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Mayor Pickar recessed the regular meeting and opened the public hearing. <br />PUBLIC HEARING ON INTERSTATE 35W NOISE BARRIERS <br />Administrator Achen explained that the purpose of the public hearing was to review <br />the plans and specifications for noise barriers along I -35W in Mounds View. <br />Gary Orlich introduced himself as the representative from Mn /DOT and explained <br />that there were two problems with the proposed noise barrier, one being that the <br />soil in the proposed area was very poor so that it must be excavated and filled <br />in to get enough stability for the panels. The other problem was that landscaping <br />had been requested but in one area there was not enough room to put landscaping <br />in. However, he did suggest an alternative of planting vines but said he could <br />not guarantee their growth 100 percent. <br />Jerry Pittman, 5379 Raymond Avenue stated that he had not received a letter regarding <br />the public hearing. Administrator Achen apologized and said that the letters had <br />just been sent to those it was legally required to go to. <br />Mr. Pittman expressed displeasure at not having landscaping. Mr. Orlich replied that <br />it was just not possible to fit shrubbery in but that the vines had been used in <br />other areas and that it was felt to be a workable solution to the problem. He also <br />stated that there was a two year maintenance program that went along with the barrier, <br />which should insure the growth of the vines. <br />Bill Buckingham, 5220 Greenfield asked if the basic concept of the barrier had been <br />okayed. <br />Mayor Pickar replied that the barrier was approved in concept at the first hearing <br />on the matter. <br />Mr. Buckingham asked the source of funding, and Mr. Orlich replied that the project <br />was 90 percent federally funded and 10 percent state funded and that the only cost <br />to the City would be the maintenance of the area on the residential side of the <br />fence, i.e., mowing, picking up litter and so forth, after the two year maintenance <br />contract was up. He also stated that mulch would be used as much as possible, there <br />by cutting down the required maintenance. <br />Mr. Buckingham asked if the residents of the area had been surveyed and how far back <br />from the fence residents would be affecteth <br />Councilmember Baumgartner replied that they surveyed the houses going three in. Mr. <br />Orlich s t d to s that they had . t l ed to oet the opinions of the people we o would most <br />benefit from the barrier and anyone who would be disadvantaged by the barrier. <br />Mr. Buckingham stated that he did not like barriers and asked if it was possible to <br />come up with some type of vegetation barrier, such as fir trees or something else <br />that could accomplish the same thing. <br />Mr. Orlich replied that it was personal preference as to the appearance of the barrier <br />and stated that there were two choices available, either a wooden barrier or concrete <br />barrier. A concrete barrier had been put up in New Brighton, at the request of the <br />New Brighton City Council and there had been some adverse reaction to the appearance <br />of the concrete barrier, but that the wooden barriers seemed to be quite well accepted. <br />