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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Minutes of the February 12, 2009 Special City Council ProceedingsROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING PROCEEDINGS MARCH 12, 2009 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Special Meeting of the Rosemount City Council was held on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 2875 145 Street West, Rosemount. Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Members DeBettignies, Shoe Corrigan, Weisensel and Bills attending. Staff members present included City Administrator Johnson, Communications Coordinator Cox, Community Development Director Lindquist, City Engineer Brotzler and City Clerk Domeier. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA City Administrator Johnson stated that the minutes from the March 11, 2009 MVTA board meeting were distributed for City Council reference. OLD BUSINESS 2.a. Consider notice to Minnesota Valley Transit Authority to withdraw from membership at the end of 2009 City Administrator Johnson stated that staff had further conversations with both the Met Council and MVTA during the last week to clarify the financial estimates of revenues and expenditures if the City were to leave the MVTA. He provided the financial information based upon the City's current level of service as outlined in the staff report. Mr. Johnson also provided the pros and cons of leaving or staying with the MVTA. Mr. Johnson stated that at the MVTA Board meeting on February 11, 2009, the board passed a motion unanimously that directed their staff to immediately begin plans to change Rosemount's express routes, construct a park and ride facility in Rosemount and place appropriate signage for the park and ride location. He added that he believed it was the intention that all three items should occur in 2009. Mayor Droste stated that Rosemount is uniquely positioned because of having the refinery and the open space to the east. He provided information about the financial issues the MVTA faces. Based upon the MVTA meeting held on March 11, he believes the board was in agreement with the issues the City presented. He added that with the commitment provided by the MVTA it was in the City's best interest to remain in the MVTA. Council Member Weisensel suggested having a community task force that could provide additional input to address the issues. He added that making better decisions with rider input could help drive the ridership and enhance the partnership with the City and the MVTA. Mayor Droste stated that in 2006 open houses were held to comment on the transit study. City Engineer Brotzler added that in addition to the open houses related to the comprehensive plan a task force did meet three or four times to discuss transit. Mr. Weisnesel stated that there was a great effort put into the transit plan and it should be continually reviewed with the citizens. He thought it was important to engage the citizens in the process. Council Member Bills was concerned with the geography of Rosemount and questioned how the City could obtain better service. He suggested that the City could design a plan that ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING PROCEEDINGS MARCH 12, 2009 would better serve the residents that commute from Rosemount. Mayor Droste stated that the frequency of buses is determined upon the amount of ridership. Council Member Weisensel questioned if the City was missing an opportunity to provide more service, flexibility and finding a niche service by not leaving the MVTA. Council Member Shoe Corrigan stated that there was dysfunction with the system as a whole not just in the local district. She questioned what the plan was for district service with Rosemount being on the edge of the service area. She added that Rosemount could end up being a larger city than Eagan or Apple Valley when UMore develops. While she was happy to hear that the MVTA was being responsive she expressed concern about the Met Council possibly overturning the decisions made last night. Mr. Johnson did not think it was likely for the Met Council to overturn any specific decision, but rather they might ask the MVTA to find something to cut somewhere in the five city system. He added that the possibility for funding the transit station did not include any reimbursement for land and he was not sure if the land would be transferred or leased. He noted that staff would work on a plan. Mayor Droste stated there was previous service to DCTC but it wasn't efficient as there was no housing around the college and the college was closed in the summers. He added that residents want a dependent system. Council Member Shoe Corrigan stated the need for transit at the college could be addressed by the task force. She added there was room for improvement within the current system and task force could provide the City Council with feedback. City Administrator Johnson noted there were many good reasons to have a task force for the following reasons: 1) to receive feedback from the actual ridership; 2) staff and residents could attend the met council transit meetings; 3) the group could evaluate the special areas of needs such as the college; and 4) the group could use the transit plan brought forward last July and keep looking ahead for future transit. Council Member Shoe Corrigan stated that a transit station would help with the local economic development. She questioned how the City would build ridership and meet all the concerns of the residents. She added that the City did not have to belong to the MVTA to continue the current system and was concerned that until the City threatened to leave withdraw it had been a non voice. Council Member -Shoe Corrigan stated that the City has always been on the edge of a larger district with no routes and for the past 18 years the City was an after thought. Council Member DeBettignies stated he was not happy with the amount of money the City has spent over the years to have nothing relevant happen within the community. He was please that the MVTA has stepped up and listened to the concerns. He suggested have a circular route in Rosemount to allow more flexibility to the riders and increase the ridership. Mayor Droste stated that the City could not dictate where a flex route would be located. He added that with the funding issues it was very difficult to make plans with how the system is structured today. Council Member Bills stated that the geography of Rosemount going to cause funding issues with Rosemount routes being the first to be cut. He stated that Rosemount would be back to where they are today if routes would be cut. Mr. Johnson stated that Peter Bell with the Motion by DeBettignies. Second by Droste. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING PROCEEDINGS MARCH 12, 2009 Met Council made it very clear that operating transit is a first priority more than building facilities or funding other programs. He added that Mr. Bell plans to use stimulus dollars to keep transit moving forward. Mr. Johnson addressed Council Member Bills earlier question about what was in store for Rosemount based upon the population and geography. He stated that the City was challenged because of the location and its ridership. The focus needs to remove barriers such as express buses going more directly. He stated it was not a reality to get more service then what is currently provided but to make what is there better. Council Member Bills stated he wasn't sure it made sense to stay in the MVTA. Mr. Johnson pointed out that doing an opt -out on our own will have challenges. Dakota County Commissioner Branning provided the history of other cities doing an opt out. Mr. Branning stated he wanted Rosemount to remain in the MVTA. He added that he wanted to see what has been presented and voted on at the MVTA meeting upheld and implemented in the 2009 calendar year. Council Member Shoe Corrigan stated she wanted Rosemount included in the system as a whole and in a manner that is proper for the residents and ridership. Council Member DeBettignies stated the City needs equity and to be more vocal moving forward. Council Member Shoe Corrigan expressed frustration that Farmington and Lakeville do not pay in to the system but receive a benefit. She added that if the City Council believes the motions at the MVTA board meeting stating they will move forward in Rosemount she would give the MVTA another year. Council Member Bills stated he was advocating for what's best in the short and longterm of the community. Motion to continue membership in MVTA. Council Member Bills stated he has a great belief in City staff and that with local control the City could provide service to more than 26 people. Council Member Shoe Corrigan agreed. Council Member Weisensel stated that the reasons to leave the MVTA are very compelling. Mr. Johnson stated it was a positive choice either way. Ayes: DeBettignies, Shoe Corrigan, Droste Nays: Weisensel, Bills. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Droste, second by DeBettignies, the special meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Amy Domeier, City Clerk