HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-16 Minutes
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MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF EDINA, MINNESOTA
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
COMMUNITY ROOM
JUNE 16, 2011
6:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by chair Janovy.
II. ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Members Bass, Bonneville, Braden, Franzen, Janovy, Schold Davis, Thompson and Nelson.
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Chair Janovy proposed to change the meeting agenda to go to Item VI.C immediately upon Mr. Steve Clark’s arrival;
Living Streets will include discussion on SHIP funding update, Commissioner Bass’ funding update and Commissioner
Braden’s report on her conversation with a staff from the Humphrey Institute.
Commissioner Bonneville asked to add updates on W. 44th St. and Chair Janovy recommended that he sign up for City
Extra to receive weekly updates on any project in addition to monthly updates from Mr. Sullivan.
Commissioner Franzen moved to approve the amended meeting agenda and the motion was seconded by Commissioner
Schold Davis. All voted aye. Motion carried.
IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes -- Regular meeting of May 19, 2011
B. Traffic Safety Report of June 1, 2011
Regarding Section B, page 2, chair Janovy asked if the City has a written policy on “Child at Play” or similar signs.
Assistant city engineer Sullivan said the City does not have a written policy and they are being removed during street
reconstruction, or not being replaced when they become worn. She also inquired about “guy with flag” and similar signs
and if they can be placed in the parking lane. Mr. Sullivan said staff would prefer that they are not placed in the parking
lane and being used short term when children are playing does not present a problem. Commissioner Schold Davis said
she has observed the signs in areas where there are no children present and they are placed far out into the street.
Commissioner Nelson asked about section D, item 5, where Mr. Tate suggested observation at the curve of Blake Rd
around Mirror Lake to see if a slower speed sign should be posted. He said he observed a driver going around the curve
at a high speed that went across the street and hit the curb. Mr. Sullivan said he will be looking to see if a lower speed
sign should be posted.
Commissioner Nelson motioned to approve the consent agenda and the motion was seconded by Commissioner
Thompson. All voted aye. Motion carried.
V. COMMUNITY COMMENT
None.
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VI. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Transportation Commission Ordinance Update
The ordinance was approved by Council said chair Janovy.
B. Living Streets Policy Update
Mr. Sullivan said the SHIP funding ($15,000) was approved by the City Council and the next step is to identify a
consulting firm that can assist with writing the RFP.
Commissioner Bass said Blue Cross is offering a one-day policy development workshop at no cost (a $7,000 value) to the
ETC, including elected officials, members from other commissions and the general public.
Commissioner Franzen motioned to accept the donation and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Braden. All
voted aye. Motion carried.
Discussion included:
Commissioner Braden’s inquired of the Humphrey Institute if they were working on Living Streets and the
person she spoke with expressed a willingness to meet with the ETC.
Workshop consultants could help in determining how to spend the funds (must be used by August 31).
Have consultant attend workshop to see public’s reaction.
Use some of the funds for ordinance/policy updates.
RFP to be written by staff and distribute to ETC; staff will also select the consulting firm.
C. Bike Boulevards for Transit for Livable Communities (TLC)
Mr. Sullivan said the $250,000 grant application that was approved by TLC in 2009 for bike lanes in Edina was discussed
at the last Council meeting. He said the bike lanes would start at France Avenue and W. 54th Street (with a connection
into Minneapolis), west to Wooddale Avenue to Valley View Road, under crosstown to W. 69th Street and to W. 70th
Street. Mr. Sullivan said Council would like a model project but there are some hurdles to work through and asked the
ETC to work with TLC regarding the design and for the ETC to engage the public and report back to Council for
implementation in 2012.
Chair Janovy said the BETF will also weigh-in. She made reference to an anti-bike letter in the Edina Sun-Current and
said it shows confusion about where bike belongs. She explained that the concept is largely sharrows and bike may use
full lane. She said if she understood correctly, the plan coming forward did not meet intended goals of funding.
Mr. Steve Clark, of TLC, said that in a construction approval memorandum to MnDOT, the engineering consulting firm
explained that part of the application was not realistic because they probably would not be able to remove parking, and
therefore, the plan was have sharrows and use lane signs in those areas. He said the original application submitted in
2008 had some merits but did not quite go far enough. He said TLC worked with city engineer Houle and BETF to bring it
to best practices for bicyclists, and the 2009 revision included a willingness to explore bike lanes on both Valley View
Road and Wooddale Avenue which would require removal of parking on Wooddale. He said a parking study could be
done to determine parking needs on Wooddale, but in his observation, there appear to be driveways and garages that
allows for adequate off-street parking. He said if the roadway has at least 2000 cars, it is best to have dedicated bike
lanes to remove conflicts and the law allows this. He said on Wooddale, parking would need to be removed, while Valley
View would be a road diet going from 3 to 2 lanes. He said in his observation, the center lane did not appear to be used
often but this may require an engineer study. He said the 3 to 2 lane conversion was not in writing but there seemed to
be a willingness to explore this. He said city of Richfield is narrowing lanes to 10 ft. to accommodate 5-6 ft. bike lane,
and while Mn/Dot does not like this, it is happening more often nationally.
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Regarding 54th Street, Mr. Clark said there is no need to remove parking, instead he suggested having reverse stop signs
to make it easier for bicyclists and add diverters to discourage cars from using it. He said the application does not have
much detail for making this street bike friendly.
Mr. Clark explained further that most of the money would be spent at Valley View and TH-62 to redesign the area and
that a consultant and city engineer Houle have already created a design but this is not necessarily the final solution.
