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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 26, 2021 5 Interim Public Works Director Swearingen explained MSA streets were designated based on car volume and had to be designed to certain standards. He noted the City receives State funding to assist with reconstructing MSA streets. He indicated Old Snelling was an MSA roadway. Mayor Grant explained regardless of the option chosen, the road will be designed in such a manner that MSA funds could be applied in the future. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen reported this was correct. Further discussion ensued regarding how MSA roadways were designed and engineered. Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 7:49 p.m. Elyse Farnsworth, 1487 Lametti Lane, urged the Council to choose Option 1 with the trail. She believed this was the better option and would allow her neighborhood to be included in the City’s trail system. She understood this would come at a higher cost, but believed this was the best way to move the project forward. Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue, stated he lives on one of the streets planned for improvement. He explained he wants a trail that has been promised for decades along with the same safety features other City trails have. He did not believe the residents in this project area were less deserving than other Arden Hills residents. He did not want to be left on the shoulder anymore. He was of the opinion the feasibility study was flawed with only two alternatives. He believed that both alternatives were unacceptable. He indicated the report rejects Option 1 as being too expensive and Option 2 has been rejected by residents because it does not include a trail. He recommended the City consider an option that was somewhere in between. He suggested the current 40 feet of roadway along Old Snelling Avenue be reconsidered. He noted the lane widths could be reduced to 11 feet, which would provide two feet. He explained reducing the width of the shoulder on one side by four feet would create four additional feet for a trail, leaving 14 feet on the trail side. He reported full depth reclamation would reduce the cost for Option 1, as would a trail on the east versus the west side of the street. He suggested curbs be placed between the roadway and the new trail for safety purposes. He indicated creative design on the trail side would allow for the current rural ditch drainage to be utilized without needing to invest in costly stormwater improvements. He stated if the design does not MSA standards, a variance could be requested or this portion of Old Snelling could be delisted on the MSA network. He commented this may be a better option than trying to construct this roadway to meet MSA standards considering no dollars were available to assist with this project. He encouraged the City to improve the safety for the pedestrians walking along this roadway and that rumble strips and ballards not be considered. He wanted to see a safe trail design approved for this project. Bobby Goldman, 1290 County Road F W #309, noted he does not live in the immediate area, but he walks and bikes across Arden Hills quite often. He stated this was an area of concern for him. He recommended a comprehensive park and trail infrastructure plan be considered. He reported this trail segment has been in planning stages for decades. He understood the trail would come at a higher cost, but believed it was in the City’s best interest to complete the trail.