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Home My WebLink About04-20-93 CCMAPPROVED MINUTES: 5-4-93 LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 1993 Mayor John called the council meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. in the City Council chambers. PRESENT: John, Mottaz, Conlin (Arrived 7:15 p.m.), Johnston, Johnson, City Engineer Bohrer, City Attorney Filla, and Administrator Kueffner. 1. AGENDA Delete: 6B. 201 System User Fee Add: 4B. Handout on summary of A.C.O. Salary, 5C. Discussion on rezoning MnDOT property, 6A. Letter Received from resident on Legion Avenue, 7C. Report on Branch & Tree Chipping, 9C. Request by Solid Waste Committee Member. M/S/P Mottaz/Johnston - to approve the April 20, 1993 City Council agenda as amended. (Motion carried 4-0). 2. MINUTES: April 6, 1993 M/S/P Johnston/Johnson - to approve the April 6, 1993 City Council minutes as amended. (Motion carried 5-0). MINUTES: March 30, 1993 M/S/P Mottaz/Johnson - to approve the March 30, 1993 council minutes as amended. (Motion carried 2-0-3: Abstain: Conlin, Johnston, Johnson). MINUTES: March 27, 1993 M/S/P John/Mottaz - to approve the March 27, 1993 council minutes as presented: (Motion carried 2-0-2: Abstain Johnson, Johnston). 3. CLAIMS M/S/P Mottaz/Conlin - to approve the April 20, 1993 Claims #1493 thru #1520 as presented. (Motion carried 5-0). 4. OLD BUSINESS: A. Street Standards, Request for Modifications to Engineering Standards Adopted 10/15/91 The City received a memo from Chuck Nelson, President of Nelson Properties, Inc., developer of Rolling Hills, asking the City to reconsider the 9-ton design requirement for rural and urban street sections and explained his rationale in his memo. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 1993 2 The City Attorney referred to his letter dated May 12, 1992 indicating the Preliminary Plat for Fox Fire Manor was approved May 7, 1991. The city street standards regulations were approved on October 15, 1991. The Final Plat for Fox Fire Manor was scheduled for approval on May 18, 1992. State Statute states developers receive a one year moratorium on new city regulations after the preliminary plat was approved. Rolling Hills Preliminary Plat was approved December 17, 1991 so the city street standards adopted in October, 1992 were in place before the Preliminary Plat for Rolling Hills was approved. The reasons why it took so long between submittal and preliminary and final approval had nothing to do with the City of Lake Elmo, but issues such as location of the road. The engineer for the developer stated they will review and verify that the road plans submitted for preliminary plat approval were according to the old street standards. M/S/P Conlin/Johnson - to deny the request of Chuck Nelson President of Nelson Properties Inc., for modifying the 1991 Engineering Standards for Rolling Hills. (Motion carried 5- 0). B. Animal Control (1) Letter from Animal Control Officer dated March 26, 1993 M/S/P Johnson/Conlin - to direct the staff to prepare an Ordinance to the Animal Control Section Regulating cats (Motion carried 4-1: Mottaz:enforcement of this cat ordinance will be impossible to achieve). (2) Pay Increase for Animal Control Officer Approval of 1993 Animal Control Contract M/S/P Mottaz/Johnson - to approve the same 1993 Animal Control Contract Mike Smith has with North St. Paul. (Motion carried 3-2: Conlin: For budgeting purposes, interested in developing a monthly flat rate, Johnston: we should follow the recommendation of the City Administrator). If there is a desire to modify this contract, this will be reviewed at the end of the year after the animal control ordinance has been publicized. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 1993 3 5. PLANNING/LAND USE & ZONING: A. Shafer Mining Conditional Use Permit Scott Spizak, Shafer Mining, stated he would be willing to water further than the pit area for dust control, look into placement of a stop sign at the end of the driveway, and he will cooperate and confer with Larry Bohrer regarding the Jamaca Avenue Road Improvement. Spizak had not received any complaints on the amount of dirt left on Jamaca Avenue, but indicated concerned residents should call him anytime. M/S/P Johnson/Johnston - to approve the annual review of the Shafer Mining CUP without additional conditions to the permit. The City will review Shafer's performance during 1993 and consider additional conditions next year if the performance is unsatisfactory. (Motion carried 5-0). B. E.A.W. for Reconstruction of 10th Street Gloria Knoblauch, 9181 31st St. N., stated she