Transportation & Public Works Committee Agenda Standing Committee of the City Council, Minneapolis, Minnesota Adjourned Meeting August 27, 2014 - 9:30 a.m. Room 317, City Hall Members Present: Council Members Kevin Reich (Chair), Linea Palmisano, Cam Gordon, Blong Yang, Elizabeth Glidden, and Lisa Bender (Quorum 4) Council Committee Coordinator: Peggy Menshek 612-673-2287 Discussion 1. Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Corridor Memoranda of Understanding and Municipal Approval of SWLRT Plans: a) Authorize proper City officials to enter into and execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Minneapolis (City) and Metropolitan Council on the Proposed Redesign of a Portion of Southwest Light Rail Project (SWLRT); b) Authorize proper City officials to enter into and execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Metropolitan Council on the Preservation of Kenilworth Corridor in Public Ownership and Control; c) Authorize proper City officials to enter into and execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) regarding SWLRT; and d) Approve resolution approving the physical design component of the preliminary design plans for the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project that were submitted to the City by the Metropolitan Council on July 10, 2014, in order to fulfill the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, Section 473.3994, Subd. 3. Staff Report: SWLRT RCA; Project Map; City Staff Technical Comments (1); City Staff Technical Comments (2); City Staff Analysis of Plan Drawings; MOU on Proposed Redesign; MOU on Preservation of Kenilworth Corridor in Public Ownership and Control; MOU with HCRRA PowerPoint Presentation; Resolution Approving Physical Design Component of Preliminary Design Plans Action Taken: Approved parts (b) and (c) and referred to the Special City Council meeting of August 27, 2014. Approved parts (a) and (d) and referred to the Regular City Council meeting of August 29, 2014. Approved the following staff directions: 1) The City Attorney and Director of Public Works are directed to monitor the progress of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("SDEIS") for the Southwest LRT line and to update the City Council with new information or in the event of further delays. The current date of release of the SDEIS estimated by the Metropolitan Council is January 2015. If the SDEIS process or other reliable environmental studies reveal new information that predicts a reasonable possibility of previously unknown or previously undisclosed detrimental effects on the City's waters (direct or indirect) caused by the Southwest LRT project, the City Attorney, in consultation with the City Engineer and City environmental staff, is directed to promptly present to the City Council a report setting out the potential legal actions to protect the City's environmental assets, including initiating or joining ongoing litigation initiated by others, regardless of whether any of the potential actions might have the effect of halting the Southwest LRT project. (by Bender, Palmisano, Gordon, and Yang) T&PW Committee Agenda -2- August 27, 2014 2) As part of the deliberations over Southwest LRT, residents of Minneapolis, including a broad range of community, neighborhood and advocacy organizations have put forward ideas to promote equity through and around improved transit service, and leaders from those organizations have met with City leaders to advance those ideas. Some of those equity concerns and ideas are outlined at www.peoplestransit.org and www.equityccforswlrt.weebly.com The Intergovernmental Relations Department is directed to convene appropriate staff from Public Works, Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), Civil Rights, City Coordinator, Mayor’s Office and City Council Offices to complete development of a written response by the City to these equity concerns and ideas, and to report back to the Transportation and Public Works Committee by September 9, 2014. (by Reich and Glidden) Notice: A portion of this meeting may be closed to the public pursuant to MN Statutes Section 13D.03 or 13D.05 Next Committee Meeting: September 9, 2014 Committee actions will be referred to the Special City Council meeting of August 27, 2014 and the Regular City Council Meeting of August 29, 2014 Committee Coordinator email: [email protected] Attention: If you need this material in an alternative format, please call (612) 673-3737 or email [email protected]. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons may use a relay service to call 311 agents at (612) 673-3000. TTY users may call (612) 673-2157 or (612) 673-2626. Attention: If you have any questions regarding this material, please call 311 or (612) 673-2216. Hmong – Ceeb toom. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais cov xov no rau koy dawb, hu 612.673.2800; Spanish – Atención. Si desea recibir asistencia gratuita para traducir esta información, llama 612.673.2700; Somali – Ogow. 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