Minutes - Council - 07/26/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Business Mayor Gilbertson called the regular City Council meeting back to order at 7:07 p.m. Motion by Councilmember Hardin and seconded by Councilmember Peterson to approve, contingent upon City Attorney review, the VFW Post #1043 non-intoxicating malt liquor license application for the property located at 9539 Highway #10 N.W. Motion carried, Voting Yes: Mayor Gilbertson, Councilmembers Hardin, Peterson, Beyer and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. Case #3: Request for Proposals for Design/Construction Engineering and Wetland Delineation for 153rd Avenue N.W./155th Avenue N.W. City Engineer Jankowski stated that this is a step in the continuing process the City has been studying since September 1991 to complete an east/west collector street across the City of Ramsey. This portion of the roadway is between Variolite Street N.W. and 155th Avenue N.W., and 153rd Avenue N.W. and Armstrong Boulevard N.W. He stated it is evident that the City had intended to utilize 153/155 as a collector street by requiring Whispering Pines and Whispering Pines 2nd Addition to have the potential for eliminating direct access to 153rd Avenue N.W. This occurred 22 years ago. Mr. Jankowski reported that several meetings have been held regarding this last segment of the street. A list has been developed of people interested in this project and they have been made aware of this meeting. A considerable amount of public input has been provided on this project. Following a conceptual plan for the roadway developed by City Staff, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was prepared since it was anticipated the roadway would impact at least a portion of Wetland #111P, which is a DNR protected wetland. City Council reviewed the EAW and issued a finding of no significant impact. The engineering firm of RLK Associates detailed an alignment which was most consistent with that reflecting Staff's conceptual plan which was the basis for the EAW. This alignment, identified as Alternative A, intersects at the current intersection with 153rd Avenue N.W. and Armstrong Boulevard N.W. at a right angle and tums northward using a 40 mile per hour design speed curve. This alignment resulted in impacting approximately three acres of wetland. Mr. Jankowski stated that, given citizen concerns, the consultant was directed to search for alternatives which would minimize the wetland impact. They came up with Alternative B which reduced the wetland impact to less than two-tenths of an acre. This alternative required skewing the angle of intersection with Armstrong Boulevard N.W. by 15° from perpendicular, reducing the curve design speeds to 35 miles per hour, and building a retaining wall to avoid all but a small portion of the wetland. A slight revision of Alternative B resulted in the recommended Alternative C which completely avoids any impact on the wetland. This would be done by moving back the beginning of the skew approach to Armstrong Boulevard N.W. to the west for a distance of approximately 200 feet. The avoidance of any impact to the wetland is an issue which was strongly supported by the citizens providing input on this project. Mr. Jankowski stated that Staff is pleased to be able to meet the goal of no impact to the wetland. Mr. Jankowski stated that another concern was the impact of drainage from this roadway on Wetland #111 P, which is a landlocked water body. Run-off is proposed to be collected in two separate storm sewer systems, each one outletting into sedimentation basins located south of 153rd Avenue N.W. These basins would provide treatment to enhance water quality prior to discharge into the wetland. Another concern expressed was for the Blandings Turtle. DNR recommended that a chain link fence be installed to prevent turtles from crossing the roadway. Staff's position is that the fence would be a high maintenance, poor aesthetic solution. He proposed that a short retaining wall be constructed along the area where the City Council/July 26, 1994 Page 5 of 27