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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 26, 2021 11 <br /> <br />Interim Public Works Director Swearingen stated he does not have any reason to believe that <br />the feasibility report that was presented wouldn’t have taken that into consideration, if it were <br />allowed. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant discussed Design Alternative 2 for Area 1. He questioned further information <br />regarding the lane and shoulder widths for this alternative. He asked if MSA would allow for 11 <br />foot wide roadways. <br /> <br />Interim Public Works Director Swearingen read through the recommendations within the <br />feasibility study and stated 11 feet would be allowed for the traveling lanes on MSA roadways. <br />He commented the City was proposing to shrink the shoulder on the east side, to shrink the <br />driving lanes and then to create a walking shoulder on the west side of the roadway. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned what the shoulder width would be on the east side of the roadway. <br /> <br />Interim Public Works Director Swearingen indicated this would be up to the City but given the <br />steep slope of the land adjacent to the shoulder, staff was recommending the shoulder not be any <br />less than six feet. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant reported this would create a 12 foot shoulder on the west side of the roadway. <br /> <br />Interim Public Works Director Swearingen stated this was correct. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked if it was traffic safety engineers that put the two options together <br />for the City to consider. <br /> <br />Interim Public Works Director Swearingen explained this was the case. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott questioned if the assessment to the residents was the same between Option <br />1 and Option 2. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant reported this was correct. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden commented she received calls and emails from residents that want the <br />trail as well as calls and emails from residents that do not want the trail. She stated she would be <br />willing to postpone action on this project in order to allow staff to speak with MSA staff to see if <br />the roadway can be narrowed and a trail created on the existing roadway that would meet <br />everyone’s needs. She indicated it was a goal to have trails throughout the entire City, but noted <br />the franchise fee was defeated by the residents. She reported the Council tries to partner with <br />people and that was how trails have been completed. She explained the City has worked to <br />complete a lot of trails in the past 10 years. She stated she did not feel guilty about installing a <br />shoulder trail if it was safe. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant stated he was surprised by the number of people who said a wider shoulder would <br />be sufficient and did not want the trail. He indicated he wanted the shoulder to be safe. He <br />explained if the Council had more questions that had to be brought to the MSA, he did not have a <br />problem postponing action on this item. He commented it was clear this roadway had to be