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3 February 1994 <br /> Page 3 <br /> The proposed capital plan not only tries to minimize physical transportation <br /> disruptions in the city by planning projects after Larpenteur Avenue is <br /> reconstructed. But it also substantially improves the city's financial position for <br /> implementing future local street projects. The city's past policy has been to <br /> approach street projects as a necessary cost for all property owners to <br /> contribute too. Applying this policy to Larpenteur Avenue, the city may be able <br /> to collect its MSA allocation for work on Larpenteur Avenue. If additional MSA <br /> funds or special assessment revenue comes in with the Larpenteur Avenue <br /> project, these funds can go to finance local street projects. Although it is <br /> premature to determine Larpenteur Avenue's actual financial impact on future <br /> infrastructure revenue, postponing Larpenteur Avenue may make it more <br /> difficult for the city to finance these local projects. <br /> 4. Spending money on planning now only to repeat it in the future. Because this <br /> is such an important project for the city, it is crucial that the city be involved <br /> at each step in the process. This requires a time commitment which, in turn, <br /> has financial implications. In 1993 the city spent $3,600 on consulting <br /> engineering time planning for Larpenteur Avenue. This did not include exclusive <br /> of the city administrator's time. These dollars were well spent. However, staff <br /> is already beginning to repeat meetings with city groups and county officials to <br /> re- discuss the plans. Some back tracking is always part of the planning <br /> process. However, its important to evaluate where the city is going as it <br /> continues to invest in the process. <br /> 5. Making decisions on a short timeline to meet the ISTEA deadline. One of the <br /> staff's major concerns is that the county will dramatically speed up the <br /> planning process just before the ISTEA deadline arrives. Experience suggests <br /> that when the deadline gets close, the city is pressured to make hasty decisions <br /> about roadways without ample time to react to new design demands and to <br /> negotiate improvements that the city requires. (The Cleveland Avenue median <br /> is a perfect example.) Making quick decisions due to time constraints may <br /> create a missed opportunity for the community to use Larpenteur Avenue to <br /> create a safer, more attractive and better constructed roadway. <br /> Recommendation <br /> In order to avoid the five concerns described above and to strengthen the city's <br /> position in planning Larpenteur Avenue, the city administrator asks that the city <br /> council request her to write a letter to the Paul Kirkwold, the Ramsey County Public <br /> Works Director, Terry Schutten, Ramsey County Executive Director and the Ramsey <br /> County Board encouraging the county to streamline the process for planning along <br /> Larpenteur Avenue and to give the project a very high priority. <br /> Furthermore, the city administrator asks the city council to have her explore the <br /> opportunity for the county to contract with the city to undertake the design phase of <br /> this project within Falcon Heights (Fulham Street to Hamline Avenue). Such a contract <br /> could guarantee that the city engineer design this section of roadway to meet federal <br />