092302 CC WS Min
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CITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23,2002
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
8:00 p.m. or immediately following
Regular Council meeting
MINUTES
1. CONVENE WORK SESSION MEETING
Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 10:02 P.M.
A.
Roll Call
Present:
Mayor Love; Councilmembers Garfunkel, Lizee, Turgeon, and Zerby; Administrator
Dawson; Engineer Brown, Planning Director Nielsen
Absent:
Attorney Keane; and Finance Director Burton
B.
Review Agenda
Garfunkel moved, Turgeon seconded, Approving the Agenda as presented. Motion passed 5/0.
2. TRAIL PROCESS
Engineer Brown explained an agenda item regarding the Approval of Plans and Specifications and
Estimate was placed on the September 9,2002, Council Agenda for review and consideration. During
that meeting, it was determined a Work Session would be needed to find answers and clarity
surrounding this topic.
Engineer Brown provided background regarding the chronology of events related to the Smithtown
Road offstreet trail issue and the Comprehensive Trail Plalming process. He presented a summary of
events regarding the history of the trail planning process and a document designed to assist the City
with that process. Next, he reviewed Steps 1 through 10 in the Trail Planning Process, noting there
was intepretation regarding the exact location in the process for the Smithtown Road project.
On January 28, 2002, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the design of widened shoulders
along the entire length of the project, and an offstreet trail west of the LRT. The type of trail in the
west portion was to be decided after a neighborhood meeting. The City's consultant proceeded on
that direction with preliminary plans based on direction given. On April 22, 2002, a work session was
conducted to provide direction into the design process. Since the time of the last authorization many
petitions and comments had been received regarding an offstreet trail along Smithtown Road. Staff
was directed to proceed with the design based upon a trail west of the LRT. The exact dimension and
type of trail would be determined as part of a neighborhood meeting.
Engineer Brown also noted the right-of-way process for Smithtown Road was not ordinary. An
Owners and Encumbrances Report, documenting control or interest in what appeared to be the right-
of-way and adjacent parcels along the entire length of Smithtown Road, was prepared by the City
Attorney.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
September 23, 2002
Page 2 of 3
The agenda item placed on the September 9, 2002, seemingly indicated consideration of final
construction plans for the project. Engineer Brown apologized for the misunderstanding indicated in
the wording for that Agenda item. He stated Staff never intended to circumvent the Trail Planning
process; rather, what was being sought was the authority, by Council action, to go door-to-door to
answer any right-of-way questions residents may have had regarding the offstreet trail project.
Much discussion ensued regarding the current actions of the project related to the trail planning
process.
Councilmembers Turgeon and Lizee expressed concern for presenting all possible options for the trail
to residents. Mayor Love stated it was important to give accurate information to residents. Funding
only allowed for either an 8-foot-wide bituminous trail or a 5-foot-wide concrete trail according to
Minnesota State Aid standards. He thought it important to share construction impacts regarding these
two options as demand for safety along Smithtown Road had been heard from residents, and these
were the only options available with current funding.
Engineer Brown stated both these options were presented at neighborhood meetings earlier in the
year. Discussion ensued regarding a potential course of action for the remainder of the project.
Engineer Brown noted Council consensus that the Park Commission should host a public
informational meeting regarding potential impacts to residents for this trail. Also, this offstreet trail
project would needed to be funded by Minnesota State Aid (MSA) dollars, which allowed for an
8-foot or a 5-foot offstreet trail on the west end of Smithtown Road along the northern side of the road
from the LRT to the Victoria municipal border. Other options for MSA funding would also be
explored.
Mayor Love commented he was anxious for this project to receive resident support, and the roadway
to be completed next year. Also, he suggested the alternatives define maximum and minimum
impacts for residents. These impacts should be presented clearly to the Park Commission, it should
determine the next step in the process and report back to Council at a later date.
Councilmember Zerby questioned whether a trail for the eastern end of Smithtown Road should be
investigated for feasibility as part of this project. Council agreed a decision had been made
previously that until such time as the City was petitioned for an offstreet trail in that area, there was
not a need to investigate the east end of Smithtown Road for offstreet trail purposes.
3. OTHER
Jeff Foust, Shorewood resident and representative to the Lake Minnetonka Cable Commission
(LMCC), requested attention from Engineer Brown regarding pending matters of concern with the
LMCC. Engineer Brown agreed to meet with Mr. Foust after this meeting to further discuss these
Issues.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
September 23, 2002
Page 3 of 3
4.
ADJOURN
Zerby moved, Lizee seconded, Adjourning the City Council Work Session Meeting of
September 23,2002, at 11:28 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Sally Keefe,
Recording: Secretary
Woody Love, Mayor