06-12-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council Page 5 Regular Meeting June 12, 1995 VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Continuation of Public Hearing on Public Improvement Assessment PoliCy Mayor Linke reopened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. Mayor Linke offered comments on a letter which was distributed to residents on Red Oak Drive by an anonymous person. Mr. Linke pointed out the blatant discrepancies contained in that letter regarding the establishment of street width standards. He also requested the author of the letter to come before the Council to state their opinions; however, there was no response. Mr. Linke clarified that the starting point for discussions on the street width was set at 32 feet by a majority vote of the City Council--not the City Staff. The purpose of the public hearing was to obtain the opinions of residents in order to establish an assessment policy to be used in the future. Mr. Linke also referred to the petitioning process allowed in the City Charter for street reconstruction projects. Councilmember Trude commented that there was not a large project • planned; the purpose of establishing an assessment policy is to have one in place when a project is necessary. This item is simply a matter of planning for the future. She invited residents to voice their opinions regarding the percentage of assessment. Councilmember Hankner stated that she had not taken a firm position on the assessment policy and was eager to receive comments on the issue. Councilmember Quick remarked that he also had not formed an opinion regarding the assessment policy. Mayor Linke set forth the procedures to be adhered to by anyone desiring to speak to the Council. Mike Ulrich, Director of Public Works, presented a brief video which demonstrated the potential difficulty of emergency vehicles maneuvering around parked vehicles on residential streets. Nyle Zikmund, Fire Chief, reported that he recently attended the National Fire Academy in Maryland where he had the opportunity to research street width standards of other communities. In discussing the issue with his peers, Mr. Zikmund found that street widths ranged from 16 feet in El Paso, Texas, to 33 feet in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He noted that neither of those communities was • affected by snow conditions.