was opposed to a 4-lane highway on 10th Street because of the loss of wetlands. With the traffic now, and with very little increase of traffic over 20 years, a 2-lane with shoulders would be acceptable. She did not believe the County's traffic projections. Susan Dunn, 11018 Upper 33rd St., and Steve DeLapp, 8468 Lake Jane Trail, responded to the EAW prepared by Washington County Public Works, and this response is made part of these minutes. Todd Williams, 3025 Lake Elmo Avenue N., presented his comments and questions on the EAW for this project and suggested alternatives; such as, rerouting the road around Armstrong Lake or simply building a 2-lane road with wide shoulders are made part of these minutes. Mayor John asked that all of their comments on the EAW be submitted to Washington County. Because the Council had concerns and they were not adequately addressed in the EAW as thoroughly as they should have been, the Council requested additional input into the EAW or in the alternative an EIS is required in this area. Mayor John asked the council to prepare their comments in relation to the EAW by Friday in such a way they can assemble a coherent submission to Washington County. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 1993 4 M/S/P Mottaz/Johnson - to draft a letter indicating the Council has reviewed the EAW, found it to be inadequate and inaccurately addressed some issues as shown in the list of findings; therefore, in view of these errors and concerns which were not addressed in the EAW, the city requests Washington County Board to justify these statements in a more thorough EAW, and failure to do so, the City requests an EIS. Each council member will submit a list of their concerns by Friday morning. (Motion carried 5-0). 5C. Discussion on MnDOT property in Lake Elmo The MnDOT property is currently zoned Rural Residential and the FLUM designates it Urban Office Commercial. Council member Johnston suggested the Planning Commission explore alternative zoning uses for the MnDOT property. M/S/P Johnston/Conlin - to request the Planning Commission suggest proper zoning applicable to the MnDOT property that remains in Lake Elmo and call a public hearing. (Motion carried 5-0). 6. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT: A. 1993 Seal Coat & Crackfill Program The City received a letter from David Bucheck, 2301 Legion Avenue N., indicating the road is beginning to look worse and is requesting the Council to consider this street for repair and overlay during 1993, M/S/P Johnston/Johnson - to authorize the city staff to solicit bids for sealcoating through the Washington County sealcoat Program. (Motion carried 5-0). M/S/P John/Mottaz - to authorize the city staff to advertise for bids for the 1993 crackfilling. (Motion carried 5-0). M/S/P Johnson/Johnston - to authorize the city staff to prepare a feasibility report for the 1993 overlay program, schedule a public hearing for the June 1st, 1993 City Council meeting, and request the engineer to prepare different alternatives for assessments for the next council meeting. (Motion carried 5-0). B. Water Rate Review for Old Village System Larry Bohrer reported we have positive fund balances for both our operating fund and our newly created watermain replacement fund and recommended no change in rates for 1993. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 1993 5 M/S/P Mottaz/John - to adopt Resolution 93-16, establishing the water service rates for the "Old Village" system. (Motion carried 5-0). Water Rate Review for Lake Jane System Larry Bohrer reported the city lost $3,799 this year on the water system. Reasons for this loss are: 1. Oakdale is billing us $2.00/month/connection along with the $0.79/1,000 gallons of water used. This extra $2.00 charge was not figured in when calculating rates. 2. The 1992 water rates are below actual cost to allow residents to become accustomed to paying a water bill. 3. Residents are still learning to correctly read their meters and turn in their meter cards. To balance the water rates with the expenses, Bohrer recommended raising the water rate to $1.25/1,000 gallons. M/S/P Mottaz/John - to adopt Resolution 93-17, establishing the water service rates for the "Lake Jane" system in lieu of new negotiations on the $2/month connection charge with the Oakdale City Administrator. (Motion carried 5-0). The City Administrator will send a letter on the water rate increase to the affected residents. 7. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT: None 8. