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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.02.24 CCM WORK2/24/25 -1- DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 24, 2025 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness at 9:06 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Pro Tem Teneshia Kragness and Councilmembers/Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dan Jerzak, and Laurie Ann Moore. Mayor/President April Graves was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Public Works Planner Kory Andersen Wagner, Community Development Director Jesse Anderson, Planner and Zoning Administrator Ginny McIntosh, City Attorney Siobhan Tolar, and City Clerk Barb Suciu. 2024 EAST PALMER LAKE TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECT & DRAFT SPEED TABLE POLICY City Manager Reggie Edwards introduced the item and explained that multiple departments impact public safety. He invited Public Works Planner Kory Andersen Wagner to continue the Staff presentation. Public Works Planner Kory Andersen Wagner explained traffic calming reduces speeds, improves safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, enhances neighborhood livability, and reduces cut- through traffic. Common measures include speed bumps, speed tables, curb extensions, and roundabouts. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated the City was approached by East Palmer Lake Neighbors United in 2023. There were concerns regarding speeding primarily on Newton Avenue, pedestrian safety, cut-through traffic, and pushing drivers onto parallel streets. Mr. Andersen Wagner pointed out that before the intervention, 85 percent of drivers were at or below 44 miles per hour. If working properly, this should be 85 percent or below at 30 miles per hour. There were nearly 1400 vehicles each day in comparison to 500 or fewer on adjacent streets. An average of 50 vehicles per day traveled 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. Also, parallel streets had some speeding but not enough to warrant intervention. 2/24/25 -2- DRAFT Mr. Andersen Wagner stated data was collected on Newtown, Morgan, Logan, and Oliver. Proposed treatments were delineated posts and speed tables. There was a concern about shifting traffic to parallel streets. Staff engaged with the community through postcards, sandwich board signs, and attending an East Palmer Lake Neighborhood meeting. He showed images of the devices used. Mr. Anderson Wagner stated the pilot program ran from May 2024 to October 2024. With the delineated posts, the daily volume decreased traffic volume by 224 vehicles, decreased speeds by seven miles per hour, increased the percentage of drivers driving under the speed limit by five percent, decreased the five highest vehicle speeds by nine miles per hour, and reckless driving was decreased by 53 percent. Reckless driving is defined as driving 50 miles per hour or more. Mr. Anderson Wagner stated the speed tables decreased traffic volume by 570 vehicles daily, decreased speeds by 14 miles per hour, increased drivers driving under the speed limit by 36 percent, decreased the five highest vehicle speeds by 40 miles per hour and decreased reckless driving by 98 percent. Mr. Anderson Wagner showed a graph depicting daily traffic volume in the East Palmer Lake neighborhood throughout the project. On average, Newton saw 570 fewer vehicles daily, Logan saw 20 more vehicles daily, Morgan saw 155 more vehicles daily, and Oliver saw 4 fewer vehicles daily. He noted Morgan and Logan are at a similar level for traffic. The average residential street sees 200 to 500 vehicles per day. Overall, nearly 400 vehicles left the neighborhood. Mr. Anderson Wagner stated the daily speeds on all four streets decreased even though the interventions were on only one street. There was an overall decrease of 30 reckless drivers each day. Mr. Anderson Wagner explained the results show speed tables are effective at curbing traffic. Staff needs to be strategic in using speed tables because there are tradeoffs such as plowing or unpredictable traffic shifts. He showed images of roads being plowed with and without a speed table. Mr. Anderson Wagner added street narrowing can be effective but requires more testing. There have been requests for more policing in the area, but engineering implementations are much more cost-effective. 14 days of targeted enforcement costs $1,000 to $5,000. However, a single speed table costs $5,000 and a single pinch point costs $20,000. Mr. Andersen Wagner noted Public Works Staff will install permanent speed tables on Newtown in 2025. Staff will continue to monitor for traffic pattern shifts on parallel streets. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated as part of the 2024 work, Staff developed a speed table strategy that aligns with peer cities. The guidelines to require a speed table are Uniform Traffic Control Devices compliance, a local residential street with a posted speed limit at or below 30 miles per hour, meeting the 85th percentile speed of 10 miles per hour or greater over the posted limit, or an average of three or more crashed per year, and is not on a public transit route, not a Municipal State Aid 2/24/25 -3- DRAFT road, not on an emergency route. There are also requirements that other measures are deemed unfeasible, the implementation is financially feasible, and the implementation is approved by the Public Works Director. Mr. Andersen Wagner pointed out there may be an exception to the speeding and crash history criteria. For example, a location in a school zone or next to a park would be considered but still have requirements that it is not on a public transit route, not a Municipal State Aid road, and not on an emergency route. There are also requirements that other measures are deemed unfeasible, the implementation is financially feasible, and the implementation is approved by the Public Works Director. Mr. Andersen Wagner explained another exception to the speeding and crash history criteria would require additional requirements. 