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Roseville, MN - Official Website Page 6 of 31 respect of each other; and asked that conversations in the audience be refrained, as well as any interactions with those speaking. Mayor Roe reiterated his belief that everyone had a right to be heard; and that personal conversation or commentary is discouraging. Mayor Roe asked that all cell phones be put on vibrate or turned off; and that comments and /or questions be addressed directly to the Mayor and City Council. Related to the numerous signs being displayed in the audience, Mayor Roe advised that they would be allowed as long as they were not disrupting anyone's view; and encouraged those nervous about public speaking to simply relax and make their comments in their own words. Mayor Roe advised that every attempt would be made to ensure that both sides were given time to speak and make their cases. Mayor Roe opened the meeting for public comment on this issue at approximately 6:35 p.m. Public Comment A neighborhood petition dated June of 2011 supporting permanent closure of County Road C -2 at Griggs Street; and opposing changing County Road C -2 to a through street between Hamline and Lexington Avenue was presented as a bench handout, attached hereto and made a part hereof. The petition was based on safety concerns; lack of evidence indicating established east /west through -roads being at or near capacity; potential devaluation of properties on and adjacent to County Road C -2 should it become a through street; and cost to taxpayers for a project that is not necessary nor wanted. David Miliotis, 1128 County Road C -2 Mr. Miliotis advised that he had been asked to speak as the representative of a large group supporting keeping C -2 closed. Mr. Miliotis thanked City staff and the Traffic Engineering Consultant firm, SRF, for their work to -date; and opined that the data gleaned from the recent traffic survey served to remove the emotions and results spoke for themselves. Mr. Miliotis reviewed that data and current 2011 traffic as well as 2030 projections in the area; and the findings that at neither time do or will traffic volumes exceed capacity. Mr. Miliotis referenced the staff comments in the Request for Council Action (RCA) dated August 8, 2011, and supporting documents (Attachment A- Traffic Survey), and staff responses (Attachment B) to public questions to -date regarding the County Road C -2 Traffic Study. Mr. Miliotis opined that opening up County Road C -2 didn't make sense from a traffic volume, safety or financial perspective. Mr. Miliotis opined that by keeping County Road C -2 closed, it underscored the fact that the collecting arteries were operating well -below their capacity and specifically addressed questions 49 and 50 in the staff responses related to regional traffic and who would potentially pay for connecting County Road C -2 as a thoroughfare for regional traffic. Mr. Miliotis noted that the City and State were already facing significant cuts in needed funding for other vital infrastructure and community needs; and opined that, beyond the data actually supporting the benefits for not connecting County Road C -2 based on safety and financial issues; there was an ethical consideration. Mr. Miliotis opined that the residents of Josephine Road requesting this connection had a poor grasp of facts; and were based on myth rather than fact. Mr. Miliotis advised that comments that County Road C -2 was once a connecting road and should therefore be reconnected were false; and that it had actually never been connected. Mr. Miliotis advised that the width of County Road C -2 was not accurately portrayed, and that instead of being 66' wide, it was actually only 35' wide. While Josephine Road residents arguing that there had been an increased volume of traffic, Mr. Miliotis noted that there had only been an increase of 200 vehicle trips per day in the last six (6) years. http:// www. cityofroseville .com /Archive.aspx ?AMID= &Type= &ADID= 1148 &PREVIE... 10/12/2011