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Minutes of the Work Session on November 12, 2013MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Tuesday, November 12, 2013 City Hall Raspberry Room— 6:30 p.m. The meeting was started at 6:38 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Molly Cummings, Kristi Halverson and Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Morrison, Finance Director Christine Harkess, Director of Economic Development and Planning Kersten Elverum, Public Works Director Steve Stadler and City Engineer John Bradford. New business: 8th Ave South Update Ms. Elverum addressed the Council regarding the Artery Project to connect the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Station via 8th Ave to Mainstreet. A Met Council grant for $50,000 was received to develop a design plan for 8th Avenue. A team consisting of the IBI Group, HKGI and Forecast Public Art was selected and in January 2013 a design summit was held to get community input. Staff shared an overview of the draft report with Council to get their feedback, recommendations and update the Council on the proposed process as the plan is discussed and reviewed. Ms. Elverum reviewed the recommended themes, important characteristics, possible street layout, gateways, LRT plaza design, Artstreet, management of the area, strategic plan and budget. Ms. Elverum discussed the need for continued feedback from residents & the business community and possible financing tools. There was Council discussion regarding the grant, grant budget and importance of design team representation at future public open houses and to implement plan design changes. Staff expressed some disappointment in the design plan, the images, lack of bike lanes & broad options. Staff will continue to work with the design team to refine the Plan. Staff discussed with Council the importance of the bike lane connections, the community embracing the plan, possible financing with a special service district and the possibility of bringing the design elements further down the Mainstreet. The next steps involve narrowing and refining the design plan options prior to presenting to the business community. Mr. Bradford is working with Bolton & Menk, focusing on engineering principals for the Artery Project that are practical and affordable. There was Council discussion about incorporating more blocks into the design plan and coordinating the 8th Avenue project with the Mainstreet reconstruction. Mr. Stadler and Mr. Bradford discussed the Mainstreet reconstruction project, a non -assessment project, including bidding timeline, meetings with area businesses and Artery presentation at the meetings. Mr. Bradford discussed with Council the potential of closing 2"d Street South at 8th Avenue South and a right -in, right -out temporary access off of Excelsior Boulevard to businesses located on 2"d Street South until possible future redevelopment of the area. There was much discussion regarding cutting off the business access to the north, residential & truck traffic along 6th and 7th Avenue South, location of bus stops, parking area, business access, land locking businesses, cut through traffic, length of temporary access and the option to block 6th and 7th Avenue South in the future. Staff discussed the traffic hazard at the 8th Avenue and 2"d Street access and that the consequence of not blocking 6th and 7th Avenue South at 2"d Street wouldphossibly be increased traffic through the residential area. Council consensus was to keep 6th and 71Avenue South open at 2"d Street South and renegotiating the temporary access with Hennepin County. Council will continue to review the plan for possible solutions. Staff will get feedback from the building owner and look at other possible solutions with Hennepin County. Staff will present the plan to Council at a future Work Session. Page 2 Mr. Bradford discussed possible traffic solutions along 8th Avenue South. Possible solutions include 2 -way traffic with no parking vs. one-way traffic. There was much discussion regardin possible parking options, design standards and challenges of the project. The goal of the 8t Avenue project is to increase traffic into the central business district and it will be important to have 8th Avenue project completed prior to SWLRT completion. Council will continue to review the 8th Avenue South traffic solutions. SWLRT update Mr. Stadler updated the Council regarding a review by SWLRT of a number of previous freight rail relocation studies including a former railroad alignment in Hopkins and St. Louis Park. There was discussion regarding the scope of the project and costs. Staff will discuss with the SWLRT project staff that staff is not in favor of this freight relocation option. Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds Ms. Harkess presented an overview of the 2014 Special Revenue and Enterprise fund budgets. Ms. Harkess reviewed the Chemical Assessment fund. There was discussion regarding a possible Chemical Assessment state increase that has not come through yet, no grant money guarantees and the number of Chemical Assessment team members. Ms. Harkess will investigate the history of the Real Estate fund and the possibility of adding the fund balance into the Economic Development budget. Ms. Harkess reviewed the Parking Fund budget and Communication budget. Staff will update the Council regarding users of web streaming of Council meetings. Ms. Harkess reviewed the Depot Coffee House budget and explained that the coffee operations are providing support to the youth operations. The Arts Center budget facility operations are projected to make money, but are losing money on Arts Center programming. Ehlers will be presenting a TIF management Plan to Council at a future meeting. Ms. Harkess reviewed the Water Fund rate increase and gave an overview of repairs and upgrades and projects that are done in conjunction with street improvements. Staff will verify that the Water Tower Maintenance Agreement costs are included in the budget. Ms. Harkess reviewed the Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer and Refuse fund and projects. Council would like an update on the bulk collection program. Ms. Harkess reviewed the Pavilion fund, upcoming capital items, programs and marketing of the rental space. The December Work Session will include a discussion with the Hopkins Hockey Association. Ms. Harkess discussed the December 3`d budget meeting and approval process. Ms. Harkess will provide the Council with a tax comparison to other nearby communities. Other • Discussion about the name of the duck pond along Shady Oak Road. • Council Member Cummings gave an update on a resident meeting she attended at Hopkins Village Apartment. Resident concerns involved garbage collection, construction and motorcycle noise. Residents would also like to receive the Hopkins Highlights. • Discussion of the new CD One Price Cleaners. • Discussion of how to get the Hopkins Highlights to single-family homes that have a rental license. • Discussion of the Department of Commerce check cashing license requirements. • Mr. Morrison discussed a Financing Commerce Article that featured a positive comment on Hopkins. • Council Member Gadd is applying for a position with the Grant Evaluation and Ranking Committee. Page 3 With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Youakim and a second by Council member Halverson to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Vold CITY COUNCIL "00WIM Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk