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Minutes August 14, 2007 � � August 14, 2007 Page 1 • MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — August 14, 2007 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell at 6:30 p.m. on August 14, 2007, at the Hopkins City Hall. Council members Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan and Cheryl Youakim were present. City personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Director of Planning Kersten Elverum, Facilities Manager Jay Strachota and Executive Arts Director Susan Hanna-Bibus. Also present were George Stuempfig and Leif Garnass of SRF; Joe Gladke of Hennepin County Community Works, and Rick Brausen. City Council Vacancy Mayor Gene M�well said the resignation of Jay Thompson leaves an unfilled term ending December 2007. Following discussion at the work session last week, he approached an ex-Council member to fill the vacancy through December. This seems to be a better option than leaving the seat vacant until January, 2008. Mr. Brausen is willing to finish Mr. Thompson's term. Mr. Rowan said he feels Mr. Brausen is a good choice as he is familiar with Council processes and could take an active part right away. Ms. Youakim and Ms. Halverson agreed. Mayor Maxwell said Mr. Brausen would be sworn in at the next Council meeting. ll Avenue Grade Crossing Discussion • Public Works Director Steye Stadler said Hennepin County funded a study by SRF to determine if the future Southwest Transitway would need a bridge over 11'� Avenue South as well as the one already planned for crossing Excelsior Blvd. Mr. Stuempfig said three crossing treatments were studied: a bridge carrying only an LRT track, a bridge carrying both the LRT track and the pedestrian trail, and an at-grade crossing for both. The analysis was based on projected 2030 traffic volumes and included driveway traffic as well as tr�c on 11�' Avenue and pedestrian counts. Effectiveness was measured by length of delays for access driveways and 1l Avenue traffic, travel time, and queuing at intersections and access driveways. VISSIM, a traffic simulation soflware program, was used to test the alternatives. Mr. Garnass showed a video of the simulation for an at-grade crossing. Mr. Stuempfig said the study showed a safety concern: traffic sight lines would be cut off and endanger pedestrian traffic if the crossing had two levels. Traffic delays at an at-grade crossing would be minimal, about 10 seconds longer than with a bridge. Maximum queuing (when trains from each direction caused the gate to stay down for both) would be 120-190 feet for southbound and 170-350 feet for northbound traffic with a wait time of 75 seconds; the average, however, would be 13 feet. He noted at peak hours there would be 7'/2 minutes between trains; most of the time headway would be 15 minutes. Mr. Gladke noted figures for the Hiawatha Transitway were used to determine headways. Mr. Stuempfig said the benefit cost analysis ratio was only 0.4 with the bridge; therefore SRF recommends an at-grade crossing. Answering Mayor M�well, he said the track and pedestrian trail vvould probably be divided by a three-strand cable fence such as that used on the Hiawatha line. The bridge would cost about the same whether it was built for only the transit rail or both • the transit rail and pedestrian path. Mayor Maxwell commented he felt both should be 1 August 14, 2007 . Page 2 raised and asked how this intersection differed from Blake. Mr. Stadler said traffic is • heavier at 11 �' and businesses are near the intersection. An elevated trail would separate bicyclists from the city. Answering Mr. Getschow, Mr. Gladke said the Hiawatha line has elevated crossings at Crosstown and Lake St. The latter would have 8 blocks of backed traffic without the elevation. Mr. Stuempfig said their study especially looked at crossing the tracks at Excelsior. Figures show there should be no problems, but pre- emption would always be possible. Answering Ms. Youakim, he said there is no hard data on the safety of at-grade crossings, but most vehicle/train problems are caused by cars turning right to cross the tracks at the intersection, which would not be the case here. Mr. Stadler said staff is not making any recommendation for or against the study at this time. Staff wants to look at other LRT's and get comfortable with the idea of an at-grade crossing. He will come back to the Council with an in-depth review in about a month. He noted he had done some car counts and found they matched SRF's figures. Shady Oak Road Update Mr. Stadler said the County plans to get a new agreement in place and start detailed design work by January 2008 and finish it in December 2008. Right of way acquisition would be done 2008 through 2010 and construction would start in 2010. Hopkins has the funding for the construction in place. However, Community Works now says instead of $9 million, it will put in only $3 million for acquisitions, and Minnetonka and Hopkins will need to each pay $3 million. We know that residential properties will cost $5.15 million. It is anticipated Hennepin County Community Works will need information on ciTy funding sources later this fall in order to commit their $3 million • contribution. Hennepin County Transportation will be seeking a formal funding agreement with the cities within the next 6 months. Mayor Ma�cwell asked about the possibility of getting the state to help as the realignment of Shady Oak is largely due to Highway 7; Mr. Stadler said he thinks it unlikely as it is not construction of the highway. Mr. Getschow stated that the County, with City support, has applied to the federal government for SAFETY-LU funding. Planning Director Elverum said staff is having Ehlers look into the redevelopment situation; they will report back by mid-September. