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Mounds View City Council Page 6 <br />• Regular Meeting May 22, 1995 <br />thirds assessment is adopted, the remaining one-third will come out <br />of general property taxes. If residents prefer a lower assessment, <br />then general property taxes will have to be raised to cover the <br />burden. Although there is no major project planned at the present <br />time, this plan would allow funding for reconstruction projects in <br />the future. <br />Ms. Trude expressed her views regarding the street standards. She <br />felt that it would not be necessary to widen the streets in the <br />City--local streets have served the community well for the last 20 <br />to 30 years. She had never heard a resident say that they wanted <br />the streets wider, but she had heard several times that residents <br />thought the traffic was too fast and they were concerned about the <br />safety of the children. <br />Ms. Trude felt that widening the streets would involve tearing up <br />a good deal of green space and didn't feel the residents wanted <br />that. She would like to see the City's residential street <br />standards set at 28 feet. Wider streets would mean a bigger demand <br />on the storm sewers and drainage ponds. There were street <br />standards in place when these roads were built. <br />Ms. Trude said that we are not rebuilding the City; we are <br />maintaining the City. The major issues she identified when <br />considering the street standards were: cost, stormwater runoff, <br />safety, livability. <br />Councilmember Hankner stated that the 32 foot figure for the width <br />of streets was used strictly for public hearing purposes to get <br />input from residents. There has been no vote on this issue. <br />Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, read a statement prepared by <br />Councilmember Blanchard who was unable to attend the meeting. The <br />statement specified that Ms. Blanchard opposed the 32 foot street <br />width. She felt that the wider the street, the faster the traffic, <br />and residential streets do not need faster traffic. Narrower <br />streets force drivers to slow down. She also cited the loss of <br />green space that would result from wider streets, as well as the <br />cost factor. <br />Mayor Linke explained that it is the policy throughout Ramsey <br />County that streets are being reconstructed at a 32 foot width. <br />This is being done because of safety factors. <br />Councilmember Quick stated that the 32 foot width was presented at <br />the public hearing as a figure for input from residents. <br />Mayor Linke welcomed comments from the public. <br />• <br />