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City Council Study Session Minutes March 13, 2001 Page 5 1 Mr. Stenglein thanked the Mayor for the introduction and reviewed several items that are new 2 with Hennepin County. He noted transportation, public safety and general services are major 3 concerns for the County this year. 4 Mr. Stenglein indicated the County is working heavily to increase transportation within the 5 Hennepin County area. He noted there would be a Lowry Avenue upgrade and was being 6 studied by the County to rebuild this area. Mr. Stenglein indicated light rail transit did get 7 approval and was now in the hands of MnDOT. He explained the light rail will be above ground, 8 with current plans heading from Minneapolis to the Mall of America and Minneapolis to St. 9 Cloud. 10 Mr. Stenglein noted for public safety the new correctional facility will be opened in August of 11 this year. He indicated the jail would be a holding facility and could house roughly 500 12 individuals before their trials. Mr. Stenglein indicated this will be a great addition for the County 13 as the old holding cells were two floors within City Hall. He indicated Crim-Net would be 14 online within the next three years for the County as well. 15 Mr. Stenglein reported under general services, the St. Anthony Library renovations would begin 16 sometime this year with an opening set by the end of this year. He noted the County is very 0 excited for the growth in this area. 18 Councilmember Horst asked if the facing on the library has been discussed. Mr. Stenglein noted 19 he had hoped it would conform with the neighborhood and stated he was not aware of the style of 20 this structure to date. He noted there has been talks that all libraries would be structured 21 similarly to make them identifiable as Hennepin County buildings. 22 Mayor Cavanaugh indicated the library could become a catalyst to additional renovations near 23 the shopping center. 24 Councilmember Thuesen questioned how St. Anthony would fit into the light rail transit. Mr. 25 Stenglein noted the location of St. Anthony within the metro area was ideal. He indicated the 26 benefits from being located on the light rail transit schedule would eliminate the need to drive to 27 the airport or Mall of America in the future. 28 Mayor Cavanaugh asked when the County could foresee Silver Lake Road being resurfaced. He 29 indicated he would like to see some long range planning done on this roadway to alleviate future 30 concerns. Mayor Cavanaugh indicated the City would like to eliminate the blacktop sidewalk 31 once this is updated, as well. Mr. Stenglein indicated this could be brought up and reported back 32 to the City. Mayor Cavanaugh commended Mr. Stenglein for his efforts on the Hennepin County Library 46 system. He noted he felt the County was making great strides in this area to get ahead of other 35 county library systems.