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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080407 - VIII-B-4VIII-B-4 Memo To: Mayor Hicks and City Council From: John Hinzman, Planning Director Date: April 7, 2008 Subject: Comprehensive Plan -Draft Transportation Plan REQUEST The City Council is asked to review the attached draft Transporation Plan section of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan_ The plan incorporates the comments and direction of the Comprehensive Plan Committee. No formal action is needed on the plan at this time. Upon consent of the City Council, the draft plan will be posted on the City's web site for further comment by the community. Staff will present a brief presentation of the plan at the Council Meeting. ATTACHMENTS • Draft Transportation Plan ~\ Transportation System Plan This chapter of the comprehensive plan addresses the roads, transit, walking and bicycling. As with the other chapters, included are goals, objectives, policies and maps. The transportation plan supports and responds to the land use plan and has been coordinated with the plans for parks and community design. As Hastings continues to grow, it will have to address new transportation needs on the southern and western sides of the community and accommodate increasing traffic demands at the major commercial and industrial locations. Simultaneously, local street design should help create attractive residential neighborhoods and provide more opportunities for walking and bicycling. New opportunities may soon arise for transit linkages to St. Paul and the rest of the Twin Cities, first via bus and subsequently via rail. Local coordination with county and state transportation plans will be essential to provide arterial routes across the community with connections to the west and north. Replacing the bridge over the Mississippi River will be one of the major tasks during the next twenty years. Transportation Goals 1. Road System: Continue to build a road system that safely accommodates local and regional vehicular movement while supporting the land use and urban design aims of the comprehensive plan. 2. Alternative Modes of Transportation: Improve options for bicycling, walking and transit. Transportation Objectives The transportation plan is organized around these objectives: Objective 1-Safe and Efficient Highways and Roads. Provide a balanced, safe, and efficient transportation network that maximizes use of existing investments and plans for future needs. Objective 2 -Bicycles and Pedestrians. Provide opportunities for people to bicycle and walk in their neighborhoods for exercise and as an alternative to driving. Objective 3 -Transit. Plan for the future Red Rock commuter rail line that may connect Hastings to downtown Saint Paul. Objective 4 -Goods Movement, Rail Lines and Aviation. Maintain safe facilities that allow for the movement of goods via rail lines, the Mississippi River and the highway system to serve Hastings and the larger Twin Cities metropolitan area. 18 March 2008 3-25 Transportation Plan Transportation Policies The Transportation Plan policies respond to the previously-identified issues and the goals and objectives listed above. Objective 1-Safe and Efficient Highways and Roadways Provide a balanced, safe, and efficient transportation network that maximizes use of existing investments and plans for future needs. Policies: 1. Plan for Future Needs: Improve key existing roads and build new roads to accommodate growth as illustrated by Figure 3-8, Functional Classification Plan. The major roads on the western and southern sides of Hastings will conform with the recommendations of the Hastings Area Roadway Study (2008). 2. Functional Classification Plan: The functional classification system should follow an orderly pattern with appropriate spacing, access controls, traffic capacity, and speeds to accommodate planned land use densities and provide for safe and efficient use of the system. A plan for the functional classification of roads has been prepared consistent with the Dakota County Transportation Plan (2005); it is illustrated by Figure 3-8. For Minor Arterials, as identified on Figure 3-8, special efforts will be made to foster intergovernmental cooperation in the design of the transportation facilities and in the planning of adjacent land uses. This coordination will help maintain the roadways function and protect the substantial public investment make in theirs. The majority of the proposed changes in the future classification are the result of the City's planned expansion into the future growth areas in the south and southwest portions of the City. Planned expansion of Principal Arterial roads: TH 55 west of Jacob Avenue -expand from 2 lanes to 4 four Planned new A-Minor Arterial roads: ^ Jacob Avenue south of Highway 55 to an intersection with 170th Street (new). This link, in combination with the planned new 170`x' Street, will provide sub- regional movement (within five to ten miles of Hastings), somewhat relieve Vermillion Street, and carry traffic to and from the perimeter of future residential neighborhoods. ^ 170`x' Street between Jacob Street (extended) to Highway 316. ^ Designate Jacob Avenue south of TH 55 as CSAH 47 and extend it south of 170`x' Street to link to the existing CSAH 47 in Marshan Township. 3-26 _ 18 March 2008 /N Transportation Plan ® Principal Arterial ~~~•_~~ A-Minor Arterial ~~~~~•~ B-Minor Arterial ....... Figure 3.8 ----~--~- couector Street Functional -- ~°cal R°aa5 Classification Plan 18 March 2008..._ 3-27 Transportation Plan Planned new B-Minor Arterial roads: ^ None Planned new Collector roads: ^ Jacob Avenue between TH 55 and CSAH 42. ^ Frontage roads on the north and south sides of Minnesota Highway 55 ^ General Sieben Drive extended north to CSAH 42 ^ General Sieben Drive extended south to the planned 170"' Street ^ Change the classification of the current CSAH 47 between CSAH 46 and the planned 170"' Street to a Collector from a Minor Arterial. ^ Pleasant Drive extended south to 170"' Street ^ Century Drive extended south to 170"' Street ^ -36"' Street extended west to General Sieben Drive ^ Tuttle Drive extended west to General Sieben Drive. The number of existing and proposed lanes is illustrated on Figure 3-9. These facilities should be actively managed in the interim for their planned future functional classification. The majority of these functional classification changes would not occur until the surrounding land uses develop more intensely and have a need for urban services. 3. Future Studies: The City of Hastings, Dakota County and Mn/DOT will cooperate on these roadway studies: ^ Eastern Arterial: Study CSAH 91 (Glendale Road), CSAH 54 (Ravenna Trail) and 10"' Street as a possible future Minor Arterial between Highway 61 (at 10"' Street) on the north and a future connection with Highway 316 on the south. South Triangle: Study the triangle of roads consisting of Highway 316 (Red Wing Boulevard), Highway 61 and 170`'' Street. Evaluate whether to convert those segments of Highway 61 and 170"' Street to Principal Arterials while disconnecting Highway 316 north of 170"' Street and converting it to a Collector between Tuttle Drive and 170"' Street and a Local between Tuttle Drive and Highway 61. Spiral Boulevard would be connected directly to Highway 61. That segment of 170"' Street would come under State jurisdiction while Red Wing Boulevard would become a City road. 3-28 18 March 2008 Transportation Plan ~.~~~ J ~__- r ~~~, _,~\ ,,, Z 6 . C.S.,~. H. 4Z \ \ ,.>, ~.»»w .~ ....._,r... ~ ~~ ~ ^~ ~' i Q n ~~ o ~ '~, ~° ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 4 :... ~t ` ~ ~°a \ ~ ! "~ 4 \\ Feafhe~sfone Rd `° I tr J _ ~ ~ J _~.....~ £ ~ i~....~..._-~ 4fh St f 2 i ,, i ~.. ~ =~J ,_ _ 4 ~ ~ r~ ~~ Y ...... 4 rH. 55 - -,.. ~4.. .4 ~ _ ._... ~ F 3 .- ...,.. ,,,,.,,a ~ / ; JOth 4 s ,..._ _ ~ .1 ,,. , w _, n ._ ~- I ~,, ---~< \ ~. ~' ~ I ~ r \ J_~ i r ISfh S! -i ~ ~~~ '~ ~ ~ 73fh SP V ~ ~ ~ ~f ~ Y _. _ e ~~ -~ m } ~ {s i ~ .._- {~ ~ W .~x~' ~-- /~ 1~~ .... iN191 ~ -- ~ y ~` ~ ~- ~ ~ fi _ -- 1 k ~ ~. ~.~ i l ~ ,...._ y ~-' ~~- ~y-- _~r~ ~~~~e_a~ ~~/ .~.~__w~. ~,~,_~ ,.ti 2 S c ~ ~> ~ i ~~~ :~ gg ~ n ~ -, L 1 i z, ~~. ~ ~ ,,.~.. ~. i ~; f ~~.~ i x. a~ ~ ~ r d. ~ ..,,. ...~i-- .... _. ~ , ._~ ,- ~ ~ j _ ~ rude cr ~ ~ ~,~ ' i 0 ~ , y.-- A .. ~ n. 2 t ' 170th Sff #fffff~. i, ~' ----''"',T--~+++~--+"""'"+ip Nai?Yi~#iiif/ivsav#o.#es..#ASyvsfsAfsa..f )....~-f-s~c~.a-c~ ..#f sf.vf Oaf svs#AT #.tl,.t •qP w ^ // J, j ~'~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~~ I 2 2 2 2 Figure 3.9 Existing and Proposed 2 Existing Number of Lanes Number of Lanes for 2 Planned Number of lanes Principal and A-Minor Arterials 18 March 2008 3-29 Transportation Plan 4. Traffic Management: The City of Hastings adopts the Metropolitan Council's forecasts of population, households and employment. Consequently, the City also adopts the agency's 2030 regional traffic forecasts, as illustrated by Figure 3-10. 5. Design Standards: Design standards for the existing or future roads in Hastings are established by the unit of government that has jurisdiction as illustrated by Figure 3-11, Jurisdictional Classification Plan. The City of Hastings has ownership of and control over all Local Roads and Collector Roads that are not identified as County Highways as indicated on the Jurisdiction Classification Plan. The City will adopt, keep current and enforce this Comprehensive Plan as an Official Map of road rights- of-way based on the Transportation Plan and more detailed alignment studies. The major design standards for municipal roads are described in Table 3-6. Table 3-6 Roadway Design Standards Right- Road Through On- Design Side- Trails Planting of-Way Width Lanes Street Speed walks Strip Width* (to back Parking of curb) A-Minor 100 to Varies 2 to 4 None 45 to 60 None ' Varies ;Arterial 150 mph B-Minor 80 to Varies 2 to 4 Varies Varies ' ' Varies Arterial 120 Major 80 feet 36 feet 2 None ,.. 30 to 40 2 @ 5' _ One @ _.. 8' with Collector mph 10' ' trees Minor 80 feet 36 feet 2 None 30 to 35 2 @ 5' One @ '; 8' with Collector mph 10' trees ............... Local ..................................................................... 60 ................................................. 32 ......................................................... Not ...................................................... Both ........................................................ 30 ................................................ 1 @ 5' ................................................. ............. 6' with striped sides mph trees 3-30_ _ 18 March 2008.. Transportation Plan Source: ary of Hastings. ?MS MS.lS Trattic Volurri?s, 19ND^T Trunk HiOhnay Routes are ?009 A.A.D.T Volumes G,UDty SyACm Routes .ne .1605 AA. D.T. 'h,lumes thmMivai sv+t*~„ Roues are m6s A.A.nT. vmrm,ez >_m6 k,r.-~as<rrom rtenooaiaan co~mdi 9000 2030 Forecast Traffic Volumes 7000 Current Traffic Volumes Figure 3.10 Current and 2030 Forecast Traffic Volumes 18 March 2008:... 3-31 Transportation Plan 5. ]urisdictional Classification Plan: Hastings has prepared a jurisdictional classification plan that is consistent with the Dakota County Transportation Plan (2005) and the Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (2004), as illustrated in Figure 3-11. The City of Hastings has ownership of and control over all Local Roads and Collector Roads that are not identified as County Highways as indicated on the Jurisdiction Classification Plan. 6. Changes in Land Use that May Affect Transportation: The Hastings Comprehensive Plan calls for additional land development to accommodate the regional forecasts for population, households and employment. The plan accepts and adopts those regional forecasts. Some of the growth is expected to occur in infill locations but most of it is planned to occur on the western and southern perimeter of the urban area. (See Figure 2-5) The Comprehensive Plan also includes a plan for staging land development in coordination with wastewater, water supply and local road improvements (see Figure 2-6). Before land development is approved, adequate local, county or state transportation improvements will be required to either existing roads or be programmed for the near future. In all cases, growth will be regulated to be compact and contiguous to prior growth. Hastings will coordinate with Dakota County and Mn/DOT to ensure that locally generated trips do not exceed the capacity of local or regional transportation facilities. Hastings will regulate land development to reduce the total number of automobile trips on and their effect on County or State roads. To do so, the City will require that: ^ Local streets are interconnected to the extent feasible ^ Cul-de-sac streets are used only to serve land otherwise inaccessible ^ Sidewalk are built along one-side of all future streets ^ Bicycle paths are build along one-side of all future Collector streets (opposite side of sidewalks) 3-32 18 March 2008 State Highway Co~~nty Highway City Road Transportation Plan Figure 3.11 Jurisdictional Classification Plan 18 March 2008 _ 3-25 Transportation Plan 7. Improve Safety and Efficiency in Current Network: Several specific traffic safety problems have been identified in Hastings. These are listed below along with the potential means of resolving each. Mississippi River Bridge The Highway 61 bridge over the Mississippi River has been classified as being in need of replacement. The City will work with Mn/DOT to create a timeline for replacement that will improve safety at the river crossing while also relieving traffic congestion. The earliest that Mn/DOT expects this bridge to be replaced is in 2015. Until then the City should work with Mn/DOT to ensure that the bridge is safe for use and if there are any other options to reduce demand and congestion affecting the current river bridge. It is expected that as part of the environmental impact statement for the new bridge that location and design alternatives will be included, potential impacts will be assessed on land use, urban design, historic resources, the downtown, circulation and local economic development, and that measures will be described to mitigate the identified impacts. " Highway 61 The City has been working with Mn/DOT to address concerns in the Highway 61 corridor relative to land use, access, design and appearance, and pedestrian circulation. The 2008 Vermillion Street Development Guidelines addressed traffic safety and movement along with land development and urban design. A variety of solutions was explored but a final resolution was not achieved during that planning process. The City will continue to work with property owners and Mn/DOT to alleviate problems experienced by motorists attempting to cross Vermillion Street or to turn left onto this roadway at uncontrolled intersections, provide a high level of safety for motorists and pedestrians, provide access for properties along the corridor, and comply with applicable Mn/DOT standards for this highway. Improvements to increase vehicular and pedestrian safety are needed such as potentially widening the traveled portion of the roadway by eliminating on-street parking and installing sidewalks. Driveways should be allowed to access TH 61, subject to the following conditions: ^ Access is not available or attainable from the local street network or by shared entrance with an adjacent parcel ^ Only one entrance per parcel should be provided ^ Entrance should not be located within the functional area of an intersection or within the turn lanes to another private entrance ^ On existing divided roadways, the entrance should be limited to right in/right out only 3-26 18 March 2008 Transportation Plan To address a forecast increase in travel demand, the City and Mn/DOT should identify additional Vermillion River crossings to alleviate pressures at the TH 61 crossing. Anew Jacob Avenue / 170`x' Street bypass will somewhat help relieve demand pressure at the Highway 61 Vermillion River Crossing. Access management improvements in the TH 61 / 23`a Street intersection area would improve safety along TH 61. Improvements may include: ^ A traffic signal at the TH 61 / 23`d Street intersection ^ The extension of 23`d Street to 21 SI Street and closure of TH 61 / 215` Street intersection ^ Construction of a backage road parallel to TH 61 extending south from 23`d Street to provide access to existing businesses on the east side of Highway 61. Access management improvements would also benefit the portion of TH 61 south of the TH 316 intersection. These may include: ^ The relocation of the Cannon Street access to align with existing commercial property access between 33`d Street and 36`x' Street on the east side of TH 61. ^ Construction of a frontage road in the east side of TH 61 from 36`x' Street to serve future commercial development south of 33`d Street. The existing 61 driveways serving the two residential properties should be eliminated when these properties redevelop with access provided by the proposed frontage road. These two improvements would protect the integrity of TH 61 in the event the functional classification of this portion of the roadway would change to a principal arterial. (Refer to the section entitled Future Studies on page 3-27.) Cannon Street will serve as a frontage /backage road for commercial and residential development along TH 61 from 36`x' Street to 22"d Street. The east frontage road would provide access to properties south of 33"' Street. 18 March 2008 3-27 Transportation Plan Highway 316 Highway 316 (Red Wing Boulevard) currently experiences congestions and safety issues and contributes to the congestion of the Highway 61 corridor. The ability to improve the section of Highway 316 between Tiffany and Tuttle Drives is severely limited by existing housing and the narrow public right-of--way. . ... To improve safety along the existing Highway 316 corridor, east-west connections from Highway 61 to Jacob Avenue (extended) will be studied. Two routes for this movement are possible: . Anew minor arterial road, possibly under Dakota County's jurisdiction, along the alignments of 170`x' Street (east-west) and Jacob Avenue (north=south). This road will be primarily devoted to sub-regional traffic but will also serve future residential neighborhoods. The extension of 36`x' Street west to General Sieben Drive (extended) but not further west across the Vermillion River. This road will serve local traffic only. 8. Local System Maintenance: The'City's Public Works Department has been gradually reconstructing or overlaying its local streets focusing on areas as needed. This program is expected to continue indefinitely in order to maintain acceptable surface conditions. 9. Access Management: The City of Hastings will cooperate with Dakota County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation in following the county and state guidelines for managing access to major roads. Those guidelines (for minor arterial and collector roads only) are shown by Table 3-7, below. Access management guidelines provide a means for transportation engineers and planners to balance private property concerns with the need to provide for a safe and efficient transportation system. Standardized guidelines provide a way for clear communications between the agencies and individuals involved (developers, city/county staff,, landowners) in the process. The access spacing guidelines that have been developed for Dakota County reflect the standards adopted by Mn/DOT. In this way, access in Dakota County will be consistent with Mn/DOT best practices. 