01-12-2010 WSJanuary 12, 2010
Page 1
SHADY OAK LRT STATION:
MINUTES OF THE JOINT HOPKINS AND MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Hopkins Fire Hall
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members
Kristi Halverson, Rick Brausen, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl Youakim and Hopkins City Manager Rick Getschow,
Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Director of Planning and Economic Development Kersten Elverum,
Planner Nancy Anderson, Community Development Coordinator Tara Beard, Hopkins Planning Board
Members Molly Cummings, Tom Jenny, Patrick Beddor, Commissioner Jan Callison, Minnetonka Mayor Terry
Schneider, Minnetonka City Manager John Gonyou, Minnetonka Assistant City Manager Geralyn Barone,
Minnetonka City Council members Dick Allendorf, Amber Greeves, Bob Ellingson, Tony Wagner, James
Hiller, Minnetonka Planning Commission members John Cheleen and Steve Adams, Minnetonka City Staff
Elise Dubin and Julie Wishnack.
The purpose of the joint meeting is to have a discussion about issues and to determine the next step in the
process, specific to Shady Oak Light Rail station.
The locally preferred alternative for the southwest light rail alignment, 3A, was adopted by the Hennepin
County Regional Rail Authority in November of 2009. It now moves to the Metropolitan Council for a final
decision. After the decision, the "new starts" application will be made to the Federal Transit Administration.
The significance of the particular alignment for the Shady Oak stations that the line will turn and head south,
instead of being located within existing right of way.
The environmental review is also close to completion. This will come in the form of the DEIS, or draft
environmental impact statement. This is expected to occur in 2010. The final environmental impact
statement will be completed during preliminary engineering, which is expected to begin after the new
starts applications made to the Federal Transit Administration. Actual construction of the line is
expected to occur in 2013/14 and the line would potentially be operational in 2015.
There are two stations in Minnetonka, one of which is shared with the City of Hopkins, the Shady Oak
Station. The other station is located within the Opus Business Park. Hopkins has two stations in
addition to the Shady Oak Station.
Minnetonka side of the station area has 17 parcels of land, which are owned by approximately 12
property owners. The area size is 31.3 acres and the value is approximately 15.5 million. The Hopkins
side includes 5 parcels, owned by 4 property owners. The current property value is 20.7 million.
Financial Issues:
In regards to financing issues Minnetonka stated that LRT improvement added into the CIP. They stated
that $5,000,000 is unfunded. Hopkins stated that station area infrastructure for LRT is not yet identified
in CIP because they are uncertain of cost. They will attempt to partner with Metropolitan Council.
Hennepin Community Works Process:
The SWLRT project was recently approved as a Hennepin County Community Works Project.
Community Works Process is a comprehensive tool to assist with coordination, planning, and use of
multi jurisdictional infrastructure and economic investments. The scope of the work should be
January 12, 2010
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developed within 90 days.
Jan Callison stated that Resolution No. 09 -0596 regarding Southwest LRT was approved by the board.
She stated that Hennepin County does have an interest and recommends working in a very positive way.
She stated that there is limited staff and limited money available. She suggested that the cities look at
Hiawatha and Central corridors to see what worked and how we can we can make it complimentary to
our cities. She also stated that entities cannot be sold along the line. Ms. Callison stated that she will
look at Urban Land Grants
General Discussions: There were discussions on:
1. Shady Oak Rd Improvement project.
2. The Hay Dobbs station plan.
3. Redevelopment issues and the need for additional information regarding market potential,
infrastructure needs, and shared vision.
4. Met Council gets final say on parking.
Hopkins Mayor Maxwell and Minnetonka Mayor Terry Schneider asked to go around the room and state
what are some of the ideas /concerns. They are:
1. Plan how businesses adapt and how we will help those that have been with the cities a long time.
2. Concern with traffic pattern, need thru street, how are people and traffic going to circulate?
3. Publicize what is going on ahead of time, do the PR right and discuss our long term goal.
4. Transit and access on 17 Ave extension, consider improving street north of 17th.
5. Keep the character of the community, look at Hiawatha and Bloomington.
6. Look at policy issues and overall issues. Need a concept plan. We have potential tenants to offer
to developers. Pull in apartments, offices and mix use developers.
7. Bring expectation down a little. Less wishful thinking and more reality. The numbers are
unrealistic. How many jobs are being displaced? Find users for buildings. Create jobs other
than just office jobs.
8. Don't have piece meal developers.
9. Get roads in place, show routes for streets and build up.
10. How do we ensure 1, 2 and 3 process? Plan ordinance before infrastructure. We need to
determine what compliments each other.
11. Be clear on flow of traffic, pedestrian flow, parking (may not be enough), coordinate with
business owners, think about buildings in human scale, affordability for housing, meet Met
Councils goals, have a detail discussion about funding.
12. Worried about infrastructure, phasing overall vision, financing, re -use industrial buildings, look
at how good Alliant Tech worked out.
13. Don't become pathway to somewhere else.
14. Concern about developer running over existing businesses.
15. Think big picture, the developer will help with everything.
16. Research grants
The next step is for both cities to meet and to think about a plan and a process in agreement with both cities and
to create a plan of action and present that to both Councils.
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OTHER:
City Manager Getschow would like the Council to think about suggestions that we want to work on for the State
of the City.
City Manager Getschow stated that we will not attempt special legislative for our TIF District thisyear
City Manager Getschow stated that the HBCA Annual meeting will be on Thursday, February l l at 12:00 p.m.
City Manager Getschow stated that the "State of the Community" by the ICA and Rresource West will be on
Thursday January 28 during a combined Rotary meeting.
City Manager Getschow stated that as part of the search for a new Chief for the Police Department he would
like the Council to fill out a form asking questions about what is an ideal candidate for the Chief's position.
There will be further discussions at upcoming meetings.
City Manager Getschow will check into 8 and 1 (Frazier, 12 unit apartment).
On a motion by Brausen, and second by Youakim, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.
Debbie Sperling, Secretary
ATTEST
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Eugene J. M well, avor
Eugene J. Ma well, ayor