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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 06/04/2013 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JUNE 4, 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 I. EDEN PRAIRIE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS & SPECIAL ASSESSMENT POLICY Public Works Director Robert Ellis said the focus of the workshop is on transportation projects in the southwest quadrant of Eden Prairie, particularly planned improvements to Eden Prairie Road. Ellis said improvements to Eden Prairie Road are needed due to the anticipated addition of up to 350 new homes in the area in the next few years. In 2009, approximately 680 vehicles travelled on Eden Prairie Road south of Riley Creek per day. That number is expected to increase to 1,500 vehicles a day by 2015, and to 3,000 vehicles a day by 2030. Ellis said public meetings on proposed improvements were held on November 15, 2012, and May 22, 2013. An amended feasibility study will be completed this summer, and bid opening is planned for October. The project is expected to be completed by July 2015. The final assessment hearing would take place in October 2016, and assessments would appear on tax statements in 2016. The proposed improvements are for 7/10ths of a mile of Eden Prairie Road, which will be widened to 32 feet and will include a walking trail, buffer and sewer and water. Some of the roadway curves will also be straightened, and the slope will be will be softened to about 8 percent. The improvements will be done in three phases. Issues raised at the November 15, 2012,public meeting, included: • Appearance of the road • Need for a neighborhood park • Questions about how escrow works • Feeling that MAC should pay a fair share for the project • Arguments in favor of and against connecting to Flying Cloud Drive • Construction traffic • Questions about why frontage properties would be assessed more • Questions about why the City is not paying for the entire project City Council Workshop Minutes June 4, 2013 Page 2 Ellis noted that most people who attended the May public meeting opposed a connection to Flying Cloud Drive, which was a turnaround from the November meeting. He said staff is looking into the possibility of opening Cirrus Way, a private MAC road, to the public during construction. Ellis said the interest rate on the assessment is typically two points above the current interest rate, which is around two percent. Properties that front Eden Prairie Road would be assessed around $19,000, and those further away from Eden Prairie Road would be assessed about $6,100 per unit. Nelson asked how much property owners on Pioneer Trail were assessed when it was improved. Rue said that is a county road for which state aid was used, so they were not assessed. Nelson said she does not understand why residents are being assessed for a road that already exists. Ellis said the improvements will include sewer and water connections, which these property owners have not previously paid for. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said the point of tonight's discussion is to assess the need for the project, not how it will be paid for. Ellis noted that a park for this neighborhood is in the City's long term Capital Improvement Plan. It is in the conceptual phase, and public input will be sought before final design and construction in 2014. Ellis said the assessment structure has been refined since the November public meeting. Some MAC parcels will be assessed at a higher rate than previously stated, and some of the assumed lot splits for Ridge at Riley Creek have been removed. A total of 354 benefitting units are in the improvement area, compared to 330 previously. The cost per unit for properties with frontage on Eden Prairie Road has been averaged to provide better equity. Ellis reviewed assessment policy changes under consideration. Parcel deferments are currently available for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, and as well as for those serving on active duty in the military. Ellis said staff is studying state statutes to determine whether or not additional deferments are possible. He said hardship standards and home valuation thresholds will likely be updated to better reflect the current economy. He noted that once you have been assessed for a road you will not have to pay for it again even if needs to be reconstructed at some point. Ellis reviewed several alternatives for connecting Eden Prairie Road to Flying Cloud Drive, with costs from $7 million to $2.5 million. Each of the alternatives would require taking of property. He said from a traffic standpoint, the connection is not absolutely necessary but it would be a convenience for some residents. Nelson said she is concerned with how much traffic might be diverted to Prospect Road if there is no connection for Eden Prairie Road to Flying Cloud Drive. Case suggested looking into a minimal enhancement that would involve right ins/right outs only. He said this might take some of the pressure off Prospect Road. Tyra-Lukens said she would be comfortable with a right in/right out scenario, and would like to do something minimal. Nelson asked if it is possible to smooth out the right turn to make is safer. City Engineer Rod Rue said that if state aid dollars are used for the project, minimal design standards will have to be met—which may not be possible with the right in/right out concept. There was general agreement that Council would like staff to continue to explore alternatives for a connection, and to come back to them with more options. City Council Workshop Minutes June 4, 2013 Page 3 Ellis also reviewed plans for the Flying Cloud Drive reconstruction project, which will include addition of a trail on the north side of the roadway so that as much of the bluff can be preserved as possible. The project is expected to cost about$36 million, and municipal consent will be sought this fall. Construction is expected to take place in 2015. A portion of Highway 101, south of Flying Cloud Drive, is also scheduled for reconstruction; however this project will not involve City funds. Open Podium - Council Chamber II. OPEN PODIUM III. ADJOURNMENT