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2007-01-08 CC Minutes Special ~ AJl?~!'!UL€ ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL January 8, 2007 Albertville City Hall 7:30 PM PRESENT: Mayor Ron Klecker, Council members Dan Wagner, John Vetsch, Ron Klecker, and LeRoy Berning. Others attending City Administrator Larry Kruse, Assistant City Engineer Adam Nafstad, Elwyn Tinklenberg, Jodi Ruehle, S.E.H. Engineer's Jaimison Sloboden, Scott McBride and Mark Durling General Public in attendance: Adam Zoffi, Dave Eide and Wally Odell. Mayor Klecker called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. I. Meeting Purpose and Overview City Administrator Kruse presented opening comments stating that the purpose of the workshop was: to seek Council direction for an 1-94 layout, which staff will take to the 1-94 Implementation Task Force; to ask the Council to endorse this layout; and to seek Federal Funding. The Tinklenberg Group will update the Council on their efforts obtaining Federal Funding, and discuss their strategy for the 2007 funding cycle. SEH will review several layouts and seek concurrence on a preferred layout. SEH will discuss associated cost to complete a preliminary design or staff approved layout. Finally, the staff hopes to understand the Council's expectation on Albertville's financial involvement and share this with the 1-94 Implementation Task Force. Elwyn Tinklenberg stated an opportunity is coming in February for the City and 1-94 Task Force to submit a project for Federal Funding. Tinklenberg errl-phasized that transportation funding remains very competitive and that due to a lack of funds, MnDOT is pretty much in a maintenance mode. The people that are the most successful are the ones that collaborate with multiple jurisdictions and work together. Tinklenberg p:rroposed a fee of approximately $3,000 per month to promote the City's project and keep it before decision makers. II. Interchange Project Status Scott McBride ofSEH reviewed the current status of where Albertville is in the project development process. The city has completed the Environmental Assessment and has nearly completed the Federal Access Approval process. The one remaining item to complete is the staff approved layout. McBride stated that the advantage in IJ1loving one of the proposed layouts forward is that environmental approvals have already been obtained. To deviate may require opening up some of those approvals, and there are risks involved whenever you do that. M:\Public Data\City Council\Council Minutes\2007 Minutes\M 01-08-07 Workshop.doc City of Albertville City Council Minutes January 8, 2007 Page 2 of3 III. Task Force Update Jodi Ruehle provided an update of the 1-94 Task force activities including the latest draft ofthe MOD (Memo ofDnderstanding) drafted by the Working Group. The MOD serves as a document that communicates the willingness to work together to advance transportation improvements along a portion of the 1-94 Corridor among the Cities of Albertville, Otsego and St. Michael, Wright County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Ruehle added that additional supporting documents to the MOD include a map of the study area, a draft implementation schedule for the major projects within that area (interchange improvements at CSAH 19/37, Naber Avenue and Kadler Avenue) in order of priority and phasing. A fourth major project includes capacity issues on the Interstate that would require an additional lane of traffic. Ruehle concluded that the work accomplished by the Working Group and Task Force should be recognized as a major step in the way of reaching consensus and collaboration that improves the chances of acquiring support for funds at the federal level. IV. Phasing Analysis J aimison Sloboden of SEH reviewed .several standard layouts, which have been discussed in the past and several hybrid layouts. Sloboden's interactive layouts on the computer made it quite easy for the Council to understand the various phasing opportunities. Sloboden presented a menu of various components which helped the Council understand the cost of various phasing options. V. Council Discussion Discussion was held on the various standard and hybrid layouts, which the Council rallied around supporting the $12 million dollar project. Consensus was reached regarding the following: 1) Jaimison Sloboden of S.E.H. will generate an engineering proposal to complete the 1-94 Preliminary Plan and seek MnDOT approval of a staff approved layout. The proposal shall identify some sub-components such as a Geotechnical (soils) Study and a Hydrology Study or other components, which the city can pursue using the remainder (approximately $100,000) ofthe Federal Funds already allocated. These items would be viewed as stand alone projects, which MnDOT would approve. This effort would minimize the amount of money Albertville would have to invest in the Preliminary Engineering phase. 2) The Tinklenberg Group will proceed to seek Federal Funding for the 1-94 Project at an estimated cost of $3,000 per month. M:\Public Data\City Council\Council Minutes\2007 Minutes\M 01-08-07 Workshop.doc City of Albertville City Council Minutes January 8, 2007 Page 3 of3 3) S.E.H. and the Tinklenberg Group will collaborate and put together a Public Involvement Plan whereby a newsletter or brochure will be sent to Albertville residents and specific business owners that would be assessed and affected by the proposed 1-94 Project. In addition to the newsletter or brochure, the Albertville website can be used to convey project information. Several public information meetings will be held to inform the public. S.E.H and the Tinklenberg Group will put together a budget to accomplish this business. 4) Staff was directed to share the Council's interest with the 1-94 Task Force to pursue the $12 million dollar option with the goal to receive 50% Federal Funding and then to raise the remainder ofthe funds locally from State, County, Albertville and other partners. 5) To adopt the Memorandum of Understanding to work collaboratively with our out jurisdictions to promote the 1-94 corridor. 6) To generate several larger scale drawings to depict the preferred alternative. Mayor Klecker summarized that the meeting was very productive. Klecker was happy with the Council's unanimous direction to proceed and that it appears staffhas very clear marching orders. Klecker stated that being this is a workshop no action will be taken at this time, and that a decision will be deferred to the February 5 City Council meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. v:?~~ Ron Klecker, Mayor M:\Public Data\City Council\Council Minutes\2007 Minutes\M 01-08-07 Workshop.doc