HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Packet 07-11-1995 SpecialPLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 119, 1995
6:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers
I. City Transit Issues
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
DATE: July 6, 1995
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Summary of Agenda Items for July 11, 1995
Special Council Meeting on Transit Issues - 6:00 p.m.
The main issues to discuss are: (1) are we interested in trying to provide the Metro
Mobility ourselves if our service is eliminated by the Met Council; and, (2) do we wish
to take any intergovernmental actions to try to keep service by the Met Council?
The Metro Council is considering dropping Metro Mobility Service to Plymouth. Mr.
John Sweeney, who acts as our Transit Coordinator along with his normal duties as
Assistant City Engineer, has developed a list of alternative possibilities for providing
the service ourselves should we wish to do so. Using our existing dial -a -ride service
offers the best possibility for providing a local version of Metro Mobility service. Our
investment in dial -a -ride equipment and service would be more efficient if also used for
Metro Mobility service. We could draw an additional $300,000+ in funding per year
that we are not currently using from the Met Council under existing formulas.
However, we could not provide 24-hour door -to door service anywhere in the metro
area with this level of funding as Metro Mobility currently does. A related issue
concerns whether or not the Met Council will allow us to fully tap into these funds
raised by a regional property tax. This is also under debate at the Met Council. The
background of all of this is that the Met Council did not receive additional transit funds
to maintain services this year from the Legislature because there was no action on a
proposal to increase the state gas tax.
Intergovernmental actions to consider might include:
1. Lobby the Metro Council to continue the service and cut somewhere else.
2. Lobby our State representatives and senators to provide sufficient funding to
the Metro Council for transit either in a possible special session later this
year or next February when they reconvene.
3. Work with Maple Grove on a sub -regional solution.
4. Consider legal action against the Met Council to at least be sure our
taxpayers get the full 90 % allocation back from the Met Council that present
formulas provide.
Item 1 can certainly be attempted, but our staff and our consultant/lobbyist on transit
issues (George Bentley) believe we have less than a 10 % chance of succeeding.
Item 2 was attempted by Mr. Bentley on behalf of all opt -out communities this last
session, but was not successful. The City Council and staff could certainly lobby our
own legislators, however. This might help indirectly or directly with Item 1.
Item 3 might be geographically promising on the map, but Maple Grove has no dial -a -
ride service and reportedly has no money left under its transit spending cap as we do.
These factors argue against them being a realistic partner.
Item 4 is being considered by the City Attorney's office for its general feasibility. We
hope to know more by Tuesday night on this option.
There is not enough information for the Council or staff to make any final decisions
immediately. I would suggest that we pursue Items 1 and 2 for now and further
develop the costs and feasibility of using our dial -a -ride system for Metro Mobility
service using shorter service hours, limiting our range to existing transfer points, and
considering a means -tested fare system. While there would still be significant cost for
this less ambitious service level, the cost of not providing any service could also be
significant in terms of Plymouth residents not being able to get to jobs, needed medical
services, etc.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - 7:00 p.m.
6 G. Montessori School proposed at 11115 Old Rockford Road. Several residents
expressed concern about this item at the Planning Commission meeting. The greatest
concerns related to the adequacy of parking and noise from the children. Some
overflow parking has now been provided at the adjacent City Water Treatment Plant.
Also, the conditions of approval say the parking situation will be reviewed again in one
year. It has also been clarified that the building itself should shield much of the area
from noise from the playground which is planned for the area to the northeast of the
building away from the homes.
Q and K. Denial Resolutions (TCF and Don Myron). Both of these items are
denial resolutions as requested by Council. The applicants may still wish to speak.
The City Attorney suggests that we allow them to speak for up to the usual limit of five
minutes, but does not suggest any more than that. If new evidence is submitted, we
may wish to defer the item to later in the agenda to allow the City Attorney and the
Council to read it (and possibly respond) before voting.
7A. Hearing on tax-exempt multi -family revenue bonds for Parkside Apartments.
The bond counsel is still working on the proper documentation. Therefore, this is a
public hearing only and no action is requested at this meeting.
9A. Auditor's presentation. The Council accepted the audit at the last meeting. At
this meeting, there is more time for Mr. Cliff Hoffman of Deloitte and Touche to make
some remarks. The City received an unqualified opinion in its audit. He has about a
dozen overheads to present about the City's overall financial status. Since most of his
material is in the packet, we have asked him to keep his remarks to about the usual 10
minutes afforded presenters and therefore reserve time for questions and answers. Dale
Hahn has prepared written responses to the auditor's recommendations and suggestions
in the packet, and these can be discussed as well.
Preview of July 18th agenda items:
Prudential parking lot request in designated natural area
County Road 9 Plans (neighborhood meeting is being held at 7 p.m.
Monday, July 10 at Fire Station 2
Sale of Open Space Bonds
Public Hearing on Peony Lane Street and Utility Improvements (to serve new
High School and surrounding area).
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447
DATE: July 6, 1995
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Summary of Events
County Road 9 Design. Fred has scheduled another neighborhood meeting on the
design on Monday, July 10, at 7:00 p.m. at Fire Station 2. The County Engineer has
also been requested to attend. The landscaping design has been increased substantially.