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS: Mayor John reported he attended the work session with the PZ on Highway 36. Councilman Johnson provided a report on branch and small tree chipping in Lake Elmo and asked for comments by the Council, staff, various committees be submitted to the Council by the next council meeting. Johnson asked the City Administrator to have the Maintenance Foreman check out the equipment in Lakeville for this particular firm and make a recommendation. Councilman Mottaz asked the status of the following items for the next council meeting: (1) PF Zoning, (2) ' Recodification, (3) Junk yard on Hill Trail N., (4) Who has keys to the City Hall --do we have a policy on keys, and (5) Start a program to repair wood council chairs. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 1993 6 9. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: A. Liquor License Request: Guardian Angels Church M/S/P Conlin/Johnston - to adopt Resolution No. 93-18, issuing a Temporary On -Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Guardian Angels Church for April 23, May 15, May 22, 1993. (Motion carried 5-0). B. Request by Solid Waste Commission Member M/S/P Johnston/Conlin - to approve the expenditure of $350 for Margaret Carlson, Solid Waste Commission Member, to attend the BioCycle National Conference on Composting and Recycling, May 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis. (Motion carried 5-0). M/S/P Conlin/Johnson - to adjourn the City Council meeting at 11:40 p.m. (Motion carried 5-0). ---------------- Resolution No. 93-16, A Resolution Establishing the water service rates for the "Old Village" system Resolution No. 93-17, A Resolution Establishing the water service rates to $1.25/1,000 gallons for the "Lake Jane" system in lieu of new negotiations on the $2/month connection charge with the Oakdale City Administrator Resolution No. 93-18, Issuance of a Temporary On -Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Guardian Angels Church for April 23, May 15, and May 22, 1993 List of Claims for Approval or the period 04/16193 to 04/20/93 04116/93 CLAIM TOTAL ACCOUNT ACCOUNT TO WHOM PAID FOR WHAT PURPOSE DATE NUMBER CLAIM NUMBER AMOUNT STILLWATER 6AZETTE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION A LEGAL PUB 04/20/93 1493 170.00 100-41506-200 91.00 100-41500-351 19.00 BELLAIRE SANITATION OFFICE DUMPSTER 04/20193 1494 65.91 100-41506-400 65.91 GENERAL OFFICE PRODUCTS OFFICE SUPPLIES O4/21193 1495 53.38 106-41600-200 53.38 AMERICAN LINEN SUPPLY OFFICE BLDG MAINT 04/20193 1496 38.55 110-41500-400 38.55 MENARDS OFFICE BLDG MAINT 04/20/93 1497 25.71 100-41500-400 25.71 WASHINGTON COUNTY TREAS. TRUTH IN TAXATION COSTS O4120/93 1498 297.46 110-41500-200 297.46 NAGBERG'S COUNTRY MARKET OFFICE BL0G NAINT 04/20193 1499 12.10 100-41500-410 12.10 FOUR SEASONS SERVICES OFFICE BLDG NAINT 04/20193 1600 14.36 110-41500-460 14.36 TKOA FEBRUARY EN6INEERIN6 04126/93 1501 6,930.77 100-41930-380 2,448.46 402-41930-300 3,843.14 ;'''J rw 411-41930-310 117.66 803-41930-300 520.91 MCCOMBS FRANK ROOS ASSOC,, INC. MARCH PLANNER 54126193 1502 607.30 100-41910-300 531.30 803-41910-300 16.00 'woo-,r PATRICK FORCIEA BILLING FOR LEGISLATION $4120193 1503 846.08 100-41600-300 840.00 LEONARD, STREET G DEINARD LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING 04/20/93 1504 1,076.25 100-41600-380 1,076.25 ASTLEFORD EQUIPMENT CO. FIRE DEPT TRUCK REPAIR 04120193 1505 79,39 106-42200-220 79.39 CLAREY'S SAFETY EQUIPMENT FIRE DEPT SUPPLIES O4/20193 1506 17.94 100-42200-217 17.94 ROSEVILLE RADIO FIRE DEPT RADIO SERVICE 04120/93 1507 13.05 100-42200-323 13.05 LAKE ELMO FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE DEPT SUPPLIES 44/20/93 1508 71.68 100-42200-217 71.68 F 'AND FORD TRUCK SALES FIRE DEPT TRUCK REPAIR 04/20/93 1549 35.13 108-42200-220 36.13 A,..0T. OF NATURAL RESOURCES FIRE DEPT SUPPLIES O4/20/93 1510 135.16 100-42200-217 135.16 BATTERY 6 TIRE WAREHOUSE FIRE G MAINT OEPTS TRUCK REPAIR 04120/93 1511 95.28 100-42200-220 92.16 + 100-43100-221 3.12 LAKE ELMO OIL FUEL-FIRE,BLOG INSP,MAINT,PARKS 64(20193 1612 2,674.79 108-42200-212 201.57 100-42400-331 118.76 ��^U 100-43100-212 2,210.96 108-45200-221 43,50 GOVERNMENT TRAINING SERVICE BLDG CODE SEMINAR 04/20/93 1513 25.00 111-42400-207 25.00 ST CROIX ANIMAL SHELTER MARCH IMPOUNDING 04/20/93 1514 555.31 100-42700-413 555.31 JUNKER SANITATION NAINT DEPT DUMPSTER 04/20193 1615 74.55 110-43100-223 74.55 TJ AUTO PARTS NAINT DEPT EQUIP REPAIR 04/20/93 1516 75.16 100-43100-221 75.16 GOPHER STATE ONE -CALL NAINT DEPT NISC 04/28193 1517 5.00 100-43110-223 5.60 EARL F. ANDERSEN, INC. MAINT DEPT-SPEED LIMIT SI6NS O4/20/93 1518 129.29 100-43164-226 129.29 OAKDALE, CITY OF MARCH WATER PURCHASED 94/20193 1519 692.77 611-49400-250 592.77 MINN. DEPT. OF REVENUE QUARTERLY WATER CONNECTION FEE 04/20/93 1521 320.00 601-49400-216 328.00 TOTAL 14,931.29 14,931.29 14,931.29 14,931.29 Susan Dunn 11018 Upper 33rd St. