06-25-07 Minutes for Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 21, 2007 2 Ms. Frick, SRF Consultant, distributed a table, proposed schedule chart, and an example of an AUAR completed for the City of Eagan as an example. She explained members could Google AUAR to find out additional information. Ms. Frick discussed the services provided by SRF Consultants. She explained SRF is a multidisciplinary consulting firm specializing in transportation, engineering, roads, bridges, parking structures, transportation studies, urban design, comprehensive planning, and environmental studies with 95 percent of their work being with the public sector. She stated she has been with SRF for seven years as a Senior Consultant in the environmental group. Ms. Frick stated prior to this she spent 20 years in the public sector as a City Planner. She stated SRF provides state and federal environmental services. Ms. Frick reviewed the state environmental process with regard to AUAR. She explained AUAR is under the state process and is an alternative to the documents that have been part of state environmental law for many years. She mentioned these include documents such as the Environmental Impact Statement and the Environmental Assessment Worksheet. She commented that the limitations with these documents did not allow looking at broader relationships. She stated the new program provides flexibility for the impacts of a comprehensive plan. Ms. Frick stated TCAAP is a large mixed-use site that would take years to complete. She stressed the complex impacts that need to be understood. Councihnember Holden asked who her employer was and if a conflict of interest exists • between SRF and the developer. Ms. Frick replied SRF has a contract with the City and her job is to produce the document. She explained SRF gathers technical information from the developer and other consultants working for the developer. She pointed out that, for example, SEH conducts the traffic work and RLK does storm water, utilities, and water quality. Ms. Frick indicated SRF has good collegial relationships with other consultants. She commented there are professional credentials and trust between the firms and at the same time, SRF works to keep the City's perspective in mind and to be the City's advocate. Mayor Harpstead questioned what would be done if a disagreement arises with the documents from the other firms. Ms. Frick replied she would work through those issues with all parties. Mayor Harpstead inquired as to who would draft any required AUAR corrective actions. Ms. Frick replied that when an analysis is done, the corrective action would be written at that time. She stressed SRF would be working as a team. She indicated peer reviews are done and SRF would work with Council and staff to pull the documents together. •