City Council - 06/16/2015 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 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
Council Member Butcher Wickstrom and Heritage Preservation Commission Member Pam Spera
were absent.
L JOINT MEETING WITH THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION (HPC)
UPC Work Plan
UPC Staff Liaison Lori Creamer reviewed the Commission's work plan. The Lake Riley
kiosk project is expected to be finished by early fall. A legacy grant application is being
prepared for completion of the interpretive signage project at Riley Lake Park and farmstead,
and the City received a grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation in April. The
Commission is completing site nomination work for the Dorenkemper House. The Smith-
Douglas-More House is in need of a new roof, and staff is preparing a grant application for
that work. Glen Lake Children's Camp is preparing plans for a two-story structure to provide
sensory activities for children with disabilities. Steve Olson is helping to identify any items
that may be of concern to the UPC. Commissioners Paul Thorp and Olson are also helping to
update the City's heritage resource inventory.
City Center Historic Photo Project Proposal
Commissioner Cindy Evert presented a proposal for a City Center exhibit of historic photos
that will pay tribute to the past and bring history to life. Evert noted that she is a professional
designer but she has designed the proposed exhibit as part of her unpaid work as a member of
the UPC.
The proposal includes two phases. Phase 1 of the project would be in the open atrium area of
City Center. Soffits that surround the open area are currently covered with wallpaper. The
wallpaper would be removed and replaced with prairie grass lightly screened on the soffits.
Acrylic panels with historic images approximately 3' x 3' to 3' x 4' would be "pucked out"
from the walls. Vinyl lettering identifying the images can be added.
The cost estimate for Phase 1 includes:
0 Removal of wallpaper and prep walls - $4,620
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June 16, 2015
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• Branded wallpaper and 3-D images
-Digitally printed wall murals - $8,712
- Cut vinyl - $5,960
- 20 raised panels - $11,100
- Graphic design work - $2,500
- Informational kiosks - $1,000
Phase 2 would utilize blank wall space near the engineering department. This exhibit would
consist of moveable two-sided flip panels with historic photos and information.
The cost estimate for Phase 2 includes:
• Flip panel display 74.35" wide wall
- (7) 21x60 double sided panels - $5,850
• Flip panel display on 144" wide wall
- (15) 21x60 double sided panels - $11,200
• Graphic design estimate - $2,00043,000
Possible funding sources are sale of books (historical and cultural fund current balance is
($8,300), Facilities budget contribution, legacy grant funds or project partners.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens suggested seeking out historic photos from local businesses and
organizations that maybe willing to help fund the displays. She likes the project and the
design. Nelson also likes the proposal. She suggested forgoing the prairie grass background
if the project proves too costly.
Case was strongly supportive of the project. He said the cost is relatively low while the
benefits are huge. He encouraged the UPC to seek out grants to help cover the cost. Aho said
he also likes the project, and encouraged the commission to seek out organizations interested
in participating.
II. SWLRT UPDATE
Ellis said the SWLRT Corridor Management Committee has been tasked with identifying
cost reductions totaling $314M. The sacrifices are to be shared by all of the communities,
and proposed changes must have forecasted weekday ridership of 30,000 to 3,000.
Some of the changes under consideration are:
• Operational and miscellaneous changes ($66M - $75M)
• Landscaping, art, furnishings ($16M - $18M)
• Reduce park and rides to 2020 demand ($17M - $21M)
• Delete all park and rides ($57M - $65M)
• Delete some stations ($44M - $51M)
• Modify end of line
o Golden Triangle ($375M - $380M)
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June 16, 2015
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o Town Center Modified ($230M - $235M)
o Town Center per PE Plan ($190M - $195M)
o Southwest Station ($120M - $125M)
Ellis said the PE Plan shows an option with the end of the line at Town Center/Brunswick.
This option would save $190M to $195M, but is questionable as a shared sacrifice. Case said
parking at this location would be extremely problematic. Jeremiah said the thinking is that
people who need to park would drive to the Golden Triangle Station, and that the Town
Center Station would be a walk-to station. Nelson said the Golden Triangle is an island
between freeways and it is already difficult to get in and out of.
Jeremiah said the project office has identified approximately 100 on-street parking spaces in
near the proposed Town Center Station. Tyra-Lukens said that kind of street parking does
not seem feasible. Nelson said that park and hide will be a huge problem. Jeremiah said staff
is aware of all of these concerns and is pushing for Southwest Station, which can
accommodate more parking.
Ellis noted that the Modified Town Center proposal involves an alignment that cannot be
extended to the west. He feels this is almost a deal breaker. Tyra-Lukens noted that this
proposed station location includes less housing and less employment in the half-mile
walkshed.
Ellis said there is also a Modified Modified Town Center Station proposal, which ends in the
vicinity of Redstone. The half-mile walkshed for this station includes even less workforce
than the PE plan as well as less housing. Nelson noted that people would have to cross major
highways to get to the station, which seems unlikely.
Ellis said ending the line at Southwest Station comes close to achieving the cost reduction
goal, but does not achieve the ridership goal. Ellis said staff feels Southwest Station is the
best long term solution for the region, since it would be a true multi-modal station and it
would include the Optum campus in the walkshed.
Ellis asked Council for input on what they think is the best end of line station if Southwest
Station is rules out as an option. Aho said Town Center without additional parking does not
make send. He feels the end of the line should be either Golden Triangle or Southwest
Station.
Case said some Town Center options look viable, with the exception of parking. Losing
Redstone would be huge. Nelson agreed with the parking piece. She said she cannot see
losing all of the park and rides along the line. Tyra-Lukens said she would hate to see
Redstone taken out.
III. OPEN PODIUM
A. SWLRT - Jeff Strate
B. KRISTIE LANE HOUSE —Thomas Klein
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June 16, 2015
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Klein said he and his neighbors are concerned that ownership of the home may be
in question. He wants to see the work on the home completed, so the home can
be put up for sale.
IV. ADJOURNMENT