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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 02-03 CCM Special WorksessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 3, 2020 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 Mike Elliott at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers/Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Director of Public Works Doran Cote, and City Clerk Barb Suciu. HIGHWAY 252 PROJECT UPDATE Mayor Elliott stated tonight's work session will focus on the Highway 252 project and will include presentations from some partners involved in various aspects of the project. He added these include the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the Metropolitan Council and federal partners. He noted their presentations will cover the project history up to present, and answer questions that the City Council and community members might have. City Manager Curt Boganey stated several residents came to the November 23, 2019, City Council meeting to make a presentation and express their concern about the Highway 252 project and its impact on their neighborhood. Among issues and concerns raised at that meeting were: minimum safe distances between interchanges; the proposed interchange at 66th Avenue would be very dangerous; the proposed project would be only 110 feet from the Mississippi River; reduced bus service for local residents; and other general plan concerns. Mr. Boganey stated the City Council, having heard the residents' concerns, decided to schedule this work session to hear from the subject matter experts, get responses to questions and concerns, and bring everyone up to speed on the history of the project, including the new City Councilmembers and new Mayor. Mr. Boganey reviewed the procedure for tonight's work session to ensure that all attendees are informed and in agreement: presenters will be allowed to complete their presentation without interruption, after which City Councilmembers will have time to get answers to their questions. A public comment period will follow, including requests for clarification and time for questions. If 02/03/20 -1- there are questions or issues to which presenters do not have answers, they will commit to providing a written response when they obtain the necessary information. Public Works Director Doran Cote gave a brief presentation on the history of the Highway 252 corridor and its planned conversion to a freeway. Highway 252 was first mentioned as a potential project at MnDOT in 2005 when it appeared in a transportation system plan, and Brooklyn Park requested a corridor study. It was determined at that time that Highway 252 was a good candidate for freeway conversion. Mr. Cote stated the City of Brooklyn Center completed its own corridor study in 2016, and also identified the need to convert Highway 252 to a freeway. It was also noted that Highway 252 would be a good candidate for MN-Pass high occupancy traffic lanes into downtown Minneapolis. He added an environmental review of Highway 252 that is currently being undertaken, which evaluates the environmental, social and economic impact of a proposed action, considers alternatives and identifies mitigation of impacts. Throughout the process, there is ongoing public involvement. Mr. Cole welcomed to the work session: Jerome Adams and April Crocket from MnDOT; Carla Steuve and Jason Stroebel from Hennepin County; and Adam Harrington from the Met Council. The Federal Highway Administration and Three Rivers Parks District are also partners but were not represented at the work session. Leif Garness, SRF Consulting Group, gave an overview of the project and what the partners hope it will accomplish. He stated there are four major questions that were identified as necessary to solve the project and make it successful. Tonight's meeting will focus on the first three questions, before receiving comments and questions from the City Council and public. Mr. Gamess stated changes to Highway 252 are required based on issues that need to be addressed: driver safety; vehicle access and mobility; accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. From 2011-2015, there were 611 recorded crashes on 252, and many of the crashes are rear-end crashes, which is typical of corridors with congestion. From 2016-2019, another 972 crashes were recorded, several involving pedestrians. Traffic levels are expected to continue to grow, with up to 120,000 cars per day in the near future. The delay to get from Highway 610 to downtown Minneapolis will increase from 5 minutes to 11 minutes. Mr. Garness stated research shows that the majority of crashes on Highway 252 occur at intersections, with the 66th Avenue intersection ranked #2 in the State of Minnesota for safety concerns. Mr. Garness stated the preferred alternative that will improve vehicular safety on Highway 252 is being refined as recommended by the project team, and environmental documents are being prepared. Additional documents, drawings, and layouts will be included in the documentation will be available for public review and comment. 