01-23-07 Council Special Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL, JANUARY 23, 2007 The City Administrator explained the process for a cold in-place recycling compared with full reconstruction. He noted that the county uses cold in- place recycling extensively. The City Engineer repoiied that the cold in- place recycling process will generate in more dust for the adjacent property owners, and he apologized in advance for the inconvenience. Blesener asked what a safe shoulder width would be for a driving lane. The Engineer recommended a minimum of two feet. Blesener suggested that the driving lanes could be shifted to provide a wider shoulder on one side for walkers and bikers. The City Administrator felt it was safer to have the wider shoulder on both sides so walkers could face traffic. Blesener recommended a 32 foot road consisting of two 11-foot lanes and two 5-foot shoulders. The City Administrator noted that the wider shoulders work well on Keller Parkway for pedestrian traffic. Keis asked if there was a significant increase in cost to widen the road to 32 feet. The Engineer estimated an additional $12,000 to $15,000. Blesener felt this was the additional shoulder width should be added, pointing out the economical cost of doing so. A property owner asked how the realignment of Viking Drive would work for the impacted businesses. The City Engineer explained the property acquisitions and transfers that will need to occur, the layout of the reconstructed McDonald's, as well as the need to so some reconfiguration of the Arby's and Bally's accesses to Minnesota Street. The City Administrator explained the City's proposed acquisition of the Oasis property and land transfers that would then occur with McDonald's. He noted that the City would be left with an approximately 40,000 square foot lot that it would then sell. Allan expressed concern with traffic bottlenecking at Viking Drive and Minnesota Street, and asked if it would not be more feasible to allow McDonald's some access to Rice Street. Blesener felt the plan was fine, and indicated that if traffic becomes too much for Minnesota Avenue, the street would be widened. Blesener stated that the long range pattern of the area would be to get as much traffic off Rice Street as possible. Blesener noted recent plans of the Metropolitan Council to construct a 400-vehicle park and ride at Rice Street and Highway 36 which were abandoned given pressure by adjacent communities and business given the traffic problems in this area. He also noted that Representative Scalze is sponsoring legislation for funding for redesign of the Rice Street Bridge as well as the County's forming of a task force to review Rice Sheet from Highway 36 to County Road J. Again, the realignment of Viking Drive is just the beginning of the process for addressing traffic in this area. 4