Memo - Communication With Residents of Phase IVMemorandum
Introduction
Shady Oak Road project
Public Works Department
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Copy: Rick Getschow, City Manager C D "'
From: Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director
Date: July 2, 2008
Subject: Communication with Residents affected by Excelsior Boulevard, Phase IV
and Shady Oak Road Reconstruction projects
It is not clear when either of the subject projects will be able to be funded and
completed. However, there are residents and /or stakeholders in both project areas that
would like to know what to expect regarding these future road reconstruction projects.
Regarding the Excelsior Boulevard project, Interlachen residents abutting the roadway
have long -known that this final phase of the Excelsior Boulevard corridor improvements
is in the City's Capital Improvement Plan. They would like to see improvements to the
visual appearance of the screen fences and plantings along the roadside abutting their
back yards. Also, they look forward to improved pedestrian ways along the roadway.
To -date, there has been virtually no formal City communication with these residents
regarding this future project. In contrast, there has been a lot of citizen engagement
and public outreach with the Shady Oak Road project.
There have been several public informational meetings and two separate public
hearings regarding the Shady Oak Road reconstruction project & the potential
redevelopment areas. Ultimately, the City Councils of Hopkins and Minnetonka
approved first a preferred concept layout in August 2005 and then the preliminary
layout in September 2006. These approvals were based on a belief that Hopkins share
of land acquisition costs would be substantially reduced through a grant of up to $9
million from the Hennepin County Housing, Community Works & Transit Department.
Unfortunately, the County Board voted to reallocate those dollars. The last formal
communication to project area stakeholders was a December 5, 2006 letter from Mayor
Maxwell and Mayor Callison confirming that the Hennepin County Board reallocated $9
million from this project (attached).
Currently, Hennepin County's draft 2009 -2013 CIP is projecting $1 million for ROW
acquisition in years 2009 and 2010. This money would be used to acquire from willing
sellers or those with hardship situations. They show an additional $10 million for ROW
acquisition in 2012 with $5 million coming from the cities, or "other sources ". They are
projecting construction in 2013 or 2014. Detailed design work has stopped at the 30%
stage. I believe the County will require a cost - sharing agreement with the cities before
they resume project design.
Staff would recommend that a letter be sent to residents /business owners in the project
area stating that:
• The project final design and construction has been delayed due to funding
shortfalls.
• The Shady Oak Road road /bridge improvements south of Excelsior Boulevard
will be completed in 2010 and we're hopeful that additional funds can be
acquired or, if necessary, consider putting other city project/s on hold to allow
this project to proceed in the 2013 -2014 timeframe.
• The County has some funding available in 2009 and 2010 for property
acquisition + contact name & number for Hennepin County.
• Contact information for Hennepin County and Hopkins for questions.
Excelsior Boulevard, Phase IV
Staff would recommend that this project be funded and completed after the Shady Oak
Road project, as funding permits - see proposed letter, attached.
December 5, 2006
netonka
Dear Shady Oak Property or Business Owner:
City of Kopkinn
By now you may have heard that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
recently voted to reallocate $9 million dollars from the Shady Oak Road redevelopment
project to other county projects.
Although the roadway construction funding was not affected, the lost funding had been
budgeted for property acquisitions, including some of the total takings required for the
road work to be done from Excelsior Boulevard to Hwy. 7. The immediate impact of the
funding loss is the inability to do early takings of property needed for rights -of -way.
We want to assure you that in spite of this significant setback, the cities of Minnetonka
and Hopkins remain committed to seeing the Shady Oak Road redevelopment project
through to completion. Joint redevelopment planning by the two cities will continue as
planned, and we encourage your participation in the community meetings that will be
scheduled in the coming months.
Our efforts to restore funding will focus on the county's next budget cycle, one year from
now. The redevelopment plan will be completed by spring 2007, so that project funding
needs may be reconsidered in Hennepin County's 2008 -2012 capital improvement plan.
Over the coming year, our cities will take the lead in educating county commissioners
and building support for the project, emphasizing our collaborative efforts over the past
three years both between the two cities and with Hennepin County Community Works.
Your continued support of this important project would be greatly appreciated. If you
have any questions or concerns, please be sure to contact Ron Rankin, Minnetonka
Community Development Director, at (952) 939 -8200, or Jim Kerrigan, Hopkins Director
of Economic Development and Planning, at (952) 935 -8474.
Sincerely,
a. :r.
Janis Callison
Mayor of Minnetonka
14600 Minnetonka Boulevard
Minnetonka, MN 55345
see-p-r
Gene Maxwell
Mayor of Hopkins
1010 1 Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343
July 2, 2008
Residents along Excelsior Boulevard east of Blake Road
Re: Excelsior Boulevard Reconstruction east of Blake Road
Dear Resident:
As you know, over the past 10 years the City of Hopkins and Hennepin County have
been upgrading Excelsior Boulevard. The final phase of the Excelsior Boulevard
corridor improvement plan is improvements to the segment from Blake Road to
Meadowbrook Road. As in the other phases, roadside improvements to pedestrian
access and safety plus buffering /fencing will be an important part of this future project.
Currently, this project is planned for the year 2013 in the City's 2009 - 2013 Capital
Improvement Plan. Unfortunately, this timing is far from certain as Hennepin County
does not have a firm funding commitment assigned to the project yet. Additionally, the
city is currently working hard to come up with our share of funding for the reconstruction
of Shady Oak Road from Excelsior Boulevard to Highway 7. Hennepin County has
committed funds to this project in 2013.
The City shares in Interlachen neighborhood's desire to complete the Excelsior
Boulevard improvements, including the improved roadside landscaping, pedestrian
ways and fencing. The most prudent action is to incorporate these improvements into
the future roadway design and construction. However, City funding limitations and lack
of County funding commitment will likely mean the project will not be done until at least
2014.
If you have questions on this future project, please call me at 952 - 548 -6350 or email at
sstadler @hopkinsmn.com.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Stadler
Public Works Director