03-21-11-J, WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 21, 2011 4 After some discussion, the consensus of the Council was to grant a 1% increase effective January 1 and revisit this topic in July. Staff was directed to place this matter under Consent on the Council's March 28 h agenda. 2.1) I-694/TH 51 Interchange Project Public Works Director Maurer explained that on February 9, Senator Goodwin and Representative Knuth held a meeting with MnDOT, Ramsey County, and Arden Hills officials to discuss the I-694/TH 51 Interchange Project. He reviewed a follow-up letter from MnDOT addressing the City's 14 conditions for denying municipal consent. He also reviewed a letter from Joe Lux of Ramsey County clarifying three of the conditions addressed in MnDOT's letter. He stated the key points in each letter are: I. On Condition #2, MnDOT states that the City is no longer pursuing the noise wall so - they will remove it from the construction plans. Staff has talked to MnDOT and informed them that this is not what was said at the meeting on February 9. Staff reminded MnDOT that we indicated our feeling that the City would forego the noise wall if freeing up approximately $1,000,000 of MnDOT funding would help with MnDOT funding needed traffic improvements on Lexington Avenue. 2. On Condition#3, regarding using excess material generated on the project for building berms to help with noise mitigation; MnDOT gave a more detailed explanation at the meeting that the need to build storm water ponds, limited right-of-way, and topography of the excess right-of-way made it impossible to build berms of sufficient length and height to provide significant noise mitigation. With this more detailed explanation, it was agreed that building of berms was no longer needed. 3. On Condition 45, MnDOT basically has given the same answer about potential City costs with their project. Ramsey County's letter clarifies even hither potential cost from a County project on Lexington Avenue. It appears that the City costs for both projects will be modest. 4. Condition #6 deals with MnDOT committing funds to help Ramsey County with needed improvements on Lexington Avenue due to the interchange project. Staff has had several conversations with Mr. McBride and Jim Tolaas regarding this issue. Mr. McBride has been very clear that MnDOT policy prohibits them from committing in writing to having funding available for the County project as the funds come from a competitive program at MnDOT. Mr. McBride did tell staff that MnDOT would do everything it could to help the County with the Lexington Avenue improvements. Staff asked Mr. McBride to call Jim Tolaas to discuss this and then ask Mr. Tolaas to call the City. Staff did receive a phone call from Mr. Tolaas stating that he talked to Mr. McBride and that the County is fully committed to making the necessary improvements to Lexington Avenue and they feel MnDOT will help with funding. 5. Condition 47 deals with making improvements to the Lexington Avenue Bridge to lengthen the left turn lanes. MnDOT has committed to making this change including the adjustments to the signal systems at each end of the bridge and to do the work