09/23/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 23, 2002 Lakes and to use it as an initiative to complete their work. He urged them to be proactive rather than reactive and stated this road needed to be improved two years ago if they could have had a traffic impact analysis on Birch Street and County Road J. Mr. Dunn stated he hopes it will not funnel a lot of commercial trucks down Birch Street and suggested the Council look into that issue. Mayor Bergeson asked if there is new information since the last time this was discussed. Community Development Director Grochala stated he has received no new information from Anoka County regarding this. He stated staff is expecting a letter on the status of this project and Doug Fisher, Anoka County Highway Engineer, stated that letter is drafted and under review at this time so it is expected shortly. Councilmember Dahl noted the draft resolution indicates the City of Lino Lakes is willing to participate financially and asked what the dollar amount would Community Development Director Grochala stated there is not a budget but the figure disc was about $500,000 and the intent was that part of the City cost share would pay for some of e de a elements, streetscaping, and landscaping. Councilmember Dahl asked if that included the trails. Cistrator Waite Smith explained those are the elements the citizen's group discussed. Councilmember Reinert stated at the beginning o cess he said he would not vote for a four lane divided highway cutting Lino Lakes and t athis proposal is so he will not vote for it. He stated the road is in bad need of improve t but he does not think a four lane divided highway is an improvement. Councilmember Rei e - Ota dif this is voted on, it may be done by 2008 since Anoka County has been indifferent abo hen. would get done. He stated someone commented that it is not a freeway, but he believeeway and he will not support that or be responsible for it. Councilmember Reinert sta e beg'ng of the process, 30 to 40 people opposed it. Then Anoka County went down th " . o avi ' g 25 meetings to wear people out and the rest of the people they scared into submission. Councilmember Reinert stated he has heard people say they are scared they will get a worse road roadNince that is what Anoka County said would happen if they did not submit, so they did. He suggested there is a better road design than a four lane divided highway. Councilmember Reinert stated he is not opposed to improving County Road 49, but is opposed to a four lane divided highway. He stated some have said it will not encourage truck traffic, yet Anoka County has said it would be a reliever for traffic from 694, from Shoreview all the way to 494. He stated if they want to relieve that traffic, it should be done there and not through Lino Lakes. He stated people who support growth will not like his position but he believes Lino Lakes does not need a four lane divided highway. He noted the City already has 35W and 35E and lanes could be added to 35W and 35E if they want to relieve traffic. Councilmember Reinert stated he will vote against this resolution and hopefully in the next eight years a better design can be found before they show up with bulldozers.