Agenda - Planning Commission - 12/07/2006

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Motion by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Cook, to introduce the proposed ordinance to change the street name of 149th Lane NW between Bison St. NW and Zeolite St. NW to 149th Avenue NW. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Olson, Cook, Elvig, Pearson, and Strommen. Voting No: None. Absent: Councilmember Jeffrey. Further discussion: Councilmember Elvig indicated a resident had asked him why the street she lives on is named 179th Lane versus 179th Avenue. It does not seem appropriately named as a lane since it extends from 7th Avenue in Anoka to Highway 47 in Ramsey. Community Development Director Trudgeon explained street names revolve around the street grid system set up in Anoka County. The name has nothing to do with the prominence or length of the road; it relates to where the street falls on the grid. Case #lA: Consider Ramsey Star Express Commuter Coach Service Public Works Director Olson stated the City was successful in receiving a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant for the implementation of a commuter coach service from the Ramsey Town Center to the City of Mil1l1eapolis. The grant was for the service to begin in 2009. Since the demand for establishing this service is there today and staff and Council have received multiple inquiries to begin the service as soon as possible, staff is recommending that the City "Advance" the federal money and begin the service as soon as practicable. Mr. Olson reviewed that earlier this year the City added the bidding ofthe Contract to the Northstar Commuter Coach Request for Proposals for commuter coach service and received a quote from Laidlaw to operate the Ramsey Star Express. The intent of this was to tie this service into a larger service so that the City could receive more interest and better prices for its operation. Staffhas recently heard from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that they have approved the procurement process that was used as long as it is not an expansion of the Northstar Commuter Coach, but rather a "new" service. Mr. Olson indicated in talking with Laidlaw, there is a five-week lead-time necessary from the time that the service is approved to the time that service begins. This time is necessary to repaint the commuter coaches with the Ramsey Star Express logo, securing of the temporary fareboxes, training of the commuter coach drivers, etc. There are not any used fareboxes available to be used on the buses until new ones are acquired, therefore, new fareboxes must be ordered as soon as possible. It typically takes from two to three months to receive the new fareboxes. Public Works Director Olson explained there are two steps in determining the startup date for the Ramsey Star Express service. First, the final adoption of the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) needs to be complete before the Ranlsey Star Express service can begin. This improvement plan was approved in each of the last two years around Thanksgiving. Second, the City and the NCDA need to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement (JP A) for the addition of the Ramsey Star Express to the current Northstar Commuter Coach service contract with Laidlaw Transit Services. The JP A will be approved sometime in mid to late November, 2006. Mr. Olson explained in order to initiate Ramsey Star Express as soon as possible, it is necessary to begin the five-week start up process and to order fareboxes for the two buses. Laidlaw Transit Services Inc. has agreed to initiate this process once it receives a Letter of Intent from the City City Council! October 24, 2006 Page 6 of 20 P32