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City Council Study Session Monday, September 17, 2007 Page 12 staff was recommending improvement in the alignment of Skillman Avenue and the Snelling and HarMar intersections. Ms. Bloom reviewed staff's recommendations for intersection re- alignment to improve traffic congestion and safety issues; estimated costs of the proposed intersection; additional buffer on Skillman Ave- nue between residential commercial properties; benefits and reduced conflicts to pedestrian and vehicular safety by moving the intersection south; and the City's costs for participating in the signal replacement, whether or not any road alignment were done. Ms. Bloom addressed potential funding sources (MnDOT participa- tion in 50% of signal reconstruction; MSA funds; Assessments for frontage road and Har Mar Businesses as applicable: and other sources). Ms. Bloom noted that MnDOT was supportive of the re- alignment, but was not confident of any additional funding being available from their perspective at this time. Ms. Bloom advised that property owners had been notified of this proposed improvement, and that a public information meeting was scheduled on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., with notices being mailed later this week. Ms. Bloom further noted that staff had met with MnDOT on August 31, 2007 to discuss the possibility of in- cluding this intersection relocation as part of their 2008 Snelling and County Road B intersection safety improvement project; and provided a revised layout developed by MnDOT showing the new intersection location. Ms. Bloom further advised that staff had provided this lay- out to Har Mar's architect in order for them to start looking at how they would lay out the HarMar parking lot and drive lanes to connect into the new intersection location. Mr. Darrow reviewed his discussions with Har Mar, and their con- cerns, expressed in written comment, provided as a bench handout, in a September 14, 2007 letter to Mr. Darrow from James A Swanson, Regional Operations Director with Emmes Realty Services, LLC, rep- resenting Gateway Washington, Inc. (owner of Har Mar Mall). Mr. Darrow noted Har Mar's opposition to relocation of the Har Mar Mall driveway south to line up with Skillman Avenue; their need for quick resolution; and impacts to pending lease transactions and existing