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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - MAY 17, 2021 7 Councilmember Holden would like to stipulate that if they get the State property they have no left hand turns out of the parking lot as they exist now. Mr. Paquette clarified that if the Council approves the solution being presented they won't pursue the State property. Councilmember McClung said his preference would be to get the State land, but he would begrudgingly agree that this is probably the best alternative, although not as safe. Councilmember Holmes asked if traffic was held and stopped for all the buses to leave, and asked for clarification. Mr. Schwartz said in the morning the buses drop and go, and in the afternoon they depart at approximately 3:14, are out in 90 seconds. If buses are queued in the morning they will stop traffic to let them in. They don't have room to back up so they all have to leave at the same time in the afternoon. Mayor Grant summarized that some want to evaluate this further when it comes forward but have concerns. Several would have liked to see the State property be used. Pedestrian safety is still the goal, along with traffic flow. Mr. Schwartz said the timeline is a problem, they want to get it completed by the end of next summer, and go one more year as is. C. Speed Limit on City Streets HR Green Regional Transportation Director Morast explained that the Minnesota Legislature changed the local road speed limit rules in August, 2019. In the new process, Cities now can lower speed limits only on City streets. Cities must develop procedures to set limits based on safey, engineering and traffic analysis. Surrounding cities have made some changes, the biggest being St. Anthony Village. They changed to 25 mph right away, Public Works made and installed the signs. Falcon Heights is looking at changing or reducing speed limits. Other cities are waiting for a variety of reasons. The City of Minneapolis decided in March, 2020, reduced speed limits in November and launched a Slower is Safer campaign. St. Paul essentially did the same, passing their ordinance in October 2019. The Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) has two studies underway. They are studying guidelines for determining speed limits on municipal roadways, and the impact of speed limit changes on urban streets. Arden Hills can choose to do nothing and make no changes, reduce City speed limits to 25 mph, wait for the LRRB study results, wait for other cities to act, do safety, engineering and traffic analysis or develop procedures to reduce speed limits. Councilmember Holden wondered why the City would need a safety, engineering and traffic study. Mr. Morast replied that the analysis was required in the Statute. Not all streets would need to be lowered, the analysis would help with determining that. Councilmember Holmes asked when the studies will be completed.