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 612-777-0197 Steve C. DeLapp 8468 Lake Jane Trail Lake Elmo, MN 55042 612-777-2345 April 20, 1993 This document is a resident response to the EAW prepared by the Washington County Public Works Department regarding an "improvement" for CSAH 10 from 1/2 mile east of Inwood Ave.to I-694. In particular, the response challenges the proposed design east of Helmo Ave. In this stretch of CSAH 10, the County Public Works Department is attempting to replace a deteriorated, 22 foot wide, two-lane road with a four -lane divided highway having similar design and the impact of State pTH-5 from Ideal Ave. to Stillwater Boulevard. VIA e This response includes comments on misleading, inaccurate, or unfounded statements in the EAW and suggests a balanced solution (Proposal No. 6) which addresses issues of traffic volume, destruction of the wetlands and woodlands, effects on adjacent land uses. In addition, comments are provided on issues of metropolitan significance such as regional transportation, public transit, and extension of the MUSA line. Proposal No. 6, located in the Cities of Oakdale and Lake Elmo will extend the existing design for CSAH 10 from Hadley Ave. to I-694, east to Helmo Ave. In addition, the grading for a pedestrian trail will be included. Proposal No. 6 includes a 1/4 mile transition east of Helmo Avenue from a four -lane highway with a raised concrete median to a two-lane road with 12 foot wide lanes, 8 foot bituminous shoulders, and concrete curbs to CSAH 13 (also known as Ideal Ave. North). Supplemental left and right turn lanes will be constructed at all agreed upon intersections. The posted speed for this work will be reduced to 45 mph to increase lane capacity and to reflect the increasingly urban location. Three years ago most of the privately owned parcels in Sections 32 and 33 were annexed from Lake Elmo to Oakdale with the expectation of expedited commercial development. A Walmart discount store proposed for a site just west of Helmo was canceled and no other commercial development has been announced. A low density housing project by Good Value Homes is being proposed for land that was formerly planned for mixed commercial/high density residential by Lake Elmo, Proposal No. 5 by Washington County Public Works Department, would relocate 390,000 cubic yards of material and alter 38 acres. The Proposal would effectively destroy the adjacent seasonal wetlands defined by vegetation such as pussy willows and cattails west of Armstrong Lake and totally re -configure the Lake. Proposal No. 6 will substantially reduce the impact on all wetlands and will provide remediation with a 2:1 ratio for the loss of all wetlands, including seasonal wetlands. Proposal No. 5 would provide remediation with a 1 1/2 to 1 ratio only for the losses to Armstrong Lake. Proposal No. 6 will balance the mitigation requirements equally between both participating Cities instead of creating compensating wetlands only in Lake Elmo. Mitigation design at Armstrong Lake will follow design parameters provided in the March 1993 EAW by WCPWD. However the impact will be substantially reduced because the paved road width will be only 40 feet compared with approximately 88 feet.in WCPWD Proposal 5. Because Proposal No. 6 provides curb and gutter instead of slopes and ditches, the impact on wetlands and woodlands is substantially reduced. No more than 50 feet of clearcut width will be required. Proposal No. 5 will have a clearcut width of over 150 feet. Proposal No. 6 will include a full allowance for landscaping. Trees and shrubs will be planted beyond the concrete curbs on either side of the 40 foot wide road. Roadsides will be planted with native prairie grasses and a native wildflower mix with an interim crop of annual oats to reduce runoff and improve initial visual concerns. This work will be coordinated with the landscaping staff of MnDOT. Proposal No. 6 is in full compliance with the Comprehensive Plans of Lake Elmo on that portion within Lake Elmo. Oakdale jurisdiction includes the north half of CSAH 10 for 1/2 mile east of I-694. Lake Elmo's jurisdiction includes all the road on the south half of CSAH 10 and the north half of CSAH 10 for 1/2 mile west of Inwood Ave. The 1990 Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan reads as follows: County Road 70 (Minnehaha