01-27-93 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 27, 1993 to putting a less-than-standard street in this area as a test area. Pedersen pointed out that the City has standards, and to deviate from those standards would be to build a substandard road. Pedersen felt that to build a 7-year road was not good public policy, and felt the Council must take the long-term view. Pedersen felt that new residents in the area will ask why the City did not do a proper job with the road. Pedersen felt the cost of the project and how it is assessed are two different issues. In his view, either the City builds to standard, or it does nothing. Nagle reported that the property owners agreed that the most economical solution long-term would be to reconstruct Lake Street to City standards. However, the residents would like to look at the short term, and pointed out that the street only served the residents along it. Nagle reported that in 1974 Rose Place and Lakeshore were constructed according to City standards at a cost of approximately $24 per foot. Twelve years later these streets required an overlay. Nagle reported that that tells him that to a large degree street construction is not based on traffic load but on severity of winters, frost, or laok of curb and gutter and proper drainage. Nagle felt that a lesser standard road would last longer simply because of curb and gutter. The City Engineer reported that the City uses MN DOT guidelines for determining street standards. These guidelines indicate that for the type of soils in the area with minimal traffic the street standards proposed under Option 1 would be required. The Engineer noted that streets must be able to carry emergency vehicle traffic under the worst conditions for roads, such as Spring thaw. Nagle stated that he would prefer the opinion of local government than State-mandated guidelines. Nagle felt the comment about emergency vehicles was grasping at straws. LaValle reported that since he has been on the Council, the Council has never negotiated the dollar amount of an assessment with residents. LaValle felt perhaps a compromise is required due to the high taxes in the City and the pending increase in taxes as a result of the School District bond. LaValle also pointed out the possibility that bids will come in lower than the Page 5