2024.01.22 CC Packet - Goal Setting

Home

Otter Lake Road. The City of Lino Lakes is planning to extend Otter Lake Road as early as 2025. The road would extend north from CSAH 14 and will join Elmcrest near the main entrance to Heritage Ponds at the Hugo border. Then, the road would continue north along the Elmcrest route to Forest Lake and Coumbus. Coordination of this project involves 4 cities and both Anoka and Washington Counties. Elmcrest is gravel north of 158th Street. If the first phase of the Otter Lake Road project terminates in this vicinity, it will dump large volumes of traffic onto a gravel road. For this reason, Hugo and Lino Lakes must begin planning for either temporary paving or permanent improvements to Elmcrest from 158th Street north to 170th Street. Hwy 61 is undergoing a visioning study, which will likely be complete in 2024. We are anticipating the removal of transit from this transportation corridor, which changes right-of-way needs, removes access controls and will impact future land use planning along the corridor. Following completion of the study, we anticipate a discussion surrounding a “turnback” of the road to Washington County, and a discussion on needed corridor improvements in connection with a turnback. Turn Lanes on Hwy 61 between 140th and Frenchman Road are scheduled to be lengthened in 2025, along with modifications to traffic signals. Staff is involved in the planning and implementation of this improvement with Washington County and MnDOT. Ditches. The Rice Creek Watershed District plans to finish a significant maintenance project along Judicial Ditch #3 this winter. The ditch runs through multiple neighborhoods and work has been very noticeable. City & RCWD staff are preparing for a project to complete the last major section of Judicial Ditch #2. The goal (weather permitting) is to complete all major ditch maintenance work in the City. Following that will be ongoing minor maintenance. City staff will be working with the RCWD on an agreement concerning how to do this, who does it, and how the work is funded. Water: White Bear Lake Lawsuit. We expect a decision from the Administrative Law Judge concerning our water appropriation permits this spring. Following this decision, the City may have several action steps to take. In January, work begins on the White Bear lake Comprehensive Plan Work Group, which is looking for solutions to the lake problem. The Group includes Council member Phil Klein as a key member. Stormwater re-use. The City is working toward a goal of 100 million gallons of storm water re-used through this program on an annual basis. Construction is ongoing on several new projects that will be privately managed by Homeowners Associations. Staff continues to seek outside funds and project ideas for other re-use projects. Staff is working on a project this year with the Rice Creek Watershed District to evaluate the successes and failures of these projects, with a hope to improve processes that lead to their construction. We also hope to identify possible enhancements to existing projects. Water Conservation. We will continue to seek new ways to lead in this area, but work has been hampered by the White Bear lake lawsuit.