03/26/1990 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 26, 1990 for the costs. Development of the adjacent parcel would have to occur such that widening of the roadway could occur at a later date without significant inconvenience to the property owners. This improvement may function for five (5) years or more. This option will function adequately in the near future and requires the lowest initial capital outlay on the part of all parties. Option No. 3 - Consider a two (2) lane urban improvement plus turn lanes. The City would have to negotiate with Anoka County to determine the amount of cost sharing. Mr. Boxrud noted that if the Council wanted to resolve the intersection in a permanent manner, the Council should pursue a four lane intersection but keep in mind that it may not be built until 1992. The reason for this would be that a study would be needed and it may not be complete in time to enter into a cooperative agreement with MnDOT by May 1, 1990. This option would recognize the City's desire for an urban improvement but could present some problems in the future during the widening process because the City would have difficulty trying to prove benefit to abutting properties. Council Member Reinert said that there are a lot of unknowns in this situation. The developer of Rice Lake Plaza is not going forward and it appears there are not many commitments. Mr. Boxrud said that Option No. 1 is the best way to go for a permanent solution. However, if four (4) lanes are justified and the County and MnDOT do not have enough money, the City has to decide how to fund the improvement. Mr. Boxrud noted that the state has many demands for funding and they do like to stage improvements such as this. Council Member Reinert noted that one important aspect of the intersection is safety. He said he could not understand how the County and State could look at it so short sightedly. Mr. Boxrud explained that for safety reasons, re- alignment of the intersection will be most significant, not whether it be two (2) lanes or four (4) lanes. Mayor Bisel agreed that the intersection is dangerous. He said he would not want to construct a two (2) lane improvement now and then have to reconstruct the entire area in a few years. He felt that the costs would be cheaper today. The need is for a four (4) lane improvement in 1991. Mr. Boxrud suggested doing the traffic study concurrently with the cost analysis. Both studies should be done by May 1, 1990. He noted that the study may show that a four (4) lane improvement is not needed. Mayor Bisel noted that there is substantial growth near this intersection and the Rice Lake Plaza is based entirely on the concept of the intersection change. Mr. Boxrud noted that