Avenue) has the potential of becoming a route between West lakeland, Woodbury and Oakdale, paralleling the Freeway. The City would oppose any proposal by the County to make this another major east west thoroughfare ! like TH 5, which has proven to be damaging to the cohesiveness of the City and the safety of the residents. The Wahington County Public Works Department has written that Proposal 5 is not part of a plan to extend a 4 lane divided highway east into West Lakeland. Conversely, the County has stated to the Lake Elmo City Council and the Lake Elmo Planning Commission that this design would gradually be implemented to the east with work to begin outside the 1993-1997 Capital Improvement Program. During the reconstruction of I-94, Federal funds were used to make Inwood Ave. into a four land divided highway. The road, which was built about 5 years ago, is functioning at less than 25% of design capacity. CSAH 10 and CSAH 13 are often used as a route between Woodbury and Oakdale. Traffic has diminished as retail businesses have developed in Woodbury adjacent to I-494, eliminating the need for some of its residents to shop in Oakdale. Oakdale has shopping malls on either side of CSAH 10, just west of I-694. The mall to the north failed as the "Oakdale Outlet Mall" and was mostly vacated a second time in anticipation of demolition in favor of a Walmart. This transfer was cancelled and the mall remains largely vacant. Across the street to the south, a mall is anchored by Rainbow Foods and K-Mart. The K-Mart has never generated traffic anticipated by its parking lot, and the parking lot at the Rainbow has seen a dramatic drop in traffic since a new Rainbow was built 4 miles to the south in Woodbury. In April 1993, all the land inside the MUSA on the south side of CSAH 10 from Helmo Ave to Inwood has been changed in the Future Land Use Map from Urban Office Commercial to Low Density Residential since being annexed from Lake Elmo to Oakdale. The land outside the MUSA was shown on the Lake Elmo Future Land Use Map as 3 acre residential. Oakdale is suggesting a golf course. The net result will be reduced traffic increase on CSAH 10. Traffic: The Spring 1992 AADT on CSAH 10 between Helmo and CSAH 10, measured by Strgar, Roscoe, Fausch was about 3,800. The September 1992 AADT measured by the State of Minnesota was 4,650. Both traffic counts were omitted from Figure 1 CSAH 10 AADT Counts and Trend Line in the S-R-F Study prepared for the County. Instead, a 20 year projection for CSAH 10 traffic growth from CSAH 13 to Helmo is provided by extrapolating 8 earlier counts starting with 2,900 in 1980 and ending with 5,100 in 1990. The 2000 count is projected as 8,600 and 2010 as 11,500. This is easily within the upper limits of a two lane road, especially if additional turn lanes are provided. However, the actual projection should not include traffic counts when construction projects on County 14, Fourth Street, or I-94 were diverting traffic to CSAH 10 as in 1983, 1988, and 1989, or when traffic was diverted away from CSAH 10 as in the Spring of 1992. The exaggerated numbers are as so extreme that in 1982 the AADT was 2,800, in 1983 up to 5,600 (1,000 higher than 1992) and in 1984 back down to 3,100. In 1986 the count stayed steady at 3,100, but in then next count in 1988 it more than doubled to 6,900. Discounting the irregular numbers, the realistic straight line projection for 2010 is 7,900. The downside risk of taking Alternate 6, and saving most of the associated wetlands, keeping the highway speed a level consistent with the residential development planned for the area is very low. The risk in building a 4 lane divided highway is that it would destroy the ecological value of the lake and adjacent seasonal wetlands, have a $2.8 million up front cost, have much greater maintenance costs, increase the impervious surfaces by a factor of 3, and probably end up as substantially underutillized as CSAH 13 between I-94 and 15th Street and State Highway 5 from Ideal to Jamaica. Proposal No. 5 would create an uncontrolled intersection with a convergence of 16 traffic lanes. There is no safe model for traffic flow with this size intersection without signalization. Correction of this omission will require Lake Elmo share with Oakdale a $100,000 cost. Costs: After spending less than $350,000 to resurface and provide paved shoulders for the 3 1/2 miles of CSAH 10 east of Inwood Avenue, the Washington County Public Works Department is now proposing to spend $2,800,000 for re -construction of one mile west of Inwood. The risk to spend, say only $ 500,000 to upgrade this one mile