This transcript features a discussion regarding a city-wide speed limit study, land easements with Andersen Corporation, and departmental reports. Based on the context provided, here is the attributed transcript. **Note on "Adam":** While not on the provided staff list, "Adam" is the lead consultant/engineer from SEH (the firm conducting the speed study) and acts as the primary presenter for the technical portions of the meeting. *** **[0:01] Adam (Consultant):** Um, that is all I have. Does anybody have any questions? **[0:03] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** I do. Yeah. Is this the—is this the minimum signage that you or that we could get by with, or this is what you're recommending? **[0:15] Adam (Consultant):** Correct. This—this would be the minimum assignment that would be needed within the city. Every entrance point off of the state highway and off of the county roads. **[0:24] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** And then just another question. There was some question you previously talked about in Option Three. It does say under this option the city can have varying speed limits along different roadways under their jurisdiction. Main Street/Railroad Tracks was one of them that was sort of questionable whether or not we could alter the speed there. Does this now include us being able to keep things there? **[0:45] Adam (Consultant):** That's correct. Good for now. **[1:18] Councilmember Carl Bliss:** Osprey to the south there on the south side... so I just want to make sure that's clear that everyone on the council that I asked Adam about and he said yes, there is going to be one there. Yep. Um, and then there's also what appeared to me to be an extra one in Inspiration. We have one at each entrance to Inspiration, but there's that extra one on Inspiration Parkway South. And Adam said that's usual, which came up on the speed study as well, but just wanted to point that out and maybe have you explain whether is that necessary that far—that close to the other one that's right at the entrance? **[1:53] Adam (Consultant):** And that one would be for westbound traffic on the other side of the road. So the first one that would be placed there would be for eastbound, so as you're entering the neighborhood, and that would be for the westbound, I believe. **[2:04] Councilmember Carl Bliss:** Oh, okay. So they're speeding right there as they're coming to the edge just west of the main entrance. Yeah. Okay. That is—it seems so close to the exit that I would think they'd be slowing down by then, but okay. Maybe push it back a little bit. Um, I also—is only—that's more when you get into the other—when we actually talk about—you're gonna show us more of the actual speed study that you did. You go ahead. Um, there's that one page where it shows all the different speeds that you tracked on the different streams. There were two tracking points on fifth yesterday... **[2:58] Adam (Consultant):** Correct. Yep. **[4:16] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Changes to the speed limit... staff does expect there to be some changes to the actual intersection traffic. So, we didn't—there still is work to be done as far as the potential stop signs at certain intersections, so those are still being looked at. But we do expect there to be a change to the traffic patterns. The intersections themselves may have a change based on just the speed change. So we're doing it separately as opposed to all at one time being various changes. So to Councilmember Hanson's questions—so we talked about a little bit—I did talk to the engineers about then the list of intersections... well, Mr. Jorgensen did answer the questions why they were too close. All right, so we'll circle back to pinpointed intersections that may be potential. **[5:04] Mayor Michele Hanson:** Ethan, did you have a question? **[5:08] Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** I did have a question. I know we originally talked that if we go to 25, we don't have to do the signs. Is that still a thing, or do you have to put signs up no matter what speed we go to? **[5:22] Adam (Consultant):** Um, you would have to put up the signs for 25 on the residential areas. That changes. It was—we thought that maybe it was 25 you didn't have to put the signs... residential neighborhoods. So you would still have some 30 mile an hour streets in the city, so you would need to sign 25. **[5:54] Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** Okay. Do you happen to have this study with you that you can bring up on your—on the laptop? Um, nowhere near what we have in terms of 30 mile an hour signage, right? This—I mean in turn—I know I have to study... which is a lot. **[6:40] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** The other thing I'm curious about is all of our alleys are actually 10 miles an hour. Is that just something that everyone should know? We don't have to sign all the alleys? **[6:49] Adam (Consultant):** Okay, good. **[6:51] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** So yeah, I think that for everybody here, that 10 miles an hour in alleys is a state law, just so we don't have to sign for that if we're changing. Yeah. Okay, thank you. I was kind of hoping that we would have the full study to be able to share on screen, but I have a few—I have a few questions in the principles section, which is in section 2 of the study. And this study was... in the summary, it says it's an attached report provides the engineering analysis needed so the City of Bayport may select a speed limit that they feel is appropriate for their city roadways. I was kind of hoping for a recommendation instead of just, you know, "here's information." But, you know, it does quote that the city council's desire is to change the speed limit