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- (Background) The Transportation Committee, consisting of nine residents or local business people, reviewed crash data for uncontrolled intersections in Richfield. They found that uncontrolled intersections had much higher crash rates than those that have stop control. (Surprised?) They now propose a new policy that emphasizes safety by installing two-way stop signs at ALL UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS WITHIN THE CITY'S RESIDENTIAL AREAS. Translated, this means at every single corner of the street that runs into a major thoroughfare.
Public comments on this proposal will be received by the Transportation Committee through July 15, 2005. You can comment through the city's website: www.cityofrichfield.org, go to City Hall's reception area, write to City Hall-Stop Sign Policy, 6700 Portland Avenue, Richfield, MN 55423, or call (612) 861-9797. Take time to contact the Transportation Committee with your comments. (Final Action) As of the latest December, Richfield News Letter, the Transportation Commission has chosen to reaffirm the existing stop sign policy since additional stop signs would not produce significant increases in safety.
- The School Board has declined to support the TIF bill requested by the Richfield City Council. Paul Thissen to introduce bill to the State Legislature. The bill would allow the City of Richfield to declare a special TIF district on the east side and remove more single family homes. Some houses there have already been soundproofed in anticipation of the completion of the North South runway. Now the city is contending that those houses will be uninhabitable after the runway is completed. (?) Go to Editor's Notes for an updated discussion.
Bill Killian and Susan Rosenberg sought a resolution from the School Board that would support the legislation. "We try to present ourselves as a unified community." Susan Rosenberg said to explain the request for school district support. But School Board members refused to pass a resolution of their own. They noted that the school district is seeking funds to replace per-pupil funding for students displaced by redevelopment as a result of the runway. Richfield school district has already lost 49 students north of 66th street and might lose another 150 south of 66th street. Superintendent Barbara Devlin and several board members said a resolution supporting the TIF district might work against them saying, "If the school board enacted a resolution in support of this, however laudable, legislators would say, 'Don't say you need money because you just supported this to remove housing so you brought this on yourself'." (Makes sense) Despite her desire to "present ourselves as a unified community", Susan Rosenberg and the rest of the city council are going to support the bill and work to remove the houses for redevelopment regardless of the lack of support from the Richfield School Board.
- After hearing residents speak at the February 8th 2005 public hearing regarding franchise fees, several City Council members have agreed that revenues other than franchise fees should be considered in the future. In January, the 10% franchise fee went into effect that was certified for 2005 on September 6th, 2004. You can see them on your electric and gas bills. Council members that have made the recommendation to consider other options are Fred Wroge and Bill Killian. Franchise fees should be reserved for emergencies, said Fred Wroge. He suggests that the revenue currently raised by the franchise fees should be shifted to property tax bills when the city has that option. Killian also said that the city needs the money, but the council should review alternatives. Sue Sandahl and Susan Rosenberg both support the fees, but Sandahl did tell Fred Wroge that he has some good points. These fees are expected to be increased for 2006 with additional fees being discussed. (Note: This and other topics affecting our city finances will be in ongoing discussions and articles.)
- The Richfield City Council had approved a change in a comprehensive plan in September, 2004, that affects the Cedar Point area east from Bloomington Avenue to Highway 77 (Cedar Avenue). Some time before and subsequent to this action the city has been buying out homes in the area to make way for development. Because this process has taken over two years, with no development initiated, its tax based was reduced to reflect only its land value. In October 2005, the City Council voted to have the area developed as a regional shopping center with a Target and Home Depot as anchor stores. And since the area did not qualify as a TIF Development, our HRA, State Senator and Representative(s) petitioned and received permission to use Tax Abatement for a period of 15 years (not to exceed 18 years). Consequently, the city will not only lose tax revenues it received prior to any of the buyouts, but also any new taxes generated by the new development for 15 years. As an aside and using Richfield's geographic center (the S.E. corner of the High School tennis courts), for a radius of 2 miles, how many Targets, Home Depots, Kmarts,Walmarts, Menard's, Rainbows, CUBS, Best Buys, Regional Shopping Centers, Ikeas, ad infinitum. Do we need ANOTHER Target and Home Depot? You tell me!
- The Charter Commission was in the process of studying some major changes to our City Charter. One change being considered will make it much more difficult for citizens to meet the requirements for a petition for referendum.
Another significant change to our Charter that was considered, is the removal of Section 8.04 and Section 8.05. Section 8.04: "Any capital improvement on City owned property which has an estimated cost exceeding $500,000.00 or expenditures for design or engineering costs exceeding $75,000.00 must be approved by ordinance after a public hearing". Section 8.05: " Notice of public hearings required by Section 8.04 shall be published at least twice in the official newspaper within fourteen days prior to the hearing".