The meeting has been noticed so that four or more council members can attend if
desired.
Prudential parking lot. Prudential revised their plan last week so that they could fit
more parking onto their existing surface lot. They now propose to build a smaller lot
which would take down about 139 large trees instead of 214 large trees. I asked them
to meet with the Radisson to see if any joint parking arrangements could be pursued.
This meeting has occurred and no ideas for joint parking emerged. Staff member Barb
Senness was present and states that the discussion was an honest attempt to explore the
options. Possible parking locations on the West Health campus would be quite far
away from Prudential and would be only temporary, since West Health eventually
projects it will need all of its planned parking as well. The west end of the West
Health campus is also heavily forested.
At today's staff meeting, it was discussed that the currently approved plan for the
Prudential area shows a ramp where the current surface parking exists. Thus, a second
ramp was the plan for any additional parking on the site. Prudential knew or should
have known this. The City Attorney says we do have some reasonable arguments to
maintain this position.
Ameridata. A noise specialist tested the noise from Ameridata's loading docks one
evening last week between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. We hope to have the report very soon.
When we do, we will meet with Ameridata and possibly the residents to find some
mitigating measures such as a fence or additional landscaping as well as additional
operational measures that Ameridata might take.
DATE: July 6, 1995
TO: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager
j
FROM: Fred G. Moore, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: PLYMOUTH TRANSIT SYSTEM
The City Council has scheduled a special Council meeting on Tuesday, July 11 at 6:00
p.m. to discuss City Transit issues. The main issue of the session is the possibility that
the City of Plymouth will be given the responsibility for the Metro Mobility Service.
A separate memorandum has been prepared on this issue.
Councilmember Anderson has requested information on the use and cost of the existing
Transit System. Our existing Transit System is composed of two parts:
Metrolink: This provides a fixed route system which circulates in the
morning and evening through Plymouth and takes passengers to/from
park and ride lots for a direct trip to/from downtown Minneapolis.
Also, it acts in reverse for riders to access the system from downtown
Minneapolis and go to work places in Plymouth.
Dial -A -Ride: This is a service (shared ride) which passengers can
schedule for pickup at their home or work place within Plymouth and be
taken to any destination within the City or several fixed locations
immediately adjacent to Plymouth, i.e., Ridgedale Shopping Center.
I am attaching the Detail Operations Report on the system for the first quarter of 1995
January through April). The following is a summary of information contained within
the report:
PLYMTRNS.DOC
PLYMOUTH TRANSIT SUMMERY
January - March 1995
DIAL -A -
METROLINK RIDE
TOTAL
SYSTEM
Passengers 50,984 12,436 63,420
Hours of Service 3,000.29 3,185.25 6,185.54
Miles 50,532.10 65,563.00 116,095.10
Passengers/Hour 17.00 3.91 10.26
Passengers/Mile 1.01 0.19 0.55
Subsidy/Passenger
with Capital $5.48 6.04 5.59
Subsidy/Passenger
without Capital (2) $4.35 1) $5.43 4.56
Cost/Passenger $6.51 7.42 6.69
Fare Box Recovery Ratio 20.02% 23.01% 20.66%
1) Goal Established By Metropolitan Council: 9.00 or less/passenger
2) Goal Established by Metropolitan Council: $4.10 or less/passenger
Also attached are the maps for the five (5) Metrolink routes.
John Sweeney, the staff person assigned to administer the Transit System, and I will be
prepared to discuss our existing system at the meeting.
attachments
PLYMTRNSMOC
J
Q
D
F --
U
Q
I—
O
a.
w
af
U
Z
O_
w
0-
0
w
I—
Q
O
H
Of
Q
LO0
O
Y
Z
J
O
1--
w
2
F--
O
CD
0) ca
CL
LOO
M
N
co
ctsd
0)
CL
0000.0
M ti O O O
0)o000)rn
OM O O O OM M
tnorn"It
co 0 0 0
00000
O O O O O
tnaooatOM
M O O O O M co
J
Q st0O63M
000 tnOCDOe-
0)0tO6%gn
O
m
646
63i't)
00000
COO63O t0
60606Naw6F6%w O0
j— CA c0 M 0) e- 1- to N
M
O M to
1 to6111 M f- ti tO O
M
M
O N
LO
d 1`
6% 6%
o
p
CD
00
CO-
M
co
N
r O
toCL
19t
6%
t] 06066
MM MEA ERN O stN
V> EA N fA 6F? M EA
690
Q
LI)
q 1 00
000tO
e-
1-0001
00000N
N
r C) OM14- 009t 0000000000 1 0000fl- 0000 7 NN
tOf-00 M 0ONONtO
r -a LO6<3
st
x-00
O69M M
00000
OtAOtO r- rOtO63t9COONOOM LO
Itt
t1
00MM6<
itNA OD N M M td! M O O 00 st
co 00
r
M
63
N
601, N DD N 0063 IS
N
N
t0 st63 EA CniA 69 ER
M
ti? N N Oo63 M N
U)
63 EA 64 63 t/)
61>
tet-
63 69
O
ti
O
t0
O
O OO ON O OO Cl
O
0
O
0
r*-:
0 M
tO
O0 DtoIt0to
0 0 0
0
0
0
00 00 0
t0 00 00 00
0
0
0 0
A
41C00000
CD N CO 63 r
I1 -0N001,-
h O tO 6% N Nt
CDOtON
00 6% 00 r-
00000
63 O fA 63 O
MONOONOLOtf? 63 to1- Nt
tT!
