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.. . . Do you want sidewalks? What kind? . How wide do want you want the streets? Residents (especially on Ingerson Avenue) are ~ concerned about traffic volume and speed: . How much would wider streets affect traffic speed and volume? . How does this affect the safety of the neighborhood children and adults. . What traffic control measures have been considered? (Stop signs, speed bumps, etc) . How would the closure of Hamline north of Ingerson affect traffic? Residents would be more than willing to help provide answers to some of these questions, if the City would bother to ask. . 4. Alternative solutions to the water problems Being an engineer myself, there is a saying "When you're holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail." My point being that if you're a road construction engineer, your first solution to any water problem is probably 'build a new road with storm sewer.' I have no doubt that the proposed project would eliminate the street flooding, and it may very well be the 'best' solution. But at what price? Have other alternative solutions to the water problems been proposed? By whom? Several alternatives were proposed by various residents at the neighborhood meeting. Have these alternatives been considered? What does Rice Creek Watershed say about the proposal? Has this body or other agencies (DNR, Minnesota Pollution Control, etc.) been allowed to investigate the problems and suggest plans? For rougWy a third of the project areal, it appears the drainage plan is essentially unchanged. All the water drains into the Fernwood Ct. ditch and into Lake Josephine. The proposed 'improvements' to the ditch to improve water quality could still be done without any street or sewer work. 5. Blind application of 'City Standards' With regards to the street design, it appears that the 'City Standards' have been applied without adequate consideration for the existing surroundings or the neighborhood's concerns. The plan appears to be "you get 32' width and curb 'n gutter, like it or not." Standards are a good idea when appropriately applied, but every situation has it's own unique requirements. Street standards make perfect sense in new subdivisions: "all new streets will be 32' with curb and gutter." However, for reconstruction in existing neighborhoods, the benefits offollowing 'standards' must be weighed against the drawbacks. My questions are: . Why widen the streets from 28' to 32'? Very few residents park on-street during the day and on-street parking is illegal overnight. School buses and garbage trucks are able to navigate the existing streets. Studies have shown that a wider street will only encourage people to drive faster. . 1. <all of Carlton Dr., all of Fernwood St, and the Eastern 1/3 ofIngreson Dr., Fernwood Ct., and Ingerson Ct.) 3