09-25-96 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SEPTEPSBER 25, 1996 Schroeder replied that the ponds would be designed to look good as dry basins. The Watershed would encourage wet ponds. Fahey asked if there were any specific action items for the Council this evening. Schroeder reported the streetscape plans are not completed at this point. Any concerns or comments of the Council should be expressed before the design is completed. Schroeder indicated he would be working with staff on the best street alignments. Morelan asked how pedestrians would move around the pedestrian circle. Schroeder replied that studies have shown pedestrians are actually safer in a traffic circle than in an intersection. Pedestrian traffic would be addressed with a sidewalk encompassing the traffic circle. Morelan felt that aesthetically, the traffic circle looks good, but indicated he was not sure traffic would move through the intersection quicker. Schroeder replied that cars do not move through the intersection quicker, but rather more freely since they do not have to stop. One of the reasons Ramsey County is willing to look at the concept is the improved safety with traffic circles. Fahey felt the traffic circle was a good concept. Scalze indicated she has been on traffic circles, and felt they worked amazingly well. Morelan indicated he has two concerns with the traffic circle concept. The first is pedestrian movement, and the seaond is the amount of vehicles through the intersection each day. Schroeder again indicated that a traffic circle is safer than a 4-way stop. Fahey asked if the majority of the Council was in support of the traffic circle concept. Pedersen replied that he had an open mind on the issue. LaValle was concerned that traffic would not flow well through the circle. LaValle felt the 4-way stop at the intersection works well. LaValle stated he did not 18