r r ti O co N 0) N CA N LO tO O O 00 O st
6M4 N 000
clli
V- 036 M 60)-
63 t 17
6% 63 O r b04 N M
D tR 63 t!3 tf3 63 63 EA r63
10000
r LO O O
LO
O
Ce)
LO
000
O O O
MtO 00 00m 00) 0 0
fl—
0
0000
O O O O
O
O
x 0000
0 0 0 0
r O
fl
f-0001-:
d cq 0 6% CD
I_:ONOO1
Nt O CO to O O
0000N64N tOtO 0000
to O to to
0
C)
OONOo
0 0 LO 6% 63
N
It
r
0d_
p cO N OD O I 0 00 N M. O Nt N tO ti to 00 tO
C
m
C
r
M
63 N6R M
N
r-
CA
N 00
63 M c0M M
63 d3 G3 63
O
r
N
r 006% N
M 00M
63 63 Efl 63 EA to
63toy
w—
Ei4
Z y
cl WyZ
E U w
ca 0 X
U v a
to a)
Lu
cc N CD U a) U
LU
O
4 Cl 7
w N 04 d C r U Cl _
cCL
4
ciiC V Z
Z H V) Ca V N= Z ca N E ca ca N N I. -
W
cc d U Z C m g m to v N O V d 0 0WcifLLwO73fAm
N
Ucr, C W
CL
X O N C N LD Q Cl) m U C ll
LL Gc cC 0) C
0
C
01
O- UL L v v w w 0) O
fn eQ
LL
C,a)
C
E N
C O
Ut L C
a) i jL
d L0] CY,p u'• uj y
y
7 O caL ca y C O 0 O N a) C- r d O0
He Q o C o 2 n> JQ c G' c_ y a i t O O
0) 2 aOL. 0) C•->t`.
U. CSC O NLELc. 0 0 E>O,ti9
N to U LO) V- Ln> N O Oiit H
a) ca O p 7 0 0 C O O d O O O C D O w O
Oaaa-w0E-t-
0 0 C 0) O O
wawa_ UOF u.2aa0F-E- LuCL< F- a¢UOOt-
a.
O O
E O OOr-N
N CO O LOO OO 1- O ctO OO O
DOO O0 O tN O OW OO O
r--SCDN00 0O
0000 O 000 O Oe r -r c- MMMMM Cl)
NNNNCNA NNNNN r''
0) C
J
CD
0) ca
CL
LOO
M
N
co
ctsd
0)
CL
w
O
d
w
w
H
w
C
in
w
O
I-
LO
00
r
Y
Z
J
O
w
H
w
F-
J
a.
LO0)
MN
co
a)
C4Q
a.
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0000 00 0100 00 00 00 00 00 0000C
p2 tON1-1 0
0 D a 0
D rrLOr tl- 0000D r
tO
o
CC
O (D
LO
d•
o0 0000o00 0
o-
N
LO
r t-
LO 0a000 toNr0
O t M O t-- LO r CO O LO LO O O O to r
v
vi
co 0 00M r- co
6-666toLO co tOLO
CV
00 0 0 00 00 00 0-
00-
0 00 00 0-
00-
0 0 00 00 0-
00,
0 00 0-.0- 0 00 0-
00-
0
0-
00-
00 00
1
0 d tOr(DOO
tl- Nl- O
OOMO
00 00 dO? 0 00`cttO
Ov(D r00r
MOOrtO
r OOOMOOtd:nOCZ) LOt-00
r
0)
V OCnM0 N 4o0r0 4 4 OO CM M 00(661 N 66x00 D 4
O tt to c1 st It Cr It o' Nt r r r t V'
m Q
0
00000
o(Aoo(A
0000000000
n000(n0 gC!LgU)
00000
0oD0o
ooaaaoa
ADODO(n9
c
coC3i00(O
0r06%tl-
0(o
000
NO
co 69
r-
LO
Cl)
M
COLOItt`
Nt- M M
L00000
N060tV)r-
NCON000
WOOCD00 N
M
M
O t- t- It t+ O M O O 00 Co I,- r r 0 N M N 0) M LO 0 0 U)
tta(D N 000N r M CT rMco" CO CO NCA NONNLON M
r 603 CO r
co CM69 Cl)
