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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-29 Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE Special Meeting of the Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, June 29, 2006 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Les Wanninger, Warren Plante, Marie Thorpe, Jean White, Geof Workinger, Joni Kelly Bennett MEMBERS ABSENT: Ellen Cerf, Marc Usem, Dean Dovolis STAFF PRESENT: Steve Lillehaug, Sharon Allison Bennett is concerned with some of the items listed under Findings and Recommendations because residents’ expectations may be flawed based on the information that is provided. She is concerned that the Findings and Recommendations does not accurately reflect the problems as they exist and this leaves the door open for yet another study in the future. Lillehaug said he has received written comments from Bennett as well as other Commissioners but have not had a chance to meet with SRF to review the comments and incorporate them into the draft report. Wanninger suggested listing recommendations in relative priority order and include that they anticipate doing a Phase 2. Plante believe a Phase 2 may cause confusion. Instead of a Phase 2, Lillehaug said staff’s recommendation would be to go into the NTMP program. Wanninger suggested adding a statement that staff will do an evaluation. The consensus is that staff will evaluate the effectiveness of implemented recommendations instead of conducting another study. Arterial improvements could begin as early as 2007 but this would be an aggressive schedule said Lillehaug, considering that approval is needed from Minneapolis; a more realistic schedule would be 2008. John Finlayson, a Minneapolis resident and SAC member said he has the full support of the 50th & France business district and is working to communicate to the Minneapolis Council that there is broad base neighborhood support. He does not want this to fall by the wayside because it is a good plan. Lillehaug said Edina can get started on neighborhood and some arterial implementations, but will need Minneapolis’ approval before they can begin making parking changes to the east side of France at 44th. Wanninger suggested not waiting until Council has approved the plan to begin discussion with the businesses. Plante suggested including the timeline in the Executive Summary so that Council can be aware of the timeline. Lillehaug recommended that if the Commissioners really believe in the 3-tier approach that they do not wait until TH-100 is completed for support because there are those who are waiting 2 to see what changes will come about as a result of the changes on TH-100. Finlayson said the study has shown that 50th, France, and 44th has serious infrastructure flaws in and of themselves. In moving forward, Wanninger asked which part of the study might be controversial. White said not doing anything would be a detriment to the area; Bennett said cost to residents and Council will need to be clear to residents what residential improvements will cost and who will pay for them. Wanninger asked if there are certain improvements that the city should pay for. He said the ETC policy states that residents would be assessed. Lillehaug said funding will be difficult; probably not so difficult for the Country Club neighborhood because the area was already scheduled for reconstruction. Lillehaug said current policy is that all utility improvements are paid for from the utility funds for scheduled projects; everything else is paid for through assessments. Lillehaug was asked if there is a way to appropriate money in the budget for this type of project. He said yes, because the same was done for W. 70th Street and ETC advertising. Lillehaug asked that the ETC table funding discussion and allow staff to put together a cost estimate. The cost estimate will be ready for the July meeting. Wanninger is going to update the Council via email and he will emphasize to them that the recommendations is a package deal; he will also encourage them to start discussion with Council member Hodges. The following motion was put to the ETC for approval: “The Transportation Commission accepts the Final DRAFT NE Edina Transportation Study. The Commission formally requests the Council to direct the Commission to open a 30-day public comment period regarding the Final DRAFT Report and the Commission to hold the Public Hearing upon the completion of the comment period. Upon completion of the Public Hearing, the Commission will formally make a recommendation to the Council for action.” Workinger motioned to accept the recommended motion and seconded by White. Wanninger asked how they can conduct a public hearing without it getting out of control. Lillehaug said a public hearing is not required, but it will help the Council to make a better decision. He said it would be done in the same manner as the Planning Commission and would be videotaped. Other suggestions were to enforce time limit; individuals making comments out of order lose time to speak; everyone is allowed to only make three points; everyone speaks once and a second chance to speak would be allowed only after everyone has spoken; everyone notes name and address. Plante noted that there was a lack of participation at the two previous open houses. Bennett noted that the 4 p.m. time of the May Open House prevented many people from attending. Bennett said it is important to send out individually mailed notices announcing the public hearing. Lillehaug asked if the ETC would be willing to use some of their advertising funds to cover the cost of mailing and was told yes. 3 Ayes: Workinger, Plante, White, Wanninger, Bennett*, Thorpe** *Bennett voted for general approval with reservation based on interpretation of the data, specifically as it relates to the Findings and linking of support to the definition of problem because there was no definition of the problem. She said at the January open house people were not asked to define the problem, they were asked to state their ranking of the criticalness of the problem. **Thorpe voted for general approval and supports that the document is still a draft. She is concerned that there is not enough in the center of the neighborhood and she is hoping that the public hearing will actualize what should be done because she is not able to make the final decision. Nayes: 0 Absent: Cerf, Usem, Dovolis Meeting adjourned.