EQEM 11/10/2020
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne
MINUTES
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Location: Zoom Webinar
Call to Order
Chair Hanson called the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission to order at 6:34 p.m.
Present: Amy Dritz, Mark Hanson, Justin Foell, Nick Olberding, Heidi Ferris, Sam Stoxen,
Absent: Paul Westby
Staff: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Other: David Elvin, MnDOT- Principal Planner
Approval of Minutes
Chair Hansen called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the October 13, 2020 Environmental Quality and
Energy Commission minutes.
Commissioner Dritz made a motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Stoxen seconded the motion to
approve the minutes with the above-mentioned corrections.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
New Business
1. Presentation by Mr. David Elvin, Principal Planner- Minnesota Department of Transportation
Mr. Elvin shared the attached presentation regarding the current PEL study on University Ave and Highway 65.
Commissioner Ferris recommended extending focus area 1 to include Osborne Road. She also supported focus
area 2 based on the increase in residential uses in that area. Ms. Ferris recommended that the study look at
connectivity on the Mississippi as well as including safe routes to the River. She noted that the trails that teach,
including public art and landscaping should be considered. Commissioner Hansen recommended extending
education to pedestrians as many pedestrians exhibit unsafe crossing behaviors in the corridor, although he
noted that level of service issues likely contribute to a lot of unsafe pedestrian activity. He wondered if
countdown times to the walk sing would be feasible in the corridor. Mr. Hansen also recommended improving
winter maintenance. Commissioner Foell agreed that signal timing and low levels of service contributed to
unsafe pedestrian behavior. He noted that Fridley had two large corridors running through it and asked if the
study would look at creating different identities for the two corridors. Mr. Elvin said it would. Commissioners
agreed over the transition to residential along much of University. Commissioner Hansen noted that there was a
lot of right-of-way space available along the corridors, particularly in the north, that could be put to better use.
Commissioner Dritz commented that the approaches to many of the bus routes were very unsafe and should be
improved. Commissioner Olberding described his bike route to work which is very circuitous to avoid unsafe
riding areas. Commissioner Foell noted that unlike Minneapolis and Columbia Heights, Fridley does not have a
grid system, so riders must choose between busy roads or long detours.
2. Metro Blooms Planting Project
This item was tabled
Adjourn
Commissioner Stoxen moved to close the meeting at 7:12 PM, Commissioner Dritz seconded.
MOTION PASSED unanimously