Additionally, he said the project is challenging because Edina is not a grid system and the current locations seem to be
the most direct routes.
Discussion ensued as follows:
70th St. has roundabouts going in that is not compatible to bikes, even after planning for so long. Mr. Clark said
bikes lanes are not recommended for roundabouts, sharrows are better. He said bikes are to use roundabouts
just like cars with sharrows and for those not comfortable being in roundabout with cars, install sidewalk and
crosswalk. Sharrows are not planned for roundabouts for lack of space according to city engineer Houle and it is
too late for ramps. Consider discussion to retrofit the roundabouts at a later time.
54th, Wooddale, Valley View, 69th are all state aid roads that requires adherence and Edina has never requested
a variance for a 10 ft. lane; not know sure if other communities have done this.
What is the consequence for eliminating parking on Wooddale? Mostly used by contractor vehicles now it seem.
Mr. Clark met yesterday with his committee and told them that a resolution supporting the project was coming
and he will report to the board that there isn’t a motion now to move forward or withdraw funds.
Is the 54th bridge wide enough? Mr. Sullivan said it needs to be replaced but no funding at this time for
replacement.
Do not have a way to approach the parking issue; on W. 70th and other projects, parking always wins over bike
lanes. How do you determine the value of parking since parking always wins out over everything else?
Council wants this moving forward, engaging with public, resolve parking, etc. ETC would help with engaging
residents on issues such as parking.
Residents will feel threatened about losing parking and the City does not have a parking policy; already knows
how it will end.
Should be working with a firm that has experience with bike boulevard, etc. Mr. Sullivan said there is no money
to pay a firm and they will not hire a firm until the major concerns are identified and worked out.
40th Street River Lake Bike Blvd is the closest bike boulevard to Edina to see an example of one.
About 90% of the routes are feasible and maybe Mr. Clark can talk with his colleagues to get suggestion for safer
solutions.
Need to have conversation at a higher level first before engaging the community; let community know this is not
for speeding cyclists but for children and regular cyclists.
People’s exposure now is negative and Edina is not ready for cycling.
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Bridge over TH-62 could score high for funding.
Mr. Clark said his time is being redirected to other planning studies for projects that are shovel-ready. He said he
needs to know if the City is serious and if the community is ready for this type of project. He said the board has
other projects with community support but no money; therefore, they are looking at projects without
community support to pull money from. He said he does not like removing parking when there aren’t off-street
parking options and Wooddale has large residential houses with off-street parking options. He said if parking
cannot be removed from Wooddale and having 3 years to consider this his recommendation would be to spend
the money elsewhere. He said the public process is important to get the community’s feedback.
Council direction was not very clear as to what they want ETC to do, getting clarification through the City
Manager.
Engineer said certain things weren’t feasible as indicated in 2009 application; certain sections puts funding in
jeopardy and TLC will not accept watered down modification; sharrows do not increase ridership, but bike lanes
do; can have some sharrows but they should not be the majority.
Next Tuesday staff is meeting with Council and can outline the concern to see how they want to proceed.
Commissioner Thompson motioned that they move forward with pursuing the $250,000 and that they do the best they
can in meeting original application and avoid watering it down.
Discussion
Need Council’s commitment immediately or could lose the money.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nelson.
Discussion
Include in memo to Council that they are aware that parking will be an issue along the route and issue at
crosstown intersection and at roundabouts that have not been solved at this time.
All voted aye. Motion carried.
D. Safe Routes to School Application Update
Mr. Sullivan said an application was submitted yesterday and they should know by August if approval was granted for
the South View campus for approximately $500,000.
E. France Avenue Study
Mr. Sullivan explained the following:
Past assistant city manager worked on the plans for the 72nd St. Bridge and he is working to fill in the gaps that
exist today; current plan is to do an RFP at this time; Council needs to be brought up-to-date.
2007 concept plan included two bridges – one at 69th St. to connect with proposed trail but the trail is crossing
at the Galleria instead at grade level.
Original estimated cost was $2.3M but it could now be $3.5M and the original design was for access to the
neighborhoods, not to connect with the trail.
At-grade crossing was suggested with bikers walking their bike across.
TIF money may not be available.
Motion by Commissioner Nelson to not support the bridge at the current location and to support significant
enhancement improvements to facilitate at-grade crossing and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bass. All
voted aye. Motion carried.
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Discussion
France Avenue Study was commissioned by the City and Hennepin County’s Housing, Community Works and
Transit Department. It is not known whether it has the support of Hennepin County Transportation or Public
Works Departments.
F. Bike Edina Task Force Update
None
G. Grandview Small Area Study Update
There is a transportation subcommittee that Commissioners Bonneville and Nelson serves on; however, the rest of their
meeting dates conflicts with the meeting dates of the ETC.
H. ETC Bylaws
After brief discussion, Commissioner Thompson motion to accept what is in the packet and revisiting by year’s end and
the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bonneville. All voted aye. Motion carried.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS
None.
VIII. CHAIR AND COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
Commissioner Bonneville requested monthly updates on W. 44th Street and W. 70th Street.
IX. STAFF COMMENTS
Mr. Sullivan said on W. 70th Street curbs for the roundabouts at the east end will be poured this week and the 24” gas
main will be complete by the end of the month; regarding W. 44th, the contractor’s meeting just took place and the gas
company should be starting within 10 days.
Sanitary sewer lift at 42nd has a foul smell, said chair Janovy.
X. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Franzen moved to adjourn the meeting and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Braden. All voted
aye. Motion passed.