city-wide, and then they go on to talk about goals and guiding principles were established regarding the speed limits. And the first part is in the principles: "partner where feasible with neighboring cities to maximize consistency in new speed limits." And I saw that the examples that were cited in the analysis are Minneapolis, who has a population of 420,000 plus their visitors and commuters; St. Paul with a population of 304,000; St. Louis Park with a population of 48,000; and Edina with a population of 51,000. Now, those are urban or almost urban sites. We have very little in common with those except for that we have people who drive and people who walk. So then I'm wondering where the information is or what we did to talk to Oak Park Heights, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Lakeland? Because those are our neighbors. Sure, any information with those? And I—oh, go ahead. May I ask my questions? So do you have any of that information? **[8:48] Adam (Consultant):** We do not, no. But that is something that we can definitely... I have some information and I'm almost certain I was going to try and pull it up quick. Lake St. Croix Beach—didn't SCH do the speed study for Lake St. Croix Beach? And they went to 20 miles an hour. There's others. Stillwater is looking to move to lowering speed limits within the city as well. I know that... **[9:40] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** On Uniform Traffic Devices, they have the state agency—they should conduct engineering. We've got non-stationary limits on sections of the road undergoing significant changes since last review. I don't think we ever had an original. But I'm just wondering, did you document any changes that were significant to driveways, different parking situations in the last 5, 10, 20 years? Did anything significantly change that was one of the factors to look at as far as making a recommendation to lower speed limits? **[10:24] Adam (Consultant):** And I don't think that we have that, other than Inspiration. **[10:30] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** Okay. Okay, thank you. And then, you know, we have the speed distribution. We have the crash data that we evaluated. But in that crash data, it says that none of the crashes that exist that were documented on city streets were where speed was an excessive speed contributing factor. So we are saying we have the potential for these accidents, we've taken five years of data, but we don't have anything that's happened that can be added to excessive speeding. So I just want to... **[11:27] Adam (Consultant):** On average, you know, over 30 miles, it was 31 miles an hour. All their average speeds were less than 30 miles an hour, the data points that we collected. **[12:30] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** Intent of the council is—and it seems to be pretty consistent because we've talked about it on multiple occasions—to lower this. So I'm just wondering, has the city staff and police department addressed how that will take place? And how, with our current understaffed police team, are we going to address it? And I was wondering maybe if Chief Jackson could—would want to comment or Adam? **[14:14] Jay Jackson (Police Chief):** I'll—for the enforcement, but there will be a period of when the change happens educating the public involved, including the stopping of vehicles. But as both the engineers' report and the study calls, our police have acknowledged that enforcement—that did happen on our streets, they did not involve excessive [speeding]. **[14:56] Mayor Michele Hanson:** Yeah, but I think what we have to keep in mind is that what excessive speed has been in the past is anything over 30 miles an hour. So to me, even 30 miles an hour is an excessive speed on those streets. So I think that has to be taken with that context. You know, we haven't already changed the speed limit, so people are driving as you saw in the mid-20s to 30s on some of those streets like Inspiration Parkway. So I just feel like it's an unfair assessment of that because it is excessive still. **[16:09] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** Well, that's kind of another point is that we've gone ahead and paid for a study to tell us something that we wanted to hear. That's what it is. **[16:37] Mayor Michele Hanson:** I think that's unfair. Yeah, I think it's unfair. To me, that's—that's sort of uncalled for in my opinion. To say that it was a foregone conclusion for them to come to these results is not fair to SEH, and that's what you insinuated. Well, I'm still not—I'm okay. Understand. So you talked for quite a while. **[18:25] Councilmember Carl Bliss:** The number shouldn't matter if it's 5, 10, 15, 20, 55. The number is the number. Either you pull somebody over for exceeding the speed limit or you don't pull them over for exceeding the speed limit. It shouldn't be enforced more when it's 20 than it is when it's 30. So that shouldn't be any more strain on our police department in my opinion. And I do appreciate that she didn't show that we had people driving over 30 on average except for in the Inspiration neighborhood. So it will take an increase at least initially until people do it. The whole point of it is that it's too fast—you want it lower. That's the whole point. So yeah, the data shows that, but that's the point. **[21:28] Councilmember Katie Hill:** I think—was there—if you feel like you didn't do a very thorough report, I read several other cities' reports that you guys didn't do, and this is very much a part of what has been presented to others. I feel like you didn't do what we asked you to do because this was—is what needs to be done in order to do the changes. **[22:45] Adam (Consultant):** I was just going to say that some of the process—the council, I received a couple questions of, "I thought the council already approved the 20 miles an hour." Some of the—the council was not able to, you know, formally approve the 20 mile per hour change until the study was done. So the back end—may, when SEH do the study, the next step is to come back and accept the study and then... **[23:46] Mayor Michele Hanson:** All right. Well done with that. There's two possible motions. One is to approve the results, and the second would be to potentially... **[24:56] Mayor Michele Hanson:** [Reading the motion] "Accept the results... 