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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_73Mar1_Special1 "7 MINUTES OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FALCON HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA MARCH 1, 1973 A special meeting of the Falcon Heights Village Council was called to order by Mayor Warkentien at 7:36 P.M. Mayor Warkentien, Councilmen Black, Ecklund, Stone, PRESENT and Councilwoman Stocker. Also present were Clerk- Administrator Barnes, Engineer Lemberg and Attorney Kenefick. Also present was Ramsey County Engineer Deane Anklan. None. ABSENT Also present at the meeting were several interested citizens, as follows: Mr. Rik Ahlberg, Falcon Oil Company, and his Attorney Mr. Robert Engelke; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin DeMartino, 1345 ~'J. California; Mr. W. J. Borchert, Midtown Cleaners, St. Paul; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Roy, 13l~9 W. California; and Mr. Edmund J. Wagner, formerly of 13l~0 W. California. Mayor Warkentien explained the reason for holding a DISCUSSION OF THE special meeting and introduced Ramsey County Engineer TOPICS PROGRAM Deane Anklan, and requested Mr. Anklan to show the two proposed plans and explain them to the public, relative to the Larnenteur Avenue and Hamline Avenue Improvement, known as apart of the TOPICS Program. Engineer Anklan discussed the two alternate plans, one of which would delete the medians and provide four thru traffic lanes with no left turn lanes which would not require removal of any of the existing trees as pro- posed in the original TOPICS plan. The second proposal submitted by Engineer Anklan would provide medians and left turn lanes with thru traffic and also retain the boulevard trees. The following questions and comments were then received by the citizens. Mayor Warkentien explained that the first proposal would MAYOR WARKENTIEN not permit usage of federal or state funds, and the second proposal, if approved by the state and federal highway departments would permit the use of state and federal €unds. The changes in signal and medians on Larpenteur Avenue ANKLAN would cost about $38,000.00. Is this just Larpenteur Avenue? DEMARTINO No, this also includes Hamline Avenue. ANKLAN I understand that going four lanes undivided, the signals MAYOR WARKENTIEN will have to be a different phase of the program. Even with left turn lanes in, there will be just as much time ANKLAN on the signals on Larpenteur Avenue, as in the past. 1$ I am representing Falcon Oil Filling Station, and I am ATT. ENGELKE wondering if a left turn lane will cut off the entrance to the filling station? Wi11 the alley be left open? Which elan are you suggesting, alternate one or txo? There could be a temporary curb cut in the median to ANKLAN permit access to the alley, which will be open for a few years, or at least until Hamline and Larpenteur is upgraded. This could be possibly five to six years. I'm not suggesting any plan. The only difference be- tween the original plan. and the proposed alternates are the dropping of the two lanes, and it will retain the trees. The first we even knew of the Laroenteur - Hamline Avenue ROY R~ DEMARTINO Improvement, was when the men came to mark the trees for removal. You gentlemen went with me to a meetit~; of the Ramsey MAYOR WARKENTIEN County Board of Commissioners, and at that time the biggest concern seemed to be the elmination of the trees on the boulevard. I feel that the left turn lane is unnecessary, because WAGNER so few people make left turns even during the rush hour. The project is not based on local desisres, but basic traffic ANKLAN needs, with some consideration of adjacent property owners. What about the metro transit system? ROY The buses could activate the traffic signals from sixty to ANKLAN sixty-five feet away, load its passengers and move on. Who would pay this $60,000.00? ROY & DEMARTINO The County and possibly the municipalities if an agreement ANKLAN could be reached on funding. How much would changes cost between the two plans? ATT. ENGELKE Approximately $6,000.00 to $8,000.00 would be deducted if ANKLAN the median wasn't installed. Out of the $60,000.00, approx- imately $23,000.00 would be for the signal changes. The contractor would also have to be paid for his original contract, any changes made in the contract, and the delays incurred. Why couldn't the Council go back to the original plan? ATT. ENGELKE The Council requested the County to stop all work at th e ANfQ,AN intersection because of complaints from the people who live near the Larpenteur - Hamline Avenue intersection. ~pw the Ramsey County Engineering Department has proposed two al- ternatives for the Falcon Heights Village Council and the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners to consider and after their determination, the County will seek state and federal funding for this project with these changes. Did Roseville approve the alternate plans? ATT. ENGELKE 1 1 1 1 Roseville held Public Hearings on the pro3ect, and no one attended, and they approved the original plan.. Falcon Heights did not hold a public hearing because circum- stances did not warrant cause for a public hearing. How much would the people in Falcon Heights have to pay? Would the whole Village have to pay or dust the people whose property would be involved? The whole Village would not have to pay for this because there are only six pieces of property involvedi. Why wasn't a public hearing held for the property owners involved? ANKLAN & MAYOR WARKENTIEN DEMARTINO MAYOR WARKENTIEN ATT. ENGELKE There wasn't cause for a public hearing by the Village as MAYOR WARKENTIEN this is a County pro3ect. There are several coanmunities whose boundaries meet at this intersection, and if the Vil- lage was requested to pay for the charges, it would probably be divided between St. Paul, Roseville, and Falcon Heights. We have tried to present plans that would be beneficial to ANKLAN each property owner involved, and hope it would meet with their approval. What are the plans for the rest of Hamline Avenue at this ROY time? There are no plans for the upgrading of Hamline Avenue, ANKLAN at this time. What happens if the Falcon Heights Council approves one of DEMARTINO these plans? The Council does not approve the plans, they are to be ap- ANKLAN proved by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. These plans have been submitted to the Falcon Heights Council for their comments and consideration prior