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Getschow said Minnetonka is facing the same concerns as Hopkins. Mr. Stadler says he recommends determining what commercial redevelopment dollars are, and then start talking to the County. We won't know about the SAFETY-LU until February 2008. Ms. Elverum noted the moratorium will expire at the end of September. Hopkins could extend it 6 months, let it expire, or change city zoning. Mayor Maxwell said he favors extension, but staff should see what Minnetonka plans to do so both cities do the same. It was agreed that Ms. Elverum and Mr. Stadler will update the Council in September after the Ehlers study is done. HCA Discussion Facilities Director Jay Strachota said the goal of the HCA Inc. Board is to have the changeover to a"Friends" type nonprofit completed by the end of the year. Ms. Hanna-Bibus said there needs to be a Board that can raise money in place so there is an overlap with the present Board. The new Board structure will be balanced by a new staff structure so there can be more focus on fund-raising. Mr. Strachota said staff put together about 8-10 scenarios and decided a 25 hours-per-week rnembership/volunteer • r - au�t 14, Zoo� Page 3 . manager would be the best option. Mr. Getschow noted it was agreed in the last discussion that this position would pay for itself through fundraising over time. Mr. Strachota said the present administrative offices will be reconfigured to create a Facility office and a Friends office. A permanent information desk in the first-floor lobby will be manned by staff and volunteers and will be a real work station so staff can do their computer work while watching phones and giving information. Mr. Rowan added that when buses come the box office is open and also acts as an information center. Mr. Strachota said the $SO,OOO loan to HCA Inc. would be part of the Center's budget during the transition and then written off against the Center. Answering Mayor M�well, Ms. Hanna-Bibus said the Friends Board will be totally new. Present Board members will be taking on committee assignments. They are now getting sample Friends-type by-laws. The agreement between the Friends and the City would go to the City Attorney for review. Mr. Getschow said the city would like to see the by-laws, but he does not feel they are a concern. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Strachota said the new manager would need very flexible hours, including week-ends. General Consensus was to continue the current process. Mr. Brausen said programming and capacity need to be discussed. He asked if the new position could be combined with the city. Mr. Strachota felt that might be done on specific projects, but not as a regular practice. He said he would be returning for the budget work session in September or October and again before the end of the year to update the Council. 2008 Budget � City Manager Rick Getschow said general fund expenditures are projected with a 4.25% increase, which would result in a 5.5% levy increase (5.8% with special levies). Personnel is the biggest cost, especially since the ciTy government is a service oriented operation. Other major factors were ERP charges, potential double digit increases in health insurance costs (10-20%), and $25,000 for the presidential election. Workers comp insurance costs also went up. StafF plans to try to come back with a levy proposal under 5%. We do not yet have our tax capacity rate, but staff hopes to get a preliminary one in a couple weeks. Ms. Youakim asked about the decrease in Council expenses. Mr. Getschow said the costs were down as the audit cost was taken out of that department. General Consensus was to try to get the levy below 5%. Other Mayor Maxwell asked about storm damage. Mr. Stadler said one lift sta#ion is still running on an emergency generator. Mr. Getschow said he will keep Council updated. Mr. Rowan asked whom a resident should contact to get a new tree in a boulevard. Mr. Stadler said to ca11 Ray and have the address put on the fall schedule. Mr. Getschow said the Depot has received a$20,000 grant for a resource coordinator part-time position. The position would be through the Park and Rec Department. The selling of lots is moving ahead with a realtor. Staff found out that the numerous train whistles August 5 were due to making up • runs because of a shutdown most of Saturday and Sunday for a company event. 1 August 14, 2007 � Page 4 Let him know by the end of the month if you plan to attend the National League • of Cities convention. MN DOT promptly sent information on bridges in the Hopkins area. None of them are "structurally deficient." On motion by Mr. Rowan and second by Ms. Youakim, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. on a vote of 5-0. Kasey Kester, Secretary COUNCIL MEMBERS: ATTEST: Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor � •