HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190805 - CC Workshop Minutes Hastings,Minnesota
City Council Workshop
August 5, 2019
The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a workshop on Monday, August
5, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4t' Street,
Hastings, Minnesota.
Members Present: Mayor Fasbender, Councilmembers Balsanek, Braucks, Leifeld, Lund,
Folch, Vaughan
Staff Present: Interim City Administrator Julie Flaten
Community Development Director John Hinzman
Others Present: Wendy Wulff, Metropolitan Council Member, District 16
Metropolitan Council staff members
Mike Slavik, Dakota County Commissioner
Kristy Barse, Chamber of Commerce President
Mayor Fasbender called the workshop to order at 5:32 p.m.
Wulff provided information on options for the City to consider for transit in the future. She
provided 2016 statistics that if the City were to join the Transit Taxing District it would cost
approximately $39 per household and generate $239,000 of revenue. Updated numbers were not
available.
Options for the City to consider included:
- Regional Solicitation—TAB Grant. A new category of grant funding may become
available that, if awarded, the City could use for a transit pilot program. Can apply
for grant beginning in February of 2020 with applications due in April of 2020 and
awards made in July of 2020.
- Join the Transit Taxing District. This requires a resolution by the City Council and
offers no guarantee of service. Met Council looks at demand needs to determine
service levels provided.
- City to Pay for Trip Extensions. City could evaluate if paying for a trip extension
from a current park and ride location is feasible. Current data shows Hasting does not
have the ridership to support this. Met Council estimates only 7 -8 new riders would
be added with this option.
- City could contract with Met Council, Metropolitan Transit or others to provide
service.
Commissioner Slavik discussed a fee-based program Dakota County is developing to use
transportation tax funds to contract with Hastings Bus Company for a pilot program to provide
service to three locations. The data would be used to determine if the need for transit exits in
Hastings. Upon approval from the County Board this could begin later this year.
The obstacle of not knowing what the needs are for Hastings was discussed and Met Council has
a Service&Development division that can assist with this determination as well as data
collected from the Dakota County pilot program.
Staff members from Met Council also discussed the Livable Communities Grant Program and
the 10 year look ahead to decommissioning the Water Treatment Plant on ls` Street E.
The Dakota County Regional Chamber has recently hired a consultant to conduct a county-wide
transit study that would focus on gathering feedback from the business community. City and
Chamber staff will learn more about this in late August.
Next steps include following up on the TAB Grant process and the Dakota County Regional
Chamber study.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Vaughan, seconded by Councilmember Leifeld at
6:51 p.m.
Mary D. Vasbender, Mayor qJurFl�aten, ty Clerk