69
0
M
r
fl 69 E9 r69 6% r
69
69 N
6f
V•
M
CO
69 Mto 6% r6%
9
CO r --
60. E 6F?
CD
OOa00
r*-: t CM000cMqqq x000DOac) r
c0
r
o
COOr(0
Mo co 0 0000000000 LOOOOO
00000(0
LO T-
o
d
C) tt-00
00-t0069r
N MNCOr(DKiCO000M 6
ti
rci4
rttONr
L6 OOOaO
006900 ONtlr(o0000000
to Cnr-
0) Ot-Nr- 04 O Ce) Co o 00rN N 0) LO 0 Nt 000 o
t3
O
t r E9 0 WO It o0co O
M
L
N
C)
r M69 v3 00r
st
r LON etCfi It 1t x 00M 669 0M OD NN
m E9 E9 d3 Cl) E9 E9 LO 6Fi 69 CA E9 m 69 6%} 6% t
CLO
AS
oODO0
Mt 000
ODOOOrn
m000 M C9
OoOI r
oOMO
a000O
00000
uOoOOOEtOAO
M0000 M M
r Imo.=ooai
tt OOEf?M
uio(oo
00 tOG%LO
o
0r69
4-
tO
00000
tO06%CO LO
L66(6oo1-:o
N a tO696900 0
i 0 O M 0 r t tO M C0 N O M LO O M r` Imo- V) O M
7 N 0 ti 0 o 00 o r O
rE9 Mt!i d r
6fi
6%9 00 co o C6
Q rEficqtotom MEf? C% 6% ER
N
p Cl00000OOOO O
D000Do
o o o a o Oo0OoOOO 0
ooDOO
0 0 0 0 O000000oa00000
NOOO r ONS
r -r046
0 Lo CO
CO
C600(o
COLO(D I-
00000
LnC W.0 CO
OC
OrN00 COowMMOo6%LO
Det 0 toMt r0 orNtN NO CnN Ln0ot-Oa 00
4+ o) OrM
N N r
d'
o
t-0mt
co t- 0
NI-
co lqt
rM1-N
N 6% 6% M
oO
r M
O
CA ITco OItCOO1t'1z
o 69 M o t
V- E9 EA WE9 069 ER 69 E9 6q69 lfi 6%E9 640-
O
m
0
Z
p w
Z.. Zaci
Ew D
v, ayZaC4Nmx
4 y
cn
U ca ca
w CSC w
0
c m C t Z
Z N C° U Z
cc
co E Ri Z a
CL j N h-
a Um Z a co c dMayiN o a o°
w LL
aid
3 co a C c w X D c LL
CD
C
U
ca w W
w L Yc a a) C
a)
c
a)
O—
y L)
0
3 w w m O
y o
cL a) N
a ro VL t0 o O Ld 0.
7 Na) o o W ui a> y coI_— O ccsO
alt_m
c d H m U'-
p00>
t40
O
Z O cwt C=W T c p yLLILJ Z c• c"i IL
4= C C OQ y,.
cc 0> u C) N t_ 0J
d L.,) N o Q O 0) i C—.0
U() O t_ Q7 Q F- O
NL
C
E= 0 0c. E 0) Nc NU_ L—
O%
L D Ut_n O CB L— O Q
u a O O O O O C w 0 0 0) 0 O O C O O O
Oaa
O O c
a Ot
N O O
wwn. UOF- I 2aa-0 wa¢OmF- Q¢UOOt-
p" O
O O CNO IDr
Cl
N
tOCOtl-
O O Cl RtO OO 0000
r.* D O
ON000
r t O 0 C)
OrN000
r r V- O O
O 0 0 0 0 Cl r r r r r 0 0 0 0 O r r r M Co M cM Cl) M
F, NNN CIA N NNNN N rrr r rrrr r rrrrr
d
C
J
LO0)
MN
co
a)
C4Q
a.
Q
W
0
U
J
Z
0
C)) CA
r
Y
Z
J
0
W
D
0
J
LO0)
M
N
co
n O 0 0 Ln 0 st 0 O Ljr) 0 W CA o
M O O O cM O N A N N f) LO W co
QLri 6 O cO N CA f) Lr; 0 0 LA EAc0 CR
00 0) E9 EA Nr-
aa)
iNtLf)o
00 40 00 D cY O
M
m
o
69
M
69
N
69
M
M69
N
69
r
7'
L
CL
Q
toOOm co OO LOIt hO V o
C N LO O
t hONO r
LO cli4 00
E9 6E9 O
OLOOMN
N O N V- 00
O NN O
Nco
co r-
N
NtaN) tt
61)
to A
0 0a 0 0 m 0 LO LO I- CO o
Lr NOOCM d: N 00 Itt LO LO 10, co O
n OO CD N t N N t- 66 f) 4 c6 lf
NCO V)Ln O MN 6961= fa O
3 CAr-0)0CA tl- N mit N
L
N Co- f) V coM
dN4 to
LA 0 0 co 1,- LO M O LO CA 00 0
r(O O OH' O N O Ln LO 19t q m
C7 1- O N S u O 4 0 0 O ch
OmOLOd' LO O Lo C) r 69 A r
OC) O CA N O O N
c O cM N 00 co N N 00
R Nr69O E9 co
r E9 69
03
cu"
u
ca
U. o
3 3 L
L L
AQ) O c0) O
U
CoCl
U c0) 2
aCi ch m
L CL
N ha U) co N
O X
U(
D W
c ccOODC)
COa)
J 0 E
4]
7 NN N V) N N0
N UI- O Q) O r- a) 0) OCQ O 6 cu 7 7 O 0)
N E- W D- a-0 Q a_2 Q tl Cn In U
N
LO0)
M
N
co
d
Q.'
Q
U)
U)
0
U
J
2
I—
Z
0
2
N
00
Y
Z
J
0
F-
W
2
H
J
a.
