05-14-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL May 14, 2014 preliminary design to the final 21 -day notice of establishment of the process is 15 to 20 months. Valento agreed with the comments made earlier by Seaborn. Valento suggested that the City try to ensure that the train speeds do not increase. Valento asked if the Little Canada Fire Department was trained for hazmat. Blesener reported that CP does provide training of this nature, but indicated that if a serious incident occurred, the City would contact the St. Paul Hazmat Unit. McKenzie agreed that the railroad has been doing a better job of outreach to first responders on basic training. Gunella Montgomery of Canabury Square asked about the concentration of housing versus industry adjacent to the railroad crossings in the City. Blesener indicated that all six crossings have both residential and business/industrial development adjacent. The City Administrator noted that the City has also received complaints from residents on the east side of the freeway about train noise. One resident strongly urged the Council to consider a 24-hour Quiet Zone. Blesener agreed and noted that the improvements are the same whether it is a 24-hour Quiet Zone or just a night-time Quiet Zone. The Administrator indicated that a big issue is how the City will pay for the improvements. While the City has reserve funds that could be used to cover the costs, this would seriously deplete the City's cash. The City could pursue financial assistance at the Legislative level, and the Administrator noted that the City has already applied for MN DOT dollars. Another option would be a bond issue which would spread the cost of these improvements over the entire City. The Administrator indicated that staff has had discussions with the Cities of Maplewood and Roseville about cost -participation. The Administrator indicated that the improvements are a major expenditure that the City had not planned for. Valento asked if the City bonded for the project, if the costs would be spread between residents and businesses. The City Administrator replied that they would. He also noted that the use of State Aid dollars is another option; however, the City only receives about $350,000 in State Aid each year. He also noted that the City is planning to use State Aid dollars for the Rice Street Phase 1I project which should commence in 2016 or 2017. Keis suggested that residents contact their Federal and State Legislators on this issue on a frequent basis. Blesener noted that the City's State Representative lives in Little Canada very near the railroad tracks. 6