City Council - 10/20/2015 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 CITY CENTER
5:00— 6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS
6:30— 6:55 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
L SOUTHWEST LRT— STATION DESIGN AND LOCALLY REQUESTED CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Jeff McMenimen, the City's station area design consultant, Robert Ellis and Janet Jeremiah
provided an update on station area design concepts and local infrastructure improvements.
They outlined site design concepts, public art opportunities, retaining walls options, fencing
options, overhead catenary system options, bridge aesthetics and street enhancements.
Proposed station area enhancements include:
• Trails and sidewalks connecting the stations to nearby neighborhoods and business
• Landscaping
• Covered bike parking
• Public art
Aho asked if the City or Metro Transit will be responsible for maintenance of station areas.
Ellis said a series of negotiated agreements will spell out who will be responsible for
maintenance of each particular area.
Retaining Walls
McMenimen said retaining walls will be required behind the City West station and in the
Eden Road/Town Center area. McMenimen displayed examples of six surface pattern
options. The options with more surface variation are more expensive, and the additional cost
may need to be covered by the City.
Fencing
Ellis said fencing in the current project design is post and wire or chain link. Staff
recommends upgrading the fencing in high visibility areas such as near stations, in Town
Center and along Purgatory Park. There are two more decorative fencing options available—
one that looks like black wrought iron and one that is painted in a lighter color.
City Council Workshop Minutes
October 20, 2015
Page 2
Catenary Poles
Catenary poles can be upgraded to tapered tubular poles, which can also be painted. The cost
for each upgraded pole is up to $2,000 each, depending on whether it is painted. Of the 261
the poles in Eden Prairie, staff recommends that approximately 85 be upgraded. Those poles
are predominantly between Southwest Station and Town Center. Some are also near the
GTA Station and City West Station. The ones in Town Center would be painted black to
match the black fencing.
Bridge Aesthetics/Public Art
Ellis said the Highway 212/Shady Oak Rd. Bridge will be a wide steel beam bridge, a design
that does not lend itself to aesthetic upgrades. Ellis noted that the Valley View Rd. Bridge,
which is in a high visibility area, has been moved further away from Great Western Bank.
Recreation Coordinator Lindsey Danhauser said stamped concrete designs can be
incorporated into the two piers near the intersection of Valley View Road and Flying Cloud
drive.
The Prairie Center Dr. Bridge at Purgatory Park will include nine piers. Danhauser said this
area is a prime place-making opportunity. In addition to stamped concrete pier designs, staff
suggests adding lighting and wayfinding signage. Danhauser displayed examples of possible
designs, and said the City could commission artists to create pier designs based on City
Council and staff input. Case said he sees the bridge art as the perfect opportunity to
celebrate Eden Prairie's history.
Danhauser noted that cost cutting has resulted in removal of much of the public art from the
project design. Each City hopes to have a landmark public art piece that will "celebrate their
unique identity and create a destination." Danhauser said the plaza area at Southwest Station
would be a great location for a signature art piece. Danhauser said the City does have more
time to find funding for additional signature pieces at other stations. Each signature piece
would cost between $200,000 and $1,000,000. Local funds raised by March 31, 2016, would
be eligible for an FTA match. Mayor Tyra-Lukens suggested incorporating the designs that
have already been created for the entry monument signs.
Danhauser said panels for each station with content created by a Metro Transit graphic
designer are being considered. Butcher Wickstrom asked if it would be possible to do
something unique to Eden Prairie. Danhauser said the panel design process will not offer
much opportunity for input.
Streets
Ellis said reconstruction of West 70th St. immediately near the station will be the
responsibility of the project office. The city has a master plan for this roadway that includes
bike lanes, pavers, lighted bollards and landscaping. The cost for these additional
improvements will be the responsibility of the City.
Eden Road will also be reconstructed to include a trail, on-street parking, travel lanes,
sidewalk and a large landscaping area. The project office expects that the City will be
responsible for $2.5 million dollars of this local improvement which is half of the projected
cost.
City Council Workshop Minutes
October 20, 2015
Page 3
Landscapes
A number of landscaping improvements are proposed, including:
• Native grasses and other plants in planting beds, along retaining walls and in parking lot
islands
• Trees to screen parking ramps
• A"green screen" of ivy on the facade of the parking ramp at Southwest Station
Next Steps
The City costs for the proposed improvements presented are:
• Stations/Plaza/Public Art—est. $2,800,000
• West 70th Street Enhancements - est. $250,000
• Technology Drive Extension - est. $130,000
• Southwest Station Trail - est. $360,000
• Bridge Aesthetics - est. $825,000
• Fencing/Railing - est. $1,050,000
• Landscaping/Retaining Walls - est. $1,125,000
• OCS Poles - est. $285,000
• Eden Road Lighting - est. $550,000
• Eden Road Contribution - est. $2,500,000
• Total - est. $9,875,000
Ellis said funding for most of the improvements can be covered by the CIP; however, City
staff will also leverage grant funding as much as possible. He said the Project Office needs
to know if the City is willing to cover its portion of the cost of upgrading Eden Road.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she is comfortable with the plan as presented. Case said public art
could be postponed if it is necessary to reduce costs in the short term.
Ellis said since there is general consensus supporting the improvements, staff will prepare
resolutions for the Council to take action on at their November 17 meeting.
II. DEDICATION OF NEW FIRE TRUCK
Open Podium- Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT