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Page 2 <br />Motion carried unanimously. <br />The City Manager and Mayor Pro Tem Stauffer briefed residents in <br />attendance and the Council on the City's discussions and negotiations <br />with the Ramsey County Highway Department and Wilshire Park P.T.A. <br />concerning the county's road improvement program for County Road "D" <br />and associated pedestrian safety plans. <br />Councilman Haik was concerned whether the County intended to preserve <br />the trees on the Fosston Townhouse land and was informed that the <br />County wanted to remove the trees but that the City wanted the walkway <br />constructed between the rows of trees. <br />Many residents of the townhouses were present to speak on the proposed <br />road improvement and the pedestrian safety plans. <br />Margaret Michaels, 3505 37th Avenue N.E., was the spokeswoman for the <br />group and stated she represented nineteen homeowners and taxpayers <br />who are concerned about the improvement plans. She felt there was <br />a lack of consensus at the Wilshire Park informational meeting, didn't <br />want to grant the easement and didn't care for the County's plans. <br />She cited the detrimental impact of the improvement on the townhouses <br />and felt that the residents were inadequately informed and that the <br />County Highway Department was trying to force the project. She summed <br />up the group's position thus: they did not want a four lane road, <br />sidewalks installed on their property, any trees cut down, median <br />barriers; they wanted the speed limit reduced, a crossing at Foss Road, <br />the paving repaired rather than a new project, and more time to <br />explore the proposed project to seek modifications. They felt the <br />project was a "railroad" job and would decrease property values. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Stauffer said the proposal agreed to by Ramsey County <br />concerning pedestrian safety was hopefully a temporary proposal and <br />that the "warrant" standards were such that the crossing did not <br />warrant a traffic control semaphore at this time. Hopefully, in the <br />near future it would. <br />Jim Erickson, 3537 37th Avenue N.E., wondered if the walkway was <br />really temporary and cited problems with lack of privacy, additional <br />noise, and snow storage when the roadway/walkway project is completed. <br />Mr. Erickson wondered if the easement was voluntary and Councilman <br />Sundland said it was at this point but that Ramsey County could condemn <br />the property and then issue the City a permit to construct the sidewalk <br />on the acquired right-of-way. <br />Marsha Erickson questioned why the walkway was to be constructed on the <br />north side of 37th Avenue N.E. and was informed that school children <br />safety north of 37th was of critical importance. <br />Mrs. Erickson then asked how many school children live north of 37th <br />Avenue N.E. Harry Hoff, principal at Wilshire Park Elementary School, <br />said about 75 of which about 15 are bussed. <br />Carmen Dobrzynski, 3529 37th Avenue N.E., cited problems with the <br />general layout, adequate space for the walkway, and poor access from <br />