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Memo - SW LRT Community Advisory Committee MembershipPlanning & Economic Development MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Hopkins City Council Members FROM: Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Development DATE: February 9, 2012 SUBJECT: SW LRT Community Advisory Committee Membership In September, the Federal Transit Administration granted the Metropolitan Council approval to start engineering the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SW LRT) project. As we enter into this important stage, the Metropolitan Council is planning on expanding on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC will be asked to provide guidance on a range of community issues such as design, engineering, economic development around station locations, environmental issues and potential mitigation measures. The City of Hopkins has been asked to re -appoint three representatives and three alternates to the CAC, representing the three proposed station areas. The City did appoint representatives to a CAC in 2007, Mindy Paulson, Kyle Allison and Esmarelda Guajardo, but their attendance was limited with two of the members only attending the first 3 meetings. Kyle Allison did attend on a more frequent basis but staff feels that he would be a better fit on the BAC and is recommending Kyle for that appointment. The CAC will have other groups represented (outside of the station area representatives). Stacy Unowsky has been asked to represent transit -dependent renters, Ted Duepner representing youth, and Annette Sandler representing seniors; This will give Hopkins additional voices on the CAC. In the upcoming months, the City will also be asked to appoint Business Advisory Committee (BAC) members. This committee should not be confused with a business investment group that will be made up of major employers along the line, such as Cargill and SuperValu. Staff has identified some possible representatives for the CAC and BAC but will be looking for both confirmation of those suggestions and ideas for other openings at the February 14, 2012, City Council work session. If there are no specific recommendations generated through the work session discussion, staff would suggest approaching Citizen Academy graduates and perhaps advertising the openings through Connections and Facebook. The appointments must be made by March 5, 2012. The meetings of the CAC are currently scheduled for the second Thursday of each month, 6:00 — 7:30 p.m. Possible Representatives for the CAC and BAC: Blake Station — primary Alternate: Downtown — primary: Alternate: Shady Oak — primary: Alternate: CAC BAC Ann Beuch Marc Bogursky BRCC The Blake School Deb Butler Kyle Allison Hopkins Honda Tim Sullivan Deephaven Property Co LLC Staff has some other ideas of potential representatives that will be discussed at the work session. it Metropolitan Council Charter of the Southwest LRT Community Advisory Committee (CAC) SCOPE The Southwest LRT Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was established in 2007 to provide guidance on community issues during the Alternatives Analysis (AA) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) phases of Southwest LRT project development. Members were appointed by the partner cities and neighborhood organizations to provide representation for the station areas. In 2012, the purpose, role and composition of the CAC is being expanded to provide for broader community involvement on the Southwest LRTproject as it progresses through the Preliminary Engineering (PE)/Final EIS phases and Hennepin County's Community Works planning efforts to maximize and integrate economic development along the Southwest LRT line. PURPOSE The purpose of the CAC is to serve as a voice for the community and advise the Southwest LRT Corridor Management Committee and the Southwest LRT Community Works Steering Committee during the planning and implementation phases of the light rail line and beyond: 1. Advise on communications and outreach strategies for the Southwest LRT project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Preliminary Engineering, and the Final Environmental Impact Statement as well as the Southwest LRT Community Works' land use/economic development initiatives. 2. Provide input on station location, design, and construction to reflect the needs of the community, including residents, visitors, businesses, transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 3. Provide input on station area (1/2 mile radius of station location) vision and character for development from a community perspective. 4. Identify environmental concerns and impacts related to construction and operation of the light rail line. 5. Identify potential issues and review strategies to mitigate the impacts of construction on residences and businesses. 6. Review and comment on major initiatives and actions of the Southwest LRT Community Works program. 7. Serve as an information resource and liaison to the greater corridor community. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The Southwest CAC has reporting responsibilities to both the Southwest LRT Management Committee and the Southwest LRT Community Works Steering Committee. In addition, the CAC will have a representative from their membership serving as member of the Southwest LRT Management Committee and the Southwest LRT Community Works Steering Committee. Draft 1/26/12 RESPONSIBILITIES Each member of the Southwest CAC agrees to: 1. Attend a majority of CAC meetings (alternates will be allowed to participate in the committee discussions if CAC staff are notified prior to the meeting.) 2. Be a voice to advance the broader interests of the local community or interest they represent. 3. Report to the entity represented on the activities of the CAC as well as serve as a conduit of information to the broader community. 4. Actively participate in discussions by sharing ideas and expertise. 5. Identify issues affecting communities impacted by both the LRT project development and Community Works initiatives and assist in developing strategies for minimizing those impacts. 6. Provide feedback to the Southwest LRT Communication Steering Committee on the structure and effectiveness of the communication and public involvement efforts. 7. Listen to and respect the viewpoints of others. 8. Accept the outcome of decisions, once they are made. MEMBERSHIP Members will be appointed for a one-year term and reconfirmation of membership will be requested on an annual basis. Membership is intended to represent the diverse interests and stakeholders along the Southwest LRT line and will therefore include people from neighborhood groups, special interest groups, advocacy groups, educational institutions and ethnic communities. If an appointed member or alternate is no longer able to participate actively in the CAC, the organization that appointed that person will be allowed to name a replacement. MEETINGS The CAC will meet monthly on the second Thursday of every month, from 6:00-7:30 P.M. Meetings will be co-chaired by Jennifer Munt, Metropolitan Council District 3, and Jeanette Colby, Kenwood Isles Area Association. Agendas will be distributed to all members at least five business days before the meeting. Special meetings, open houses, subcommittees and focus groups will be scheduled at regular intervals and as needed. To facilitate communication and a sharing of ideas and information, the CAC with meet jointly at least twice each year with the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). This meeting will replace a regularly scheduled CAC meeting. Draft 1/26/12