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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-29-19801438 RECORD OF OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA Adjourned Meeting No. 15 - September 29, 1980 Agenda Item A-1 E-1 President Postier called the meeting to order at 4:45 P.M. The fol- lowing members being present: 'President Postier, Aldermen Allen, Duffy, Larson, Powers and Solinger. Absent: None. The minutes of the September 15 and September 22, 1980 meetings were approved on a motion by Alderman Solinger; Alderman Allen seconded. Ayes (7), Nays.(0). Motion carried. Prior to discussions by the Council on the item of the Central District Traffic Patterns, several persons wished to be heard: Arnold Ullevig, Traffic Consultant from Bether, Ringrose, Wolsfeld (BRW), presented a brief synposis of the interim report on'traffic and air quality analysis prepared by BRW. He explained the eight al- ternatives identified by the report and the effect of traffic and air quality requirements of each. Mr. Ullevig also pointed out that if various options are evaluated and it is decided to go ahead with any development in the downtown area, BRW's conversations with the Pol- lution Control Agency indicate that there would be no indirect source permits required for any project; there is not a need to prepare any environmental assessments for a specific project in the downtown area: but there is a requirement and a need to amend the City's Transport- ation Control Plan. Wishing to be heard was Mr. Gordon Gjelten of Architectural Design Group, representing Olmsted Federal Savings and Loan, Inc. of Rochester. Mr. Gjelten expressed disapproval of the one-way pair option and explained that if such an alternative was decided, future expansion of the block between Third and Fourth Streets S.W. by Olmsted Federal would be impossible. Carl Laumann, Chairman of the Downtown Development District Advisory Board, stated that since the September 18•meeting of:.the Advisory Board (recommending approval to the Common Council for the one-way pair alternative) he has been approached by Board members wishing to reverse their recommendation. He said that such a reversal was cause( by new information being available since that meeting. He urged that the Council not put the issue on the November 4 general election ballot. Wishing to be heard was Louise Hill, representing the Riverside Partners Project. Ms. Hill stated that they are opposed to the one- way pair of First Avenue West and Broadway because of the fact that they would be cut off of the traffic pattern in downtown Rochester. Mr. Richard Bins wished to be heard. Mr. Bins is opposed to the re- commended one-way pair. He stated that he believes a better solution would be to split off Broadway south of the river and stay on the east side of the river. This would, however, be contingent upon the rail- road right-of-way. RECORD OF OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL i439 CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA .Adjourned Meeting No. 15 - September 29, 1980 Agenda Item E-1 Richard Ehrick, member of the Downtown Development District Advisory Board, stated that the Board had made the recommendation it did on the basis of the information available at that time. He explained that the recommendation was made with a further recommendation of eventually seeking the First Avenue East/First Avenue West as the ultimate solution. President of the Downtown Council, Mr. Mac Hamilton, wished to be heard. Mr. Hamilton stated that the preference of the Downtown Council was the First Avenue East/Broadway pair. Clem Springer, member of the Traffic Committee, wished to be heard. He stated that he felt many recommendations were made solely on the basis of what people thought might be politically feasible. He sug- gested that the Council study further the alternatives and suggestion! given before making a decision on the project. Roger Plumb, Director of Public Services, was asked for input. Mr. Plumb stated that one of their main concerns has been the air quality aspect. The Air Pollution Control Agency has i.ndicated that unless the City of Rochester is not in compliance by December 31, 1982; or if the City does not achieve progress towards compliance toward the intervening years, the City could be in trouble as far as federal funding, etc. He also stated that the City should move toward some type of compliance but hoped that the Council would not make a dec- ision to close First Avenue West at this time. After much discussion by Council members, President Postier reminded the Council that: (1) This was the tenth time:the people have been told that the item would be on the November ballot, and (2).That on the subject of closing First Avenue West, it was the decision of the Council that the item would be on the evening's agenda and would be voted upon: 'He -stated that he saw that neither of these items would be carried out -but urged the Council to start to proceed with some development downtown. Alderman Strain moved, Larson seconded, to advise the developer of t First Avenue West project (Piper Project) that the Council would not close First Avenue West and that the Council ask the developer to bridge First Avenue West. Discussion followed. Jack Piper spoke at the request of the Council. He stated that the developers did not have all the information at this time, however, he did not see how bridging the First Avenue West street would be feasible. The question was called for on the motion. Ayes (3), Aldermen Larson. Solinger, Strain; Nays (3), Aldermen Allen, Duffy, Powers; Abstention (1), President Postier. President Postier stated that the reason for his abstention was to get the Council to put the one-way pair on the ballot. Motion not carried. 1440 RECORD OF OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA Ajourned Meeting No. 15 - September 29, 1980 Agenda Item E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 Alderman Allen moved, Duffy seconded, to not place the one-way pair item on the November 4 election ballot. Ayes (5), Nays (2), Presideni Postier and Alderman'Strain voting nay. Motion carried. Allen moved, Duffy seconded, to approve the salary for Frederick S. Suhler, City Attorney, at $39,500 per year effective August 16, 1980. Ayes (7), Nays (0). Motion carried. Solinger moved, Larson seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 526-80 issu- ing a Revocable Permit to Eagle Drug Store. This permit allows the Eagle Drug Store to encroach into the City right-of-way at 23 South Broadway with structural steel for the purpose of preventing the collapse of the south wall of their building. Ayes (7), Nays (0). Motion carried. Powers moved, Strain seconded, to grant permission to the Knights of Columbus to hold a parade on October 4, 1980. The parade, involving approximately 500 students from parochial schools, is prior to the organization's Marathon for Non -Public Education. Ayes (7), Nays (0) Motion carried. Alderman Solinger moved, Allen seconded, to approve an Auctioneer's License for Lawrence Bielenberg of 1929 Elton Hills. Drive, Rochester. Ayes (7), Nays (0). Motion carried. Having no further business, Alderman Allen moved, Larson seconded, to adjourn the meeting until 2:00 P.M. on October 6, 1980. Ayes (7), Nays (0). Motion carried. �& &hf,� Deputy City Clerk i