02/03/20 -2- Mr. Garness reviewed questions that are being considered as part of this decision-making process. Consideration of these issues will assist in determining a course of action that will meet the needs of the corridor: 1.What is the best way to improve vehicular safety along Highway 252 and 1-94? 2.Where should access to and across Highway 252 be provided for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists? 3.What is the best type of access for each of those locations? 4.If lanes are added to Highway 252 at or around 694, how can those lanes be used most effectively? Mr. Garness stated tonight's work session will focus on the first three questions. Mr. Garness stated the issues of safety, mobility and pedestrian and bicycle accommodates are considered to determine whether the project will provide a benefit from a safety perspective; how local roadways are affected; how levels of service and travel time are improved; and whether access and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists are improved. Mr. Garness stated the second alternative discussed would convert Highway 252 to a 6-lane expressway, with an additional lane for the entire stretch of Highway 252. Intersections would still be controlled, but an interchange would be constructed at 66th Avenue based on traffic levels. He added, after technical evaluation and review, it was determined that this alternative would not address congestion. Mr. Garness stated the third alternative is to convert Highway 252 to a 4-lane freeway, maintaining 1-94 as it is today, south of 694. This option would reduce the number of crashes because there would be no intersections, but Highway 252 would still be as congested as before. Mr. Garness stated the fourth alternative is to convert Highway 252 to a 6-lane freeway with no changes on 1-94. This would reduce the overall number of crashes but there would still be congestion and a change along the corridor would be required. Mr. Garness stated, a fifth alternative, Highway 252 could be converted to a 6-lane freeway, but an additional connection would be added on 94 from 694 to Dowling Avenue, where there already exists an extra lane. Based on technical evaluation, this is the alternative that best meets the needs of the project. Mr. Garness stated a major issue is what will happen to local traffic in the area of Highway 252 if it is converted to a freeway. There has been a lot of input from residents that traffic is entering the neighborhoods that should be going on Highway 252. If Highway 252 is converted to a freeway, there would be limited access points for cars to enter the neighborhoods. 02/03/20 -3- Mr. Garness stated this information is being provided to illustrate the sheer amount of data that is collected to be able to provide recommendations and help form decisions. Mr. Garness reviewed benefits to the Brooklyn Center community that would accompany the conversion of Highway 252 into a freeway: reduced congestion on Highway 252; reduce in crashes; less cut-through and bypass traffic in neighborhoods, trying to avoid the congested expressway; reduced congestion and increased safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Mr. Garness stated the process to determine whether to convert a highway into a freeway includes several steps: interchange evaluation checklist from the Metropolitan Council; best location of access points to and from the freeway; pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and consistency with local Comprehensive Plan to accommodate future growth and development. Mayor Elliott requested clarification regarding a slide showing population density within Brooklyn Center, and how that could affect the outcome. Mr. Garness stated population demographics provide information on areas of high-density residential, higher populations of minorities and low- income neighborhoods. He added reviewing this data helps to ensure that neighborhoods are not disproportionately affected by this type of infrastructure development, in terms of where access points are placed. Mr. Garness stated four alternative plans are being evaluated based on design criteria and guidelines. He added two of the plans do not assume a change will occur at66th Avenue, and two of the plans have a proposed interchange at 66th Avenue. The first alternative proposes two interchanges on a 3-mile stretch of Highway 252, at 85th Avenue in Brooklyn Park and 73rd Avenue in Brooklyn Center. The roadway would be widened to accommodate traffic levels with bus stop locations. Many residential roads, residential properties, and commercial properties would be affected. For instance, 73'' Avenue would be widened to 5 lanes to accommodate traffic that diverts through the neighborhood to access Highway 252, and local traffic would increase, and roadway improvements would reshape the neighborhoods west of Highway 252. Design measures can be built into the plan to ensure safe and efficient operations. All requirements can be met with 2 interchanges. Mr. Garness stated, as part of the evaluation, the potential future interchange at 73' Avenue was reviewed. He added the west side of 73'd Avenue has multiple multi-family housing complexes and has a 50% minority population. He noted West River Road would need to be reconnected at 73rd Avenue, and traffic would need to find an alternative route to access Highway 252. Mr. Garness stated 73rd Avenue is a 2-lane roadway that would need to be widened. He added many homes along 73rd Avenue would be impacted by roadway construction. He noted it has been discussed that over 200 properties could be impacted. 