to being submitted to the Board. I have three comments. These people signed a petition to ATT. ENGELKE keep the trees after they found out that this improvement would require the removal of trees. I personally don't think that this median is needed. Who is going to pick up 50~ of the cost that the County does not pay? We are dealing with several municipalities so we will only MAYOR WARKENTIEN end up paying a portion of the cost if an agreement in funding is reached. Who is going to benefit from this pro3ect, and are we DEMARTINO going to be assessed? The design with the median strip will not be assessed. MAYOR WARKENTIEN Then there will be no assessment to the properties? WAGNER .,•~ The work along Hamline and Larpenteur Avenues should be ECKLUND done with County funds if state and federal funds are not available. ~n What about the traffic flow on Larpenteur? ATT. ENGELKE Plan number 1 would benefit everyone using Larpenteur Avenue. ENG. LEN~ERG It would be set up to help the flow of traffic on Larpenteur Avenue without a left turn lane. I don't think that you as a Council are keeping the public DEMARTINO informed on the project. That is why this meeting is being held, and that is why Mr. MAYOR WARKENTIEN Anklan is here, to go over the proposed plans with those itzvolved. We are meeting tonight to inform all the people on the north STOCKER and south sides of Lazpenteur of the pros and cons of this im- provement, and the Council needs to pass a Resolution request- ing that the County go on with the work. We are having problems at that stop, it is a traffic hazard. ECKLUND When would signals be available' STOCKER The early part of July. ANKLAN It won't take six months after ordering? ECKLUND They have already been ordered. ANKLAN We were under the impression that they had not yet been or- MAYOR WARKEPPPIEN dered. The main part of the signal has been orderd. Now depending ANKLAN on which alternate we go, we will have to change the signal faces. These have. not yet been ordered. Will these people be assessed? ATT. ENGELKE I don't think that the County can assess us for work that we ECKLUND didn't order. Then we won't be assessed? DEMARTINO That is only Mr. Ecklund's opinion. MAYOR WARKENTIEN What is the attorney's opinion on this? ATT. ENGELKE Thep rogram was originally approved by the Village Council, ATT. KENEFICK and the work was started. The Council then rescinded all of the action they had taken due to complaints from people who line near the intersection, and the work was stopped. Actually, there was an agreement that the Council was backing this work. I'm just not sure of this four lane with a median. BLACK This is going to greatly inconvenience me~ I will have to ROY drive around the block to get into my own driveway. 21 `~ It may slightly inconvenience you, but think of all the people who drive down Larpenteur everyday. This will benefit the ma3ority. I don't think that there should be a median there. What if we don't go along with these plans or the Council's Resolution? You will then have to take up the matter with the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, as these plans will nor go to them for action. What about my client's filling station entrance? This will disturb the flow of traffic. Is there possibly some way that you could use the alley as an entrance or go around the back of the building? There isn't really all that much space behind the building. I am sure that it would be possible to make some kind of drive around the back of the building and set up some kind of traffic flow. Would you be willing to put a drive in around the back of the station? Yes, I would. Councilwoman Stocker introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION 73-6 ANKLAN MRS. DEMARTINO DEMARTINO MAYOR WARKENTIEN ATT. ENGELKE STOCKER AHLBERG ECKLUND MAYOR WARKENTIEN AHLBEI~G A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PLAN OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE LARPENTEUR - HAMLINE INTERSECTION UNDER THE "TOPICS" PR(~RAM The median plan is hereby approve as titled exhibit "A", provided that no tress are removed in the vicinity of the intersection, and a temporary curb cut of approximately twenty feet be installed in the median to allow access to the alley between Larpenteur and California Avenues. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing Resolution was seconded by Councilman Ecklund, and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Mayor Warkentien, Councilmen Ecklund, Stone, and Councilwoman Stocker. The following noted against the same: Councilman Black. Therefore said Resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. The study of the Metro Transit Program was noted. METRO TRANSIT STUIIY Mayor Warkentien moved, seconded by Councilwoman Stocker, LEGISLATIVE BILLS that the Village Council of the Village of Falcon Heights, LIQUOR (S.F. 51lt, support the liquor bill, which would authorize restaurants H.F.. 5210 with a seating capacity of more than 30 people, and who are licensed to sell non-intoxicating malt liquor, to sell wine and champagne without an on-sale liquor license. Motion carried. 2 `~ i i 1 Action was deferred on the bill which would enable persons ELECTION (H.F. 605) not register before the election, to register at the polls the day of the election. Action was deferred until the next Council meeting on the HOURS FOR OFF-SALE bill which would allow off-sale liquor stores to remain open LIQUOR (S.F. 6119) until 10:00 P.M. every night. A letter to the Mayor and various other data on the Neighbor- NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH hood Watch program was noted. Clerk-Administrator Barnes stated that he had talked with ETCHING SETS Captain Fred Spencer on getting some etching sets for th e Village of Falcon Heights, and that this program would be set up for the Village in about a month. Mayor Warkentien, Councilman Black, and Councilman Ecklund, LEGISLATIVE ACTION stated that they planned to attend the Legislative Action CONFERENCE Conference, for the League of Minnesota Municipalities, on March 6, 1973• Councilwoman Stocker moved, seconded. by Councilman Black, STATE AID FUND that the Village Council meet on March 21G, 1973, at 9:00 USAGE MEETING A.M., to discuss the fund usage for the State Aid Funds. Motion carried. Councilman Ecklund moved, seconded by Councilman Black, ADJOURI~'fENT to adjourn the meeting at 10:38 P.M. Motion carried. Attest: //~ /~/~~, Dewan B. Barnes, Clerk-Administrator Special meeting of March 1, 1973•