11-21-11 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 21, 2011 for these types of costs. Without Federal money, it is the County's policy that cities pay for right -of -way acquisition costs. The City Administrator indicated that if right - of-way needs to be acquired for sidewalks, as an example, it is difficult to argue that cities should not bear that cost. However, at an intersection of two County roads where a County road improvement is impacting existing gas tanks, the Administrator stated that he was not sure Little Canada should pay that right -of -way acquisition cost. The Administrator reported that the owner of Gas N Go informed him that he had new tanks installed in 1998 at a cost of $150,000. The Administrator pointed out that relocation of those tanks will be a big cost. The City Administrator also pointed out the negative impact that the proposed medians on County Road C and on Rice Street will have on access in and out of Gas N Go. The Administrator indicated these medians will cripple the functionality of the site. He reported that at a meeting with the property owners last Thursday, there was discussion about Gas N Go and the property to the south sharing a driveway. It has been determined that is not workable. The Administrator submitted a diagram that Reg Plowman, R. J. Marco, property owner of the site to the south, put together. This diagram shows reconfiguration of both the Gas N Go site and the Tom's Auto site with an internal street system. Keis asked who would pay for that project. The Administrator noted that the impact to Gas N Go will be very expensive, and Tom Vogt, the owner, needs this business as his livelihood. Another option may be to relocate Gas N Go to the City's site on Rice Street and Viking Drive. The Administrator pointed out that acquisition costs and damages could be a big number on the Gas N Go site. Boss asked why the medians are necessary. Auge reported that they are needed for safety reasons, pointing out the elimination of the split phase intersection would increase accident potential without the medians. Auge described the Phase 11 project further to the north, noting that the driveway for Tony's Hair Design is proposed to move further north. The property owner is agreeable to that change. A right turn lane is proposed to be added to Rice Street for access to Iona Lane. Auge also indicated that there may be the potential to do some ponding /water treatment on the Winter property, and the County is exploring the options with these property owners. Auge indicated that it is proposed that the driveways for Tierney's Liquor and Lincoln Pawn be combined. He further noted that some of the pavers near The Lodge may need to be disturbed, and the County will either reinstall them, or change to concrete at the City's direction. The intersection at Little Canada Road will remain the same. The County will try to minimize the impacts to sidewalks and bollards in this area. Auge reported that the County is proposing to take out the Rice Street driveway for the bank, but has not discussed this with them as of yet. 4