02/03/20 4- Mr. Garness stated 3 interchanges are proposed for the third alternative, at 85th Avenue, Brookdale Drive, and 701h Avenue. This proposal would improve traffic impacts to local roadways but changes would still be required. Mayor Elliott asked what is the distance between the interchanges at 701h Avenue and Brookdale Drive. Mr. Garness stated it is .85 miles and does not meet the 1-mile spacing guideline. He added, as a trade-off, measures can be taken to increase safety and efficiency but would require widening City streets to accommodate traffic. Mr. Garness stated, to accommodate an interchange at 73 d Avenue, West River Road would need to be connected, and traffic diverted east to Willow Lane and north to 74th Avenue. He added Willow Lane would become the main conduit for an interchange at 70th or 73rd Avenues. Mr. Gamess stated a technical evaluation was completed on the first alternative, with interchanges at 85"'and 66 Avenues, Brookdale Drive and 73 d Avenue. This alternative reduces the impact on local roads, except in the neighborhoods west of Highway 252, which would see an increase in traffic. This option does not meet the 1-mile spacing guidelines. Mr. Garness stated all four alternatives propose reduced access points on Highway 252. There are currently 6 access points, and the four alternative plans will reduce the number of access points and shift traffic. He noted the biggest benefit to traffic safety on freeways is to reduce access points, but the tradeoff is increasing traffic on local streets, as drivers will have to drive further to access the interchanges. Mr. Garness stated recommended interchanges at 85th Avenue, Brookdale and 66thi Avenue would allow the opportunity for pedestrians and bicycles to cross 252 at those locations. He added the City has also received potential funding to move forward with a pedestrian bridge at 70 Avenue. Mr. Garness stated an interchange at 66th is recommended as there would be fewer impacts on local roads, fewer impacts to property and limits the potential increase in traffic levels that would be expected to be seen at 70' and 73rd Avenues. Mr. Garness stated the recommended alternative is a good balance between impacts to property, traffic flow, and keeping traffic from local streets. There are better safety concerns on Highway 252 itself, which also maintains north and south connectivity for local roads. He added, in conclusion, this alternative option addresses the safety concerns associated with Highway 252. Mr. Garness reviewed the proposed interchange alternatives, including 66th Avenue interchange with Highway 252 overpass; 66 Avenue interchange with Highway 252 under 66th Avenue, and right-in, right-out onto Highway 252 from 66 Ih Avenue. He added the first alternative is called "double bridge", and has favorable conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists, but it is a costly project, and many properties would need to be taken. He noted the "right-in right-out" alternative was eliminated due to the number of trips that would be required. 02/03/20 -5- Mr. Garness stated the option of a northbound flyover was discussed which would minimize impacts to the east side of Highway 252. He added it would need to be a three-level interchange, as opposed to 2 levels, and the ramp would need to be moved further south, closer to 1-694. He noted it would be costly due to the number of bridges that would be required. Mr. Garness stated the Highway 252 underpass, or "tight diamond", is a difficult alternative because 66 th Avenue would need to be moved, and it can be difficult to get back to level ground. He added raising 66th Avenue would result in an impact on residential properties. He noted such impacts should be minimized as much as possible. Mr. Garness stated alternatives 3 and 4 do not have an interchange at 66th Avenue, which would result in less impact on local roadway systems, and fewer impacts on residential properties, and limits the potential increase in traffic levels on residential streets. Mr. Garness stated the construction of a frontage road system would be necessary under Alternative 1, and property would need to be taken for holding ponds. He stressed the importance of looking at the corridor as a whole; balancing all aspects of the project; provide the best spacing possible to address safety concerns; and limiting impacts to properties. He noted, with these criteria, after months of consideration, the best type of access for the freeway conversion would be a folded diamond interchange at 66th Avenue, and that is the recommended design. Mr. Gamess stated the recommended alternative