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<br />City Council Study Session - 06/21/04 <br />Minutes - Page 19 <br /> <br />between Lexington and Rice Street. <br /> <br />Ms. Bloom reviewed proposed cross sections for construction of <br />the street; potential Municipal State Aid (MSA) funds available <br />if the City were to accept the turnback of the road; and projected <br />engineering costs, noting that if staff were to meet the federal <br />funding sunset date of September 30, 2004, outside consulting <br />engineers would need to be enlisted at an additional project cost. <br /> <br />Ms. Bloom concluded by providing a federal design schedule for <br />preparation of plans and specifications for the proposed project. <br /> <br />Discussion included, advantages and disadvantages for <br />construction of a sidewalk rather than a pathway, and the type of <br />construction preferred; problematic costs for engineering fees; <br />connectivity points for a pathway; turnback issues; parking <br />considerations; invasive nature of pathways versus sidewalks to <br />adjacent property owners; safety concerns and buffers; <br />alternative and available funding sources; impacts to existing <br />projects over a projected ten years; leveraging an additional <br />$64,000.00 in annual additional MSA mileage for maintenance <br />and future reconstruction; federal pathway standards and <br />maintenance considerations for equipment and staff; negotiation <br />time frame for construction easements; right-of-way availability; <br />and possible prorating of federal funding, depending on the final <br />plans submitted and the scope of the final project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kough opined his support for necessary road <br />improvements; but noted he was not supportive of pathways. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined that, a compelling reason to build <br />the eastern pathway segment was to provide a connection to <br />schools, given current safety and transportation issues. <br />Councilmember Ihlan expressed her disappointment that others <br />who had previously voiced comments related to the global <br />community picture were not made aware of tonight's discussion, <br />and that just the neighborhood had been noticed of the meeting. <br /> <br />Further discussion ensued related to future grant applications and <br />impacts of this project on future solicitations by the City for <br />those grant funds; phasing components of the reconstruction <br />