N M 0 0 0 M 0 7 0 e 0) Nr co N
J N Il O O to 0 MN O O O V- t e-
a LO 000 w Vr LOM Mo oma r` 0
M 0) 60- 00 M O N 00 CO Efi CA R M
0 M Cl! r- r- N r- Ln N
H r- M
CO0
bg fR 613 69-
r
T
L
Q.
a
r` O O O r` v m Ln O r` m LO V) r•
DI 000 I- O 00- rte- O 0)
L I_ I- 6 6 6 O Ch CO CAM O CO 0 cM
U
coO(
OO CmA000 M X00 EAEi9 EA N
IC rl- CC') N v N M
NN to Cf3 CN 6% N
NOOON 00 00 000 tO 10'
00-
LQU( qqO N N0 NO 0 NO 00 O
O C?) 0 CO M Co 0 M ct O 64 Cfl 0
0') It T fi? if3
L O N d 0000 0Oi 000 N
m, N N N 0 N O
4) N 6f3 Ei? Ef3 N
LL
t O O O mt M 0) 0 0 0) 0) N o
0000CA n 00 NO Fir 00 C14 M M
rOOCON_ r C;r MC; Oto ti 00
ca D V) 00 CD 6%6% EA
3 N
C 1-i C6 N O N.-
VC%4 61> 649, 04 6% N
i4
tv
Ca
U
0.0
3 3
CO r
L L
DV)
L
Q)
a) OClc
yUUcamiciccnN0 co
W CLN U to N yC
cc
c d of
0 O y N W O CU 0) N CL IL
La_ II CL) NUcac
cr- ca)a) c ia a.
J> E cNn a) vii a cq V) U
0 0
a
C O M O- co
vN)
m
a
O O N
Q f-- Of a. a_ o a. I a- a_ co U) U a'
M
N
co
Q
D
U)
U)
O
U
J
2
H
Z
O
2
LOrn
Q)
Y
Z
J
O
F—
W
2
H
ccO
L
CL
LOm
M
N
co
NOOON M lqt C)0 OT
It
00L T
LO
o
T M O O 00 LO 00 N T 00 M N
QC7t-z0000 4 O ON r- 64 O O
CF) q rO(OT O O OM T fRfA EA O
N
O
F
M O
iU 06
r- C)
06
N
6M
Lf) O LIli
O
CN
OMEAto) to ONE9 Ef>
LO
r0
T
L
tZ
Q
1-LAOON Nt n n0 0c TCO o
O lo: gC!q I C) O T 00 It M d T
gr LO O O H Cl N CO to 6 O 64 O O
t T Cl) O N C") 00 00 f) T 69 CR to O
T00CAN M T O CO NIL
caCa tl0 N Q' st T C00
rn T T 613 M T
DDO0000 LO M OO LONt Or- 00 0
CAt 00N N m I, -O 00 LOM LO V-
NstOCOst co
O Mme' t` u'i4 O CO
w to O O V) It 00 O M T
61+61) A CA
00 Ict O) N C) 00 T O LO T
L
co(ONCOCD N
00 T T 69 00 64 T
LL d? Efl EA EA
I O O O N d' co 00 0 to N CO T M o
O T O O CA n M 00 O T O t M LO N
M r- O CO I` c O M I. M O V:
RS N it O LA M I- co co Cr T 6H A O
st CO CA N 13 O T D CM N
C
Ri CO T T 00 to
7a
m
ca
cu
00
3: 3:
L L
L
a) a) Lcm
aCU
C
C OOOcn«.
U
ON
UcuO
c a) N N T(
nCo
Y LL L m m CL
Z o a XCrCa a Q) a a w
0' N vvi vNi v C)
a) 7 wL N O ILL U O 4 c0 3 7 O a)
W F Wd Q2 n d nCn U 2
71
LOm
M
N
co
J
Q
D
F-
U
Q
U
m
Q
rn
W
H
D
0
Q
D
U)
U)
0
U
J
z
c0
C
O
Y
Z
J
0
W
0
J
a.
LO
M
N
co
NLOOOh O p 1l -CD Mme- P- C) to
0-
C) 04 C) Cn N it CM l t r- N 1-- N M
a n N N O of M
F Q) N M N M O n 0 0) r 69 f? 69 ce)
0 00 coO CI) to v: MO
D Lf M O CA M N
N E9 N
a
00 O O O 00 st u') O u') O O 00 cn o
N(D000st O ti 00O M1` Oto O
W) M d' O D D O n O 00tD O
L E9 d vi etOOc0VOr
O
V- W- 69 a V- 69
64 6%
CD LO 0 04100O O N D 00 ct
et N O 00 O O r- O r r` p O p p
r 00 t O 00 N O M O r O 00 0 O C!
