11-13-1995 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

A n ! urchkript , Fu Page 11 October 23, 1995 Mounds View City Council 1 Mayor Linke noted that the budget was based on a 0%increase. If residents want the pedestrian bridge they 2 will let the council know,likewise if they do not want it they will also make it known. 3 4 Cliff Ash,2664 Lake Court Drive,stated he is opposed to the bridge. Based upon his calculations,taxes in 5 his area(based on a$110,000-$120,000 value)will go up between$60-$85 per year. A lot of the people in 6 the development are"empty nesters"and are on a limited income. To him it looks like it is a"want",not a 7 "must". There are many other things in the city that the money could be used for. Furthermore,let Fridley 8 build a pedestrian bridge on Highway 65,as they have a bi::er .roblem there than Mounds View. 9 10 Henry Ruggles,2629 Lake Court Drive,stated the letter from the Mounds View Planning Commission dated 11 August 16, 1995 which states the commission's support of the bridge does not include two of the 12 commissioners. One name missing is his as he is not in support of the bridge. He asked what the total dollar 13 amount is for the project. 14 15 Ms.Trude stated the grant amount is$480,000. The City must come up with 20%which is$120,000. 16 Additionally,the engineering fees and the preliminary studies are$63,000. The total amount of the city's 17 portion is approximately$185,000. 18 19 Mr.Ruggles stated he understands that the bridge will be designed to allow for wheelchair access. He asked 20 if it is a spiral design. If not,to grade it to a point to make it wheelchair accessible will require a very lengthy 21 ramp. If this is done,will the ramp end up encroaching on other properties? 22 23 Mayor Linke stated as he understands it,all of it will fit within the Highway 10 Right of Way however all of 24 this will be a part of the feasibility studies. 25 26 Ms.Trude noted that snow removal will be the only ongoing maintenance expense that is anticipated. It will 27 be constructed with a similar material to sidewalks and will be enclosed as state law mandates. 28 29 Mr.Ruggles asked if the bridge would be open 24 hours per day. He would think there would be concerns 30 about liability if it were. He also asked if anyone has been contacted from the state highway department to see 31 if the lights could be tied in for pedestrian crossing with appropriate signage. 32 33 Mayor Linke stated yes,they were contacted several years ago and at that time they would not agree to do this. 34 The last time they were in to the council's work session they said they would revisit the issue,but they have 35 not responded. 36 37 Mr.Ruggles stated he has not seen many people going across that intersection. He goes by the area all the 38 time. He feels that if the bridge is made wheelchair accessible,it will bring in skateboards and in-line skaters 39 who will use the area. He just cannot see how a project of this type should be"allowed to fly". 40 41 Duane McCarty,8060 Long Lake Road,stated the estimated market value of properties is based upon sales 42 comparisons in the area. There are other givens also as people can contest their estimated market value 43 administratively,and then can appeal it after that. 44 45 Arden Wahlberg,2642 Lake Court Drive,stated he is against the bridge concept. He hopes that the Council 46 does not think that because no one is stating their opposition,that they are for it. That is simply not the case. 47 The school attendance areas are laid out in accordance to having to cross highway 10. If coming across the 48 roadway is a serious problem they should get on the bus and ride it rather than walking. He thinks the Central 49 Avenue pedestrian bridge is an eyesore and finds that many of the pedestrians don't cross it,but rather wait