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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,March 19,2012 Page 11 36, and suggested part of cleaning up the Lexington Avenue and Rice Street cor- ridors should include negotiations with MnDOT or applicable agencies for mak- ing that portion of the sound wall more attractive through rehabilitation or re- placement. Councilmember Johnson noted past discussions regarding the sound wall along Highway 36 and Rice Street, specifically from Rice Street to Western Avenue, and the ultimate decision of citizens in that area to forego the sound barrier as it ruined their capitol view. Related to the I-35 at Highway 36 portion of the sound wall, Mr. Schwartz noted that it was among the oldest in the metropolitan area; and that staff had discussed with MnDot its repair and/or replacement; and offered to follow up with them again and report back. In terms of the process in other areas, Mr. Schwartz reviewed that unless a wall was community-initiated and paid for by the community, retaining walls were not typically offered unless MnDot determined that due to an expansion of an existing roadway and a certain cost-benefit ratio in t-iuis noise reduction they would be required to offer a noise wall. Mr. Schwartz concurred with Councilmember Johnson's recollection that single-family properties along Highway 36 did not want the wall, thus the length subsequently installed. Mr. Schwartz noted that the Lexington Avenue bridge was listed as a 2014/2015 project, with plans currently in process, and any additional noise walls would be determined at that point. Mayor Roe used the Highways 280/36 interchange in Lauderdale, in conjunction with the collapse of the I-35W bridge and related impacts, for MnDOT's decision to expand that noise wall. Mayor Roe noted that future lane transitions and man- agement from I-35W to Highway 36, and a lack of additional lanes on the bridge may dictate that MnDOT consider sound walls. Mr. Schwartz advised that his efforts to contact MnDOT earlier today had been unsuccessful, but stated that he would discuss the status of the proposed widening of the roadway from I-35W to I-35E, the status and timing of the project, and im- pact of a lack of funding for this long-term project. Councilmember McGehee opined that, since MnDOT increased traffic volume on Highway 280 making it part of the regional freeway system coming onto High- way 36, the City could use that to negotiate for sound walls as part of their future expansion project. Mayor Roe and Councilmember Pust discounted the success of such negotiations with MnDOT. c. Discuss Assistance/Education Options Regarding Sanitary Sewer Backups