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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 01-08 CCM Study SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY/WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2018 CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS • iiiii 1 I] The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 6:00 p.m. Its] M Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and Dan Ryan. Councilmember Kris Lawrence-Anderson was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Acting City Engineer Mike Albers, Interim Community Development Director Michael Ericson, Planner and Zoning Administrator Ginny McIntosh, City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, and Carla Wirth, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Graves stated she reviewed the December 11, 2017, Work Session minutes and was pleased with the consensus reached relating to minimum wage. Mayor Willson stated he does not think it is high enough, but it is a start. MISCELLANEOUS Set Special Work Session City Manager Curt Boganey asked the City Council to consider setting a special Work Session to review redevelopment proposals for the Opportunity Site. He reported three developers would like to present. Following a brief discussion on availability, the City Council reached consensus to request Mr. Boganey to schedule a special Work Session for the third Monday in February at 5:00 p.m. Organic Composting and Native Bee Habitat Mayor Willson stated Mr. Boganey will distribute an e-mail he sent relating to organic composting and native bee habitat in response to a resident's concern. He stated he would like those topics scheduled for a future Work Session. The City Council reached consensus to add the topics of organic composting and native bee habitat to a future Work Session agenda. 01/08/18 -1- ii UJI rs :1 [ii: I WIJP4P1I1U 1 1 Ills] L1 NIl 1YU J i7.1 N M Acting City Engineer Mike Albers introduced the topic and described the City Council's past consideration of the Trunk Highway (TH) 252 Corridor Study. Mr. Albers noted the total estimated project cost for the interchange at 66th Avenue, closing 70th Avenue, and a pedestrian bridge at 70th Avenue is $35 million, which includes costs for construction, easements, engineering, administration, and contingencies. The application for regional solicitation funding was awarded $7 million in federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 funding; $1.9 million was awarded for construction of a pedestrian bridge at 701h Avenue in federal FY 2021 funding; a successful Minnesota Highway Freight Program (MHFP) grant application for the 66 Avenue project awarded $10 million in fiscal year 2020 funding; and, the City budgeted approximately $5.5 million in Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for its local share of the project costs. The City has secured $24.4 million, leaving a funding gap of approximately $10.5 million. Mayor Willson clarified that the City will not actually be constructing an interchange. Mr. Albers explained the City will be the project lead, working with MnDOT, to deliver this project. Mr. Albers stated next steps will be to determine and provide a preferred 66th Avenue interchange alternative to the City Council for formal consideration and to identify additional funding opportunities to bridge the funding gap and continue the more detailed Freeway Conversion Study led by Hennepin County to develop a detailed geometric layout for the entire corridor. This will include determining a preferred alternative for the Brooklyn Park portion of the corridor north of 73'' Avenue. It was noted the total estimated cost of converting TH 252 to a freeway and add a MnPASS lane excluding the 66th Avenue interchange is $150 million. This year, Hennepin County will be preparing a funding request for the conversion through the Corridors of Commerce (C0C) Program. Mr. Albers asked whether the City Council has comments or questions pertaining to the process, alternatives, or final planned public engagement activities prior to considering a preferred alternative. He also asked whether the City Council supports Hennepin County's CoC funding request and the EA funding scenario as described. Councilmember Ryan asked how many properties will be impacted. Mr. Albers stated nine properties would be impacted fully or partially depending on the roadway alignment. Mayor Willson noted it will also depend on which design plan moves forward. Mr. Albers stated that is correct and the plan will be refined as the project moves forward. Mr. Albers provided an update on the TH 252 Freeway Conversion Study, number of open houses and level of participation, and seven concepts presented at the open house, noting Concept 5 was the most preferred at the open houses. He stated the PAC members preferred Concept 6 as it provided access to West River Road. 01/08/18 -2- Mr. Albers stated the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommended starting an Environmental Assessment (EA) process to further refine the social and environmental impacts that would include the freeway conversion as well as a MnPASS lane on TH 252 from TH 610 to Dowling Avenue in Minneapolis. Brad Larson, MnDOT, provided a brief overview of MnPASS, a system of price-managed lanes (high occupancy toll lanes), how they work, and cost for use by solo motorists during peak travel times. He stated a low-income discount pilot program will be implemented shortly. Mr. Larson described the benefits of MnPASS to reduce and better manage congestion in a manner that's sustainable over the long term and hierarchy of regional highway mobility strategies. Mayor Willson asked whether there is an option to leverage MnPASS to resolve the funding gap. Mr. Larson stated that is not an option at this time as MnPASS is not a revenue generator. He explained in 2017 it raised $3.4 million and operations/maintenance was $2.4 million, so most years it will raise a bit more than it takes to operate; however, it may be an option in the future as more drivers use MnPASS. Mr. Larson stated MnPASS System Study Phase 3 is nearing completion and will help identify the next best MnPASS corridor the State should focus on. He presented an overview of that Study process, map depicting the existing corridor, and corridors evaluated under this Study. He stated it is interesting that TH 252 was the only non-freeway corridor evaluated and it would be dependent on converting it to a freeway. Mr. Larson described the higher and moderate performing corridors the Study identified and how each was ranked. Mr. Larson stated additional analysis broke out the freeway conversion benefit and cost compared to the MnPASS benefit and cost. The Study showed significant potential benefit from MnPASS Express Lanes on TH 252 with substantial increase in person throughput, person-hour savings, strong transit demand with good potential for increased demand and service from a MnPASS transit advantage, and low additional cost to add MnPASS lanes to TH 252 as part of a freeway conversion. Mr. Larson stated next steps are to produce the draft final report for review and to start drafting a Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) update to consider MnPASS corridor tiering and an increased revenue scenario. Councilmember Ryan stated he just started attending the PAC meetings and is learning about the challenge of funding streams due to limited dollars. He asked whether the preliminary findings and cost benefit of MnPASS, should the corridor be upgraded to a freeway, would be looked at more favorably because of that data. Mr. Larson answered in the affirmative and explained if the corridors are moved up to Tier 2 in the Regional Transportation Plan, they would have a higher priority for additional future funding given the results from this System Study as well as other System Studies recently completed by MnDOT. Councilmember Graves asked for an explanation of the tiered system and how corridors are placed in a tiered system. Mr. Larson explained the Met Council Transportation Plan contains three tiers of MnPASS. Tier 1 has funding to implement MnPASS. If TH 252 is included in 01/08/18 -3- Tier 2, it will join two other identified corridors and those are not funded but contained in an increased revenue scenario category and will be first funded if funds are found. Tier 3 corridors are others that are not a top priority for funding. Councilmember Graves asked what are the requirements for tier placement. Mr. Larson explained the Met Council considers the results from this Study to determine which corridors will best benefit the region, results from other completed studies, future preservation projects, and potential future funding levels. Mayor Willson asked what will happen if 661h Avenue receives funding but not MnPASS. Mr. Larson stated it is difficult to speculate on such an instance but he knows there will continue to be a lot of pressure to make improvements and move forward; however, it is dependent on funding levels. Mr. Boganey asked about the anticipated TPP update. Mr. Larson stated the TPP draft will be out for public comment in the spring of 2018 and they want it completed by the end of 2018. Mr. Boganey asked whether it is reasonable to assume once the freeway conversion is completed (2021-2023), additional MnPASS funding would be available at that point. Mr. Larson stated right now there is no funding available and under the current Minnesota Investment Plan, mobility projects run out in 2023. After that, there is only money for pavement and bridge preservation projects. Councilmember Graves stated when the interstate was built and number of entities paid for it. She asked whether there is such a collaboration with road maintenance and capacity. Mr. Larson stated