will limit the increase of traffic on local roadways; is consistent with driver expectations; provides a conflict-free pedestrian facility on the south side of 66th Avenue, and reduces impacts at that location. Adam Harrington, Director of Service Development at Metro Transit, reviewed the impacts and benefits, based on the type of transit service that is currently offered on the Highway 252 corridor. He added MNPass high-occupancy lanes would be a big advantage for commuters going to and from the downtown area. He noted bus access to Highway 252 will not be reduced, but some access points will be limited as a consequence of the conversion, in particular the west side 0f-73rd Avenue, and 66th Avenue near Topgolf, where the sale of a long-term parking lot is being negotiated with the City. Mr. Harrington stated the existing parking lot at 73 rd Avenue can continue to be used and service to that parking lot from West River Road will still be provided. He added that route runs approximately 11 trips during rush hour and a few trips during the day, down West River Road with access to the parking lot at 66th Avenue. Mayor Elliott asked whether Metro Transit wishes to continue to use the park & ride at 66th Avenue. Mr. Harrington confirmed this, adding Metro Transit has used the parking lot for over 15 years. He added there has been some discussion with City staff on this issue. 02/03/20 -6- Councilmember Butler asked how residents of Brooklyn Center who live along Highway 252 will be impacted by each of the plans, including housing, river access, and environmental impacts Mr. Garness stated the recommended interchange concept at 66th Avenue would have an impact on residents and their property, as that is where the construction would be, and acquisitions would be necessary. He added the next highest impact would be at Brookdale Drive. Councilmember Butler asked how many homes would be impacted. Mr. Garness stated there is an estimated number of affected properties that would be less than 10 residential properties and less than 5 commercial properties. The project itself could touch a potential 70 properties, due to minor roadway changes. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked for clarification regarding the difference between residential parcels and residential units when determining relocation. Mr. Garness stated each residential unit on a parcel is counted, so a property with multiple residential units could be an apartment complex. Mr. Boganey stated, for purposes of clarification, alternatives 1 and 2 both have the same proposed interchange at 66 " Avenue. He added alternative 3 has a proposed interchange at Avenue. Councilmember Ryan stated, as part of alternative 3, 66th Avenue and 73rd Avenue would not have access to Highway 252 and the interchange would be located at 70th Avenue. He added this alternative would involve 20 residential parcels, 5 commercial parcels, and 60 residential units. He noted the City has expressed as a priority the preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing. Mr. Adams stated MnDOT is not in a position to determine which properties would be acquired at this point. He added the drawings show where the grading would be completed, and it is easy to see whether the grading runs through the property or not. Mayor Elliott asked whether alternative plans have been considered for interchanges at other intersections. Mr. Adams stated he has a slide that shows all the alternative plans side-by-side. He added that the slide was shown at all the open houses. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked who will pay for the acquisition of parcels. Mr. Garness stated the answer is going to vary, as there are many project partners and there is a funding issue for the 66 th Avenue portion. He added the City has been awarded federal funding for construction of 66th Avenue, closure of 70th Avenue and a pedestrian crossing. He noted the question of who acquires the 66th Avenue right of way is still being reviewed. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson requested regular updates on that. She expressed concern that the experts have indicated that 50,000-75,000 drivers use Highway 252 every day and that far exceeds the entire population of Brooklyn Center. 02/03/20 -7- Councilmember Graves asked why similarly detailed renderings were not presented for alternatives 1 and 2. She asked how residents near Highway 252 will get to the transit center, and whether new busing will be proposed. Mr. Harrington stated there is a bus route, #722, that runs on Humboldt Avenue from the transit center, and that bus route was recently extended to the Target campus. He added it will be important to determine where people want to go and what times they want to be bussing, which could have an impact on the proposed project. Councilmember Ryan stated 73rd Avenue is closed in one scenario, with the option of a pedestrian overpass. He added that he would provide access to the park & ride at 73 d Avenue. Mr. Harrington agreed. He stressed the importance of facilitating movement across all access