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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 10 <br />Councilmember Tamble asked the County to comment on their findings regarding the noise wall <br />listed by Public Works Director Maurer as one of the three conditions of Municipal Consent. <br />Joe Lux explained that he met with Mr. Cmiel and reviewed his calculations claiming that a 1500 <br />foot noise wall would benefit twelve homesites. He explained that as of June 1, the rules have <br />changed regarding noise walls. The old rules still apply to this situation because the <br />environmental assessment was prepared under the old rules. There are 12 home sites and three <br />buildable lots. The buildable lots would not have been considered but the County agreed to <br />review it again. The addition of the three buildable lots does bring the area closer to the threshold <br />for a 20 foot noise wall, but still does not meet the cost - effective threshold. <br />Councilmember Tamble asked if reducing the height of the wall would make a difference. <br />Mr. Lux responded that reducing the height would also reduce the benefit and impact the cost of <br />the wall. He added that the source of noise for these homes is not Highway 96, but US 10 which <br />is a state highway and it would be difficult to get any funding out of MnDOT. He also explained <br />that the three lots Mr. Cmiel has asked to be included would not be allowed to be considered until <br />a home has been built on each lot. He stated he does not think there is any scenario under which <br />this area would meet the threshold for a cost - effective noise wall. MnDOT has volunteered to <br />have their noise wall person look at it, but they do not have anything budgeted for it. <br />Mr. Tolaas explained that the mill and overlay project doesn't rise to the level that it would cause <br />the issue of a noise wall to be examined. The County's US 10 /Highway 96 project cannot fund a <br />noise wall along US 10 because it is out of their scope and funding capabilities and, he added, <br />their funding source could not be used for a noise wall. <br />Councilmember Holden commented that the Council could include a condition in Municipal <br />Consent addressing the noise wall. <br />Mr. Tolaas responded the City could add a condition, but the County simply cannot use County <br />State Aid Highway funds for a noise wall and the County cannot force MnDOT to do it because <br />they have no leverage or legal basis to require it. He was also concerned that such a condition <br />would result in a delay of the project and some of the funding has sunset dates beyond which the <br />monies would no longer be available. He explained that the region wants these funds utilized and <br />if the County and City "can't get their act together" to utilize the funds, they will be given to <br />someone else. <br />Councilmember Holden asked if there's any berming that can be done. <br />Mr. Lux responded it is possible that the concrete barrier, typically 38 inches high, could be <br />increased in height on the top of the retaining wall on the east side of Lakeshore Place. <br />Councilmember Holmes stated there had been some discussion about placing a wall on Old 10 <br />next to I -694 to block the car lights. <br />Mr. Tolaas stated the County had actually discussed this with MnDOT recently but MnDOT <br />indicated that they are not changing things in a way that would impact the car lights and a portion <br />