06-30-14 Special WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JUNE 30, 2014 2 Ms. Kunkel explained that the potential bookends of the Master Plan were considered within the AUAR. Mayor Grant commented that the document had the flexibility to go lower than the low end, but reported that there were no mitigation steps in place for going higher than the maximum. Ms. Kunkel stated that this was the case. Councilmember Holden asked if the high end of the bookend would be sustainable without access to County Road 1. Ms. Kunkel answered that it would be sustainable. Councilmember McClung believed that the AUAR was a rather generic document as it did not include specifics and allowed for the low and high ends to remain in the development. Councilmember Werner questioned if the Council would discuss density. Mayor Grant commented that this would be a topic of discussion relatively soon, but was not necessary for the AUAR. Councilmember Holden inquired if the existing Xcel substation would be impacted. Ms. Kunkel stated that the substation may need to be modified or relocated, but that there would be no environmental effects. Mayor Grant thanked Beth and staff for reviewing this item with the Council and stated that the plan should be distributed in preparation of Council consideration at the end of July. B. Review Aesthetics for I-35W Bridges Public Works Director Maurer explained that several weeks ago, the Council agreed to participate in a study with New Brighton and Ramsey County to look at bridge aesthetics for the four bridges planned to be replaced along the 1-35W corridor in the next two years. The bridges in Arden Hills are located at Highway 96 and County Road F (Lake Valentine Road) in 2015 and County Road E-2 and County Road H in 2016. Kimley-Horn and Associates was hired by New Brighton to undertake the study. Public Works Director Maurer stated that over the past several weeks, two meetings have been held with the consultant team and MnDOT. The focus of the consultant team's work was to come up with an aesthetic design that would take into account the current bridges along the corridor in New Brighton and Arden Hills and tie design elements to both cities. The improvements would need to be relatively easy to maintain over the life of the bridge, and would minimize or eliminate any local funding above the MnDOT contribution to aesthetics treatments. MnDOT policy caps funding for aesthetic treatments at seven percent of the bridge structure cost not to exceed $300,000. MnDOT will maintain a standard pallet of colors, but color choices made outside of that standard pallet become the maintenance responsibility of the local agencies.