6.5. SR 03-07-2005
Item 6.5.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Pat Klaers, City Administrator
DATE: March 7, 2005
SUBJECT: NCDA Update
Councilmember Motin is the city representative on the Northstar Corridor Development Authority
(NCDA). The NCDA meeting was on Thursday, March 3, 2005. Paul is scheduled to provide an
update of NCDA activities. The NCDA agenda is attached.
NCDA
Meeting Agenda
FIB~!g
March 3, 2005
4:30 P.M.
Sherburne County Government Center
Elk River, MN
Action Requested
1.
Minutes of the February 3, 2005 Meeting*
Approval
2.
Amendment #1 to Bylaws*
Approval
3. Executive Committee Report:
a) Rail Passenger Capital Improvements Engineering
Agreement with BNSF*
Approval
b) Amendment NO.4 to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Agreement 2003-01170*
Approval
4. Progress Reports:
a) Advanced and Final Design of Commuter Rail
Update
b) Advanced and Final Design of LRT Connection
Update
5.
FTA Submittals
Update
6.
Legislative Issues:
Update
a) State
b) Federal
7.
Public Information Update
Information
8. Other: Next Meeting: April 7, 2005
* Documentation enclosed
If you are unable to attend this meeting, please contact Peggy Aho at 651-222-7227.
Agenda Item #1
NORTHST AR CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2005
The Northstar Corridor Development Authority met on January 6, 2005, in regular session at the
Sherburne County Government Center, Elk River, Minnesota.
In attendance: Duane Grandy, Mary Richardson, Jeanne Mason, Bruce Nawrocki, Bob Barnette, Scott
Schulte, Ken Paulson, Arne Engstrom, Mike Schadauer, Dan Lieser, LeRoy Pauley, Lyn Mohs, Les
Mateffy, Woody Bissett, Ewald Petersen, Paul S. Motin, Mark Stenglein, Tim Yantos, Jill Brown, Scott
Harlicker, Jon Olson, Linda Jungwirth, Robert Kirchner, Jim Barton, Paul Danielson, John Himle, Bill
Schreiber, Lona Schreiber, Mark Fuhrmann, Peg Aho, Felix Schmiesing, Brian Bensen, Paul
McCarron, Jay Mclinden, Todd Rapp
1. The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m.
2. Chair Grandy welcomed new members and introductions were made.
3. Ewald Petersen made a motion to approve the January 6, 2005 meeting minutes as presented
with revision to typo in paragraph 5 on page 3 and the February 3, 2005 meeting agenda as
amended to include discussion of amendment #1 to the NCDA Bylaws. The motion was
seconded by Woody Bissett and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
4. Chair Grandy read through certificates of appreciation being presented to departing NCDA
members: Bjorn Skogquist, Louise Kuester, Patrick Cairns, Mitch Fiedler, Harold Jesh, and
Janice Halvorsen.
5. Tim Yantos reviewed the evaluation prepared by staff regarding the Northstar Corridor
maintenance facility location which compared the Elk River location with a potential new
location at Big Lake. Mr. Yantos noted that a more precise calculation and comparison of the
CEI requires accurate capital and operating cost estimates as well as updated ridership
forecasts. This calculation will be completed over the next several months as part of the
advanced and final design process and is dependent on the completion of a new Twin Cities
Regional Travel Demand model under development by the Metropolitan Council. Since it will
be some time before precise CEI calculations can be made, it is assumed that the ridership
will increase as a result of providing more service to the Big Lake station and that the
increased ridership together with off setting annualized capital-and operating costs will result in
an improved CEI. Paul McCarron noted that Big Lake Council members had discussed the
possibility of the maintenance facility being located in their City and had no objections to it.
Dan Erhart made a motion that the NCDA approve the relocation of the Northstar Commuter
Rail maintenance facility from the current Elk River site to the proposed Big Lake site, and
direct Kimley-Horn to commence site development, environmental analysis, and preliminary
engineering for the maintenance facility at the Big Lake site. The motion was seconded by
Scott Schulte and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
6. Mary Richardson reviewed the list of factors being used in the bio-diesel fuel examination.
The factors being used are: impact on operating costs; impact on capital costs; fuel efficiency;
fuel supply; availability of and impact on locomotive manufacturing; availability of necessary
warranty; impact on environmental emissions; FTA issues; including procurement
requirements; and reliability. John Himle noted that a news release had been issued titled:
NCDA to Study Feasibility of Using Biodiesel for Northstar Commuter Rail.
7. Mike Schadauer gave an update on activities through December 2004. He noted that the next
steps for project development are: submittal of a draft request to enter into final design to the
FTA; advanced design work will begin under the contracts with the teams from L TK and
Kimley-Horn and Associates to address the location of the maintenance facility and the
alignment of theLRT connection in Minneapolis; draft agreement with BNSF for advanced and
final design on capacity improvements will be submitted to the FTA; staff will continue to work
with the station cities and counties on transit oriented development opportunities.
Dan Erhart asked if it is possible that the Project might exceed the $25.00 CEI threshold with
the changes to the maintenance facility location. Mike Schadauer noted that they are making
every effort to not exceed the $25.00 range.
Tim Yantos noted that a letter of support for the Northstar Project had been received from Lt.
Governor Molnau. This letter was sent to Congressman Don Young, Chair of the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure at the U.S. House of Representatives. Tim Yantos
thanked Mike Schadauer for his assistance in getting this letter out.
8. Mark Fuhrmann noted that the NCDA at its January 6, 2005 meeting approved the Hennepin
County Regional Rail Authorities' $6.3 million contribution to the Northstar Project for the
purpose of vehicle procurement, subject to FT A approval. FT A approval has been received
and the Metropolitan Council exercised its option for two low floor light rail vehicles from
Bombardier on January 21,2005.
9. Paul McCarron handed out to the NCDA members a proposed amendment to the NCDA
bylaws for their consideration at the March NCDA meeting. The amendment would change
Article IV, Structure of Authority, B, Quorum to read: "Fifty percent plus one of the
representatives of member regional railroad authorities and counties and thirty percent plus
one of the remaining members shall constitute a quorum."
10. Bill Schreiber gave an update on legislative activities to date in the State and passed out the
Governor's 2005 Capital Budget Recommendations dated January 25, 2005. Jon Olson gave
an update on the commuter bus ridership figures and noted that operating money runs out in
mid-July.
11. Jon Olson gave an update on federal activities to date and passed out a letter to
Congressman Don Young from Lt. Governor Carol Molnau requesting members of Congress
to submit their requests for projects to be included in the reauthorization of TEA 21 and that
Northstar be included in their request. Tim Yantos passed out a letter from Collin Peterson to
the NCDA regarding his support for Northstar locomotives to use bio-diesel fuel.
12. Jill Brown asked that NCDA members try to attend the Northstar Day at the Capitol event
being held no February 9, 2005. Ms. Brown also noted that the commuter coach is expecting
its 500,000th rider in about a month.
13. Ewald Petersen noted that township elections are set for March 8.
14. Chair Grandy noted that the next meeting will be held on March 3, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. at the
Sherburne County Government Center.
15. Bruce Nawrocki made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by
Scott Schulte and it passed unanimously on a voice vote. The Chair adjourned the meeting at
5:28 p.m.
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