09-26-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION September 6, 2016 DRAFT 3 2. MnDOT I-35W North Corridor Project - Community Development Director 89 Grochala recalled the council’s discussion on the I-35W North improvement project. 90 The council directed staff to speak with the city attorney about language related to the 91 MnPass element. He has invited MnDOT representatives to come and speak about the 92 program; he noted the project schedule deadline. A resolution was distributed that was 93 developed through discussion with the city attorney. 94 Jerome Adams, Project Manager, indicated he is available for questions about the project. 95 Council Member Rafferty asked for an explanation of the MnPass program. Mr. Adams 96 noted that a MnPass lane is a lane that is free to everyone 20 hours of each work day and 97 24 hours per day on the weekend. If a single occupant of a car wants to use that lane 98 during those restricted hours it has a cost. There is a tag you can purchase that is always 99 on or a tag you can purchase to use with a switch. You will get a monthly statement for 100 the use. 101 The mayor said that is how it operates today but it could evolve over time. Mr. Adams 102 said yes adding operation is regulated by statute. 103 The council asked about variable pricing. Mr. Adams explained how the price goes up 104 with the volume of cars. There are sensors in the freeway lanes. 105 106 The council heard about the proposed project. At its onset, the project did not include 107 any portion of roadway within Lino Lakes. The limit of the MnPass lane has never 108 included any roadway in Lino Lakes. The project was therefore discussed with the 109 impacted cities only. At one point, MnDOT staff determined that a pavement project 110 was scheduled for the near future on a portion of roadway into the City. Therefore it was 111 efficient to add that project to this larger project and that meant that a noise analysis was 112 required. That analysis resulted in MnDOT deciding that the noise wall project in the 113 city makes sense. There is a voting process with residents underway. MnDOT will be 114 holding two public meetings to provide information. The city council is asked to 115 consider municipal consent and the options for the city are passage of a resolution 116 approving or disapproving the project or sending a formal waiver of consideration. 117 118 Mayor Reinert reviewed the resolution provided by the city attorney. He suggested that 119 it protects the city from ever being asked to participate financially in a project. The 120 resolution states an opinion but MnDOT will apparently do what they wish; it does say 121 there will be no city financial support. 122 123 Mark Lindeberg, MnDOT representative, remarked that he reads the resolution to say 124 that the project doesn’t receive approval. Mayor Reinert said it’s just semantics and it 125 doesn’t say the city doesn’t approve the project. However since the deadline for city 126 consideration is October 30, the legal minds can discuss any issues. 127 128 Mr. Lindeberg explained the process they normally follow when consent isn’t granted. 129 There is arbitration, discussion and a decision by a three-member board and MnDOT 130 then makes a decision on going ahead. MnDOT is not asking for any money. 131