3-28 18 March 2008 Transportation Plan Table 3-7 Access Management Guidelines Road :Primary Full :Conditional ;Signal :Private Type :Movement :Secondary Spacing :Access Intersection :Intersection Minor Arterial Roads Urban Mobility Corridor _.....(Jacobr.._170th...CSAH 46) _1~2......mile .......................... .1~4.._mile............................ 1/2 mile..................... ........ i By exception Urbanizing Arterial or deviation (Vermillion south of TH 1/4 mile 1/8 mile 1/4 mile :only ..._316.) ............................................................................................... .............................................................................. .~. : .......................................................... .............:.......................................................................: Collector Roads Urbanizing Collector (General Sieben 36th St.) 1/4 mile 1/8 mile 1/4 mile 300 to 600 Permitted Urban Core Collector :feet ;subject to (Pine Street, 15th Street) :dependent on 1/8 mile :conditions _block...length ................ ................................... 4th Street East Bridge The existing bridge is susceptible to flooding. When the bridge was rebuilt in 1987, the decision was made to construct it to accommodate aten-year flood in light of the fact that it serves only six houses. Additional housing east of this bridge should not be allowed until the bridge has been raised to accommodate a 100-year flood. 18 March 2008 . , 3-29 Transportation Plan Objective 2 -Bicycles and Pedestrians Provide opportunities for people to bicycle and walk in their neighborhoods for exercise and as an alternative to driving. Policies: 1. Off-Road Multiple-Use Paths: Extend the Hastings trail system by building paths as generally depicted in Figure 3.12. That plan envisions off-road paths winding through future neighborhoods, along the rivers and down a former railroad corridor as proposed originally in the 2007 Hastings Park, Open Space and Trail System Plan. The paths through the neighborhoods would be created during the subdivision process. The park system plan along described design standards for those paths, which may be used by bicyclists, pedestrians and skaters. 2. Sidewalks: Require that developers include afive-foot-wide concrete sidewalk on at least one side of each new local street. Require that future collector streets have a five-foot concrete sidewalk on one side and aten-foot-wide bituminous multiple-use path on the other. 3-30 _ 18 March 2008: Transportation Plan ~;1 ~~ C~ I:: .. C ~' NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ®. DESTINATION TRAILS ~+~br - } ~" ~ ~ NATURE PARKS <_ LINNING TRAMS • ry - ~~ ATHLERC COMPLEXES BINS ROUTE -~-~' ~s ~~ '; ~~~ ~COMMUNRY PARKS s~~~PARNWAY ~~ yR~ ,` i-~: RESERVE LEND ~ ATHLETIC COMPIIX CITY LIMITS `fir- '~"t~ Zy'~~~~ *'~' ~ `~ ~ ~. ~ Yt ~ ~ ". 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' 7ii;:, ~ rr . ~~ 1 J ~ i ` . ! -: ~>'r '"IC .... a i V~. b ; 4 r I ( n. ~.... ¢~ F r' p d ~ _ .C 7 '+d fit' Sv...- r tiv~` t +~~i v~'~~t' ~ ~s~' .~''~, ~~..t t x ,,p t .n .c. r.. ~5~~%~~~~rn.r-.'--~,.r- r. ~.~ t dir ~ » ~3 'h",,.L,'~` NCI hhorfw +~ € S'. s _ l''n~F43rk~ "~~f it `fi eipga haYh{;ad. ... ~, ,~ w g r - - ~ , x yi !' • ~' nark #`5 ~ '~ ~' ~outt• '~ ~; 4 S~~ '.~ r ~ Neiy Pdrk ~¢~ ~~ i ~ ~ ~~ a: ~ ~~.~ , , .~` ~,~,.. ~, - ~~a ,cgs ~>° ..~~ _ _ . _ . ~ ~~! ~.~.~ ,r y- ~ . L tf N ~f~ 2} ~u ^ s ~ J f YY~+ .l 7~~T _.. l ...., f4 _ ,. ~ ... _,.,. Figure 3.12 Trail System Plan 18 March 2008 3-31 Transportation Plan Objective 3 -Transit Plan for future the Red Rock transit line that will connect Hastings to downtown Saint Paul. Policies: 1. Transit and Paratransit: Explore options with the Metropolitan Council to provide Hastings with transit services as Hastings grows and congestion on the area's road networks increases. It is assumed that the first stage of transit service would be commuter bus transit as a precursor to the Red Rock commuter rail line. There are no existing transit routes or paratransit services in Hastings. Hastings is in Metropolitan Council's Market Area III and is deemed as an area for future transit service. 2. Red Rock Commuter Rail Line: Work with the Metropolitan Council and Mn/DOT to plan for the Red Rock Line corridor that could potentially bring commuter rail or bus rapid transit services to Hastings. The locally-preferred location for the terminus in Hastings is the former grain elevator block at Bailly and Second Streets on the southeastern edge of downtown. The Plan for Original Hastings recommends the "elevator block" for the rail station for several reasons: ^ Synergy with the downtown ^ Potential to provide a catalyst for other redevelopment ^ Expanding the downtown market by bringing new people into the area on a daily basis ^ Pedestrian connections to the neighborhoods ^ The site is vacant and owned by the Hastings Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Design considerations for the rail station site and vicinity are contained in The Plan for Original Hastings. It is anticipated that commuter bus service will be initiated before rail service in order to build the practice of riding transit as well as to reduce congestion on Highways 10 and 61. 