(Note) These two sections were added to our city charter in 1998 in an effort to control government spending, and to allow the public to have a say in such large expenditures. Now, only 5 years later our Charter Commission is recommending their removal. The amount of money involved is not significant. What IS significant is that this change abandons the requirement for public hearings on the dispersal of capital in our city.
These changes have been indefinitely tabled, keeping our charter safe for another four years, because Fred Wroge is was in favor of changing the charter. The changes must be unanimously voted in. Thank you Fred.
- For those of you who have just moved to Richfield, or are considering moving to Richfield, at the April 9th, 2002 meeting, our city council changed the zoning rules for Penn, Nicollet, Portland and 66th Street to allow for high density housing along those thoroughfares. This new zoning rule encompasses 660 single family homes and permits 14 units per acre on effected streets for future development.
- Airport effect: The total number of takeoffs and landings at MSP International in 2002 was 492,809 (1,350 per day). The forecast for 2007 is 583,149 (1,597). (Note) With the new airport runway opened in October, it will be interesting to learn if the perceived noise will be significantly increased as anticipated by our city staff. While some change may occur, I seriously doubt it will compare to the level witnessed by those in the flyover areas of Eagan and Southeast Bloomington. (see more in Editor's Notes)
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As of November, after a Special City Council Work session on May 9th, 2005 to discuss the possibility of a Roundabout Intersection design, the Council is in the final approval stages adopting Roundabouts for the intersections at 66th Street and Portland Avenue and 66th Street and 17 1/2 Avenue. Do you know what a Roundabout design is? Ask your Council member what impact the construction of such an intersection will have traffic flow and pedestrian safety in those areas. Eighty percent of proposed financing for the 17 1/2 Roundabout will be from citywide bonding with the remaining 20 percent the responsibility the developer. Financing for the Portland Avenue Roundabout is anticipated to be by bonding that will be repaid with future revenues originally intended to repair and maintain our city streets. As these maintenance costs occur (well into the future) I would not be at all surprised they will be paid for through additional bonding. (see more in Editor's Notes)
Call Nancy Gibbs, City Clerk and ask to be put on the mailing list for these Special City Council Work sessions. 861-9738.
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The City Council has placed a one year moratorium (ending December 2005) on adding parking spots to front yards in Richfield? The moratorium will allow the Planning Commission time to review current regulations relating to front yard parking; how much property beyond that for a driveway should be allowed for parking will be considered; and whether existing parking areas should be allowed to remain. Stay tuned for the outcome.
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At the December 13, 2005 meeting the City Council topics affecting the future of the city were discussed:
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Modification to the Richfield Redevelopment Area would effectively make all of Richfield a redevelopment area. Members of the private and business sectors had questions as to the effects on affordable housing and ability for small businesses to effectively plan. Representatives of the Planning and Development tried to assuage any anxieties with questionable results. While the action was portrayed as streamlining the development process, others might see it as enabling unbridled development.
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Changes to the Comprehensive Plan for the I-494 Corridor. While state statute requires periodic updating, there was considerable discussion as to what essential changes were being proposed and how restrictive the plan would be. The presenter indicated the plan was conceptual, spanning out 20-30 years and therefore very open to change. Council Member Wroge questioned the vagueness of the presenter's plan, while at the same time implying a pattern to be followed, making business and development decisions difficult over such a long period of time. At one time in the conversation it appeared Council Member Wroge, regarding current development plans, was questioning the voracity of the Council and Staff and its appetite for development and the ability to pay for it. It appeared that he seemed to be emphasizing the difference between the conceptual and the tangible.
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And finally, the Council was updated on the progress of the Cedar Point Project (66th & Cedar). During the briefing by the Ryan Co. spokesman indicated delayed construction would mean completion of the Target & Home Depot stores would not be completed until late 2007 to the disappointment of the whole Council. Council Member Sandahl asked the Ryan co. spokesman how the planned Roundabout intersection was being received by the tenants of the project. The Council Member was told that while the Ryan Staff was enthusiastic about the roundabout the future tenants were taking a guarded "wait and see" attitude. Council Member Wroge later asked the city's financial consultant to clarify how much the Ryan Co. was paying the city for the involved land. The Council Member was told that of the four land parcels involved in the project, two parcels totaling a value of slightly under four million dollars were to be sold for one dollar each with the other two parcels sold at market value, the amount of which was yet to be determined. (It'll be interesting to hear what that agreed to amount will be).