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width is 30 feet. Municipal State Aid streets have design standards that are separate from any design the City might adopt for non-designated residential streets, and those standards must be City of Mounds View Staff Report October 30, 1997 • Page 3 adhered to in order to receive State Aid funding for those projects. Other than the Ramsey County turn back roads, of which Red Oak Drive was also,the majority of the streets in Mounds View are from 27 to 30 feet wide. Since one of the objections to reconstruction projects is widening of the driving surface, staff would recommend merely adding the width of curb and gutter to the street. The minimum street width, barring extenuating circumstances would be 28 feet wide, from face of curb to face of curb. This width, for a residential street classification, will allow for two way traffic, although random parking could restrict the use of one lane when two vehicles approach each other. This design may prove to be more palatable to the residents in the future. Percentage of streets at various widths: 27 feet 8.3% 28 feet 29.3% 29 feet 19.4% 30 feet 4.9% Total 61.9% This report attempts to summarize some of the major issues brought before Council and staff. It is potentially impossible to change the policy prior to the next project. Any changes to the policy can be adopted during the project and in effect prior to the assessment hearing in the fall. A cost 0 estimate and mock assessment for the project has already been prepared per charter. Any possible changes to the assessment formula or percentages will likely lower the final assessment. While it is probable, that short of no assessments for public improvements, the residents will always have some objection to reconstruction improvements. Should Council decide to revise the current policy this objection will be lessened. If assessments are lowered, resulting in fewer funds available for future projects, then these projects might have to be extended. In conclusion, as stated previously, many residents have voiced their negative comments regarding the existing assessment policy. It is probable that they also do not know the extent of the deteriorating street network and the amount of money that it will take to rehabilitate the system in the future. Assessment policies are developed in many communities, in part, according to the City's ability to fund the capital improvements. The possible revisions to the policy discussed both in this report and at various meetings could soften the financial burden to the residents involved in individual projects, thereby increasing the funding required by the entire community. It is evident that many of the roadways in the City of Mounds View will require major repair or reconstruction in the future. It is staff's opinion that after the CIP is developed and adopted, the City would proceed with the projects as identified. If the residents of the community voice objection to the project or assessment, they can invoke their right to vote down the improvement through the provisions in the Charter. Should this situation arise, staff would move on to the next project on the schedule, and greatly reduce repairs and maintenance dollars on the project that was rejected. The rejected project would then be move to the end of the CIP, • and will be initated after all remaining projects were completed or the petitioning residents