points. Councilmember Ryan stated, with regard to who will pay for the acquisition of property, a good part of the acquisitions will be necessary due to improvements to Highway 252 itself, which would be paid for by the State. He added alternatives 3 and 4 would have impacts on the west side of 252, and acquisitions and costs at that location would be the City's responsibility. Mr. Adams stated he previously provided for City Staff a set of cost participation rules, which outlines specific cost participation percentages for aspects of the project. He added the document lays out all the costs and who would be responsible for them. Councilmember Ryan stated, for access to alternative 4, the streets that need improvements are City streets. He asked whether they would be City costs. Mr. Adams confirmed this, according to the cost participation policy. Mayor Elliott asked if the proposed design of the interchange at 66 th Avenue was determined by space limitations, and its proximity to 1-694, 1-94 and Highway 100. Mr. Adams stated the distance between interchanges is taken into consideration when recommending the type of interchange that would be most acceptable at any location. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked whether the folded diamond configuration would leave West River Road intact. Mr. Adams confirmed this, adding it would be realigned and there would be property impacts, but it will remain intact. Mayor Elliott asked how far the distance is to the 66th Avenue interchange.' Mr. Adams stated it is .34 miles apart from center to center. Mayor Elliott asked for Mr. Adams' opinion on the safety aspect of that proximity. Mr. Adams stated the distances are safe and it is a typical design. He added 1-mile spacing is the guideline, but if the 1-mile spacing cannot be met, then other design options are considered. 02/03/20 -8- Mayor Elliott asked how many interchanges would be designed if the experts were designing Highway 252 today, to maximize safety and access. Mr. Adams stated it is impossible to answer that question, as the community existed before the highway was built, and there was a road network in place. He added freeways must be designed to react to the way the City is already developed. Mayor Elliot asked whether the alternative plans preserve bus service for Brooklyn Center residents, and in particular, the number, availability, and frequency of buses. Mr. Adams stated the corridor was designed as a commuter corridor, and MTC will continue to provide service. He added the majority of commuters that are served by bus come from the largest park & ride lot north of 85th Avenue. He noted a smaller lot at Brookdale Drive has moved around quite a bit but will probably not be expanded. He noted MnDOT is excited about having a bus MnPASS lane for 85% of commuters in this corridor. Mayor Elliott asked what are the safety features that are built-in at 66th Avenue that make up for the fact that it is less than the 1-mile recommended distance. Mr. Adams stated evaluations are being completed on different options, including a 2-lane exit at 66th Avenue from southbound Highway 252, to increase safety on the exit ramp. He added there are many examples of what MnDOT can accomplish when there is not enough space to meet the 1-mile spacing guideline. Mayor Elliott asked what the importance of the 1-mile spacing guideline is, and why it is recommended. Mr. Adams stated the 1-mile spacing is recommended mainly because there would be less signage, which can be confusing for drivers. He added additional space gives drivers more decision-making time. Mayor Elliott asked whether it is accurate to say that there is a distance of 150 feet from the proposed interchange to the Mississippi River. Mr. Adams stated he does not have the exact data, but the interchanges do not get closer to the river than Willow Lane. Councilmember Butler asked about environmental impacts. Mr. Garness stated the boundary of the proposed interchange is within the Corridor Critical Area. He added interaction between City Staff, representatives of MN-DNR and the U.S. Parks Service provided feedback on design parameters for an interchange at this location, and it was determined that it does not exceed guidelines, and there are no concerns from an environmental perspective. He agreed to make the comments available for review. Councilmember Ryan requested that additional information be provided regarding the footprint of trails connectivity within the interchange and any negative impacts. Mr. Garness agreed. Mayor Elliott asked whether the proposal for an interchange at 66 " Avenue is the only proposal that would have an elevated interchange, and how high above ground level it would be. Mr. Adams stated the roads would be left at current grade, as that would require the least amount of property acquisition for the community. He added it is important for 66"'Avenue to be at existing grade 02/03/20 -9- where it meets with Willow Lane. He noted there would be a vertical clearance of 16.6 feet, with an additional 5 feet of the structure, for a total of 21-25 feet. Councilmember Ryan asked