Development Review Committee – Bus Stop Listening Session
May 27, 2014
Meeting Notes (these are not minutes and only attempt to reflect the general statements made)
CRC Committee/Staff: John Mannillo, James McClean, Ginny Harris, Bill Hosko, Paul Bengtson, Bill
Thurmes, Kathi Gall, Bill Englund
Panel: Joe Spencer (City), Adam Harrington (MetTransit), John Matzko (City), Lisa Johnson (MetTransit),
Scott Thompson (MetTransit)
Guests: Charles Woodbury, Fred Krietman, Adriel Bean, Chip Welling, Amy Spong, Nancy Reardon,
Nathan Beck, Chuck Repke, Ladonna Wistrill, Jeff Maki, Sara Kurlon, Nina Englund, Lesli Johnson, Kent
Koehler, Larry McMullen, Heather McMullen, Barbara McMullen, Charles Mann, Carol Bisson, Lillian
Sanders, Rebecca Noecker, Fred Melo, Reuben Morales, Anne Morales, Denise Hepola, Ralph Hepola,
Dru Frykberg, Julie Bluhm, William Sawyer, John Kothera, Jeanne Hall, Randall Hall, Sharon Boerbon
Hanson, Ben Krause, Gretchen Prater, Mary Williams-Greene, Brent Greene, Ashly Moen
Meeting called to order. Introductions.
Items of discussion:
6th and Wacouta Bus Stop
Joe Spencer explained the rationale behind the proposed relocation, which was to make the
city more transit friendly and to balance customer loads. Mr. Spencer informed the attendees
that the proposed move was initiated by the mayor’s office.
Adam Harrington furthered the rationale by indicating the need to manage the sidewalk space
for all users, to provide a dedicated waiting area for 50-200 patrons that use the stop daily, to
separate pedestrians from the waiting patrons, and to allow for the anticipated addition of a
Bus Rapid Transit stop at this location. He also reminded those in attendance that the patrons
of the bus system were residents, business workers and business patrons. (Handouts about a
bus shelter and the Bus Rapid Transit system were handed out by MetTransit)
John Matzko reiterated the importance of access to a Bus Rapid Transit stop in this area with it
being close to the soon to open Lowertown Ballpark.
Lisa Johnson indicated that the panel was interested in hearing the concerns of the guests.
Leslie Johnson resident of River Park Lofts (RPL) indicated opposition to the proposed relocation.
Bill Englund, local Pastor, and father of a RPL resident questioned the proposal due to the low usage of
the stop.
Nina Englund, RPL resident, indicated that the location of her unit on the garden level meant the
proposal would have significant impact on her and questioned the lack of proper notice for the
proposal.
Sara Kurlon, RPL resident, indicated that the location of her unit on the garden level meant significant
pollution, property value and quality of life impacts from the proposal. She also indicated that she had
supported the sidewalk extenstion and patronizes the businesses there.
Jeff Maki, RPL resident, also on the garden level, indicated that he had invested in this neighborhood
and is being repaid by having his only operatable windows blocked by the proposed bus shelter. He also
questioned the rationale for having the bus stop before the intersection instead of after the intersection
like the BRT handout that was provided shows. He indicated that the sidewalk extension area being
closer to the skyway made it more attractive as a stop location and that the restaurants in that ares still
seemed to be well patronized.
Bill Englund indicated that the prohibition on smoking in the shelter would push the smokers closer to
the building.
Charles Mann, RPL resident and association President, reminded the panel that there are 118 tax paying
units in the building, 220+ taxpayers, and that this proposal was a real issue to real people. The
proposed stop would have no access to the skyway or to businesses, would potentially block the right
turn movement and the RPL parking access.
Chip Welling, indicated that as a 20 year bus user, and head of a 1 car household that the city keep in
mind the importance of transit riders.
Charles Mann, RPL resident, indicated that he was the most directly affected unit and had concerns
about the smoking issue. He indiacted that a stop closer to the ballpark made more sense and that a
balance needed to be found between buses and residents.
