Agenda - Council - 06/22/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Elvig stated RTC has made it clear that timing is an issue. Assistant Public Works Director Olson explained it will be good to determine where the ramp will be so it can be designed. When the design is completed it will be brought back to the Council. Councilmember Strornmen inquired if the effect of timing on the projected ridership has been considered. She noted people will be getting into a pattern with their transportation. Assistant Public Works Director Olson replied the assumptions made in the percentage of the population for ridership is overly conservative. For example, the report assumes Ramsey would only have 15 percent of ail the commuters going to Minneapolis or St. Paul, but only people working in Minneapolis are used as projected ridership. However, there is a connection with the Northstar bus that can get riders anywhere in the Twin Cities. Councilmember Zimmerman suggested they may want to increase the height of the City Hall. He noted it seems that they are keeping building down, and they.may want to build up in levels il" they do not have the square footage needed. Assistant Pnbic Works Director Otson indicated this is an informational item. There have been a tot of rumors and staff wanted to make sure the Council was on the same page with the information. Councilmember Elvig questioned if the consensus of the Council is that the initial design concept should encompass 600 stalls, with the design work to proceed. Assistant Public Works Director Olson replied the consultant has suggested 800 stalls. Mayor Gamec directed staff to report back to the Council regarding the Northstar Coach project, which may have funding problems next year. Councilmember Zimmerman asked if anyone has looked at what the parking ramp would look like. -He commented Anoka County has a nice ramp that is more open. City Administrator Norman replied Mayor Gamec has suggested a tour of the most recent ramps, in Apple Valtey, Bm'nsville and Savage. If the Council is interested he will set that tour up, and they may want to include the parking ramp in St. Louis Park at Excelsior and Grand. They may want to include representatives of RTC and the architect of City Hall. Councilmember Elvig COlmnented when this was discussed in the Facilities Meeting they looked at com~ecting the parking ramp to the transit station. There were ideas of an outside catwalk so people could u:avel in the court and get down to the parking area. It was discussed that City Hall and the parking ramp should have similar imagery. The corlsellsus of the Council was to direct the City Administrator to set up the parking ramp tours as discussed. City Council Work Session/June 1, 2004 Page 4 of 8