if there is a prospective count of how many houses and businesses would be acquired at 66"'Avenue. Mr. Adams stated that the type of data is difficult to produce because the interchange location has not been determined. Councilmember Ryan stated safety is a major concern, but there are various methods for solving traffic safety issues. He stressed the importance of considering which option has the smallest footprint. Mr. Adams agreed. Mayor Elliott asked what steps have been taken to reduce the levels of air pollution that will be a result of an increase in cars along the corridor. He added this is one of the most polluted highways in Minnesota. Mr. Adams stated traffic would continue to increase at this location, even if no conversion is completed, or other actions are taken. He added traffic stops will be eliminated, which will reduce emissions, and free-following traffic traveling at higher rates of speed get better gas mileage, fewer emissions, and less pollution. Mayor Elliott stated traffic will come to a stop on Highway 252 during periods of heavy traffic, which is similar to traffic stopping and starting at traffic signals. Mr. Adams stated any increase in pollution will be offset by the proposed improvements. He added an air quality analysis will be required as part of the environmental review. Mr. Harrington stated the use of public transit is an alternative to driving, and there will be an MNPass lane, which will transport people more efficiently. He added busses have dramatically reduced emissions and continue to improve. Mr. Adams stated the Department of Transportation has reviewed the four options and is required to provide the least impact solution with the highest possible benefit for all parties. He added, in his opinion as an experienced highway engineer and Department of Transportation employee, alternative #4 is the best option, based on potential reduced congestion and pollution as well as reduced impact to local roads and neighborhoods. Mayor Elliott stated the 252 Safety Taskforce would like to make comments and ask questions, before a public comment period. Councilmember Ryan stated many residents have attended the meeting who would like to share their concerns and ask questions. He added the City Council has already heard at length from the 252 Taskforce and will hear from them again since they area Taskforce. He noted their job will be to bring a recommendation to the City Council. He requested that other residents be given an opportunity to speak, to make it a fair proceeding. Mayor Elliott stated the Highway 252 Safety Taskforce is on tonight's meeting agenda. 02/03/20 -10- Councilmember Butler stated it is unnecessary to continue this line of discussion again and make the Taskforce feel that their comments are not valued. A Taskforce representative stated they would like to present responses to what they have heard tonight. He added the Taskforce has provided their complaints to City Staff, and when they heard the presentation tonight, they were completely ignored. He noted not one of their complaints was addressed. The Taskforce representative stated the 1 -mile minimum was not addressed. He added a presenter said the proposed distance between interchanges would be .85 of a mile. He asked that the experts take into consideration the safety risks on 66th Avenue with the same risks at other locations. He noted that was not discussed, and there were many questions that the experts could not answer. The Taskforce representative stated the proposed changes would serve people who are not residents of Brooklyn Center. He added federal studies have indicated that there are safety concerns when the distance between interchanges is less than 1 mile. He noted residents of his neighborhood are concerned about the impact on the Mississippi River. The Taskforce representative stated other solutions are possible at 73rd Avenue, like a rotary or an underpass. He added the experts should provide information about why they are not recommending an exchange at 7311 Avenue. He noted the experts used sloppy unclear language in their presentation. Another Taskforce member asked what the percentage of cars entering Highway 252 at 66th Avenue would need to get to 1-94. She added that it would create massive traffic jams on Highway 252. She added West River Road was closed by the City Council because it was dangerous. She noted the insufficient distance between interchanges would result in accidents, as there is not enough time to decelerate. The Taskforce member stated the Taskforce's main concern is safety. She added federal guidelines recommend 1 mile spacing between interchanges. She noted the expert from MnDOT indicated it is much more dangerous to have a short distance between interchanges. Mr. Adams stated he did not say it was more dangerous. He agreed to draw up additional information and clearly explain all the benefits. The Taskforce member stated she lost her son when he was rear-ended on Highway 252. She added she does not want anyone to ever go through that. She noted her house would be one of the homes that would be taken if the interchange is constructed at 66th Avenue. The Taskforce member stated she understands that all the parties involved have done a lot of work on this in terms of gathering and presenting the information. She added there are many factors that cannot be worked around, but more people should not have to die on Highway 252. 