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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 23, 2007 8 Mayor Harpstead stated that a concept plan is needed to use in order to do the assessment of the preliminary design phase. Mr. Tolaas added that part of the environmental study includes an alternative analysis, including a "do-nothing" alternative and analysis of noise and air impacts. A resident asked, would the opportunity exist for the City Council to vote to stop the project at future stages. Mayor Harpstead responded yes, there would be opportunities for that to occur. A resident stated that he was against the project, because of people losing their homes but also noise issues. He asked if the City can try to pursue funding for noise mitigation. Mr. Tolaas stated that the City would have to find the funds. The resident asked if in the concept plan, the City could include an extension of the noise wall; he stated that we "might as well ask for it." Mayor Harpstead stated that it would be incorporated into the design but would still have to find funding. Ms. Poucher said that Mr. Tolaas and others are saying the same thing now that they were 5-10 years ago. You are not hearing us, not listening to us. The County and Mn/DOT are saying the same things they always have. Councilmember Holmes responded that we are here now and listening. We have been listening, and no decision has been made yet. Ms. Poucher said that Ms. Holmes is new, in the past Council didn't listen. Ms. Homes reiterated that she was here to listen and no decision had been made. A resident stated that the City has never said "no". Councilmember Grant stated that that wasn't true. The City said "no" in 2000 and has been saying "no" for ten years. But, traffic is getting worse, not better, and will continue to get worse. He stated that Council is still listening but we are now at a crossroads. Ms. Poucher stated that she believes TCAAP is driving this. Councilmember Grant said that many things are driving this decision, including the NW quadrant, development in New Brighton, and development in other areas. Mayor Harpstead added that yes, TCAAP is also driving this, in that it is a new development; a year ago we didn't have an Offer to Purchase. Resident Al Hilgers stated that the City has been working on this for ten years. He stated that there should be a super-exchange at 1-694 and I-35W, keeping the traffic on the main highways. People will stay on freeways if you design them. There was discussion about the impacts of putting all of the Highway 10 traffic on I-35W and 1-694. One impact would be losing the access at I-35W and Highway 96. Mr. Haick asked, can't you scrape up a few million dollars for noise walls if you are saving millions by not having to build a "super exchange" on I-35W and I-694? A resident stated that he wanted to hear from Council, if you voted today, where would you vote? Councilmember Grant stated that the question presupposes that he's made a decision. He stated he hasn't yet made a decision. He added that he has heard things tonight that concern him, and that he would like to see some kind of noise mitigation. He reiterated that he hasn't made a decision yet, he hears the concern about noise walls, but they are expensive for the City to fund.