Agenda Packets - 2003/08/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 14, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 9 Mr. Blanski indicated that a gentlemen living on County Road H west of Silver Lake Road said 1 he never saw children walking on County Road H and the reason is because 7 families van their 2 children to school because will not allow them to walk without sidewalks. He then said that, if 3 that is true, where are those families and why are they not here advocating the sidewalk. Is it 4 because they will not allow their children to walk regardless of whether there is a sidewalk. He 5 further commented that this is not a safety issue but a bussing issue. 6 7 Mr. Blanski indicated he had four daughters and he would not have allowed them to walk ¾ to ½ 8 mile to school unescorted. He then suggested that Council and interested residents begin 9 attending school board meetings to get bussing restored. 10 11 Mr. Blanski indicated that he is not aware of any accidents without the walk but there very well 12 could be accidents with 32 driveways crossing it. He then said that a comment was made “if we 13 build it they will come” and he has a hard time digesting that statement. 14 15 Mr. Blanski commented that during these difficult economic times City money, regardless of 16 how or where it comes from, should be saved for other uses. He then said that as elected officials 17 he asks them to vote for those that are concerned and not those that are affected or those that care 18 less and never show up for a meeting. He further commented that he does not feel this should go 19 forward at this time and that the City should get resident input and comment before spending 20 money on plans and specifications as has already been done. 21 22 Dan Moon of 6929 Pleasantview Drive indicated that he is in favor of the sidewalk to make the 23 area safer for walkers and to provide a way to travel into Fridley because he likes to walk and 24 ride bike with his kids and a sidewalk would make it safer and easier to do that. 25 26 Rich Sonterre of 5060 Red Oak Drive indicated that he is in favor of the sidewalk and he is one 27 of the parents that would be impacted in terms of ability to get to and from school more safely. 28 He then said that this path does fit the Comprehensive Plan to connect neighborhoods that are 29 west of Silver Lake Road to those east of Silver Lake Road. 30 31 Mr. Sonterre commented that the City is going to have a commitment to creating this type of 32 project and the costs that involves so he asks, if not now, when? He then said that the economic 33 opposition to the project stems from the tough economic times but, in this case, these funds are 34 available for this type of project and not for assisting with the City’s budget problems. He 35 further commented that he does not want the City to be placed in a position of putting the 36 sidewalk in as a reaction to an accident or injury and hopes that economics is not the reason the 37 City would deny approval of the sidewalk. 38 39 Mr. Sonterre indicated that he spoke with someone from Ramsey County today regarding 40 ongoing discussions about the reconstruction of County Road H and it looks like it is six years 41 off and when it is done it will not incorporate a meaningful expansion to the roadway. So, if the 42 City were to put in a sidewalk, it would not be impacted by a road reconstruction. However, if 43 Ramsey County puts in a sidewalk at their expense, it will be an eight (8) foot wide bituminous 44 path paid for by the County and assessed to the property owners. 45