3-32 18 March 2008 Transportation Plan Objective 4 -Goods Movement, Rail Lines and Aviation Maintain safe facilities that allow for the movement of goods via rail lines, the Mississippi River and the highway system to serve Hastings and the larger Twin Cities metropolitan area. Policies: 1. Commercial and Recreational Navigation: Commercial barge traffic along the Mississippi River is significant, however little of it affects Hastings. There are no barge facilities in the Hastings portion of the Mississippi River. There are three commercial marinas operating in the Hastings Mississippi River corridor. 2. Railroads: A spur track extends south along the east side of Highway 61 to serve Con Agra, Smead Manufacturing and industry directly south of downtown. There are several at-grade crossings of the main and spur lines at 2nd Street east of Highway 61. The crossings are in areas of relatively low traffic volumes (fewer than 1,000 vehicles per day) and are equipped with crossing lights and, in some cases, arms. The Con Agra spur line also has crossing at 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th Streets and at Highway 291 (Le Duc Drive). No crossing signals are installed at 6th, 7th, and 8th Streets (just warning signs). Crossing signals only are installed at 10th St. and Highway 291 although federal funds are programmed through the State's Railroad Safety program to install gates at the 10th St. crossing. The 6th, 7th, and 8th Street crossings are all under 500 average daily traffic (ADT). The 10th Street crossing is about 7,000 ADT, while the Highway 291 crossing is about 1,500 ADT. 3. Aviation: There are no existing or planned aviation facilities in Hastings. However, the airspace over Hastings is used by aircraft operating from metropolitan airports and other airports. Structures which are 200 feet or higher above ground level may pose hazards to air navigation. Hastings has no existing structures of this height; does not permit such structures under its zoning ordinance, and has no plans to permit such structures in the future. Any applicant who proposes to construct such a structure shall notify the city and the Commissioner of the Mimlesota Department of Transportation at least 30 days in advance as required by law. There are no heliports in Hastings. Future proposals for heliports should only be considered in areas where they would not disrupt adjoining land uses. The Hastings zoning ordinance regulates the height of structures so they will not pose a hazard to air navigation including electronic interference. If needed, the City will notify the FAA as defined under code of federal regulations CFR -Part 77, using the FAA Form 7460-1, "Notice of Proposed Construction or Alternation." 18 March 2008 3-33 O~ j,EAGUE of MINNESOTA C[T[ES March 31, 2008 TO: Chief Appointed City Officials (Please distribute to other interested city officials) CONNECTING & INNOVATING SINCE 1913 FROM: Gary Carlson, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, League of Minnesota Cities RE: LMC 2008-2009 POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP I would like to invite you to serve on a 2008-2009 LMC policy committee. I also ask for your help in sharing this invitation with your mayor, council members, and other interested department heads. Many questions about the policy development process are answered in this letter, or feel free to contact Brian Strub, LMC Policy Coordinator at 951-281-1256, 800-925-1122 or bstrub(a~lmc.org. If you or others from your city have previously served on a committee and wish to continue, PLEASE ~RE-REGISTER SO THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU/THEY INTEND TO CONTINUE ON. THIS COMMITTEE. The registration form is enclosed and available on the LMC website. New committee volunteers are also asked to complete and return the attached form. All are asked to please respond by May 1, 2008, using the attached registration form. Thank you. I encourage you to recruit other officials from your city, as well as those in surrounding cities, to consider joining this statewide policy development process. Mark your calendar, and plan your carpool now. I look forward to seeing you at the first meeting in July. Thank you for telling your city story! -Gary Information about the 2008-2009 League Policy Committees The strength of the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) is based on the active participation of members. This is your opportunity to help establish legislative policies and direct a comprehensive statewide legislative program defining and defending municipal authority for the coming two-year period. Who is eligible, can I be a member? Yes. All member cities of the LMC, including both appointed and elected city officials, can participate in the policy development process as members of a policy committee. Your city may even have more than one member on a committee, however when committee votes occur each city receives only one vote on that committee issue. 