N M Ict ct D co M 0) r 69 6% 6% 14etr` co t r` rn v P-
tD
669
6
li
0000000 M O NN vr- oNctO00DUCMr- M 00 1- LO r
0) co v ti 0) D My Lc) 69 d? E9 M7D
c r tMA SMOERE9ca
B
cu
ca
ca U
U o
3 3 W
4
Fu- L La) L
L
CL ND7L O CM O C
CU
UCU
U N
caNNoco
m O O O> X\ O O 0) dd L
a UC: O c cc O
rn cru
c_
N o tZ
o
0) L
E N W
W
H
p
c
7 0)
Q
CB
OL
O CB
a
V
s j) U)
O
v
O
Dr
LO
M
N
co
J
Q
F-
U
Q
U
Q
NO
w
F-
D
O
Q'
Q
D
co
F-
O
U
J
F -
Z
O
2
LOrn
O
Y
Z
J
O
w
F -
w
2
F-
O
J
a
N LO O 0o l- O O 00 0 r- to 0 0) O o
ONO(D0 to O ON O O tLO
a 4 r;o 6
r r -N 6F?9ER6
000 tna0
O(O a r- b49 69
69 6R
r0
7"
Q
Q
tn00(O N O M00 CD 14^ N
0-
ODOR O O to et CA to 00 O co 0) O O O)
L e- N 00 CO d O cfl M t O to c0
CO M N r At o co 6% E9 st
L. t!)000(00 I N1-
ca1- 6113 6%N
6f}
O to 0 CO co O 0 0 tl- O 1l- O o
OR O O to CM O O O It 0) e- O O
n 1l- CO D N O 0 6 I-- O D to CO V7
mo C)
t N 6%6% 6eco
coN
N
O Nr- M
NEiJ 69 6f3 NE: L
0 0 0 co to r' 1- Il- O CM CA f- M o
G NOcnM to to 00 M it CD MN 1I- fl-
OD00 O CO N O O M 6 O co to O N
M NM 60 CO
V)00000M O
1 1-: N ll i
V 66?6969(VV
03
cu
ca
U
33`)
aD oma CCD`
v7 tea) cco c
CL
U c 2 NCD o
V h
vo)
cn iu
s a) NNScu Cc
0cc
V
h
o D>>
aLi x
wa
a) m a) a. a.
Q UcL)w c
ac) iac)
L)
a`)
n-
CD
C14Liu C-2
coE
O a)
cr,
c a) cu o cu cu2u) 3o Q
F-- F- a a. U Q a. 2 a a. w U w
LOO
M
N
D
J
Q
D
H
U
Q
U
U
m
Q
M
O
W
H
Z)
O
w
N DOON00 M O t0 LO ON O o
J tt 0 O O) LO LO d I-- D M LO c M 1- O
Q LO w 4 LO 6 r CO 4 LO M N 4 CO
E" N N E9 E9 Eg OttLOONiDNCOOS
OCO M EA D E9
EF? ER fA E9
r
T
Q
Q
s LO O d M N O 0 0 LO CO I- M r-
0000(O1 0 cq q q 1 M N ON LOM NIt h O
t co O CO CO M 6 O N N 4 M N 4 0
ti M r N E9 E9 Ef? i COO It V
NNr66% 6% 6%
69 f3
N O O et O O w LO O O 00 LO LO LO o
I - V- O(DO O 1l- COO 0) V) N O O
1 000 co* d• N N O4 ui MN ll
m
D O 001- co I- Co O N 6% 6f} 6%
L0
NCOst M
mo LO O69 NO tet•
0 N 69 ER N
ly 6%6% 69
O LO O d O N co Co Cl m D co CO D o
OO LO O O a0 LO t O d LO LO r N co O
O m 0 CO 1- N LQ 4 00 LO M N 7
cc 0 LO 00 N O I- O M N ER EA E<?
3 LO cn r- CO O N 0 N'
C rl: L6C
7 cr* 6qkaC4 to
C
c
ccU
00
33`nN
L L D La) B Cy,r ai ai Lcm
a aO c
2cuc cn NO isa>cucu
m a> D a) d doWo IDQU>
UCU C
c cc
Mas
tea
a) U E D N vagi cUn N p d O
n
C
0
r- cn 0 m v> U
w O a> O a O o a O O O a)
HW a.11C CL 2 1 12-U) U) U
DATE: June 29, 1995
TO: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager through
Fred G. Moore, Director of Public Works
FROM: John R. Sweeney, Transit Administrator
SUBJECT: METRO MOBILITY SERVICE CHANG IN PLYMOUTH
SUMMARY
As a result of inadequate funding levels provided by the Minnesota Legislature, the Metropolitan
Council is currently reviewing proposals to restructure Metro Mobility, the regional paratransit
service for disabled individuals. This restructuring will likely include fare increases, service hour
reductions and service elimination in certain cities. One of the cities being considered for service
elimination is Plymouth. If Metro Mobility service is eliminated in Plymouth there would be no
paratransit service in or out of Plymouth unless provided by Plymouth Metrolink.
The purpose of this memo is to discuss the proposed Metro Mobility service cuts and to identify
options available to Plymouth Metrolink should a decision be reached to implement a paratransit
service in Plymouth.
BACKGROUND
Plymouth Metrolink
In the early 1980's the Minnesota Legislature, in response to complaints that several cities were
paying into the regional transit property tax system but were receiving little or no service, created
the Replacement Service Statute (Minnesota Statutes 477.388). Through this statute cities or
groups of cities at the end of existing MTC transit routes that received little service could set up
their own transit systems, funding those systems with the locally generated portion of the regional
transit property tax.