of CSAH 10 as recommended in Proposal 6 would be that at a later date more funds could be required to add two additional lanes from Helmo Avenue to a transition zone ending 1/8 mile east of Inwood Avenue. (Similar to Larpenter Avenue at McKnight). If the traffic were designed to be posted with an urban speed of 45 mph, no consideration of the 4-lane option would be necessary unless traffic increased by a factor of 3X the present AADT. This is the educated choice for the taxpayer and the environment. Even under the inflated County AADT projection, the life of the proposed 4 lane divided highway would be 60% expended by the time 4 lanes could be of any benefit to maintaining high traffic on a fully signalized roadway. By building two lanes now, the future maintenance coats will be substantially reduced and the roadsalt and impervious surface runoff reduced by 50%. Washington County Public Works Department Proposal No.1—'Do nothing alternative" Due to the acceptance by the County to comply with the request of Oakdale, the existing 22 foot wide road was not improved as part of the recent work on CSAH 10. The improved portion now has a rural section with two 12 foot lanes and 8 foot paved shoulders for a total of 40 feet. Further the road, which is considered by the County to be a major transportation route, has been allowed to deteriorate to be one of the poorest roads in the State. Washington County Public Works Department Proposal No. 5--Four-lane reconstruction, shifted alignment This alternative includes the construction of a four -lane roadway on a shifted alignment. The alignment of the proposed eastbound roadway is proposed to be shifted approximately 20 feet to the north of the existing road into Lake Elmo with a raised concrete median separating the eastbound and westbound roadways. This design also includes construction of a guardrail in the shoulders in the section through Armstrong Lake. This proposal would leave 3/4 of a mile of CSAH 10 as underutilized and as out of character with the rest of the road as the 4-land divided stretch of TH-5 The existence of this over -built road is now being used as a primary justification for an industrial -warehouse zone in Lake Elmo. As presented, Proposal No. 5 shows the construction of at least three stubs for future intersecting roads which are directed into Armstrong Lake or into wetlands. Residents for Environmental Responsibility Proposal No.6--The Balanced Solution This proposal is a 45 mph posted speed, two-lane/four-lane reconstruction of CSAH 10 with an urban section, including curbs and gutters. The road will accommodate 3 times the traffic volume currently using CSAH 10. Considerable congestion in the segment between I-694 and--Helmo will be relieved by an increase in traffic lanes as agreed to by the County and Oakdale. East of Helmo, a 1/4 mile transition from the signalized intersection at Helmo will bring the road to two lanes saving much of the existing wetland and woodland and providing a safe, appropriate, value engineered road for both vehicles and pedestrians. A future right-of-way for an additional 2 lanes should not be obtained at this time. The land is largely unbuildable because of its wetland condition, will not be a significant consideration. There is no need to take the land off the tax roles at this time and little prospect that it will ever be needed. SUMMARY: Currently, there are 4 near -by east west roads between CSAH 13 and I-649 not counting Old Hudson Road in Woodbury. They are I-94, Fourth Street, CSAH 10 and 15th Street. All the roads have been recently reconstructed --except CSAH 10. The 4 roads provide a total of 12 traffic lanes. I-94 can accommodate another 30,000 vehicles per day, Fourth Street another 10,000 vpd, CSAH 10 another 8,000 vpd and 15th Street another 10,000 vpd. Excluding the freeway, the excess capacity is 28,000 vpd--almost as much as the total current AADT on I-94, more than the total current traffic on State Highway 36, and almost 3 times the current traffic on State Highway 5. County Proposal 5 would increase this over capacity by another 20,000 vpd. bringing the total level of over capacity to 38,000 vpd, excluding the 30,000 vpd excess on I-94. Even under the most rapid, high density development scenario, acceptance of Proposal 5 will assure continuation of a very large over capacity in the east west direction in 20 years. If the bridge over I-94 is built, and there is great pressure by Woodbury and Oakdale to build it, the over capacity of a 4-lane CSAH 10 would be even greater. According to the April 1992 Washington County Transit Planning