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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-09-WS ~ ~LLS Approved: April 13, 2009 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MARCH 24, 2009 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Stan Harpstead called to order the City Council Work Session meeting at 6:34 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead; Council Members David Grant, Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes and Dave McClung. Absent: None. Also present: City Administrator Ron Moorse and Finance Director Sue Iverson. 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Funding for Design Work on Options for Addressing Traffic Movement Issues related to the Relationship Between the CR Hand CR I interchanges. City Administrator Moorse explained there is an issue with the design: There is already so much congestions on I35W that the modeling the CR H interchange shows a high level of congestion related to the weaving movements between I35W, the entrance ramp from CR H, and the exit ramp to CR I. Mn/DOT and the Federal Highway Administration are concerned about increased traffic congestion. One proposal to address those concerns is an auxiliary lane that would run from the CR H exit ramp for I35W to Highway 10. This lane would provide additional opportunities for the weaving movements. Another option would be to close the CR I exit ramp to I35W and the traffic wanting to exit at CR I would actually exit at the CR H interchange onto a new auxiliary lane that would run all the way up to CRI. Councilmember Holden commented that she is not in favor of the first option. She also questioned why the Council should approve any of the changes now when they are not sure TCAAP is going to happen. Additionally she asked why Shoreview isn't participating in the cost as they will benefit. Mayor Harpstead pointed out that regardless of the TCAAP development, there is still the federal congressional funding request and CR H is "reaching its life." Also the City wants to have CR H revised so that if and when something happens with TCAAP, it isn't on the critical path so there are many reasons to move forward with CR H. City Administrator Moorse commented that if we can resolve this issue with Mn/DOT, the Federal Highway Administration and Shoreview the City can then ask Mn/DOT for the local funding match. He added that until the CR H issue is resolved, the City won't even be considered for a portion of the $10 million in the legislation for metro area interchanges. Councilmember McClung concurred with Councilmember Holden's concern as far as proceeding with this project when we're not sure that the TCAAP development will happen. Councilmember Grant commented that resolving the CR H issue will probably make the TCAAP property more valuable to a developer. In summary, Mayor Harpstead explained that this matter will have to come before Council at a regular meeting at which time they will have to decide if they're willing to do a cost-share on the CR H project, or approve the $20,000 to keep this portion of the project moving forward. He indicated he would be willing to do that because it's not an insurmountable amount of money and it's still consistent with what the City's wants to happen in that area. He asked for a consensus from Council. Councilmember McClung stated he would be more comfortable waiting a couple of months to see what transpires on the TCAAP property before making a commitment on the CR H project. City Administrator Moorse explained that waiting a couple of months could mean that we've lost the opportunity to receive local match dollars from Mn/DOT. Councilmember Grant commented that the Council is only looking at $10,000 (if Shoreview matches our contribution) for this project and he doesn't agree that it would be "throwing the money away." Councilmember Holmes agreed that the City should proceed with the CR H proj ect. Councilmember Holden stated that she would not approve this as it is; she would pullout Concept 1 and she wants Shoreview to pay for some of this project. She then questioned how long it will take to do the modeling on this project and whether or not the $10 million the City Administrator referred to has already been allocated. Mayor Harpstead commented that one problem for Arden Hills as far as receiving stimulus dollars, we had no "shovel-ready" projects while other cities had final designs and were simply waiting for funds. I. Council Comments and ReQuests Mayor Harpstead reported that Representative Knuth had been pushing a concept that would say that if Mn/DOT was taking a road from a trunk highway to a freeway, they would adjust the factor by which they considered whether or not noise mitigation was cost effective, in other words, increase that threshold. There was a hearing on this proposal which Mayor Harpstead attended and spoke on behalf of the City of Arden Hills in support of this concept. This matter was sent to committee to investigate the fiscal impact. Mayor Harpstead also reported that he was at a meeting last night attended by Senator Chaudhary who commented on the state budget deficit. Councilmember Grant commented on the stimulus funding stating the City had $800,000 in for bridge improvements on CR E supported by the Council of Mayors, and $250,000 for sewer relining. He questioned when and how the City goes after this money. City Administrator Moorse responded that the application for the CR E bridge improvements must be in by the end of next week (April 3, 2009.) However there is still an issue to be resolved as they would like to get money for both the CR E Bridge and the Safe Routes to School program, but they can only get money for one. There is a meeting scheduled later this week to review the costs involved and which one requires the most investment. The Council consensus was that the bridge is the priority. Councilmember Grant questioned "where we are with the water lines." City Administrator Moorse did not have the details but will get back to Council. Councilmember Grant suggested the Administrative Update include the application deadlines for stimulus funds. Councilmember McClung reminded Council that April 1 7 is the deadline for the Ramsey County Friends of Park Tree Sale. Mayor Harpstead adjourned the City Council Worksession at 7:13 p.m. Ronald J. oorse City Administrator