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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 07-19 CCM Special Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL SESSION JULY 19, 2000 NORTHPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 5421 BROOKLYN BOULEVARD 1. CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL MEETING The Brooklyn Center City Council met in special session and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 6 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Debra Hilstrom, Kay Lasman, Ed Nelson, and Robert Peppe. Also present: City Manager Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager Jane Chambers, Community Development Director Brad Hoffman, Director of Public Works Diane Spector, City Engineer Todd Howard, and Police Chief Joel Downer. 3. OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Kragness outlined the meeting agenda. 4. CITY STAFF PRESENTATION Mayor Kragness introduced Director of Public Works Diane Spector who gave a presentation. Ms. Spector reviewed the history of the design process for the four stages of TH 100 and explained project phases. She introduced City Engineer Todd Howard who discussed the specific design proposals for segment four, the segment affecting persons living between Twin Lakes and 50th Avenue. Mr. Howard asked for show of hands for both north and south of railroad neighbors. Most of the persons in the audience were from north of the railroad. Mr. Howard reviewed the plans for the segment and discussed the north and south connection. He showed the original Mn/DOT design for this segment, from ten years ago. This design was similar to that which had been proposed prior to February 1999. In 1999, Mn/DOT discovered that the alignment proposed for north/south at France Avenue could not be accommodated because of ground water. Mr. Howard reviewed options proposed for the alignment and the advantages and disadvantages of each. He then reviewed the current proposed option for the design. The advantages to this design are that it presents the least City costs, makes the least impact on redeveloped land, and requires no 07/19/00 -1- major acquisitions. The disadvantages for the proposal are that it requires 1,000 feet longer of roadway, or .2 miles, and must go across land that requires further soil contamination study and possible treatment. He explained that roads are built on previous superfund sites, such as the Brooklyn Blvd segment soon to be built on a State superfund site at Pilgrim Cleaners. 5. REAL ESTATE RECYCLING PRESENTATION ON JOSLYN SITE Mr. Howard turned the meeting over to Paul Hyde of Real Estate Recycling, the development company of the Joslyn site. Mr. Hyde reviewed the process undertaken to reclaim the Joslyn property and prepare it for construction of the new Wickes building and other proposed new development. Mr. Hyde stated that all of the work done on the site is subject to restrictive covenants worked out with the State and Federal oversight agencies. A representative of the State of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave a brief presentation about cleanup efforts at the Joslyn site and outlined steps that would need to be taken so that a road could be built across the property. 6. OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND FUNDING: NORTH METRO MAYORS HIGHWAY 100 COALITION Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat was introduced by Mayor Kragness and spoke to the group. He explained who is part of the Highway 100 Council and how this council originated to advocate full funding for improvements to TH 100 through the north metro cities. He stated that the group responded to cut funding for the overall TH 100 project and had been successful in getting the recent allocation for full segment funding of the project. He stated that each individual city was responsible for solving problems so that the entire project can go forward. He urged the City Council to approve the funding and stated that it was not an option to say no to the project. Phil Cohen, a contract lobbyist for the Highway 100 project spoke next. Mr. Cohen outlined the funding resources being used for the project, which includes funding from the Metropolitan Council and Mn/DOT, as well as special one -time funding for bottleneck projects approved by the State Legislature. He also discussed how the project was to receive National Highway funds. 7. QUESTIONS Mayor Kragness opened the meeting to questions from the audience. A resident asked about the railroad, could it be rebuilt? The answer provided was yes, it would be rebuilt by CP Rail, and would be raised. A resident from the Beach Condos asked about the Joslyn exposure to the n site contamination. Dave p Y Douglas of the State Pollution Control Agency answered by outlining the process taken to reclaim the property and its delisting, but the property was still subject to MPCA oversight. 07/19/00 -2- A resident of the Beach Condos asked why was there was a water treatment facility on the Joslyn site, and that was answered by Paul Hyde of Real Estate Recycling. The resident stated that there were two or three herds of healthy deer on the site and asked why people were worried. A resident asked if a noise study had been done about noise from traffic that will result from the new road across the site and stated that the proposed road will cut across her backyard. Mr. Howard located her property on the map, and stated that the road would be at grade level with barriers to prevent the noise, but no noise study had been done. A resident asked why there were plans to have a train crossing at a corner and stated that 10 -20 trains go through the site, and he heard there would be higher train traffic. Mr. Howard responded that there would be new train crossing