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Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, October 23, 2007,
at 6:30 p.m.
1. Introductions/Roll
Call
Commission
members present: Jan Vanderwall, Ernie Willenbring, and Jim DeBenedet
Commission
members absent: Randy Neprash
Staff
present: Duane Schwartz, Public Works Director
Others
present: Chris Miller, Finance Director
2. Public
Comments
None
3. Approval
of September 25, 2007, Meeting Minutes
Member
Willenbring moved to approve the minutes of the September 25, 2007, meeting
of the Public Works, Environment and Transportation Commission. Member
Vanderwall seconded.
Ayes: 3
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Motion
carried
4. Communication
Items
A
handbook for commission members was provided for their use.
Jim
DeBenedet mentioned that since there has been a resignation on the
commission, a new member is being sought. For information, call city hall or
check out the city’s website.
The
Rice Street Technical Advisory Committee met in September, and Ramsey County is doing some traffic studies before the next meeting in November. City and
county staff met last week to talk about specific issues relating to impacts
and future needs.
Mr.
Schwartz brought up the December meeting date, which falls on Christmas Day.
Member Willenbring suggested canceling the meeting unless there was something
important coming up. Member Vanderwall and Chair DeBenedet agreed that
tentatively canceling the meeting would be the best option.
Member
Vanderwall moved to cancel the December 25th meeting pending
urgent need. Member Willenbring seconded.
Ayes: 3
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Motion
carried
Chair
DeBenedet spoke on the first meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering
Committee. They will be meeting monthly, and he will continue updating the
PWETC on progress.
5. 2008
Utility Rate Discussion
Chris Miller, City of Roseville Finance Director, presented information on the 2008 utility
rates.
Member
Vanderwall asked if the water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage functions
were totally supported by user fees or if other tax money was used. Mr.
Miller said yes and that that was a typical practice in other cities as
well. Users are charged for the amount they use.
Member
Vanderwall asked how this year’s rate increases related to increases in the
last few years. Mr. Miller said it’s been going up each year. Mr. Schwartz
said energy costs are a big factor. Mr. Miller said increases should be
close to inflation rates for the next five years.
Member
Willenbring asked if a rate adjustment was automatic each year. Mr. Miller
said in his time it has been adjusted every year, some less some more.
Chair
DeBenedet said one of his concerns was whether the city was reserving enough
money to cover infrastructure replacement in the future. Mr. Schwartz said
the city manager has mentioned possibly having a financial consultant do a
rate study to make sure rates are in line with future needs.
6. 2008
Pavement Management Program
Mr.
Schwartz updated the commission on the street projects approved by the City
Council for 2008.
Member
Willenbring asked about doing projects jointly with Arden Hills. Mr.
Schwartz said the mill and overlay projects for 2008 had been bid jointly to
reduce costs, and other projects will be done that way when possible.
Member
Willenbring asked if roads deteriorated differently when the soils were
different. Mr. Schwartz said they definitely do.
Chair
DeBenedet asked what measures were being used for storm water management.
Mr. Schwartz said at this point they would be using infiltration practices,
such as rain gardens and infiltration trenches rather than porous pavement,
which is relatively expensive.
7. Har
Mar PUD Amendments
Mr. Schwartz went
over the amendments.
Member Willenbring asked about
storm water. Mr. Schwartz said there would be an underground holding area,
which would slowly infiltrate into the ground.
Chair DeBenedet asked if there
were any private wells in the area. If there are, a monitoring well might be
required because of the large amount of infiltration. Mr. Schwartz said he’d
have to check into it.
Member Willenbring asked what
type of soils were at the site and wanted to make sure the holding area was
designed for that specific soil. Member Vanderwall asked if the holding
areas had specific maintenance issues. Mr. Schwartz said yes and that there
would be a maintenance agreement between the property owner and the watershed
district.
Mr. Schwartz said the city has
some questions about the traffic study, and the city has asked Har Mar to do
some additional work.
Member Vanderwall questioned why
County Road B couldn’t be two lanes all the way from Snelling to Hamline.
This would ease congestion at that Har Mar exit.
Member Willenbring pointed out
that they were planning to close the first intersection east of Snelling.
Member Vanderwall said it wouldn’t hurt to keep it open but make it an
entrance only.
Chair DeBenedet said it
concerned him that there would only be two main entrances to the mall and
also questioned what was happening with the Skillman/Snelling intersection
changes. Mr. Schwartz said the changes were on hold right now since Har Mar
didn’t want to participate. Mr. Schwartz said they could possibly ask Har
Mar sign an agreement stating they would explore changes if a specific growth
level was attained.
Chair DeBenedet moved that the
commission make the following storm water recommendations to the Planning
Commission:
1. Staff
reviews for any private water supply wells within ¼ mile of the proposed
infiltration basin.
2. If
there are private wells within ¼ mile to require monitoring wells.
3. Review
the soil suitability for water infiltration
Member
Vanderwall seconded.
Ayes: 3
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Motion
carried
Chair DeBenedet moved that the
commission make the following traffic recommendations to the Planning
Commission:
1. Applicant’s
traffic study should follow the city consultant’s recommendations
2. Applicant
develop a pedestrian bicycle access plan
Member Vanderwall
seconded and added an item to the motion.
3. The
traffic study make recommendations on the best and most effective methods of
mitigating the traffic conditions, especially the E and F traffic conditions
at the County Road B and Snelling intersection.
Ayes: 3
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Motion
carried
8. “Welcome
to Roseville” Sign Concepts
Member
Willenbring suggested postponing this item until the next meeting. All
agreed.
9. Twin Lakes Design Principles
Mr.
Schwartz updated the commission on the latest developments. There has been
some interest in different development proposals. Commission members were
asked for their input on design principles.
Member
Vanderwall said the design plan looked like it belonged in a more urban area
and that he hoped sidewalks and bike paths would be included in the design.
Chair DeBenedet agreed that sidewalks and bike paths should be included.
Member
Vanderwall said as far as parking goes he thinks only parallel parking would
work in Roseville. Member Willenbring said that slant parking might mean a
parking ramp could be avoided.
Member
Vanderwall said he didn’t see anything regarding technology that would be
available for the development. Chair DeBenedet said that maybe a spare
conduit needed to be added into the design to avoid having to rip up pavement
in the future when someone needed different lines to their building. Mr.
Schwartz said that a plan for utility conduits had been discussed with the
previous developer.
Mr.
Schwartz said that Metro Transit has voiced interest in having a park and
ride facility at Twin Lakes. Member Vanderwall said a system should be built
to use the Roseville Circulator buses to bring people to the transit hub and
then on to other buses rather than building a big parking lot.
Member
Vanderwall moved to recommend additions to the design document as follows:
1.
Undergrounding utilities where feasible
2.
Conduits for communications and technologies for future use
3.
Enhanced transit facilities and opportunities
4.
Parking in 10 vehicle units between islands
5.
Illustrations should be viable scenarios
Member Willenbring seconded.
Ayes: 3
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Motion
carried
10. Agenda for next meeting –
November 27, 2007
“Welcome to Roseville” Signs
Rice Street Design
Update on this
month’s recommendations
11.
Adjournment
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