10/23/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 23, 2002 APPROVED • JIM CULP BILLBOARD REQUEST, MICHAEL GROCHALA • • Community Development Director Grochala advised Mr. Culp has requested the City look at allowing him to place billboards along 35W. Billboards are not currently allowed in the area because it is a rural district. The only signs the City allows are in RB -R districts per City Ordinance. He noted that even if the City allowed billboards in that area, MnDOT only allows billboards in commercial and industrial areas. Mr. Culp stated he would like a variance to allow billboards and indicated he will deal with MnDOT independently. Community Development Director Grochala stated a variance is not an option because it is a use variance. The City would have to amend the ordinance. Councilmember Reinert stated if the ordinance were amended for Mr. Culp's request, others would also be able to put up billboards along the freeway. City Administrator Waite Smith advised Mr. Culp that the Council believes it is in the best interest of the entire City to prohibit billboards in all areas but RB -R districts. ELM STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, JIM STUDENSKI AND MICHAEL GROCHALA City Engineer Studenski distributed plans for the Elm Street reconstruction project noting there have been two neighborhood meetings. Residents appear to be absorbing all the information. The street itself is in pretty bad shape and has an average of 2,000 cars on it per day. He noted there is no street parking allowed on Elm Street. He reviewed the plans and specifications of the project noting that to meet the current timeline of spring construction the City needs to begin acquiring right-of-way. Mayor Bergeson inquired about the amount of right-of-way that will be needed and how many properties that will affect. City Engineer Studenski reviewed the areas that right- of-way will be necessary within the project noting the only large area is for the ponding and that does not affect any residents. City Engineer Studenski advised the City has sent out a letter to residents spelling out the proposed assessments. The assessments include $2,000 per lot for the street and $1,000 per lot for the storm sewer. Those assessments are similar to the Lakes Addition project and Ware Road project. The vast majority of the project will be covered by state aid funds. Mayor Bergeson asked how much residents are getting in benefit from state aid funds. City Engineer Studenski advised over $1 million in funding is coming from state aid funds. Councilmember O'Donnell inquired about the assessments for St. Joseph's Church. City Engineer Studenski advised St. Joseph's will be assessed for multiple lots.