02/03/20 -11- Tom Kouri thanked all the experts for their time and presentations, and all their hard work behind the scenes. Mr. Kouri stated he is a Highway 252 Safety Taskforce member. He added the Taskforce is supportive of conversion to a limited-access freeway, but with some critical changes to the plan. He added his group understands that staff will quickly assemble additional information. Jesse Struve, Brooklyn Park City Engineer, stated he wishes to speak on behalf of Mayor Lunde of Brooklyn Park, who was unable to attend. He added Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park staff and elected officials have worked together for the last 3 years on this project. He expressed concern at the formation of a City Council-appointed Taskforce and noted that this advisory group should have a membership that is open to any resident of Brooklyn Center. Mayor Elliott stated the City Council has already heard from Brooklyn Park's Mayor Lunde on this issue. Mr. Struve stated robust public engagement is necessary. He added 5 of the 6 interchanges on 252 are ranked in the State's most dangerous intersections. He noted the project has been evaluated and reviewed many times over the years, and a layout has been developed that, in their opinion, is the safest, minimizes impacts to the community, and is cost-effective. Mr. Struve stated Brooklyn Park wants to move ahead, advancing the 252 project as soon as possible, like every year that the project is delayed results in more deaths, injuries, economic loss, and increased costs. He added if federal funding is lost due to delays in Brooklyn Center, no work will be done, and the funding is lost. Mayor Elliot asked whether any Brooklyn Park residents have expressed their concerns about changes in Brooklyn Park and whether any steps have been taken. Mr. Struve stated there have been meetings and concerns expressed for projects in Brooklyn Park, including closures of Humboldt Avenue and 73'd Avenue. Mr. Struve stated Brooklyn Park has worked through the same process as Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis, including MnDOT updates and numerous neighborhood meetings. He added the process in Brooklyn Park is the same as Brooklyn Center. Mayor Elliott disagreed, stating the process in Brooklyn Center is very different. A citizen-led Taskforce has been appointed to review the Highway 252 project and come back with recommendations and insight on the proposal. Mr. Struve stated Brooklyn Park has been working through this process for many years, doing what has been asked of them, and suddenly a Taskforce was formed in Brooklyn Center with no notification to any residents other than the people appointed to the Taskforce. Mayor Elliot stated Mr. Struve seems to be concerned with how Brooklyn Center operates as a City. He added Mr. Struve' s thoughts and comments on the roadway, impacts on Brooklyn Park, 02/03/20 -12- would be welcome and valid. He noted, however, Mr. Struve has commented on the operation of internal affairs in Brooklyn Center, and he takes exception to that. Bonnie Jude stated she is a resident of Brooklyn Center. She asked about the Taskforce and how it was formed. She added Mayor Elliott said the Taskforce was made up of local residents. She noted she has never heard of such a Taskforce and asked how and when it was formed, and whether there is a representative cross-section of residents. Mayor Elliott stated the Taskforce was formed by initial members who have been coming to recent City Council meetings to express their concern about Highway 252 reconstruction. Ms. Jude asked whether the Taskforce is made up of residents of the Riverwood neighborhood. Mayor Elliott stated he thinks that is true, although there have been attempts to let other people join. Tara McCarthy, a member of the Taskforce, stated the taskforce distributed flyers to all areas of Brooklyn Center that might be concerned about this project. She added the Taskforce has a website, and meeting notices are posted on the City website. She noted the Taskforce members care about the rest of Brooklyn Center and not just their neighborhood. Tom Nystrom stated he reads the Brooklyn Center Post, and he has not seen any information on the Taskforce. He added he built his house 37 years ago on 73rd Avenue. He added if 73'd Avenue goes to a 5-lane roadway, he will lose his home. He noted he does not believe there are 32,000 cars on 73 hi Avenue every day. Former Mayor Tim Willson stated this debate has been going on since 2005, not just the last 5 years. He added the Taskforce provides repetitive information that they already provided before they were a Taskforce, and they are opposed to the project. He noted the Taskforce takes umbrage against experts in their fields at the City, County, and State level. Former