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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-19 Work Session Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024 5:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:3 I p.m. ROLL CALL Answering roll call were Members: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Mayor Hovland. Absent: None Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director; Chad Millner, Director of Engineering; Derik Otten, Facility Manager; Ross Bintner, Engineering Services Manager; Aaron Ditzler, Assistant City Engineer; Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager; Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager; and Jake Miller, I.T. Support Supervisor. DISCUSS PETITION RESPONSE FOR MORNINGSIDE C STREET RECONSTRUCTIONS ASSESSMENTS Director of Engineering Millner gave an overview of the timeline of the petition response for the Morningside C Street Reconstruction Assessments. He noted that at the October 3, 2023 the Council had given staff direction that they wanted there to be more discussion on this topic which is why it was on the agenda this evening. He reviewed petition details and some of the information the residents had submitted and used in their presentation. He referenced the memo that was posted to Better Together Edina that outlined the assessment differences including: Zero Residential Equivalent Units (REU) lots; wider lots; and inflation. He outlined the City's Street Reconstruction Program that has been used for the last 20 years and noted that the policy was created in 2003 and has been reviewed by various consulting groups as well as Street Funding Task Force. He noted that the policy had been revised most recently in 2021 and reviewed some of the revisions made to the policy. He reviewed examples of how various properties had been assessed and had included City properties that were also assessed. He explained that staff believed that the assessment policy with the Morningside C Project is consistent with the City's Street Reconstruction Program, and while they agree that the policy is both fair and unfair at the same time, they do not recommend any change in the assessment calculations. The Council asked questions of staff and discussed the large parcels of land, such as parks, that do not have any REUs, consistent application of the policy details, assessment methodologies that were used in the past, and the importance of applying this policy in a consistent manner. The Council reached consensus that the City was being consistent in its application of the Street Reconstruction Policy and did not feel a change was needed in how the City assesses park land. The Council gave direction to staff to bring back information on what the City is doing in order to help people understand how the City, from a process standpoint, does it's best to manage cost, quality, and ensure that the City is getting the best price for the work. DISCUSS GRANDVIEW PARKING RAMP ADA HISTORY AND GRANDVIEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE Director of Engineering Millner reviewed the history of discussions and actions related to the Grandview Pedestrian Bridge, including the Department of Justic letter received related to an ADA complaint. He noted that staff and the legal team had provided a response to this letter on March 13, 2024, and was awaiting a response from the Department of Justice which would most likely take a few months. He gave a brief overview of the background of the Grandview Parking Ramp, Water Treatment Plant #6, yearly inspections that are conducted, and findings from the investigation of concrete/chloride. He reviewed the Guiding Principles for the Grandview District area, the Transportation Study in 2016 and in 2020 studied the Eden Page 1 Ik4 haron Allison, City Clerk aures B. Hovland, Mayor Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/March 19. 2024 and Arcadia areas and the idea of a pedestrian bridge. He explained that Kimley Horn had also done a Parking Ramp Study in 2020 and reviewed some of the details that were considered, including the possibility for a pedestrian overpass and its alignment. He noted that from 2022 to 2024, they built a sidewalk from Arcadia, the pedestrian bridge, the ADA compliant landing, and the short bridge that connects to the top of the ramp and noted that all of this is built to ADA standards. He reviewed the change orders that were discussed by the Council and the background work staff did as a result, design possibilities, cost range, the loss of 16 parking stalls, and reviewed photos of the Grandview Parking Ramp. He outlined the currently ADA accessible parking stalls and the differences between the 1987 original constructions and the current ADA recommendations related to height related to van accessibility. He explained that ADA complaint railings are coming that will meet building code. The Council asked questions and staff discussed the Department of Justice letter, potential pedestrian routes and associated costs, ADA compliance standards, the desire for inclusivity, the importance of communicating the narrative around what the City is doing to move beyond mere compliance and find ways to make things more accessible. The Council discussed the importance of looking more broadly at how people will actually pass through the area, considering the way people get 'to' and 'through' the District, current areas of concern where people have to walk on France Avenue or Valleyview Road, necessary transit infrastructure for ADA compliance, the possibility of delineating along the white lines to show that cars do not block these area so it is clearly marked for pedestrians, additional steps the City could take to ensure that people do not step over the current chains/signs for the sidewalk access. The Council asked staff to provide the Council with the response that was sent to the Department of Justice related to the ADA complaint. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Minutes approved by Edina City Council, April 2, 2024. Page 2