CCWS 01-18-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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------ ---- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JANUARY 18, 2000 2 . further discuss with Mr. Scholl the easement process, and make an offer for obtaining this easement area. In a related note, Councilmember Larson noted the recent graffiti on the traffic control box and requested that staff contact Ramsey County regarding removal, in conjunction with the City's and County's "zero tolerance" stance. c. 2000 Street Improvement Proiect Mayor Probst opened discussions reviewing the January 10, 2000 Public Hearing held regarding the proposed 2000 Street Improvement Project. Mayor Probst reminded Councilmembers and staff that this item was scheduled for further public discussion at the January 3 1,2000 regular City Council meeting. Mayor Probst suggested two main discussion areas: 1) Does the City want to have a Pavement Management Plan for annual or bi-annual improvements, and if so, how are we going to initiate it? 2) How can the City Council and staff develop a more effective process to communicate with the affected residents in a more timely manner, or is it actually the costs - special assessments - that are driving the issues, and communication issues are secondary? . Discussion items included how to coordinate the overall best interests of the community projected in it's recently completed Pavement Management Program (PMP) and the concerns of the neighborhood residents; drainage and water quality/environment concerns in the City Council's philosophy of curb and gutter installation; thirty-two foot (32') street width standards, and the Council's historical willingness to consider deviating from the standard for special conditions; availability of Minnesota State Aid (MSA) funds; neighborhood methodology of the PMP vs. multiple construction projects within a neighborhood over a number of years; and the ramifications of deferring projects, or portions of projects related to increased maintenance and inflation costs; and additional impact for private utilities and the need for planning and coordination related to the City's construction timetable. Further discussion items included potential removal of the Ingerson neighborhood from the PMP schedule and relocation to the end ofthe cycle; apparent distrust between residents and City Councilmcmbers; bidding timetable for this year's proposed project; additional sources of financing; the City's current Assessment Policy; eliminating "bench negotiations" of special assessments; the possibility of not using special assessments, but taxing the entire City with a fair and reasonable cost - including an inflation index - and until completion of the PMP, freeze costs at so much per foot, with the City finding funding sources? the potential additional costs for an annual construction bid; bonding for improvement projects; the validity of having negotiations handled by staff, the City . Engineer and one or more Councilmembers prior to City Council adoption. -. ---------....