CC 10-12-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 12, 2004 6 . affected by a sidewalk being put in, where all of the residents in the City would be affected if a sidewalk was not put in. Bruce Kunkel, 3452 Glen Arden Road, stated he was in favor of the bridge and sidewalk. He noted when the new bridge was put in he believed more residents would use it because it was safer. He requested Council be concerned about the safety of the residents. Mayor Aplikowski stated this was not an easy decision and the City needed to plan for the future. She stated the one concern she had was the connection of the two parks. She noted the most direct route, was the route that pedestrians wanted to take. She stated they could not put in a sidewalk on the north side because there were utilities in the right-of-way which would need to be moved and this was not going to happen financially. She indicated she had taken everything into consideration. She noted whatever they decide had not been an easy alternative and they had weighed the pros and cons, but noted they could not make everyone happy. Councilmember Grant stated one of the reasons they were looking at the sidewalk on the south side was because of the terrain and cost. He noted he was not sure this was the safest decision. He stated on the south side, pedestrians would have to cross at both the clove and the diamonds on the bridge, while on the north side, they would not have to do that. He indicated it was more difficult for the residents driving on the south side to exit into the traffic. He noted if the e sidewalk were on the north side, it would be farther away from the homes than if it were on the south side. He indicated the north side seemed to get more pedestrian traffic, which he believed was because Bethel College was on that side of the road, as well as McDonalds and other businesses being on that side of the road. He expressed concern about people using the double driveways on the south side to make a "U" turn. He stated while a sidewalk on the south side might be financially cheaper, he was not convinced it was the safest. He stated there were redeeming qualities having the sidewalk on the north side. He indicated this was not the only place in the City that was not safe. He believed they should discuss this more and he was also concerned that Councilmember Rem was not in attendance tonight for her opinion. He asked the Engineer if they needed to specify which side the sidewalk would be put on. Mr. Brown replied the application did ask this, but he was not sure if it would make much of a difference if the sidewalk was on the north or south side, but the Council would want to request funding for the most expensive proposal, which he believed would be a sidewalk on the north side. He stated he would check with the State if this would make a difference. Councilmember Holden stated each time they discussed the bridge and sidewalk, something changed, including tonight with the grant information being presented. She stated when she first started discussing this, she wanted the sidewalk for the bikers, but since that time, she had spoken with bikers who used County Road E, who indicated they would not use a sidewalk because of the curb cuts. She stated she had also contacted Mounds View High School and was informed that Mounds View High School Cross Country runners would not use the sidewalk . either because ofthe curb cuts. She noted the bikers she had spoken to indicate their greatest fear was residents backing up into them and not riding in the street with traffic. She asked if people were going to take the most direct route, should the City put in sidewalks/trails everywhere. She indicated instead of a community fight, this has turned into a neighborhood fight. She stated --