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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 01/05/2016 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JANUARY 5, 2016 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, 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, Economic Development Manager Dave Lindahl, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Jan Curielli GUESTS: Jeff McMenimen, Hoisington Koegler Group; Sarah Ghandour, Ryan Kronzer, Mike McGarvey, Southwest Light Rail Transit Project Office; Jim Alexander, Metro Transit Workshop - Heritage Room H II. 2016 APPOINTMENTS AND SCHEDULE (6:00-6:30)—(taken out of sequence) Tyra-Lukens noted Council Member Nelson was not able to attend the workshop but was okay with the proposed appointments. Getschow reviewed the 2016 calendar, noting that the Council meetings will usually be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. He said March 1 is caucus night, so staff suggests moving the March meetings to the second and fourth Tuesdays, March 8 and March 22, with March 22 to be used as a goal setting workshop. He noted the fourth Tuesday of February will be an additional meeting for the purpose of Board and Commission interviews. He also proposed that the May 17 meeting be moved to May 24 so that the May meetings would be held on the first and fourth Tuesdays. There would be only one meeting in June, July and August, and the December 20 meeting would be tentative. He said there will be a change in the term length of the Southwest Transit appointees to align with Southwest Transit's concerns. I. SOUTHWEST LRT LOCALLY REQUESTED CAPITAL IMPROVMENTS (5:30-6:00) Jeremiah introduced the Southwest Light Rail Transit(SWLRT) Project Office representatives present. Sarah Ghandour, SWLRT Project Office, gave a PowerPoint presentation starting with the overall project schedule. She noted they plan to have completed 100% of the civil design by the end of April, 2016. She reviewed the design of the three SWLRT Stations to be built in Eden Prairie, and noted the presentation includes a base project design and an enhanced design for each station. City Council Workshop Minutes January 5, 2016 Page 2 City West Station Ms Ghandour reviewed the design of the station and noted the station will have a 160 stall park and ride lot. Council Member Aho asked if that will have an impervious surface. Ms Ghandour replied it will. Aho asked about the signage at the station. Ms Ghandour replied there will be wayfinding signage at the end near the plaza and message signs on the platform. Tyra-Lukens asked why funds would be spent on signage regarding the time for the next train since they will run every ten minutes. Jim Alexander, Metro Transit, said the trains do not run every ten minutes at night, and there may be delays at other times of the day. Case asked if there is any sense that United Health Group (UHG) might be interested in being involved with the design and construction of the station since it presents an advantage to their business. Ms Ghandour said UHG has given some input regarding dates, use of colors at stations and landscaping design. Lindahl noted we are working towards offering them an opportunity to participate in the financing,but have not yet reached that point. Jeff McMenimen, Hoisington Koegler Group, said he is working closely with the Project Office on each of the stations, and the enhanced designs presented are the result of the work they have been doing. He noted City West is a gateway station for Eden Prairie, and, as such, provides an opportunity to present a sense of identity for the city. This station has one of the largest plaza opportunities on the entire line. He suggested there is an opportunity for a public artist to work with a landscape artist to put together a plan that would allow art pieces to be put in place at a later date. Tyra-Lukens asked about the size of the trees shown on the enhanced design. Mr. McMenimen said they are oak savannah. He noted the kiosk included on the plan would have signage and schedule information but might also offer coffee or newspapers. He reviewed some ideas for art to be placed in the center of the plaza. Aho asked if a monument type of sign would be used since this is the first station in Eden Prairie. Jeremiah said the signage would be about the station;however, something could be done on the retaining walls. She noted there are a lot of different ways people could recognize Eden Prairie. Ms Ghandour said there will be enhanced fencing at this station, and the design incorporates two canopies. She said the pylons will have graphic designs within them. She distributed samples of the exterior materials planned showing the palette of color proposed. Tyra-Lukens asked who will make decisions on the