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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—OCTOBER 11, 2010 6 2.A Mn1DOT I-04 Improvement Project—Municipal Consent Discussion (continued) Councilmember Holden indicated the City could always have Land O Lakes contact the governor complaining about access and traffic along I-694. Councilmember Holmes did not want to have the City wait until after the fact to take action. Councilmember McClung commented he did not want to see the traffic problems along the Interstate pushed onto the local and County streets. Mayor Harpstead felt the traffic engineering completed by Mn/DOT was disappointing as the plans need to be completed in a systemic manner. Councilmember Holmes suggested the Council require assurances from Mn/DOT that County Road F/Lexington Avenue and County Road F/I-694 will be able to handle the new traffic levels. Mayor Harpstead agreed these areas were a concern and stated Mn/DOT has acknowledged they would be working with the County to address these intersections. Councilmember Holmes stated this was not enough of an assurance and that Consent should not be granted until the County provided greater information to the City. Councilmember McClung agreed with these comments stating local access was extremely important. He did not want to see a portion of Arden Hills become landlocked through the Mn/DOT plans. Mayor Harpstead noted if Mn/DOT has traffic engineers that state the model works and our engineer makes the same claim, the City has no recourse. Councilmember Holmes indicated the Mn/DOT plan needs to be fully funded by the State and County in order for it to work correctly. This problem needs to be solved between the State and the County before the City can give Consent. This would assure that the Council was taking a stand for its residents and the businesses within the community. Councilmember Holden stated she wanted the plan to benefit the entire City, its residents and that all conditions are considered by Mn/DOT. Public Works Director Maurer suggested staff add a condition regarding Lexington Avenue and County Road F that Mn/DOT and Ramsey County traffic engineers work together to determine the correct improvements for this intersection, establish a budget for them, and have Mn/DOT commit to encumbering cooperative agreement fiords or suitable funding to the County on the County's schedule. This would assure that the Council's concerns for this intersection were addressed. Mayor Harpstead agreed with this additional language.