Minutes - Council Work Session - 04/28/2009

Home

The Council discussed some other properties that the City should consider attempting to purchase. COUNCIL TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION 1) Consider Options for the Ramsey Star Express Public Works Director Olson distributed comments from the Ramsey Star Express ridership survey and reviewed the staff report. He intro<iuced JoAnn Olson from LSA Design. Ms. Olson reviewed the CMAQ grant and its timeframe. She stated that they are estimating that the City will have about $360,000 on the table at the end of the 3-year term of the grant. She stated that they are trying to find out if the funds can be used beyond that period to continue the program. , Councilmember Elvig stated that he thinks it would be a big mistake to change the bus service when the train starts. He stated that the NCDA is only showing that Ramsey has 90 riders in Ramsey, when it actually is up in the 200's. He stated that bus ridership costs less than the train, which he thinks will help us. Public Works Director Olson stated that he thinks the 90 number is what they are saying that Ramsey is "adding" to the corridor, not our total ridership numbers. He noted that there were quite a few comments that the commuter rail schedule was not convenient with their schedule, as well as comments on the rail stop location and costs. Mayor Ramsey reviewed comments he has heard from people in support of continuing the bus service, but stated that he doesn't think he can vote to subsidize this service when there is another viable option. He stated that he could support a circulator bus that would take people from our ramp to the Anoka station. Councilmember McGlone stated that it boils down to a monetary benefit for just a few citizens. He agreed that he couldn't vote for subsidizing this either. Councilmember Elvig stated that he would like the Council to remember that the City is trying to position itself for a rail stop. He stated that he feels this can be used as a chip right now and communicate with the NCDA that the City is considering keeping this going, which will challenge their ridership. Councilmember Jeffrey stated that he spoke with some County Commissioners recently who told him that if you really want a rail stop, you have to keep your bus running. Councilmember Look stated that he is against a subsidy, but even if the City gets a rail stop, that may not mean the bus goes completely away because people want the early bus. He stated that he agrees the City should market our benefits, such as covered parking ramp, a straight shot, the earlier bus, and then raise our prices to cover it. City Council Work Session I April 28, 2009 Page 2 of3