07-31-2023 SCC - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 31, 2023 Special Meeting Page 2 Dr. Jean Strait, 7728 Knollwood Drive, reported she was a newer resident to Mounds View but her wife has lived in Mounds View her entire life. She spoke to the Council regarding Area K. She noted she drive Area K and took a number of photos. She discussed how deep the retaining wall was across from Noel and CR’s driveway. She believed there was poor communication between the City and residents regarding this street improvement project. She discussed how her neighbors have been cut off from their property. She questioned how CR was going to get over a wall to get to his property. She reviewed several other pictures of the project and questioned why the lake was not taken into consideration. She feared how much graffiti would end up on the new retaining wall. She believed what the Council has done to the residents along this roadway was atrocious. Joyce Jones Strait, 7728 Knollwood Road, reported she grew up in Mounds View. She noted she went to Pinewood, then Highview and graduated from Irondale High School. She indicated three of her children graduated from Irondale High School. She expressed great concern with how Spring Lake was being impacted by the Area K street project. She discussed how much the City was changing and noted this was a concern to her. She commented on the storm damage that occurred to her home because of the clear cutting that occurred. She believed the retaining wall was a tremendous eyesore. She was confused about the goal of the path and questioned why the City was restricting access to the lake. She reported she was a middle school teacher and recommended the City Council choose their words wisely when it comes to the language used in the cannabis ordinances and where cannabis can be smoked. CR Barrigan, 7765 Spring Lake Road, asked the Council to put themselves in his shoes. He explained he was an 84 year old, disabled veteran that worked hard all his life as a migrant worker. He reported he was a first generation citizen and his parents came to this country 100 years ago. He stated he educated himself and worked hard. He explained he was retired, in a good home in Mounds View and was financially secure. He indicated after the recent storm he lost two trees, umbrellas, and $6,000 of personal property. He questioned if this happened to the City Council, what would they want the City to do. Council Member Cermak stated the mailbox plan was devised by the post office. She noted the City can work with homeowners in order to find a plan that was agreeable. She encouraged Ms. Johnson to contact the post office and speak with them about her mailbox. Ms. Johnson commented further on how important it was for her to have a locked and secure mailbox that can be viewed from her home. Acting Mayor Meehlhause discussed how the streets committee determined that mailboxes will be grouped on each street. He explained he could not speak to the decisions made by this committee because this decision was made prior to his time on City Council. City Attorney Riggs reported a policy was adopted from the street committee and every street project was to follow these standards. Ms. Johnson questioned why certain standards were not followed if a policy was in place. She asked why paths and trails were not standard, but rather some streets had trails on the street and others had them within a boulevard.