145 UNIVERSITY AVE. WEST PHONE: {6S1) 281-1200 FAX: (651) 281-1299 ST. PAUL, MN 55103-2044 TOLL FREE: (8OO) 925-1122 WES: WWW.LMC.ORG I've been on this committee before, do I need to sign up again? Yes. Please let LMC know if you wish to continue as a member, and to which policy committee(s). What are the four policy committees? The four member-led policy committees cover areas as follows: Improving Service Delivery • Environmental Mandates • Elections • Ethics Open Meetings Governmental Innovation and Cooperation Public Safety Improving Fiscal Futures • Financial Management of Cities • Property and other Taxes • State Aid Programs Human Resources & Data Practices • Personnel • Pensions Improving Local Economies Labor Relations • Growth Management and Land Use Data Practices Boundary Adjustment • Housing • Transportation • Economic Development and Redevelopment • Telecommunications Is that all? No, there are more than 100 individual city policies. A complete listing of city policies can be read online at www.lmc.or~ and at httu:l/www.lmc.or advocacyJle~policies.cfm What's the time commitment? Two or three meetings. The committees meet in two-year sessions, and typically meet two or three times each year over the summer. Meetings are held in St. Paul at the LMC building to facilitate face-to-face discussions on city issues and priorities. A conference call-in option is available to those not able to attend in person. What becomes of the committee work? Policy committees make their recommendations to the LMC Board of Directors (Board}, who ultimately vote on final approval of the policies. Once approved by the Board, the "City Policies" document is published on the LMC website as well as distributed to each city and to each of the 201 state legislators. Prior to Board consideration, the committee's work -the draft policies -are published online and distributed to all member cities for comment (see timeline below). The draft policies are also shared with other local government groups and discussed at member events such as the annual conference and regional meetings before being considered by the Board. Did you say 2008-2009, what's the rush? The LMC policy committees meet in two-year sessions, which correspond to the next legislative biennium. The 2008 LMC City Policies, for example, is the product of the 2007 policy committees. The policy committees meeting in the summer of 2008 will be working on the policies for the 20091egislative session. City Policies are designed and discussed ahead of the next legislative session in an attempt to proactively address municipal issues and concerns. When should Isign-up? Now! 2 Serve on an LMC 2008/2009 policy committee Get involved in the League's policy development process! Questions? Contact Brian Strub at (651) 281-1256 or bstrub(a~lmc.org or Lynn Peterson, at (651) 281-1254 or Ipeterson(a~lmc.org Please complete and return the form below by May 1, 2008 Schedule for 2008 policy committee meetings Service Delive Local Economies Fiscal Futures HR and Data Practices Monday, July 7 Wednesday, July 9 Friday, July 11 Monday, July 14 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon Monday, August 4 Wednesday, August 6 Thursday, August 7 Monday, August 11 9:30 -Noon ~ 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon Monday, Sept. 8 Wednesday, Sept. 10 Thursday, Sept. 11 Monday, Sept. 15 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon 9:30 -Noon Sign up now to serve on an LMC 2008/2009 policy committee Name Title I would like to serve a two- ; year term on the following ;City committee(s): Address 1 Local Economies ~~ ;S i D li ~ Address 2 erv very ~, ce e Fiscal Futures ~~ HR & D t P ti ~ City/Zip a ces ~~ a rac Note: more than one official from ', Work Phone each city may serve on a committee, however, on voting ~ Work Fax matters, each city has only one vote. E-mail Please return this form by May 1, 2008 to: Lynn Peterson, Intergovernmental Relations Department, League of Minnesota ; Cities, 145 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55103; fax (651) 215.4115; j or email leterson@lmc.org How do I sign-up? To serve on one or more of the LMC policy committees for 2008-2009, please complete the registration form. You may also contact either Lynn Peterson (651) 281.1254, lpeterson(a~lmc.org) or Brian Strub (651) 281.1256, bstrubnae,lmc.org) or mail to LMC, 145 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55103. You can also call toll-free at 800.925.1122. Mark your calendars. The following dates have been selected for the 2008 policy committee meetings, when committee members will review and discuss the City Policies for 2009. Improving Service Delivery