City Council Work Session

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES Tuesday, March 04, 2025 at 6:15 PM Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN “A Growing Community” CALL TO ORDER Acting Mayor Cross called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. ROLL CALL Acting Mayor Mark Cross and Council Members Connie Lyscio, Zach Tabatt and Patrick Sundberg were present. Mayor Darrel Olson was absent. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek, Community Development Director Josh Doty, Police Chief Matt Maier, and Public Works Director Trevor Walter were present. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. MnDOT Hwy 371 Corridor Safety Study Presentation City Administrator Chapulis explained Bob Rogers, with Bolton & Menk, will provide the council with an update on the 371 corridor safety study, which extends from the Mississippi River to Nisswa. Mr. Rogers will be presenting the proposed final recommendations for the study and will be seeking feedback from the council. Mr. Rogers introduced the MnDOT staff also in attendance and explained he will provide the council with an update on the project. The study was to review transportation needs to improve safety. Over a five-year study period, there were over 600 crashes in the corridor, with 90% occurring in Baxter. 72% of the crashes were rear end crashes. The study also looked at how to maintain and enhance mobility. Traffic volumes range from 13,000 to 30,000 daily trips through Baxter. During a typical day all intersections operate at acceptable levels of service. However, AM and PM peak conditions do result in reduced operations at multiple side street approaches. The study looks at the benefits of J-Turn intersections as they eliminate or reduce the highest risk movements. This intersection type changes the conflict points from severe right-angle/T-bone conflicts to glancing/deflection conflicts. The intersection is a low-cost, high-benefit safety improvement that can be easier and faster to implement. The J-Turn intersections have been installed near BIR and for the past 20 months there has been a 54% reduction to crashes. The intersections reviewed in this study are Pine Beach Road, Novotny Road, Woida Road, and Highland Scenic Drive. In addition to a J-Turn intersection, three other options for Woida Road have been explored. Those options are dural left turns, signalized MUT, and a tight diamond. A future diamond interchange has been studied for Highland Scenic Drive. 3/4/2025 City Council Work Session Minutes Page 2 A RAISE grant was submitted in January, and MnDOT is hopeful federal funds are awarded to so of the short-term improvements can advance. The council discussed the need for safe pedestrian crossings. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to adjourn at 6:56 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator