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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 09/20/2016 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 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, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief James DeMann, 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 Mayor Tyra-Lukens and Council Members Nelson and Butcher Wickstrom were absent. I. SWLRT UPDATE— SOUTHWEST PROJECT OFFICE Jim Alexander, Southwest LRT Project Office, gave an update on the Southwest LRT/Green Line Extension project. Alexander said local funding is now 100 percent secure with the commitment from Met Council for bonding. Council Member Aho asked how much cash Eden Prairie is contributing. Alexander said the City is contributing in-kind land donations. Alexander said the environmental reviews are complete, and Project Office anticipates entering the engineering phase of the project in November. He said that even though the engineering phase has not official begun, 90 percent of engineering and design work is complete. Alexander said heavy construction is expected to begin in 2017 and continue throughout 2020. The line is expected to begin service in 2021. Alexander said five main contracts will be negotiated, including civil, systems, operations and maintenance facility, fare collection and light rail vehicles. Alexander discussed phasing of construction at Southwest Station. He said that site will require the greatest degree of coordination due to its co-location with Southwest Transit. Council Member Aho asked about funding of Eden Prairie's LRCIs (locally requested capital improvements). He said his understanding was that LRCIs would be bid as add-alternates. Public Works Director Robert Ellis said staff has narrowed down costs and the LRCIs will be written directly into the overall general Southwest LRT contract. Ellis said City and Project Office staff feel there will be less financial risk if the LRCIs are incorporated in this manner. Aho asked for the estimated cost of Eden Prairie's LRCIs. Ellis said the LRCIs are approximately $7.5 million. Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah said the cost of the LRCIs has been built into the City's CIP. City Council Workshop Minutes September 20, 2016 Page 2 Alexander said it is possible that the Town Center Station could be added back into the project. Aho asked if Southwest Transit and the Project Office have agreed on a price for the existing Southwest Transit office building. Alexander said Project Office staff will be meeting with Southwest Transit and their attorney to hammer out those details. He said Southwest Transit officials were reluctant to discuss final details until all local funding was in place. Alexander said a critical component of the project will be maintenance of traffic flow as construction progresses. A detailed traffic management matrix has been developed, and will be updated throughout the project. The matrix details which roads will be affected by lane closures and precisely when the work will begin and end on every roadway. Alexander said all of the affected jurisdictions will meet weekly with the Project Office staff and contractors to ensure that all closures take place as planned. He said education will be key in keeping traffic flowing and reducing frustration among drivers. Ellis said the City will have staff on- site throughout the project to ensure that City water, sewer and utilities are protected. Aho asked about the anticipated subsidy per rider. Alexander said he did not have the exact number,but he believes it is expected to be under$2. Open Podium - Council Chamber II. OPEN PODIUM Resident John Mallo said he contacted Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer several times over the past two years with concerns about maintenance of the Veterans Memorial at Purgatory Creek Park. He said he was pleased to see that pavers have been repaired. He said he has an ongoing concerns about the large sections of granite that make up much of the memorial. Mallo said the granite pieces have moved since they were put in place, and water is getting between and under the pieces. He said the caulk that is deteriorating and should be replaced to help keep out water. Mallo said Lotthammer told him he would have the City's contractor look at the memorial and then decide whether recaulking is called for. Mallo said he talked to the contractor on his own, and the contractor told him he wanted to redo the caulking this Fall. Lotthammer said he sent out an email this week explaining that granite and pavement react very differently when exposed to water. The area beneath the memorial is "cushioned" with a special material that allows water to move in and around it. Lotthammer said each piece of granite moves independently. Lotthammer said he currently has no concerns about water damaging the site. He noted that large pieces of granite will naturally settle over time, and the original caulking was not intended as waterproofing. Lotthammer said the contractor has not recommended caulking at this time. City Council Workshop Minutes September 20, 2016 Page 3 III. ADJOURNMENT