04/22/1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 22, 1996 that their children will be walking to the middle school? She said that this is the first time that she has heard anything about them not having to walk. Mr. Ahrens said that the children along Second Avenue will be bused. Mr. Houle said that a portion of Second Avenue would fall within the one mile radius. However, the actual walking distance is difficult to calculate because the School District does not know what pathways will be available and what the road configuration will be. He said he cannot narrow it down to a specific part of Second Avenue. Mr. Houle noted that the actual walkway is measured from the front door of the school. Until the middle school is actually built and the pathways put in, there is no way to calculate the walk area. When the walk area is known, a committee will evaluate the area and a specific walk area will be defined. The School District will work with the City and share the costs of the pathways along Elm Street. Ms. Holmes said that the pathway where the children will be walking has to be made a priority. He said the pathway along Elm Street will be there when the middle school opens. Whether or not there is a pathway on Second Avenue is another issue. Ms. Holmes said that you are saying that the pathway along Second Avenue probably will not be there. Mr. Houle said that this will not be known until the School District has completed their evaluation. Ms. Holmes said that the School District has said that they are not sure that funds will be available for the on-site pathways, so how can you say that there will be funding for pathways along Second Avenue. Mr. Ahrens said that the pathways that might not happen are on the middle school site. The pathways along Elm Street will happen. Mayor Landers restated that there will be no pathways along Second Avenue until such time as Second Avenue has to be reconstructed. This could be some distant future date. Ms. Holmes asked how can we assure the safety of the children on Second Avenue? Will they be bused? Ms. Houle said that if there is no safe area the meets the School District criteria, yes they would be bused. He said he would be happy to review the School District's transportation policy with the residents. Ms. Holmes said that nobody can define a safe area and it has not been addressed. Lisa Crouse, Circle Pines - Ms. Crouse said that she has three (3) children who will attend the new middle school. She said that their safety is very important and wanted to stress that she is here this evening to let the City Council know that she is in favor of the traffic light. Ms. Crouse said that earlier this evening there was a comment made about children and the cross -walks. She lives three (3) blocks from the elementary school and her children have been safe. Ms. Crouse said that she did not think that the School District would put any child in an unsafe position. These children will be sixth through eighth graders. Now her children are 1st grade through sixth grade and walk to Golden Lake Elementary. She said that she felt that the City Council and the School District would do the right thing for all of the children and commended the City Council and the School District for their time and effort. John McClellan, 6387 Fawn Lane - Mr. McClellan, Superintendent of Centennial School District No. 12 said there are about six (6) questions that were asked and he would like to address them. He said that someone had said that the trees on Elm Street would be lost. he said that was news to him. He has not seen a plan and not talked to a City or PAGE 36