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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 03-22 CCM Work SessionMINUTES 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 MARCH 22, 2021 The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Worlc Session called to order by Mayor/President Mike Elliott at 9:30 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Zoom. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Mike Elliott and Councilmembers/Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence -Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey and City Clerk Barb Suciu. Reorder of Agenda Councilmember/Commissioner Kris Lawrence -Anderson stated MnDOT representatives have already joined the meeting. She proposed that Agenda Item I and 2 be postponed, and Agenda Item 3 should be addressed. Mayor/President Elliott agreed. FRANCHISE FEES —AGREEMENTS AND PROGRAM This agenda item was postponed. A CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR 6221 SHINGLE CREEK PARKWAY (THE CREST APARTMENTS) This agenda item was postponed. UPDATE BY MnDOT ON HIGHWAY 252 IMPROVEMENTS — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) City Manager Curt Boganey stated representatives from MnDOT will give an update on the Highway 252 project. Public Works Director Doran Cote stated the Highway 252 corridor project has shifted from an Environmental Assessment to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). He added the MnDOT team and their consultants have joined the meeting to give an update on the project and what to 03/22/21 -1- expect moving forward. He introduced the project team: Jerome Adams, Project Manager; Chris Holberg, Public Engagement Manager; and Craig Vaughan, SRF Consulting. Chris Holberg, MnDOT Public Engagement Manager, stated M111J I is now leading an Environmental Impact Statement for this project. He added there are 4 key pieces to the first phase of the EIS: identifying project termini, determining purpose and need, formulating a statement of objectives, and identifying and documenting evaluation criteria. He added what will be presented tonight is a draft, and no decisions have been made. He noted the schedule includes the development of initial steps, alternatives, and evaluations before coming to a preferred alternative. Mr. Holberg stated after the process concludes, the project will move into construction plans and phases, a review of project limits and potential impacts. He added MnDOT understands that other elements fall outside of the highway line, and there could be benefits and impacts that extend beyond the right of way. He noted the draft Purpose Statement has been developed with feedback received over the past few years and captures what MnDOT representatives have heard. Mr. Holberg stated the three broad project needs areas are vehicle safety, vehicle mobility, and pedestrian and bike safety. He added the MnDOT team has received a lot of feedback and technical data on these issues over the past few years. Mr. Holberg stated the project objectives are broad and are identified as transportation and community -related. He added these include reducing injury and fatalities; supporting transit; and pedestrian and bike safety. He noted solutions should be sought that will require -the minimal acquisition of property, and a potential solution will ensure that equitable outcomes are achieved. Craig Vaughan, SRF Consulting, provided background information and a review of objectives and evaluation criteria. He added the project team seeks to answer the question of now the prof ect will affect access to transit, as well as ensure pedestrian and bike safety. Mr. Vaughan stated two themes that came out when the MnDOT team last met with the Brooklyn Center City Council are equity and health, and how they are affected by transportation. He added this is an opportunity to view the project through an equity lens framework, to make participants cognizant of disproportionate impacts or social disparities that should be considered as project elements. He noted the MnDOT team hopes to have an equity and health assessment completed by the end of 2021. Mr. Adams stated this will be a 3-year long process, and tonight is the beginning. He added this has been a quick summary and more information will be released for public review in Apri12021, including the Purpose and Need document, and the Evaluation Criteria document. Extension of Meeting There was a majority Consensus of the City Council/EDA to extend the meeting to 10:15 p.m. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan thanked the MnDOT team for j oining the meeting. He asked whether they have had a similar EIS project that was executed to completion. He added he, along 03/22/21 -2- with many community members, participated in the environmental review process many years ago, and it was felt that it was a thorough process. He asked whether this has been done before with a successful outcome. Mr. Adams stated the St. Croix River Bridge, a project in Virginia, Minnesota, and a project in Duluth are three examples of EIS projects that have been completed. He added federal and state regulations are always subject to change, so each EIS project is unique. He added the guidelines are slightly different, but the EIS process is essentially the same. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan expressed concern that the process becomes difficult and convoluted. He asked whether MnDOT staff are confident that this will take approximately 3 years. Mr. Adams stated the EIS was announced in Spring 2020, and a project schedule was created around EIS, with federal regulations and restrictions, which was not approved until January 2021. He confirmed that the plan could be a 3-year process, or possibly more if there are more delays. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan thanked the MnDOT team for their presentation, and for staying at the meeting and providing this helpful information. He added he will review the information again and contact the team with questions. He expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the MnDOT team and other partners, in being tuned in and listening to the concerns of the public. Mr. Adams stated the MnDOT team is committed to working with the City of Brooklyn Center over the next three years and ensuring that the City receives all the information they need to support the project. He added elected officials are extremely critical to large infrastructure projects. He noted MnDOT wants to make sure this is a project that is the right thing to do for Brooklyn Center. Mayor/President Elliott thanked the MnDOT team for their presentation. He stated this is the first time we are hearing about health impacts and equity in one of these presentations. Hea e at this is a very important step because these projects could harm people rather than improve their lives. He noted he would like the Mission Statement to indicate the importance of "securing the health and safety of the community through an equity and justice lens." Mayor/President Elliott stated these projects can connect communities and address safety concerns. He added he hopes the process, which can be frustrating, can reach the point where our community believes it is worth the effort. He stressed the importance of slowing down and looking at critical aspects of these decisions. Mayor/President Elliott stated he received an email communication from the Highway 252 Safety Task Force that he forwarded to City Staff. He thanked the MnDOT representatives for their presentation. ADJOURNMENT 03/22/21 -3- Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan moved and Councilmember/Commissioner Graves seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 10:06 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: l . That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Work Session Meeting of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on March 22, 2021 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 Apri126, 2021, Regular Session. UUYA City Clerlc Mayor 03/22/21 -4-