAS, the Edina Transportation Commission needs the leadership of the City Council to be effective now and in the future to ensure equity for all residents; BE IT RESOLVED, that the Edina Transportation Commission strongly recommends that the City Council approve the overall recommendations made in the NE Edina Transportation Study to implement the safety of residential streets by reducing speeds and improving pedestrian safety; 3 ___________________________________ Chairperson STATE OF MINNESOTA ) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN ) SS CITY OF EDINA ) I, the undersigned Secretary for the Edina Transportation Commission for the City of Edina do hereby certify that the attached and foregoing Resolution Calling for Approval of the NE Edina Transportation Study Residential Safety Improvements is a true and correct copy of the Resolution Calling for Approval of the NE Edina Transportation Study Residential Safety Improvements duly adopted by the Edina Transportation Commission at its regular meeting of April 17, 2008, and as recorded in the Minutes of said regular meeting. WITNESS, my hand and seal of said City this 17th day of April, 2008 __________________________ Sharon Allison, Secretary VII. Approval of Minutes a. Regular Meeting of February 21, 2008 Commissioner Wanninger motioned to approve the minutes of February 21, 2008. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Brown. All voted aye. Motion passed. VIII. Planning Commission Update (Commissioner Brown) Commissioner Brown said the Comp Plan was submitted to Council and they are waiting for feedback and adoption. He said the Pentagon Park and the AUAR is the most significant project that they have worked on recently. IX. Staff Liaison Comments (Sullivan) a. Draft of Transportation Chapter of Comprehensive Plan The final draft format is completed. b. “Pace Car not the Race Car” Campaign The campaign is under way – there was an article in ‘In Edina’ and in the Star Tribune on April 14. City Manager Gordon Hughes, has indicated a bumper sticker will be placed on each City vehicle. c. Status of 25 mph language March 3, Council passed a resolution for the state to study 25 mph speed limits. d. Comprehensive Plan Update A public hearing was held on March 27 which begins the 45-day comment period. In May, Council will make their final decision. X. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.