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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-27 Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, January 27, 2005 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Fred Richards, Marie Thorpe, Jean White, Warren Plante, Joni Kelly Bennett, Les Wanninger, Dean Dovolis MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Steve Lillehaug, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Wanninger. II. New Business a. I-494 Corridor Commission Wanninger and White attended the I-494 Corridor Commission meeting. Wanninger reported that the group clearly knows what their needs are, but it did not appear as though they had prioritized the issues and their plans do not include Highways 62 and 169. Wanninger believed that these highways should be a part of their discussion because changes to them would have positive effects on I-494 as well as the reverse. He suggested that the ETC create a list of five priorities to present to the Commission for consideration. The group meets monthly. b. Letter from Jeanne K. Hanson Staff was directed to draft a response letter to Ms. Hanson indicating that the draft policy does not address covenant issues nor is it proposing street closures. All letters addressed to the ETC, whether individually or as a group, will be reviewed by the Commissioners and a response letter drafted by staff and signed by the Chair. Motion made by Dovolis and seconded by Wanninger. Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 Motion carried. “Street Utility Fee” Bill Introduction in Minnesota Senate: Lillehaug stated he drafted letters for the Commissioners to sign supporting the street utility bill that was introduced by the Senate and a similar one by the House. (City Manager Hughes also sent a similar letter.) The bill will allow a city to implement a street utility similar to the storm and sanitary utility. The consensus is to not send the letters until the Commissioners have had a chance to consult with the Council regarding whether the Council, with the Commissioners support, should send the letters. Other things to consider is the possibility that the City’s special assessment policy could be revised in the near future (Council is in the midst of reviewing it) and how to equitably 2 tax residents on streets that have not yet been repaired and residents that have already been assessed. III. Old Business a. Update – FINAL DRAFT Transportation Commission Policy Jan 6, 2005 Lillehaug stated the Council will be holding a public hearing on March 1st to discuss the ETC’s Final Draft Policy. Richards said Bennett will be presenting her minority report to the Council also and asked that the Commissioners get a copy ahead of time so that they can respond. Richards said someone should give a presentation to the Council on March 1st describing how they arrived at the policy that is before the Council and also the Commissioners’ response to Bennett’s minority report. Wanninger suggested not doing any more editing to the final draft policy since it has already been sent to the Council for consideration. The consensus is to stop editing until a response is received from the Council. b. Memorandum – 2003 Local Traffic Task Force Action Plan Update In a memo to the ETC, staff presented an update to the 2003 Local Traffic Task Force Action Plan on the six issue areas (Northeast Edina Area; Northwest Edina Area; Edina High School and Valley View Middle School Area; Edina Community Center Area; W. 70th Street; and France Avenue Area [Greater Southdale Area]) as follows: The root cause of the problems in the Northeast was identified as congestion on Hwy. 100 and in the 50th & France area. With the delay of expansion of this highway until 2014, the City of St. Louis Park has invited the ETC to a joint meeting with them to discuss this issue. In addition to meeting with the City of St. Louis Park, staff was directed to schedule meeting(s) with the City of Richfield, City of Bloomington and other adjoining cities to discuss working jointly towards solutions of transportation/traffic issues that are common to all. Staff recommended that the ETC consider the Northwest and parts of the Edina Community Center area for the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) once the policy is approved. A traffic study is in progress around the Edina Community Center area and the findings will be presented to the ETC at the February 24th meeting. The area bounded by Concord Avenue, Wooddale Avenue, Golf Terrace and Valley View Road was also recommended for the “NTMP for a basket-weave application of stop signs and/or traffic calming measures” due to “perceived traffic volume and speed…” Staff is scheduled to meet with the Edina High and Valley View Middle Schools’ staff to discuss possible solutions to improve traffic flow in this area. Engineering staff has discussed improvements such as adding turn lanes on Valley View Road, a sidewalk along the south side of Valley View Road and an educational program to address drivers’ behavior. Potential solutions for West 70th Street “include significant physical improvements that may require the redevelopment of properties adjacent to the roadway.” Staff is “investigating improvements at the intersections of France Avenue with West 70th Street and West Shore Drive with West 70th Street, and improving the frontage road system at Highway 100 to encourage West 66th Street destined vehicles.” A consultant is conducting a land use/transportation study for the France Avenue Area (Greater Southdale Area). A report should be ready within the next several months. 3 Within the six areas identified by the Task Force are issue areas that staff believe are not applicable to the NTMP procedure. Therefore, staff recommended that the ETC make recommendations to the Council regarding studies and improvements for these areas, so that they can be budgeted as part of the Capital Improvement Program. Staff also recommended that issues typically caused by congestion within neighborhoods be addressed through the NTMP process once approved. After discussion, Wanninger motioned that they select the Northwest Area and Edina High and Valley View Middle Schools Area as the two projects to begin with and follow the philosophy of the NTMP, but not be limited by it. Dovolis seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays: 1 Motion carried. IV. Approval of Minutes Bennett motioned and Dovolis seconded approval of the corrected minutes of December 9, 2004. Bennett motioned to have changes made to the January 6, 2005 minutes. Her motion failed for a lack of support. Dovolis motioned and Plante seconded approval of the minutes as submitted. Meeting adjourned. Next meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2005, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room, Edina City Hall.