20 miles per hour on, it says, applicable city streets, but I think it's—it would be all municipal streets, also streets in Bayport and other stuff to implement required efforts accordingly." Thank you. Is there a second? **[25:12] Councilmember Carl Bliss:** I'll second. **[25:15] Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Carl. All in favor? (Aye) Opposed? (I oppose). All right. That concludes that topic. **[25:56] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** This item is what was formerly known as the Land, Water, Legacy conservation properties that the city purchased a couple years ago. And I've pulled up the concept map that's included as part of the easement. Just give the public a kind of a quick status update of where we're at. When the city purchased the property, there was a timeline that the city had to provide access to the public. Because the land was essentially landlocked other than some private driveway easements through parking areas, the city was interested in getting a better long-term access. And so in our discussions with Andersen Windows, they offered to provide an easement through their what's referred to as the landing strip. It's off of Central Avenue, down by Lakeside Park. Half of that would be granted to the city and allow the city to get much easier access. It would eliminate some security issues, the mixing of public-private traffic, and get us to where we would like to be, or potentially in the future, move the boat launch from Fourth Avenue down onto the property. As a result of giving up that parking area for the access easement, it was discussed and negotiated to provide a future parking expansion if necessary. There are two easements: one is the city granting the future parking expansion, and then the other is Andersen granting to the city a permanent easement for the access lanes. **[29:01] Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** So just so I'm clear, this easement that we're doing now isn't just pedestrians can get in there, or there's no car access? **[29:10] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Not onto the property. You'll be able to have a vehicle, and there is going to be parking right near the access. The security moves north to the north end of the easement area. **[31:30] Deputy Mayor Ethan Gilmore:** So they moved the security fence that they moved—is the one that used to run right on like Central? Correct. Going into the park? **[31:40] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** So they'll still have the western half of the landing strip that we'll have the gate. All the easement area now will have security vehicle barriers in between the two lanes. So Andersen is granting the whole eastern half of the entire landing strip, which comes out to 66 feet wide. **[32:34] Councilmember Katie Hill:** So is it one-way, two lanes? So then how do you— **[32:37] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** No, it accommodates two-lane traffic. It does. Yes, with the plus parking in that half of that landing strip. **[35:33] Councilmember Katie Hill:** Because I was unclear about how all that worked, but so we are actually giving Andersen 24,000 square feet of parking on the north end, and they're giving us 35,000 square feet of their landing strip. Just so that's clear, that we're not getting the short end of the stick. **[35:54] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** No. They got—they feel like they're comfortable with the amount of parking that they're getting on that north end based on the agreements that we've been negotiating. **[37:59] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** North side of the property that was purchased by the city, Andersen will have 24,000 square feet. And what is the overall square footage of the entire [property]? **[38:15] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** 407,000. **[38:17] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** Okay, that's helpful because otherwise it sounds like it's just parking lot. **[40:10] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** So when Bayport grants Andersen—or if Bayport chooses to grant Andersen—that little triangular slice, are we locking in on that's going to be parking and nothing else can happen? **[40:20] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** It's for parking expansion. Andersen's not able to do any type of other type of improvement. It would have to be approved by the city. **[40:43] Councilmember Carl Bliss:** The fence there—is that something that we know Andersen wants to continue, or is that the city's responsibility? **[40:53] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** It would be the city's responsibility. It would still be ours as long as they have access to that. The maintenance will be on Andersen, so they'll have to plow that area. The moving of the fence would be on Andersen. **[42:16] Councilmember Orin Kipp:** It seems like Andersen's idea would possibly be to sort of intermingle some of their property with the land and water legacy property. Is there something we could or should include right now with this easement saying that, you know, they're agreeing to [not use more impervious