Metro Mobility
Page 2
Initially 23 cities were eligible to participate in the Replacement Service program, but due to the
amount of work necessary to become certified in the program only 12 cities chose to participate
before the ability to apply sunsetted through statutory language. Those cities are Plymouth,
Maple Grove, and Shakopee, which have each formed single -city systems, the Southwest Metro
Transit Commission, comprised of Eden Prairie, Chanhassen and Chaska, and the Minnesota
Valley Transit Authority, comprised of Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Savage,
and Prior Lake. The Replacement Service transit systems have become better known as "opt -out"
systems.
Funding for opt -out systems comes from the regional transit property tax that is levied throughout
the metropolitan area by the Metropolitan Council. Each opt -out system submits annual requests
for funds which are reviewed by the region for consistency with regional policies. If the request
is consistent with policy the Metro Council "may" (as the statute is written) provide the funding
up to 90 percent of the locally generated portion of that regional transit property tax.
Plymouth Metrolink, the first opt -out transit system, was created in 1984, and since then has seen
steady growth in passenger ridership. Metrolink provides morning and evening commuter service
to and from downtown Minneapolis, reverse commute service bringing inner city workers to
Plymouth for employment opportunities and back home in the evening, and dial -a -ride services
within Plymouth and to nearby connection points.
Transit property taxes are levied at three different levels, depending upon the level of transit
services provided to each city. Reductions in the property tax level are referred to as
feathering." The lowest property tax level, known as fully feathered, applies to communities
with no fixed route transit service or only peak hour service (between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
and between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.). The middle property tax level, known as partially
unfeathered, applies to cities with mid-day regular route transit services that run at a frequency of
greater than once per hour. The highest property tax level, known as fully unfeathered, applies
to communities with mid-day regular route transit service routes that operate with frequencies of
once per hour or more often.
Plymouth Metrolink does not operate any mid-day fixed route services and is taxed at the fully
feathered (lowest) rate. There is dial -a -ride service throughout the day, but dial -a -ride does not
classify as fixed route service.
Metro Mobility
The Twin Cities metro area has had an extensive paratransit service for many years. (A
paratransit service is a transit service that provides rides to disabled individuals.) This paratransit
service is known as Metro Mobility.
METMOCHO.DOC
Metro Mobility
Page 3
In 1990 the federal government passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which
establishes requirements for the establishment and operation of paratransit services throughout the
country. These requirements include the phase-in of a fully accessible bus fleet and the
requirement that all public entities which provide fixed route transit services must also offer
comparable paratransit service to individuals with disabilities who can not access the regular route
service.
Under ADA the requirement for a complementary paratransit service applies to areas three-
quarters of a mile either side of any fixed route service other than commuter routes (routes
operating during peak hours). In the metro area this has been interpreted to mean that
complementary paratransit services must be provided in any city with a non -peak fixed route
service. Metro Mobility is that complementary paratransit service in the Twin Cities metro area.
PROPOSED METRO MOBILITY SERVICE CUTS
Metro Mobility is currently being provided in broader areas and for more hours per day than
would be mandated under ADA. The Twin Cities has long had one of the most extensive
complementary paratransit services in the country.
All funding for Metro Mobility comes from the Minnesota Legislature (no Metro Mobility
funding comes from the property tax). In order to cap the rapidly increasing costs of Metro
Mobility service, the Legislature specifically prohibits the use of any funds other than those
provided by the State for Metro Mobility services. Less than requested funding provided by the
1995 Legislature for Metro Mobility have forced the Metropolitan Council, the operator of the
Metro Mobility system, to review cost savings in Metro Mobility operations.
Under consideration are fare increases, service hour reductions in 45 metro cities, and service
elimination in cities where service is not required under ADA. The cities slated for service
elimination are Plymouth, Maple Grove, Osseo, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Vadnais Heights and
White Bear Township.
It appears likely, due to the budget shortfalls anticipated in Metro Mobility by the Metropolitan
Council, that the service elimination, service reductions and fare increases will be implemented.
Public hearings have already been held by the Metropolitan Council on these services changes and
they are moving forward toward a possible September 1995 implementation time frame. Staff
recommendations will be presented to the Transportation Committee on July 10, 1995 or July 17,
1995. The Metropolitan Council will probably act on this matter July 27, 1995.
MEPMOCHG DOC
Metro Mobility
Page 4
IMPACTS ON PLYMOUTH
At the present time Plymouth is served by Metro Mobility. There are about 1400 requests (a
round trip is two requests) for service each month in and out of Plymouth through Metro
Mobility's service center. It has been estimated that there are over 600 Plymouth residents that
have the required Metro Mobility certification. Metro Mobility is not required to provide service
to Plymouth under ADA since Plymouth Metrolink, the transit service provider in Plymouth,
does not operate any non -peak fixed route services.
If Metro Mobility service in Plymouth is eliminated there will likely be considerable pressure for
Plymouth Metrolink to provide paratransit services. The cost of these services would be based
upon the amount of service provided, the service structure, potential drop-off and pick-up points
to connect with the Metro Mobility system, the times of operation, dispatch costs and other
factors. The Metropolitan Council estimates that to continue Metro Mobility in Plymouth
through a contract would cost $347,663 if the service was not bid out or was not restructured in
some way. This cost does not include dispatch expenses.