signs and traffic arms. A resident asked about truck traffic in and out of the site and where trucks would travel from the loading docks. Mr. Howard stated that there were plans for truck entry and exit on France Avenue, but a specific location at not been determined. Tom Donahue of Mn/DOT stated that there would be two exits in final plan and pointed out the general area for them on the maps. Ms. Spector stated that there are many areas in the city where trucks enter and exit traffic, such as Shingle Creek Parkway industrial area. A resident stated that this is a critical time in the TH 100 planning, and the City must go forward, we have been waiting for this 40 years. He asked what the City might lose if the plan is not approved on July 24. Mayor Kragness stated that the City could lose all of the funding for the proj ect. Mr. Cohen spoke to the question, and again reviewed the funding schedule that requires the City Council to approve going forward on July 24. He stated that if the City does not go forward, Mn/DOT will move the funding to other projects on its list, and the City cannot count on being considered for funding again. A resident stated that citizens did not know that this alignment was proposed, and asked who proposed it to go through a hazardous waste site. Ms. Spector stated that there had been extensive joint discussions with Mn/DOT, staff, and redevelopers, and that the alignment was proposed as part of those discussions. She stated there was no risk to public safety from the proposed alignment. She stated that each option was reviewed for the pros and cons, and costs, and that this proposal seemed the best. She stated that the redevelopment of Joslyn site was a City Council priority, and that it was very important to the City's commercial tax base. A resident asked about a letter written by the City Manager to Mn/DOT proposing the current alignment. He asked why the City is not looking to the interests of the residents, and stated that the redevelopment project would not make money for the City for ten years. 07/19/00 -3- A resident stated that she had worked for the last two to three weeks on this concern, and that she did not want her children going through the Joslyn site. She asked why the City was putting the road through one of the top 10 contaminated sites in the county. Mr. Douglas of the pollution control agency stated that the road was a new concept, but that it could be reviewed and built safely. Mr. Howard stated that the reason the current proposed alignment was made was that others were less feasible, and that when the City learned after February 1999 that the original proposal could not be built because of the ground water, discussions were held as to the most feasible configuration. The fact that the State Legislature approved full funding required the planning to be sped up, but the current proposal still has to go through full Pollution Control Agency review and approval. Ms. Spector reviewed the TH 100 time line and stated many details still needed to be worked out, that the City was just beginning the process that Robbinsdale has been completing. That is why there have not been more public meetings, but residents will be involved with planning of details for the design. She stated that the design of the road would be subject to review by the state and by Mn/DOT, and that she was 99% sure it could be built safely. If not, another alignment will have to be explored. She stated that some elements of the current design, such as the closures at 50th and Indiana were set, but other items were not. A resident from twin lakes stated that she was happy to see the activism at the meeting and stated that aspects of the warehouses were tacky. A resident from Lake View Avenue asked if the plans were set or if there could be changes to design and an improvement in the looks of the project. A resident asked if the railroad bridge could be raised. Mr. Howard stated that the costs for the bridge were an additional $3 million, it was not feasible to raise the railroad. A resident stated that two neighborhoods were to be disadvantaged, and it would not help people in Brooklyn Center. Two residents made statements regarding redoing the bridge, and stated that there would be three additional rail lines. Mr. Cohen restated information regarding the funding and said the City could not count on new funding if the deadline for approval is passed. An owner of rental properties in the area stated that a whole lot of traffic would be impacted by changes and requested the City complete a traffic study. A resident stated that Mn/DOT considers Brooklyn Center a second class citizen. A representative of Mn/DOT explained the traffic flow of three lanes down to two lanes at County Road 81. 07/19/00 -4- Wayne Norris of Mn/DOT stated that he was the preliminary engineer for the project from Mn/DOT, and stated that the funding is one -time funding only. The money must be fully encumbered by 2003 in order for project to proceed. He stated that planning should have begun 15 months ago. • resident asked about the number of different covers of the pollution at Joslyn site. • resident asked about the stakes on the Joslyn site, and Paul Hyde of Real Estate Recycling stated they were for soil borings. Mike Opat, Hennepin County Commissioner, stated that everyone wants a good project. He would see what he can do so moving the date necessary for decision so City is not rushed in its decision. A resident stated that he had lived in the area a long time and had seen the long telephone poles delivered by trucks that could make the turns required. 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm. The Mayor invited all persons with questions to remain and have questions answered by the experts present. City Clerk Wayor 07/19/00 -5-