coverage]? **[44:19] City Attorney (John):** John, can I just add something? So if Andersen—Mayor, members of the council—if Andersen were to come with a proposal to expand his parking area into the easement that we're talking about now, your ordinances would apply there and trigger the need for some stormwater treatment under that scenario. So Councilmember Kipp, I don't know if that gets partly at your question. **[45:15] Councilmember Katie Hill:** I understand this project wouldn't be happening without Andersen, but I'm just throwing it out there. Is there something we need to do to ensure—because I know we do it annually—have a contract with them to use those 20 spots for trailer parking right now? Could they next year say, "and we don't want to give those to you"? I mean, now that they know we have this new land. **[46:10] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** I can't predict the future. With the easement, if this is approved, we would also have that section there. If we were to lose that boat trailer parking that we currently lease, then we would have to find another avenue. **[48:12] Mayor Michele Hanson:** We really have to approve this by at least October 17th of some kind of agreement. **[48:15] Sara Taylor (Assistant City Administrator):** Associated agreement, which is a little different than some of your conditional use permits. That discussion is helpful. **[49:15] Mayor Michele Hanson:** All right. Was there any evaluation at all of a property value? **[49:30] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** No, not in a dollar sense. Andersen already pays taxes on property we would lease. We want to be careful that we don't start having Andersen pay the city for part of this with the two easements offsetting each other trading off. **[54:29] Sara Taylor (Assistant City Administrator):** I think that the important thing is to remember that... they run with the land. You have the use of the other property. **[58:20] Mayor Michele Hanson:** Is there a motion or any kind of action that we need to take with this, Adam? **[58:25] Adam (Consultant):** It would be to approve the easements with Andersen Windows, subject as normal to any minor changes. **[58:40] Councilmember Ethan Gilmore:** I'll make a motion that we [approve] the execution of the easement with Andersen Corporation to provide public access and parking for the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy project site. **[58:51] Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Ethan. Is there a second? **[58:53] Councilmember Carl Bliss:** I'll second it. **[59:00] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** [Roll call vote] Councilmember Hanson? (Aye). Councilmember Bliss? (Aye). Councilmember Gilmore? (Aye). Councilmember Kipp? (Aye). Mayor Hanson? (Aye). **[1:00:41] Mayor Michele Hanson:** All right, moving to departmental reports. Katie? **[1:02:15] Councilmember Katie Hill:** The Planning Commission hasn't met since we last talked either, but I did go to a couple things. I went to that Toast and Topics event. The Community Development Director for Stillwater spoke—his name is Tim Gladhill. They just established an EDA. He's trying to focus more on branding and marketing the town. He's really doing a huge outreach right now to the Stillwater businesses, which is something I would like us to do. He suggested a quarterly newsletter that the city puts out just to businesses. And they actually implemented a financial citation for city ordinance violations. Then, I went to listen to Angie, a water expert. She spoke at Fields of Arbor Glen. She said that Woodbury's water use hasn't increased despite all that growth. St. Croix River is an "impaired river" because of all the phosphorus in it. There's a ribbon cutting for the Washington County heritage center on October 15th. **[1:08:52] Jay Jackson (Police Chief):** Thank you, Madam Mayor. December called... 69, 70, and 20 are your dates. 97 compared to 693 this month. **[1:10:29] Gabe Kinney (Fire Chief):** Andersen Elementary... sorry, listening to the trade-off. Work and investigation on different options on the number truck and budget. **[1:13:52] Joe Hansen (Public Works Director):** Happy belated birthday. I appreciate all the community outreach that you do. And thank you to the officers for being there at Derby Days. **[1:14:59] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Madam Mayor, members of the council. As I'm sure a lot of you are aware of that windstorm that came in through September 17th, so that's kept public works very busy. I just like to thank the department and a lot of the individual homeowners who had chainsaws out helping clear some of the city streets. **[1:17:14] Sara Taylor (Assistant City Administrator):** It has been brought to our attention that the Landucci project which has been going very nicely... but there had been just a discrepancy in the number of trees and the height of the trees. A special election will be held on November 2nd to vote on our area's referendum. Early absentee voting began on September 17th. All residents vote at the fire station on Fifth Avenue North. A vacant seat still exists on the Planning Commission. The Allen S. King plant advisory panel met on September 15th focused on environmental regulations. **[1:20:54] Matt Kline (City Administrator):** Madam Mayor, members of the council. The 2020 budget included a 6.6% levy increase. Mostly due to a change in accounting. The actual dollar increase for the median home in Bayport was only $12. Truth in Taxation hearing will be at the regular December 6th meeting. Labor negotiations are ongoing with the police officer union and public works union. **[1:25:10] Mayor Michele Hanson:** Thank you, Matt. Is there a motion to adjourn? **[1:26:14] [Meeting Adjourned]**