Minutes - 2000/05/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council May 8, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 17 • Community Development Director Jopke stated staff has discussed this matter with the University of Minnesota Design Center, with regard to the role they might take to assist the City in visualizing the possibilities, as well as how the I-35W Corridor discussion could assist in this matter. He indicated representatives of Springsted were present to discuss the refocused study, adding that staff desired to ensure that the Council was comfortable with this direction prior to proceeding. He provided the Council with a memorandum that described the revisions to the process. Sharon of Springsted & Associates stated the revised process came forward after they had an opportunity to examine a number of the studies that have been done in the past, and to discuss this matter with Community Development Director Jopke to obtain a sense of what might be a means to synthesize all of the good work that has been done on the roadway study over the past two years. She stated they examined the opportunity to break the process into two pieces, so that the process of creating an action plan could be accomplished in two phases. She indicated the first phase would be the coordination of the Steering Committee. She explained that individuals from the Economic Development Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission, and individuals from the school have been identified for participation in this committee. Ms. stated one of the first items of importance would be to provide the Steering Committee some of the background that has been done in previous studies to provide them with • a sense of the community input received, and the recommendations that came out of that. She indicated for the most part, the studies are very current, however, several things are occurring that require additional input. She explained that one of these is the affect of the opening of the Interstate 610, as all of the studies were done prior to this, and all of the studies carry a general caveat that it would be important to come back and review the matter after the interstate was opened. She stated they were aware that Highway 10 would be turned back from the State to Ramsey County, and this should be viewed as an opportunity to examine the types of changes they would like to see. She pointed out that with the close proximity of I-35W to Highway 10, the I-35W Corridor Coalition could be of some influence. Ms. stated they would like to develop a matrix, which would lay out a number of the common elements that each plan addresses, and then lay out a list of the recommendations to define the progression of what is occurring. She noted that many of the same themes have been repeated in the studies. She indicated that after they have the opportunity to review that information and discuss an action plan with the Steering Committee, they thought that the second meeting might be a discussion of what opportunities exist, and there was an idea at a previous meeting with staff that they might tour comparable highway projects that have been done, to examine some of the things that are occurring. She stated these would be projects that have taken place over a period of time, therefore, they should provide some insight into the different elements and strategies utilized in the remaking of a corridor. She indicated they would also like to have the involvement of the Design Center, and this, in conjunction with a tour, would heighten the ability to draw upon their resources as well as what other communities have done. •