HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-26 MinutesDraft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: November 16, 2023
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Transportation Commission
City Hall Community Room
October 26, 2023
I. Call To Order
Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call: Commissioners Bildsten, Brown, Johnson, Olson, Plumb-Smith, Wright, Karoussos,
Lewis
Late: Commissioner McCarthy
Absent: Commissioners Rubenstein, Donnelly
Staff present: Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni, Assistant City Engineer Aaron Ditzler
III. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Motion was made by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Bildsten to
approve the agenda. All voted aye. Motion carried.
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion was made by Commissioner Plumb-Smith and seconded by Brown to approve the
September 21, 2023 meeting minutes. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Commissioner McCarthy arrived at 6:03.
V. Community Comment
Cathy Owens, 6225 Grandview Square, testified about Item A1 on the Traffic Safety Report of September 26,
2023. Owens noted concerns about crossing Eden Avenue near the Avidor and requested an advanced
pedestrian flasher for eastbound traffic from Vernon Avenue. Owens also asked the City to consider
installing a high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) beacon like the one on W 51st Street behind Lunds &
Byerly’s.
Arne Selbyg, 6225 Grandview Square, testified about Item A1 on the Traffic Safety Report of September 26,
2023. Selbyg supports adding an advanced pedestrian flasher but noted that it would only help in the
summertime before the snow piles up. Selbyg also requested that the City extend W 53rd Street across
Vernon Avenue to Sherwood Road so the neighbors have an alternative exit besides Eden Avenue.
Fran Edelson, 6225 Grandview Square, testified about Item A1 on the Traffic Safety Report of September 26,
2023. Edelson also noted that snow piles up on the sidewalk adjacent to the Avidor, obstructing pedestrian
traffic.
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: November 16, 2023
VI. Special Presentations/Recognitions
A. 2024 Roadway Reconstruction Projects
Assistant City Engineer Aaron Ditzler and Liaison Scipioni presented the proposed 2024 roadway
reconstruction projects for review and comment. Comments from Commissioners included;
• Concord B/C
o Support boulevards for all proposed pedestrian facilities.
o Staff should consider low-maintenance plantings in narrow boulevards instead of turf.
o On-street bicycle facilities on Wooddale Avenue make sense given the on-street bike
lanes north of the project area.
o Support removing on-street parking on Wooddale Avenue.
o Support the proposed pedestrian facility on W 64th Street.
o Support narrowing W 64th St and removing on-street parking to reduce impervious
surface and future maintenance responsibility.
o Support the proposed one-way conversion of W 64th Street to minimize impacts of
proposed shared-use path.
o Staff should consider the impacts to residents on Concord and St John Avenues when
deciding the direction of one-way traffic on W 64th Street.
o Support the City maintaining the shared-use paths on W 64th Street and Concord Avenue.
• Southdale B
o Support narrowing the streets to reduce impervious surfaces.
o Support adding a sidewalk on the west side of Barrie Road south of W 65th Street.
o Commissioners asked if Metro Transit Express Route 578 is expected to continue service
in the neighborhood.
VII. Reports/Recommendations
A. Traffic Safety Report of September 26, 2023
The Commission reviewed and commented on the Traffic Safety Report of September 26, 2023.
Motion was made by Commissioner Lewis and seconded by Commissioner Bildsten to
allow resident testimony. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Deb Stortz, 6108 Arctic Way, testified about Item B7 on the Traffic Safety Report of September
26, 2023. Stortz noted that this is the only crosswalk on Vernon Avenue/Lincoln Drive between
Gleason Road and Londonderry Road, and that there is no sidewalk leading up to the pedestrian
curb ramp on the south side of Vernon Avenue.
B. 2023 Work Plan Updates
• #1 Pedestrian Crossing Policy Review – Subcommittee will have a draft report to
share at the next meeting.
• #2 Bicycle Network Planning for Bikes as Transportation – Subcommittee will have
a draft report to share at the next meeting.
• #3 France Avenue Corridor Review – Subcommittee will share draft report at the
next meeting.
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: November 16, 2023
• #4 Boulevard Tree Planting – Subcommittee may present draft report at the next
meeting.
• #5 Cahill Small Area Plan – Completed.
• #6 Parking – No update.
• #7 Response to Community Comments – Staff will review draft language with
Communications and Administration.
VIII. Chair and Member Comments – Received.
IX. Staff Comments
A. 2024 Work Plan Update
Liaison Scipioni provided an update on the 2024 work plan development process.
B. Proposed 2024 Regular Meeting Dates
Liaison Scipioni provided the proposed regular meeting dates for the 2024 calendar year.
X. Adjournment
Motion was made by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Lewis to adjourn
the October 26, 2023 regular meeting at 8:21 p.m. All voted aye. Motion carried.
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE
J F M A M J J A S O N D # of Mtgs Attendance %
Meetings 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10
SEAT NAME
1 Wright, Grant 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 100%
2 Rubenstein, Tricia 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 80%
3 Bildsten, Roger 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 100%
4 Lewis, Andy 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 90%
5 Johnson, Kirk 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 70%
6 Brown, Chris 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 80%
7 Olson, Bethany 1 1 1 3 75%
8 McCarthy, Bruce 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 70%
9 Plumb-Smith, Jill 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 80%
10 Donnelly, Sam (s) 1 1 50%
11 Karoussos, Evangelia (s) 1 1 50%