Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 05/21/2013 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters Workshop - Heritage Room H Council Member Butcher Wickstrom was absent. I. TOWN CENTER ALIGNMENT City Manager Rick Getschow said City staff invited representatives from the Southwest LRT project office to attend this workshop because many questions remained regarding the Town Center alignment after the May 7 workshop. Economic Development Manager David Lindahl provided a handout containing highlights of the LRT Corridor Community Works report on Station and Infrastructure Recommendations to Accelerate Private Investment. The report contains a preliminary recommendation to locate the Town Center Area Station at Singletree Lane or Regional Center Road. Lindahl also presented a PowerPoint overview of why a more centrally located Town Center Station is being considered. Reasons to consider a centrally located station include proximity to the mall,housing, entertainment and retail; greater separation from Southwest Station LRT Station;ridership potential; and potential redevelopment and reinvestment opportunities. Within the Technology Drive Station 5-minute walkshed, there are 47 businesses, 227 housing units, and 2.695 employees. Within the Singletree Station 5-minute walkshed, there are 288 businesses, 423 housing units, and 6,707 employees. Lindahl said estimates show 160 parking spaces might be needed for a Singletree Station. He noted that the City owns the Ace Daycare parcel, which could be the site of additional parking. He said leasing arrangements with private property owners can also be explored. Jim Alexander presented a PowerPoint focusing on traffic analysis of the proposed Town Center alignments. One goal of the analysis is to determine impacts to roadway and intersection operations. The analysis is based on 2013 intersection counts using the highest P.M. volume and a 30 percent growth rate. Two 2030 traffic scenarios were evaluated: 1) without LRT, and 2) with LRT at P.M. peak (unmitigated). 2030 travel times were also computed for a number of intersections, and intersections that would likely experience unacceptable delays due to traffic were identified. Alexander reviewed roadway City Council Workshop Minutes May 21, 2013 Page 2 modifications that would likely be required for Prairie Center Drive and Singletree Lane with a Singletree Lane LRT alignment. Discussion Mayor Tyra-Lukens noted that on the drawing Alexander provided, Singletree Lane would become single lane in each direction. She asked if this would be a case of sacrificing lanes just to accommodate parking. Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah said the Comp Plan already calls for Singletree Lane to become a single lane with a bike path. Alexander said staff is evaluating what a park and ride would look like at the Singletree Lane Station, including impacts on traffic. He pointed out the travel times indicated in his PowerPoint are unmitigated. Council Member Nelson said she believes people will sneak into Walmart and Brunswick's parking lots unless there is a park and ride at the station. She said parking is an issue that cannot be ignored. Lindahl noted that Walmart has proof of parking available if they chose to utilize it. Council Member Aho said his first rule is to do no harm, and he feels some of the proposed alignments would result in harm. His concerns include: • Traffic impacts at roadway crossings • Access to businesses • Increased cost of construction • Parking • Pedestrian safety • Impacts on Purgatory Creek Park Aho said area businesses are looking for assurance that the Technology Drive alignment is still being considered. Jeremiah said all of the options are still under analysis. She asked at what point the project office will start to look at potential construction impacts. Alexander noted that civil aspects of construction of the Singletree Station would probably take place over the course of just one season. Nelson asked if impacts on alternate routes people may take to avoid the LRT have been taken into consideration. Alexander said there are models that can attempt to predict those impacts. Randy Newton noted that there is extra capacity on the regional road system. II. 2012 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT/AUDIT Steve Wischmann of Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd., presented the results of the City's annual financial audit. Highlights of the audit results included the following: • The City received an unmodified (clean) opinion on Financial Statements (CAFR) • There were no findings on the results of testing in accordance with Government Auditing Standard City Council Workshop Minutes May 21, 2013 Page 3 • There were no findings on the results of testing in accordance with OMB Circular A-133 (CDBG test) • There were no findings on the results of testing in accordance with Minnesota Legal Compliance • No variances from standards were found in relation to required communications • No material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal controls were found (Wischmann said this result is very rare) Open Podium - Council Chamber III. OPEN PODIUM • A resident of Eden Prairie addressed the City Council about the proposed Singletree LRT alignment. He said he opposes that alignment because of the additional travel time. He said he would not use the LRT if it goes through Singletree Lane. • Steve Anderson of Randy's Bobby & Steve's Auto World said the City did not inform him of LRT plans when his development went through the planning process. He said 70 percent of his business comes from west of Singletree Lane, and LRT would be detrimental to his business. • Randy Neis of Randy's Bobby & Steve's Auto World said his business was built where it is because of the location. He said if LRT goes in front of Bobby & Steve's Auto World, it will destroy the business. IV. ADJOURNMENT