there is a lot of collaboration into the entire metro transportation system and all are integrated but projects like TH 252 need different funding sources and the 66th interchange demonstrates how there is a lot of partnering. He explained these projects are depending on a lot of entities bringing money to the table. Councilmember Graves asked about the car or oil industry putting money into the interstate system. Mr. Larson explained the State highway system gets its vast majority of funding from state and federal gas tax revenue, motor vehicle tax, and tab fees but there has been talk at the federal level about proposals to tap into other types of revenue streams. Councilmember Ryan stated some regional projects are reviewed by the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and asked whether the outstanding $10 million gap potential will be reviewed by TAB. Mr. Larson stated that is a difficult question to answer and he would have to rely on Met Council TAB members to weigh in. He noted future regional solicitation opportunities for additional funding will be available. Mr. Larson explained TAB will review the TPP update and make comment but whether they will be asked to identify other funding sources, he cannot say. Councilmember Ryan stated perhaps it will be dependent on other grants that become available. 01/08/18 -4- I 1D(SJ DI'f'LI 1 1 tSIS]I'A DII Mayor Willson recessed the Study Session at 6:44 p.m. to Open Forum. Mayor Willson reconvened the Study Session at 6:46 p.m. TRUNK HIGHWAY (TH) 252 CORRIDOR STUDY - UPDATE (continued) Mayor Willson stated he would like to see accident data relating to intersections within the TH 252 corridor as well as justification to move forward. Mr. Albers thanked Mr. Larson for presenting MnPASS information and acknowledged the attendance of April Crocket and Chris Holberg, also with MnDOT. Mr. Albers described the Corridors of Commerce (C0C) solicitation due in February, legislation mandated criteria for that solicitation, and process that will be followed. He stated staff anticipates two CoC submittals for the TH 252 corridor with the first being by the Met Council for the TH 252 freeway conversion and MnPASS lane from TH 610 to Dowling (estimated at $125 million). The second submittal would be by Hennepin County for TH 252 freeway conversion from TH 610 to 194 with MnPASS (estimated at $65 million plus the cost for the 194 interchange work). Mr. Albers explained the 66th Avenue interchange is not eligible for CoC funding because it is currently in the STIP. In addition, potential local overpasses at 73"' Avenue and Humboldt Avenue would not be included because they would be locally funded based on the MnDOT cost participation policy. Mayor Willson supported that recommendation as otherwise, stop signs would need to be placed on the TH 252 freeway in order to access those neighborhoods. Mr. Albers explained the submittals will require City Council resolutions of support so that will be presented at a future meeting. Mr. Albers addressed the Environmental Assessment (EA) scope to include full environmental clearance of the TH 252 freeway conversion as well as a MnPASS lane on TH 252 from TH 610 to Dowling. He reviewed the cost sharing scenarios for the $3.9 million cost to conduct the EA that would include the freeway conversion as well as a MnPASS lane on TH 252 from TH 610 to Dowling Avenue in Minneapolis as follows: Brooklyn Center at 10%; Brooklyn Park at 14%; Hennepin County at 25%; and, MnDOT at 51%. Mr. Albers reviewed the tasks and potential costs for the EA and cost distribution, noting Brooklyn Center would be responsible for about $375,000 (10% ratio). Mr. Albers asked whether the City Council supported MnPASS on the TH 252 corridor, the CoC funding requests by Hennepin County and the Met Council, and the EA funding scenario, or has any comments. Mayor Willson stated his support for each as they have been laid out. The Councilmembers agreed. 01/08/18 -5 Councilmember Graves asked why Minneapolis is not also paying for part of the EA. Mr. Albers stated that is an option that is currently under study and discussion. Councilmember Graves asked about Phase 3 direct ramps. Mr. Albers stated that would be going into downtown but Brooklyn Center will not submit for that as part of this project. Mayor Willson asked whether that will be built in lieu of anything else happening. Mr. Albers stated the $35 million includes the pedestrian overpass and it makes sense to do the interchange and pedestrian overpass at the same time for convenience. ii.iu ehh'A IDhI I Mayor Willson adjourned the Study Session at 6:58 p.m. 01/08/18 -6- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1.That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on January 8, 2018. 2.That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its January 22, 2018, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 01/08/18 -7-