design of the canopies and pylons and if some elements of the City logo could be incorporated. Ms Ghandour said they are working with City staff on the themes and UHG liked the lighter color for the wall. Aho asked if the wall is poured concrete. Ms Ghandour replied it is poured concrete with textured patterns on the wall. Tyra-Lukens asked if they will attempt to introduce color in the landscaping. Mike McGarvey, SWLRT Project Office, said they plan to use native grasses and native wildflowers. City Council Workshop Minutes January 5, 2016 Page 3 Golden Triangle Station Ms Ghandour reviewed the plans for the Golden Triangle Station and noted there will be approximately 200 parking stalls between the two lots at this station. There will be bus stops for Southwest Transit as well as passenger drop offs along West 70th Street. She said the enhanced plan includes such things as the addition of permeable pavers along West 70th Street and an expanded plaza area which would offer more seating. Mr. McMenimen said he has worked with the Project Office about integrating the platform design with the West 70th Street streetscape. He reviewed a slide showing artistically-rendered bike racks. He noted wayfinding is an important feature because some of the stations are fairly remote, especially during the early phases of the line. Tyra-Lukens asked what kind of information will be included on the wayfinding signs. Mr. McMenimen said many of the signs would be identity signs. Tyra-Lukens asked how wayfinding would be incorporated for those getting off at a station. Mr. McMenimen said there is a robust trail system in this area, and people may be using that system to get to and from the station. Aho asked about pedestrian safety during train arrivals. Ms Ghandour said there will be tactile warnings so pedestrians would know they are about to cross the tracks. There will be pedestrian flashers when a train approaches, and there will be gates for cars. Aho noted it is very important to avoid pedestrian deaths along the SWLRT, and he believed some kind of visual aid was needed in light of recent fatalities at crossings on other light rail lines. Ms Ghandour said there is fencing on either side of the platform. Aho noted he worried more about the sidewalk area. Jeremiah said staff is hoping to get a Golden Triangle logo integrated into the streetscape selections on West 70th Street. Tyra-Lukens asked if there is a way to capture funding from redevelopment. Jeremiah replied they are looking at different ideas to fund this. Ms Ghandour said they are trying to mold the base design to better fit the enhanced design. Jeremiah said we have received a $170,000 grant to do much of the West 70th streetscape and have $400,000 each for the five stations. Ms Ghandour said they heard comments from the community that they wanted more visibility for this station. She distributed samples of the materials and color palette for the canopy and soffits. Jeremiah noted there are opportunities for public art at the bridge piers. Southwest Station Ms Ghandour reviewed the base and enhanced plans for the station, and noted they plan additional trees for screening and planted areas at the entrances. Mr. McMenimen said this station has great opportunities for public art with the wetlands and the gathering area. Ms Ghandour said they tried to coordinate the new structure with the existing Southwest Station structure through such means as using the same brick. Aho asked if the platform area will be heated. Ms Ghandour said it will have heaters that could be turned on if necessary. Aho believed there are a lot of elements in our monument signs that could be tied into this. City Council Workshop Minutes January 5, 2016 Page 4 Tyra-Lukens commented the slide showing the view from Technology Drive shows great potential for an art piece. Jeremiah noted staff would like to discuss priorities on public art. Aho asked if there is an opportunity to have some kind of private/public partnership with artists in the community,perhaps in the way Jim Gabberts worked with staff on the design of the Community Center. Jeremiah said they have discussed getting something into the station with UHG and will continue to try to involve others. Every type of grant opportunity will be explored, and any savings on the budget could give more funds. Tyra-Lukens said the discussion of the priorities for public art is important. Donors of public art might have a specific site in mind. She suggested public funding might be done at Southwest Station because more people would see it at that location. Jeremiah noted a lot of Southwest Station is visible when traveling east on Hwy 212, so we need to look closely at the visibility aspect of this station. Open Podium - Council Chamber III. OPEN PODIUM IV. ADJOURNMENT