Adriel Benn, RPL resident, Indicated that the timing of this proposal and notice looked very suspicious.
Barbara McMullen, RPL resident, indicated that the stop hadn’t been in front of RPL when she moved in
in 2006, that they temporarily tried to place it at RPL before and failed, and that this was the third
attempt and a week to respond to the notice was insufficient.
Heather McMullen, indicated her attendance was to support her parents, who reside at RPL.
Larry McMullen, RPL resident, reminded the panel of the families that occupied this building, and that
because some units face 6th street they already deal with noise and pollution. He wants to see a
compromise reached.
Ken Koehler, RPL resident, indicated that he was concerned about he noise and air pollution and that
the 1 week notice seemed underhanded.
Ralph Heppelin, RPL resident, Inquired as to why the bus stop wasn’t moved further east. He also
reminded the panel that the RPL had a 6th street doorway and parking ramp entrances on 6th Street.
Drea McBird, RPL resident, indicated that while enjoying the convenience of the bus line, this was not
the right spot for a stop. Was concered about the blocking of the parking ramp entrance and the open
foyer on 6th street which would be a security issue.
Julie Bloom, RPL resident, indicated that as a transit user she knows that the MetTransit can not control
the actions of all users. Reminded the panel that some units had only one window and it would be right
at this stop/shelter.
William Sawyer, RPL resident, questioned if an appeals process would be in place for the decision made
by the City and MetTransit, and reiterated the concern of people having only one window right at the
stop/shelter.
Adam Harrington indicated that construction was intended to begin this fall on the curb extension
Amy Spong, City of St. Paul HPC/PED, indicated that this was a historic district and that the HPC would
need to review any improvements constructed in this area.
Nate Beck, School of Rock, indicated concerns over the timing of the notice, providing heated areas for
homeless people, and that no one actually waits for the bus inside shelters.
A Lowertown Loft resident, indicated that in their unit on the 5th floor they can still hear buses, people
waiting for buses, and uses ear plugs to sleep. Also indicated that the bus stops smell like urine
frequently.
Ben Krause, asked the panel to consider the citizens before the businesses and design things at a human
scale. He also requested a study or economic analysis done on the proposal.
Nancy Reardon, RPL resident, attended to support her neighbors and informed the panel that they will
lose quality of life, value of property and privacy.
Jeanne Hall, RPL resident, indicated that the city was suffering from institutional amnesia, that during
the sidewalk extension project the bus stop was said to be staying there. Wants to achieve a balance
and has concerns for other residents. He further said that buses don’t belong 8 feet from windows and
that bus shelters were unsafe and scary.
A RPL resident, indicated that a realtor they consulted voiced a ‘value reluctance’ for the RPL building.
Laurie Roller, RPL resident, indicated that the concrete bump out would cost two lanes of traffic and
that no parking would be allowed in that area on 6th Street. Requested the stop be placed closer to the
parking ramp east of RPL, as 6th Street is the main access point to RPL. Emergency access is on 6thand so
is the parking ramp access. As a 5th floor resident she hears the buses idling now. The City has done a
horrible job of balancing the needs of residents and businesses.
Chuck Repke, representative of Plaza Square owners, indicated that at every hearing he never
mentioned the bus stop was to remain there. That the bus stop was indicated to be returned to the RPL
corner after RPL finished construction.
Bill Hosko, CRC Board Member, transit user, indicated that he had three documents that showed the bus
stop was to remain west of Wacouta.
LaDonna W., as a 55 year bus user she feels shelters are unsafe and where misfits hangout.
Carol Bisson, East St. Paul, indicated a fear of bus shelters, that people behave better at stops than at
shelters, that there is not enough enforcement, and that they are unsanitary and dirty.
Sharon Hansen, RPL Resident, asked the panel to correct the bad decision that was made by
management based on bad information. Asked them to do the right thing, and that it takes courage to
retract a bad decision.
Adam Harrington indicated that they will take the resident’s feedback into consideration and will
provide a response in time.
A short period of question and answer continued at this point but was not recorded.
Meeting adjourned.