Committee Monday July 7, 2008 Monday Monday August 4, 2008 September 8, 2008 Improving Local Economies Committee Wednesday July 9, 2008 Wednesday August 6, 2008 Wednesday September i 0, 2008 Improving Fiscal Futures Committee Friday July 11, 2008 Thursday August 7, 2008 Thursday September 11, 2008 Human Resources and Data Practices Committee 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon Monday July 14, 2008 ~ 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon Monday August 11, 2008 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon Monday September 15, 2008 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon. All meetings will be held in the St. Croix Room at the League office building. The IGR staff looks forward to working with all of the committee members in setting forth the foundation of the LMC advocacy efforts. Thank you for telling your city-story! What else do I need to know about the LMC policy development process? First, this is a member- driven, member-focused policy development process. The ideas that become City Policies come from city leaders like you. Second, the City Policies document addresses more than 1001egislative issues that impact cities and serves as the foundation of the LMC advocacy efforts. Policies are considered, discussed, and revised annually--with considerable member input. Listed below is a brief chronology of the major events in the policy development process. January The Minnesota Legislature begins the first session of each two-year biennium in January of odd- numbered years. Guided by the City Policies, LMC member cities and staff actively advocate for city-friendly legislation. LMC solicits member city officials to serve on the policy committees. February/March The Minnesota Legislature typically begins the second session of each biennium in February or March of even-numbered years. Despite the later start of second sessions, legislative hearings can begin as early as January. MarchlAprii The LMC Annual Legislative Conference & City Day at the Capitol brings city leaders to St. Paul for policy updates and face-to-face meetings with state lawmakers. Also in March, the National League of Cities hosts the Congressional City Congress in Washington, DC. May Linder the Minnesota Constitution, the deadline to end any given legislative session is the first Monday following the third Saturday in May. The Governor may call special legislative sessions when necessary. June At the LMC Annual Conference, members provide comments on City Policies throughout the conference and during the policy session. July Policy committees hold their first of three meetings. The July meeting typically includes a review of the most recent legislative session and a preliminary discussion of the relevance to City Policies. August Policy committees hold their second of three meetings to review and consider member input gathered at the Annual Conference. September Policy committees meet for a third time to finalize their work and make specific policy recommendations to the LMC Board of Directors. October Draft policies, as approved by the policy committees, are distributed to the members and comments are sought. Member input is also sought from city officials attending Regional Meetings each fall. November The Board of Directors reviews member input collected throughout the year, and at their discretion, considers and amends the policies for the following calendar year. The Board adopts policies on behalf of LMC members at their November or December meeting. What else can I do? Several things. First, make sure your city's voice is heard by participating in at ` least one of the LMC policy committees. If not you, then who? Second, review the most recent C~ Policies document and include these policy objectives along with your own city agenda when you meet with your legislators. If you know of an issue not addressed in this City Policies, contact LMC staff and prepare to bring that concern to the next policy committee meeting. Finally, advocate for your city, local control issues, and for municipal authority by talking to your legislators, telling your city story, and clarifying the services and solutions provided by your city and other cities across Minnesota. This is your association and your feedback is important to helping us provide quality learning, networking, and advocacy opportunities that allow you to better serve your city. Please keep in touch, and let us know if there are ways LMC can be more responsive to the needs of your city. I hope to see you at future LMC events, perhaps at the Regional Meetings this fall. Registration and additional details for these -and all LMC conference and training events -can be found on the LMC website at www.imc.or~. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your ideas and suggestions regarding the LMC policy development process, our city policies or any other area where I may be of assistance. 4