11-01-2011 WS for the Joint meeting with MinnetonkaPage 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
City of Minnetonka and City of Hopkins Joint City Council Special Study Session
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Raspberry Room - 6:00 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:00 p.m. Present were:
Hopkins City Council: Mayor Maxwell and Council members Rick Brausen, Kristi
Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl Youakim
Hopkins City Staff: City Manager Mike Mornson, Public Works Director Steve Stadler,
Director of Planning & Economic Development Kirsten Elverum, City Planner Nancy
Anderson and Community Development Coordinator Tara Beard
Minnetonka City Council: Mayor Schneider and Council members Dick Allendorf,
Bob Ellingson, Amber Greves, James Hiller, Brad Wiersum
Minnetonka City Staff: City Manager John Gunyou, Community Development
Director Julie Wischnack, Director of Engineering Lee Gustafson and Assistant City
Manager Geralyn Barone
Others: Patrick Connoy, Hennepin County Community Senior Administrative
Manager, Mark Koegler, Consultant with HKGI, Tony Hepplemann, WSB & Associates,
Inc. Consultant, Dave Nuckols Hennepin County - Aide to Commissioner Callison
Shady Oak Road Reconstruction:
Mayor Maxwell welcomed Council & staff from the cities of Hopkins & Minnetonka,
Hennepin County representatives and members of the business community &
property owners.
Ms. Wischnack gave an overview of Shady Oak Road reconstruction project
including changes to the design and funding since the joint Councils last met in
2006.
Mr. Stadler explained the history of the road reconstruction layout and gave a
summary of changes to the roadway since 2006.
Mr. Gustafson explained the road construction timetable and costs including cost
savings due to reduced acquisitions & construction costs, federal funding and
overall savings to the cities.
Ms. Elverum discussed the impact on residents and businesses in the project area.
Property owner meetings have been held and future meetings will be held to
provide updated project information.
Mr. Koegler, HKGI project consultant hired by Hennepin County to examine parking
and design elements of the project, gave an explanation of the proposed concept
for the area affected by the road project and potential parking solutions for the
businesses. Community works dollars could be used to accomplish the vision of the
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proposed design concept.
Staff updated the Councils on the next steps of the project which include a
final report from the Consultant, HKGI, working with Hennepin County on the
approval for use of community works dollars, meetings with property owners in
January, 2012, having revised layout approval by both cities in February, 2012, right-
of-way acquisitions in 2013 and construction in 2014.
Staff presented the Councils with two questions to consider:
Are the Councils in general agreement with proposed layout for road improvement?
Are the Councils in general agreement about the approach for use of community
works dollars?
Mayor Maxwell and Ms. Wischnack explained the Community Works Dollars
program.
There was much discussion by the Councils regarding the positives of reduced costs,
benefits of the turn lanes, parking and access to businesses, goal of maintaining as
many businesses as possible, proposed office building, federal funding, community
works dollars and funding deadlines, intersection designs, neighborhood buffer,
number of current parking spots vs. proposed parking spots, timing of the project
and utility replacement.
Staff and the consultants answered Councils questions explaining traffic circulation,
access points to properties, new office building proposal to facilitate new business,
project timetables, funding deadlines, reasons behind intersection designs and that
the number parking spots have been maintained but redistributed.
Some Council members expressed support of the roadway improvements,
recognizing the impact on the businesses, but feel the roadway will be safer,
improve traffic flow and improvements will revitalize existing businesses and
encourage new businesses. Council members were encouraged about the use of
Community Works Dollars and want to continue to work towards a plan that meets
the needs of the business owners. Hopkins Council members discussed the fifty-fifty
split of the construction project costs between the cities and would like more
definite numbers to determine how the project will affect the taxpayers. Council
members want to hear questions and concerns from business owners and residents
about the project at upcoming community meetings in January before fully
endorsing the project. Council members expressed concern about the Community
Works Dollars being available after approval by Hennepin County Board. Mr.
Connoy and Mr. Nuckols explained the community works dollar approval process.
Council members discussed the importance of the two cities working closely
together on the project and assuring all details are pulled together in order to keep
the project on schedule and utilize the available federal dollars and Community
Works dollars.
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Mayor Maxwell thanked everyone for attending.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
C Y OU,NCIL
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Max ell, Mayor