Agenda Packets - 2003/10/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Permit Review The first three quarters of 2003 have been busier than what we projected, busier than last year at this same time. As can be seen from the attached 2002 / 2003 comparison sheet, the department has issued 738 permits this year, which is about 6% higher than last year’s figure. More than 1,000 permit inspections have been performed already this year. In terms of level of service, the residents and the contractors often indicate their appreciation for the quick turn-around time on permit review and issuance, with many permits being issued at the time of application. We have worked hard to continue to be responsive to requests for inspections, offering next-day inspection service in most cases. We are able to offer this level of service in spite of personnel vacancies and the volume of permits by working together as a team and by utilizing specialized inspection software. County Road 10 Redevelopment Project Greg Lee, Kurt Ulrich and I have met to discuss the next steps for the County Road 10 Redevelopment project. Greg will be putting together a request for proposals that will be sent to area consultants who have the capacity and ability to survey the corridor and to analyze the results to identify and assess any locations which may need supplemental engineering to address drainage or topography issues as well as to identify any obstructions and/or impediments which would necessitate obtaining temporary construction or permanent corridor easements. I will be working to acquire an easement for the City upon which to locate a City gateway-entry sign. Relatively inexpensive to construct, a City gateway sign would alert motorists that they are now in Mounds View and could be the first of several visual enhancements to an otherwise drab corridor. Trailway Issues The Council will be pleased to learn that the perpetually flooded Walgreens trail has been relocated and elevated to a point where flooding should no longer be an issue. Also of note is that the Mermaid trail, which had dead-ended into a rather large tree, has recently been completed to the Woodale / County Road 10 intersection. Both of these projects were accomplished via council-approved change-orders to the County Road H2 project. The County Road H2 trailway has also been installed, which is one more step toward a completed H2 project. Staff investigated the possibility of extending the theater trail south along County Road 10 through the Jake’s parcel as part of the H2 project, however the preliminary engineer’s report indicated drainage issues which would need to be addressed before moving forward. Look for that trail to be extended next year. Walgreens Billboard The Council may have noticed that the landscaped monument base was recently installed under the billboard. This was supposed to have been completed last year however the wet summer flooded the area under the billboard and prevented any work from being done. The monument base will function as two-tiered planter, however the plantings, which will include low maintenance flowering shrubs and a backdrop of evergreens, will not be installed until next spring.