HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_76Mar22MINUTES OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ~
FALCON HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
MARCH 22, 1976
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A special meeting of the Falcon Heights City Council was called
to order by Acing Mayor Black at 7:30 p.m.
Acting Mayor Black, Councilmen Ecklund, Steele, and Labalestra. PRESENT
Also present were Clerk-Administrator Barnes and Engineer Lemberg.
Mayor Warkentien.
ABSENT
The purpose of the meeting scheduled for this evening was to PURPOSE OF
reconsider the construction of Arona Avenue from California to MEETING
Hoyt Avenue at the time storm sewer was installed. There were ~~~~~ ~,~
nineteen concerned residents present.
Acting Mayor Black reviewed the history of the proposed project
and said it was being reconsidered at this time in order to save
the street being torn up twice within two or three years and also
noted a change had been made in Minnesota State Aid regulations.
The regulations had been changed to allow a minimum street width
of 32 feet with no parking, instead of 36 feet. The 36 foot width
now allows parking on one side and 1~0 to l~.feet, parking on both
sides.
Engineer Lemberg stated Arona Avenue varied in width at present
from 32 to 34 feet. Mr. Lemberg said he would recommend the pro-
posed construction to consist of a 9-ton capacity, 36 foot wide
street, including base construction, bituminous surfacing, concrete
curb and gutter. The project also would include reshaping and
resodding of abutting boulevards and replacement or repair of
driveway approaches. Trees would also be replaced, if necessary.
Mr. Lemberg noted the grade would remain the same, so there would
be no problem with driveway replacement.
Engineer Lemberg mentioned the storm sewer project had been
ordered and that the plans were complete. He said Minnesota State
Aid would also be paying part of the sewer construction if the
projects were combined, resulting in a lower assessment for the
storm sewer. There would be no assessment for the street con-
struction as this would be paid by MSA funds. The savings would
amount to about $20.00 per lot.
If residents desired and Council approved, no parking signs could
be posted on both sides of the street. The Engineer recommended
that parking be perixitted on one side for safety purposes, i.e.,
emergency vehicles, stalled cars, moving vans, etc.
Engineer Lemberg noted that sidewalks could also be constructed at
no cost to homeowners on one or both sides if they were installed
at the same time as the street.
Minutes
Special Meeting
March 22, 1976 ~'
Page Two
Councilman Ecklund reminded the residents present that the storm
sewer assessment alone was approximately $120.00 per lot, whereas x
if the street were constructed at the same time, the assessment ~'
would be $20.00 per lot less, or an estimated $100.00 per lot.
Leah Johnson, 152t~ West Iowa, said she did not think the area was
in need of sidewalks.
Robert H. Ke11in, 1513 West Iowa, asked if a drawing were available
to determine how each individual lot would be effected by the width
of the street. Engineer Lemberg replied "yes".
Leah Johnson, address previously noted, asked if parking were
nec®ssary. Engineer Lemberg said it was recommended for safety
purposes.
B®tty Ernst, 1.67 West Iowa, asked why the changes were being
reconsidered. She felt that the residents were not in favor of
the 36 foot width before.
Councilman Black reviewed the reasons for the special meeting this
evening.
David A. Anderson, 1512 West Idaho, asked if parking was necessary
and if the street could."'be 32 feet wide so no trees would have to
be removed.
Acting Mayor Black asked how many present would want parking on
the west side. One one present was in favor. He then asked how
many present would want parking on the east side. Two people
present were in favor, but one of them said he would go along with no
parking if the rest of the people wanted this.
Councilman Steele stated that he felt there were two questions being
faced at one time: (1) did the residents want the street construction
at this time, and (2) after the foregoing question was resolved,
then the determination of the width of the street could b® decided.
After being asked if they were in favor of a 32 foot wide newly
constructed street, all citizens present indicated they were in ~
favor of this construction.
Joseph Stern, 1525 West Idaho, said he felt one of the reasons the
street improvement was rejected before was that residents feared
an increase in traffic flow. He said he would be in favor of a 36
foot width if traffic would not increase. He asked if the street
improvement was being considered because it would be of benefit to
the commercial area.
Minutes
Special Meeting
March 22, 1976
Page Three
1
1
Councilman Steele replied the street improvement was considered to
be a benefit to the residents and that the Council was in favor of
a Snelling Avenue Access to the shopping area.
James Danielson, 1512 West California, asked if there would be a
tree loss on the east side if the street was 36 feet wide. Engineer
Lemberg replied that it appeared there would not be, even at a 36
foot width.
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.,
David Anderson, address previously noted, asked if the catch basins ~,,.
would be at the 36 foot width, even if the street were 32 feet wide.
Engineer Lemberg stated they would be at 36 feet in order to allow
for widening of the street in the future.
Councilman Ecklund felt that the street would not need to be widened
in the future.
Engineer Lemberg noted that the State Highway Department had not as
yet given approval to a 32 foot wide street, even though the regulations
had been changed to accommodate this width.
Councilman Labalestra stated he personally was in favor of the 36 foot
wide street, with parking on one side, however, if the residents desired
the 32 foot width with no parking on both sides, he would go along with
them .
Herb Richards, 1525 West Iowa, said he was against a sidewalk as it
would be right next to his dining area.
Moved by Councilman Steele, seconded by Councilman Ecklund that the
City Engineer submit a request to the Highway Department that Arona
Avenue from California Avenue south to Hoyt Avenue be built a 32 foot
wide street with a 9-ton capacity, full base including gravel, heavy
duty bituminous with concrete curb and gutter and 32 foot width catch
basins, with reshaping and sodding of boulevards and trees to be re-
placed that would have to be removed because of construction, and to be
constructed at the same time as the storm sewer installation. Upon a
vote being taken, the following voted "aye": Acting Mayor Black,
Councilmen Ecklund, Steele, and Labalestra, and the following voted
"nay": None. Motion carried.
A short discussion was held as to the State regulations governing a
32 foot wide street with regard to MSA funding.
Moved by Councilman Steele, seconded by Councilman Labalestra ADJOURNMENT
to ad3ourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Upon a vote being taken, the
following voted "aye": Acting Mayor Black, Councilmen Ecklund,
Steele, and Labalestra, and the following voted "nay": None..
Motion carried. ~ , '
,I ~ '
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ATT illiam H. Black,"Acting Mayor
Dewan B. Barnes, Clerk-Administrator