51 percent of property owners within 500 feet must support accepting reduced snowplowing quality in exchange for speed tables. Also, the petition must be approved by the Council. Mr. Anderson Wagner noted they plan to use the draft strategy for 2025 and evaluate its effectiveness. They hope to adopt an official speed table policy in 2026. There is another pilot project planned for the Grandview Neighborhood. Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness asked if the single pinch point costs $20,000. Mr. Anderson Wagner explained it could cost up to $20,000 if utilities need to be moved. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore asked why Grandview is the next neighborhood. Mr. Andersen Wagner pointed out that the Department receives complaints about speeding or traffic across the City. They hope to be intentional with the program to ensure its effectiveness. Grandview has similar numbers to Newton. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore stated Staff is collecting data points around the City, but they are focusing on the squeaky wheel. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated they are open to working in any area that has a high crash rate or speed issues. They offer to do speed tests in various emails, especially ahead of construction projects. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore asked if the bumps in the road are permanent. She asked if the pilot program used rubber speed tables. Mr. Andersen Wagner confirmed the speed tables were rubber. The City got them through a grant program from Hennepin County. They have removed them and can be deployed elsewhere. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore asked how long a permanent speed table lasts. Mr. Anderson Wagner stated their strategy is to use in-house services for installation. The life of the speed table depends on traffic patterns or other variables. Another speed table in the City has lasted ten years without any need for repairs. 2/24/25 -4- DRAFT Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak noted the delineated posts can require a lot of maintenance. He asked if there is a dedicated funding source for the pilot programs. It is likely most neighborhoods will want similar interventions. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated they didn’t lose any posts in the pilot program. There is a dedicated funding source through the Capital Improvement Plan. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak asked if the most dangerous traffic areas will be addressed first. Mr. Andersen Wagner confirmed that is their strategy. Dr. Edwards reiterated public safety efforts can be supported through multiple departments. It is also important to rely on metrics to apply interventions. LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AID (LAHA) PROGRAM OPTIONS Mayor Pro Tem Kragness asked if the item could be pushed off to a future meeting. Dr. Edwards stated the item should take ten minutes, and the Council/EDA has already discussed it. Community Development Director Jesse Anderson explained in 2023, the Minnesota Legislature established the Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) program, funded through a Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing. For Hennepin County, the sales tax is expected to generate approximately $20 million annually. The first allocations arrived in late 2024. Brooklyn Center has been awarded $188,983.33 in LAHA funds. Staff have reviewed options for the LAHA funds and anticipate a higher amount to be received in 2025, but that amount has yet to be determined. Mr. Anderson noted the program aims to address housing challenges by providing emergency rental assistance, building or rehabilitating affordable housing, reducing homeownership disparities, and supporting nonprofit affordable housing owners and developers. There are income requirements. Mr. Anderson stated Staff is seeking direction from Council/EDA regarding fund distribution. The City’s aging housing stock requires significant maintenance. The current Home Repair Program has nearly 400 households on the waitlist. There is a need for additional funding to address the backlog and an opportunity to create a streamlined home improvement loan program. Mr. Anderson stated the proposed home improvement loan program would be administered through the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). It provides additional resources for homeowners on the waitlist, lowers barriers compared to federally funded programs, and is designed to be flexible and accessible for Brooklyn Center residents. Mr. Anderson added Staff looked at other cities’ programs, and information is in the packet. Mr. Anderson pointed out Brooklyn Center’s existing programs include a Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Rehab Program and the Brooklyn Center Fix-Up Fund. The Hennepin County CDBG-funded Rehab Program offers zero percent interest loans for 2/24/25 -5- DRAFT up to $30,000 for essential repairs without monthly payments. The Brooklyn Center Fix-Up Fund offers low-interest home rehabilitation loans at a three percent fixed rate. Loans are available for up to $50,000 and are administered through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) and CEE. Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness stated she supports putting more money toward home rehabilitation efforts. It was the consensus of the Council/EDA to support LAHA funding for local home rehabilitation. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson moved and Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:35 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.