10-642Council File # Q��o�cZ
Green Sheet #?� } �,� 1 3 Q
RESOLUTION
CI OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA �
Presented bv �c �� �! : ,� /
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (NIN/DOT) plans to replace the Lafayette
Bridge (T.H. 52) and its accesses from East Seventh Street (T.H. 5) to Plato Boulevazd starting in October
2010, and
5 WHEREAS, MN/DOT and their consultants have worked with City staff and a City appointed Citizens
6 Advisory Committee (CAC) to address City safety and aesthetics concerns and have submitted a final
7 layout to the C�ty for review, comment and municipal consent, and
9 WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute 161.164 requires the City to hold a public heazing prior to providing
10 municipal consent and provide a 30 day notice prios to holding the public hearing and on May 12, 201Q
ll City Council Resolution 10-479, set the June 16, 2010 Council meeting for the public hearing, and
12
13 WHEREAS, the Ciry Council held the public hearing and after receiving public input determined that the
14 final layout addresses City safety and aesthetic concems, and
15
16 TFIEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul grants municipal consent to the Minnesota
17 Deparhnent of Transportation for the Lafayette Bridge Replacement project (S.P. 6244-30).
Requested by Deparhnent of:
Public W s
.
By:
Approv d by t e Office of Financial Services
�
Approved by City Attome
BY� � . � + /
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Adopted by Council: Date �/G�/',�JjG Approved y y f r ubt 'ss'on to Council
Adoption Certified by Co cil Secretary By:
By: � � �
Approve Ma' D te Z4?C.i�
By:
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� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
I�h�C
Contact Person 8 Phone:
Mike Klassen
266-6209
Must Be on Council Agenda by (Date):
Doc. Type: RESOLUTION
E-DOCUment Required: Y
Document Contact: Mlke Klassen
Contact Phone: 266-5209
Total # of Sig Pag _(Ci Af l Location for Signature)
Action Requested:
Approve attached Council Resolution granting municipal consent of the MInnesota Department of Transportarian final layout for the
Lafayette (TH 52) Bridge Replacement project (S.P. 6244
Recommendations: P.pprove (A) or Reject (R):
Planning Commission
CB Committee
Civil Service Commission
Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
The Minnesota Deparhnent of Transportation (PvInDOT) plans to replace the fracture critical Lafayette Bridge (TH 52) from East
Seventh Street to Plato Boulevard in October 2010. To meet this schedule, the City needs to pmvide municipal consent of the
submitted final layout by the end of June. On May 12, 2010, City Council Resolution 10-479 set the required public hearing for June
16, 2010.
Advantages If Approved;
Upon receiving public input and major issues addressed, granting municipal consent of MnDOT's final layout will keep the important
State project on schedule.
Disadvantages If Approved:
None.
tOJUN2010 I Green Sheet NO: 3115130
■�►
Assign
Number
For
Routing
Order
Personal Service Contrac'ts Must Answer the Following Questions:
1. Has this persoNfirm everworked under a contract for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this personffirm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
current ciry employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separete sheet and attach to green sheet.
Disadvantages If Not APRroveQ:
The MnDOT Lafayette Bridge replacement project will be delayed. Lafayette Bridge is a fracture critical structure that is in need of
replacement as soon as possible.
Totai Amount of �0.00
Transacfion:
Funding Source: 0.00
CosURevenue Budgeted:
Activity Number:
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Financial Information:
(Explain)
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June 10, 2010 3:45 PM Page 1
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I,ower Phalen Crseh Projeet
925 Payne Avenue, Suite 201 • Saint Paul, Minnesota 55130 • www.phalencreek.org
June 11, 2010
Mike Klassen
City of Saint Paul Pubiic Works
25 West Fourth Street
SaintPaul,MN SS102
Dear Mike:
id���
Steering
Committee
Carol Carey, Chair
ChnsGne Baeumler
Ned Brooks
Kristin Dawkins
Kann DuPaul
Chip Lindeke
Weiming Lu
Dan McGuinness
Paul Mohrbacher
Dennis Thompson
Leonard Wabasha
Staff
Sarah Clark
Amy Middleton
Thank you for taking the time to meet with members of the Lower Phalen Creek Project Steering
Committee to share the new plans and visual representations for the north end of the Lafayette
Bridge. Our response is as follows:
• We conCinue to strongly dislike tbe overall alignment of tbe north end of tbe bndge,
whlch brings people into Saint Paul's East Side and Lowertown neighborhood via a long,
circuitous pathway. This "back door" approach is incomenient and does not add the type
of value to the adjacent neighborhoods one might expect from a$185 million project.
• After leaving the bridge, users will travel past a salt shed, under three bridges, along a set
of railroad tracks — and as they wind up to Seventh Street they wiil have a 360-degxee
view of a pawnshop. This is the "gateway" to our communities created by the alignment.
• The project necessitates the construction of a very significant amount of new
infrastructure — much more than would be required if the bridge were to connect directly
to East Seventh Street.
• We are disappointed that the long-awaited 3D representation came in the form of a video
"drive through" that provides no context for the project, failing to show important
existing infrastructure such as the Keilogg Bridge and railroad. An accurate 3D model
that sbows the infrastructure in the area would have been much more valuable, and is
what we had suggested.
A project of this significance requires consideration from an urban design perspective. We urge
you to focus energy on addressing how the bridge exit fits into our community and how it
impacts hvabiliry and the vitallty of our streetscape. Ways to miYigate the negative impacts on
our community include:
� Develop a gateway feature such as public art, a sign and/or attractively landscaped
greenspace Tbat welcomes people to Seventh Street.
• Given its prominence for users of the bridge, consider a more appropriate and welcoming
use fox the land currentiy occupied by the pawnshop.
• Utilize the new open space created along Seventh Street for a greenspace amenity or
other uses that would have a positive community impact.
• Improve the exit ramp and streetscape with plantings (such as Iinear rain gardens
constructed in Portland Oregon and other sustainable cities) and improved bicycle and
pedestrian access.
We appreciate the opporhznity to provide comments on this project. Please feel free to contact
me at 651.2223049 if you have any questions or would like additional information.
Sincerely yours,
l
Carol Cazey, Chair
Lower Phalen Cree�
cc: Mayor Chris Coleman
City Council Fresident Kathy Lantry
City Council member Dave Thune
Congresswoman Betiy McCollum
Rep. Sheldon Johnson
Sen. Mee Moua
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Friends of the Mississippi River
Dayton's Bluff Community Council
Payne Phalen District 5 Planning Council
CapitolRiver Council
Capitol Region Watershed District
Friends of the Pazks and Trails