2013-11-26_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Member Felice questioned if the Park Renewal Program funding was exclusive for pathways leading and connecting to parks. Chair Vanderwall refocused discussion again on the PWETC charge, not reflections on the Parks pathway priority list. Chair Vanderwall noted that the NRATS would take this PWETC final recommendation to their Pathway Committee ranking and merge them together for the bucket projects for review by the City Council as an option for those funds, with the NRATS determining those areas of consensus. Member DeBenedet expressed his confidence in the PWETC's priority ranking for the Pathway Master Build-out Plan as revised tonight for Map #7 (County Road B segment). Member Stenlund expressed his confidence in his consistency in his interpretation and ranking segments under Ramsey County jurisdiction as 5 (lowest); opining that he didn't see any value in ranking them higher until that jurisdiction changed. Member Gjerdingen expressed his confidence in his rankings, with the only revision in Map #7. Chair Vanderwall spoke to the benefit of this body in providing a diversity of interpretation and ranking consideration, opining that it would be beneficial in that overall averaging and provide good guidance to the City Council going forward. Public Comment Jerry Larson, St. Stephen's Street In response to Chair Vanderwall's comment regarding the amount of time spent on this issue by the PWETC, Mr. Larson disagreed with that perception, and frankly disagreed with it. Mr. Larson opined that the County Road B neighborhood was still entitled to additional discussion on this topic; and referenced Member Stenlund's argument regarding the road's jurisdiction. As he stated at the October PWETC meeting during public comments, Mr. Larson expressed his respect for Member Stenlund, but also recognized that he disagreed with him. Mr. Larson opined that there were dozens of instances where cooperative projects had been undertaken by MnDOT, counties and local municipalities where ownership of the rights-of-way were irrelevant to a project being constructed. To state that nothing could be done without the road changing jurisdiction, Mr. Larson opined provided a false perception; and further opined that the options should be explored for this segment as well. Gary Grefenberg Mr. Grefenberg referenced a comment made in previous written comments provided at the October PWETC meeting from Member Felice recognizing that this was the only access and egress point to this neighborhood. Mr. Grefenberg Page 11 of 18