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advisory committee, though no proposals have been received yet. She also <br />mentioned that a closed session was held to discuss a potential offer to the <br />VFW, and an offer has since been made. <br />Vice Chair Hodder asked for clarification about the potential offer to the VFW, <br />specifically whether it relates to the license and dance studio portion of the <br />project. <br />Mr. Freihammer clarified that the City is considering purchasing a portion of <br />the VFW parking lot to create shared parking access, not the building itself, <br />and the VFW would continue operating as usual. <br />Chair Ficek asked when the delineators for the bike lanes on Hamline Avenue <br />will be installed. <br />Ms. Lowry said installation of the bike lane delineators on Hamline Avenue is <br />pending county street sweeping, which is expected within the next couple of <br />weeks, possibly sooner. <br />b. Approve Bike Plan <br />Assistant Public Works Director Lowry provided a brief review and update on <br />projects and maintenance activities listed in the staff report dated April 23, <br />2026. <br />Ms. Lowry provided an overview of the City's first bike -specific plan, <br />explaining that it originated from the capital improvement plan and was <br />supported by an MnDOT grant that paired the City with consultants and other <br />communities. She described the extensive process, including public <br />engagement, surveys, workshops, and a working committee made up of City <br />staff, residents, and partner agencies, all contributing to shaping the plan and <br />refining it into a more concise document with additional technical appendices. <br />She highlighted key findings, including gaps in the current bike network, safety <br />concerns, and the need for more consistent, user-friendly infrastructure, <br />especially for riders who are less comfortable sharing the road with traffic. <br />Engagement results showed strong community interest, with hundreds of <br />survey responses and comments identifying desired routes, problem areas, and <br />opportunities for improvement, along with feedback from a demonstration bike <br />lane project on Hamline Avenue. <br />Ms. Lowry explained that the plan introduces a proposed bike network with two <br />tiers: a primary grid of major routes designed for all users and secondary traffic - <br />calmed neighborhood connections, and acknowledges that many key corridors <br />are outside the City's direct control and will require coordination with county <br />and state partners. She emphasized that this plan is just the first step, with future <br />Page 4 of 11 <br />