Study, by Strgar-Roscoe-Fausch, Inc. the 1992, population of the Washington County cities affected by the CSAH 10 construction (Lake Elmo, Oakdale, West Lakeland, and Woodbury) is 50,000. The 1992 AADT for CSAH 10 is about 5,000. The 2010 population of these cities (adjusted for 250 acres of newly proposed residential housing in Oakdale) is projected to grow to 77,000 (adding 1,500 in Lake Elmo, 4,000 in Oakdale, and decreasing by 200 in West Lakeland). Proposal No. 6 projects a corresponding increase in the AADT on the referenced section of CSAH 10 to 7,900. The County Public Works Department suggests a 2010 AADT of 15,000. (This compares with only 11,500 in a separate 1992 Strgar-Roscoe-Fausch, Inc. report.) Thus, the County Public Works Department is suggesting increase in AADT of 300 percent, compared with a population increase of only 50%. Only a phenomenal change in local employment levels in the next 17 years could account for anything like the Washington County Public Works Department's suggested traffic growth. As previously discussed, with the transfer of Section 32 to Oakdale, most of the planned business use was eliminated. Privately, highway engineers at MnDOT, legislators at the Capitol, Commissioners of Washington, residents who are among the few who are aware of the County's plans, and independent traffic engineers who have been consulted oppose the County Public Works Department Proposal. They are reluctant to publically oppose the County Public Works Department, which is seeking to fully utilize its share of the Constitutionally guaranteed 29% of the State gasoline tax allocated to counties. However, these people strongly support the need to repair CSAH 10 and provide adequate shoulders for pedestrians and the occasional vehicle forced to stop along the roadway. They also support separate turn lanes to maintain a uniform traffic flow. The curbs proposed will allow the trees and shrubs to be planted within the near- by right-of-way and allow for better runoff control. Prairie grasses will be an appropriate, low maintenance ground cover. MnDOT is now planting 50% of new, unpaved highway property in prairie grasses --some 2,000 acres per year. Proposal 6 is the only proposal that conforms to the Comprehensive Plans of both Cities, that minimizes the over -capacity of the east -west roadways, and that recognizes the environmental significance and sensitivity of the land surrounding CSAH 10. This Proposal will greatly improve the driving conditions on CSAH 10 will for the first time provide for pedestrian and safe bicycle use, improve the landscape and be a good neighbor to adjacent property uses. i si . i.: ...J _a�. .,.. L.' •r�a�� I,, 'y _ !� _ tea. � �/ // 2 '� _ fi ! r y� 1 Mud . 7 i n I lrm� M W—WA—A AM ��-AAW'203AW�— M 0 A I oo — / — -, v Since we do not have time to discuss every point presented, it may seem that decisions are preconceived. However, background information is provided for the City Council on each agenda item in advance from City Staff and appointed Commissions; and decisions are based on this information and past experiences. In addition, some items may also have been discussed at previous Council meetings. If you are aware of information that hasn't been discussed, please fill out a "Request to Appear Before the City Council" slip; or, if you came late, raise your hand to be recognized. Comments that are pertinent are appreciated. Items requiring excessive time may be continued to another meeting. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 20, 1993 7:00 P.M. MEETING CONVENES 1. AGENDA 2. MINUTES: March 23, 1993 March 27, 1993 March 30, 1993 3. CLAIMS 4. OLD BUSINESS: A. Street Standards, Request for Modifications to Engineering Standards Adopted 10/15/91 B. Animal Control (1) Letter from Animal Control Officer dated March 26, 1993 (2) Pay Increase for Animal Control Officer Approval of 1993 Animal Control Contract C. Other 5. PLANNING/LAND USE & ZONING: A. Shafer Mining Conditional Use Permit B. E.A.W. for Reconstruction of 10th Street C. Other 6. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT: A. 1993 Seal Coat & Crackfill Program B. 201 System User Fee Water Rate Review for Lake Jane System Old Village System LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL AGENDA April 20, 1993 2 7. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT: 8. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS: A. Mayor John B. Council Member Conlin C. Johnson D. Johnston E. Mottaz 9. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: A. Liquor License Request: Guardian Angels Church B. Other 10. ADJOURN