Minutes

New Brighton Economic Development Commission

Regular Meeting - October 8, 1996

7:30 a.m.

Call to Order

Acting Chair George Gregori called the meeting to order at 7:42 a.m.

Roll Call

Present:	George Gregori, Dennis Guldan, Marcia Fink, Mike Olson,

Maxine Pierson, Jeff Schopf, Roger Williams

Absent:	Ken Johnson, Jay Scott, Robert Benke

Also Present:	Dave McKenzie, SEH

Kevin Locke, Director of Community Development

Approval of Minutes

The minutes from September 9, 1996, were approved as written.

Railroad Issues Discussion - Dave McKenzie, SEH

Dave McKenzie with SEH reported on the research and analysis he had completed regarding issues related to the extension of County Road E2 through the poleyards. Among the key points raised by McKenzie were the following:

1.	Three railroads are involved in this area of the city. They are the Soo Line (now Canadian Pacific), the MN Commercial and Wisconsin Central.

2.	The function of the rail yard between the MacGillis & Gibbs and the Bell Pole properties are fourfold:

A.	Interchange of cars among the three railroads, 200–300 cars are moved per day.

B.	Storage of cars by Canadian Pacific (C.P.) Rail.

C.	Support for local industries, primarily by the MN Commercial.

D.	Interchange of coal trains by the Union Pacific and the Wisconsin Central.

3.	Once daily, a loaded 110–115-car coal train passes through New Brighton and an empty train returns.

4.	The coal trains come from Wyoming and travel to Weston and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

5.	Other routes exist for connecting the coal fields of Wyoming with the Wisconsin sites, but none are as appealing to the rail companies as the New Brighton route.

6.	The loaded coal trains approach the city from the south and leave the city headed east.

7.	Since no trackage exists to allow trains to move directly from the south to the east, the trains currently move north through the poleyards and the downtown area, stop, detach the locomotive from the north end of the train, re-attach a locomotive to the south end of the train and then resume travel heading east on the Canadian Pacific/Wisconsin Central tracks.

8.	All together this maneuver takes approximately 1,520 minutes under good conditions, longer if either the Union Pacific or the Wisconsin Central are not quite ready when the train arrives in New Brighton.

9.	The coal trains are the major source of blockage of streets in New Brighton. They also are the source of complaints concerning whistles and bells.

10.	The construction of a connection between the east-west C.P. mainline and the C.P. mainline coming from the south would eliminate the need to run coal trains north of the CP east-west mainline. This trackage is referred to as creating a "Y."

11.	The extension of County Road E2 through the poleyards would require crossing six tracks today. This is not likely to be acceptable by DOT (Department of Transportation) or the railroads.

12.	MnDOT has the authority to approve any rail crossings. This can be done administratively, if the railroads agree to the crossing, or through a lengthy hearing process if the railroads are not supportive.

13.	Moving five of the six tracks at the County Road E2 crossing would improve the potential for approval of the crossing.

14.	Removing trackage would eliminate space for about 50 rail cars.

15.	Possibly, the most feasible way to replace car storage space lost due to the County Road E2 crossing, would be to add two tracks parallel to the Canadian Pacific mainline which runs east from the poleyards over I-35W.

16.	A "Y" connection between the CP mainline from the south and the mainline to the east would be needed to provide access to the replacement trackage placed along the east-west CP mainline.

17.	The estimated costs of the actions discussed, were $700–800,000 for the County Road E2 crossing and replacement of trackage and $200–300,000 for the new "Y" between the CP mainlines. Neither of these estimates includes the costs of any property acquisition.

18.	McKenzie handed out maps showing how trains approach the New Brighton area and alternative routes the trains could take to pass through the Twin Cities.

Rice Creek Center - FDJP Partnership

Staff indicated that they were reviewing the financial data provided by the FDJP Partnership concerning their proposed renovation of the Rice Creek Center property. The preliminary analysis does not appear to support the partnership's proposed alternative courses of action. Staff will be exploring the partnerships proposals further with Phil Gibson from Dial Companies in Omaha and representing the FDJP Partnership.

I-35W Corridor Study

George Gregori, chair of the special task force on the Old Hwy 8/I-35W corridor plan reported on the committees actions. They have met twice to date, once to decide how to proceed with executing their responsibilities and once to hear presentations by four prospective consultants to work with the committee to prepare plans for the corridor. The committee is recommending the City Council select the consulting team of Hoisington Koegler Group Inc., Economic Development Services, McComb Group Ltd., and G. Haugland Company, to prepare the plan update. The task force is expected to meet again in about one week.

Other Business

There was no "Other Business."

Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 8:57 a.m..