Mayor Willson asked why there are no residents from other neighborhoods on the Taskforce. He asked whether the Taskforce ' s role would be to back up the City Council's denial of the project or to provide comprehensive unbiased information that will be helpful to the City Council in making an informed decision. He added there have been no comments from the Taskforce about the existing safety issues on Highway 252 that need to be addressed. Mayor Elliott stated a member of the Taskforce spoke in favor of moving forward with the project but with modifications. Former Mayor Willson asked how citizens could join the Taskforce, as he would like to join. Mayor Elliott stated the Taskforce was initiated by residents and recognized by the City Council. He added, however, the proclamation states that the Taskforce is open to Brooklyn Centei residents, and the Taskforce will add their own members. 02/03/20 -13- A Taskforce representative stated the Riverwood Association has had numerous meetings, and no one on the Taskforce believes there will not be a change. He added they cannot have 500 members, but anyone who wants to speak can come to their meetings. He noted the Taskforce has been very open about their meetings. DISCUSS NEXT STEPS Mayor Elliott stated he understands the need for action and change on Highway 252 to address safety and traffic concerns, he does not feel he has any additional clarity after the presentation tonight, about which is the right proposal. He added the experts have agreed to come back and answer questions and provide information. He added another work session can then be scheduled. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated there is a lot of information to digest, and some of it is repetitive. She added she would like to have another meeting, perhaps a joint meeting with the Taskforce. She noted she does not believe the City Council is in a position to vote at this time. Councilmember Butler stated she has not seen a timeline for the project. She expressed concern and frustration that the empowerment of a group of residents to make change causes other residents to be upset. Councilmember Ryan stated Councilmember Butler brings up a good point about the necessity for having a project timeline. He added a process timeline was outlined by the Highway 252 technical experts, and all agencies involved. For the next phase, extensive citizen engagement is planned, as well as the publication of the environmental review. Mr. Boganey stated City Staff could provide additional information on the project timeline and related documentation, some of which were included in tonight's meeting packet. He added members of the City Council - Mayor Elliott and Councilmembers Butler - have been appointed to attend the Highway 252 project meetings. Mr. Boganey stated there is a time-related issue is that in the upcoming legislative session, the City Council will need to decide whether to instruct Hennepin County to move forward with a $50 million bonding request. He added there are other timing issues down the line, related to federal funding that has been approved, and specific dates by which that money must be accessed or the funds will be lost. He noted the City Council should make every effort to come to a Consensus before the February 21, 2020 project meeting, so whoever is representing Brooklyn Center is able to reflect the direction of the City Council. Councilmember Butler stated she was appointed to attend project meetings. She added a substitute should be allowed to go if other City Councilmembers want to go to the meeting. 02/03/20 -14- Mayor Elliott stated he concurs with Councilmember Graves that the environmental review should happen earlier in the process. He asked why the environmental review happens at the end of the process. He added environmental sustainability is a focus of the City Council, Mr. Garness stated throughout the process of project development, the project continues to develop and evolve. He added the options that have been presented are for City Council review and recommendation. He added the City Council can request further study and additional options. Councilmember Graves stated she would like to know more about the environmental impact study, and what effect the interchange would have on the river if it was not so close. She added she would like to understand the traffic situation on 73rd Avenue better. Councilmember Butler thanked the residents who attended the meeting, as well as the experts who were flexible about dates for this meeting. She also thanked staff for putting this together and all community members, either for or against, who came to speak, as she appreciated their time. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded adjournment of the City Council Special Work Session at 9:37 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 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 Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 3, 2020. 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 March 9, 2020, Regular Session. &JA06" -Barbara Suciu, City Clerk 02/03/20 -15-