The funding for Plymouth Metrolink to provide a paratransit service could come from the
available regional transit property tax eligible for Metrolink use under the opt -out statute. For
1995 there is estimated to be about $305,000 unused in the maximum amount eligible to
Metrolink, but with the present overall funding shortage for the entire metro transit system it is
not known how much (if any) of these funds will be allowed for usage by Metrolink from the
Metropolitan Council. If additional funding was not provided by the Metropolitan Council, other
funding sources would have to be located or existing Metrolink services would have to be cut.
OPTIONS
If Metro Mobility is discontinued in Plymouth, the following options could be considered:
Choose not to provide a paratransit service
Implement a mid-day fixed route transit route which would make Plymouth eligible
for Metro Mobility service
Contract with Metro Mobility for service
Expand the existing dial -a -ride service, providing accessible dial -a -ride vehicles,
and implement a limited paratransit service with connections to Metro Mobility at
Ridgedale or other connecting points
Implement a full service paratransit program, including the establishment of a
dispatch center
MEWOCHOMOC
Metro Mobility
Page 5
The option of choosing not to provide paratransit service in Plymouth, while allowed under
ADA, is probably not practicable. A paratransit system provides mobility to people who
otherwise have no means of getting to and from work, shopping, doctors or other important
locations. With a sizable disabled community in Plymouth, many of whom chose to live in
Plymouth because of available paratransit services, choosing not to provide any service would be
a very harsh decision and would likely result in serious hardships for many people.
Implementing a mid-day regular route service would seem to be a logical approach to dealing
with the elimination of Metro Mobility. However, there are problems associated with this option.
1. A regular route service will cost money to implement and operate, and there is no
certainty about the level of available funding to operate such a service now or in
the future.
2. There will probably be service cuts throughout the metro transit system in the
coming months because of a lack of funding by the Legislature and slow growth in
property tax collections. It will be difficult to justify the implementation of a new
fixed route service if the rest of the region is experiencing service cuts.
3. Even if a mid-day regular route service is implemented in Plymouth, Metro
Mobility service will likely be terminated in all opt -out systems in a second phase
of Metro Mobility reorganization. The attorney for the former Regional Transit
Board wrote an opinion in 1994 stating that the regional system has no
requirement to provide Metro Mobility in opt -out areas, and that paratransit
responsibilities relative to opt -out areas is the obligation of the opt -out systems.
The Metropolitan Council is planning on eliminating Metro Mobility services in
all opt -out areas once the first phase of Metro Mobility restructuring is completed
early next year.
The option of contracting with Metro Mobility for service is very expensive and would probably
exceed the available funding to the Metrolink system. Likewise, implementing a full paratransit
program, complete with dispatch center, is also prohibitively expensive and would not be large
enough to be cost effective.
EXPANDED DIA1,A-RIDE SERVICE
The option that appears to have the most promise is the expansion of the existing dial -a -ride
service to implement a limited paratransit service. This option could be implemented with a
minimum of disruption to the current Metrolink operations, would be the least difficult to start
up, would be the least costly of the available service options, and would provide a basic level of
service to the disabled community.
METMocxc.noc
Metro Mobility
Page 6
Through talks with the contracted service provider for dial -a -ride, National School Bus Service,
Inc. (NSB), approximately three to five additional dial -a -ride vehicles (all -wheel chair lift -
equipped) could be added to the existing dial -a -ride fleet to meet the existing paratransit demand.
Reservations and dispatching would be handled by the existing NSB dial -a -ride dispatch centers,
either in St. Paul or in Eden Prairie.
By having NSB provide this expanded dial -a -ride system Plymouth Metrolink would not have to
enter into a time consuming process of competitively bidding out the service, as would be
required by regional policy for other options. A simple contract amendment with NSB would
suffice for the term of the existing contract, through March 26, 2000. Ultimately, when the
current contract and possible extensions have terminated, Metrolink will have to conduct a
competitive bid for the service, but not for several years.
The service would operate during the current dial -a -ride hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. This represents fewer. hours than
Metro Mobility currently operates, but would be a reasonable service level comparable to the
service provided to the rest of the community. Some hardships might result because of these
hours of service, and Metrolink could review these cases to determine if alternatives exist such as
taxis, or possible longer hours of dial -a -ride service.
An expanded dial -a -ride service would not make the long trips across the metro area that Metro
Mobility currently provides. Instead, connecting points would be established with Metro
Mobility for transfers to and from other metro locations. These points would be near the borders
of Plymouth, such as at Ridgedale or at K -Mart in New Hope. This transfer requirement would
probably not please all users of the system, but it would be the only cost effective means of
delivering the service.
NSB is currently analyzing data relative to a possible expansion of dial -a -ride services to include
a paratransit element. Specific costs would be developed before any decisions to proceed are
made. At this time it appears the cost of this service would probably range between $150,000
and $200,000 per year, and there are strong indications that the Metropolitan Council would be
willing to fund this amount at least through 1996 with our opt -out money. It would probably be
appropriate to consider a possible direct request to the Legislature for supplemental funding to
assist in managing future system costs.
RECOMMENDATION
This memo is provided for your information. The Council will be kept fully informed as
information becomes available.
MEfMOCHO.DOC