Minutes - Council - 11/07/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion by Councilmember Hardin and seconded by Mayor Gilbertson to adopt Ordinance g94-13 relating to Current Services. Further discussion: Councilmember Zimmerman inquired about weak or diseased trees. Mr. Schro~er stated that the City stays on the right-of-way unless someone asks us to do something. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gilbertson, Councilmembers Hardin, Pctcrson and Zimmerman. Voting No: Councilmcmbcr Beyer. Case 07: Report from Road and Bridge Committee City Engineer Jankowski stated that the Road and Bridge Committee met earlier and discussed Sunwood Drive N.W. and the environmentally sensitive issues relating to it. Crossing wetlands is unavoidable and the DNR has indicated they will not be issuing a permit for our original proposed crossing. We are proposing another alternative which is basically a 100-foot bridge and fill, up to that bridge. The cost is about $300,000 more than the original alternative. Another alternative consists of constructing a half bridge over the wetland. DNR said they preferred to see an alignment further to the north than our original alignment. This would create a fairly significant skew with Sunfish Lake Boulevard and the site distances are more deficient. The Road and Bridge Committee recommended pursuing the alternative which is a double, half-bridge alignment. Motion by Councilmember Zimmerman and seconded by Mayor Gilbertson to approve the alternative which consists of filling halfway across each of the wetlands and bridging the remaining half. Further discussion: Councilmember Hardin inquired if the DNR would basically determine the ultimate costs. Mr. lankowski replied that he is hoping they will approve something less than that. Councilmember Hardin inquired if the City has committed itself to this $300,000 amount. Mr. Schroeder replied that the City will request to do two half-bridges, and if they say it's f'me, I do not think we can immediately go back and ask if they will accept culverts. Councilmember Hardin asked again - are we as a Council committed to the bridges. Councilmember Peterson stated he is opposed and felt that the City should wait. Mayor Oilbertson stated he is opposed to waiting and the situation/cost could get worse. Couneilmember Hardin stated he is not comfortable with a million dollar expenditure. Councilmember Zimmerman stated that this is an MSA expenditure. Councilmember Peterson stated that the change to Sunfish Lake Boulevard is not safe, therefore, not a wise decision. Mayor Gilbertson asked if the DNR looks at impacts other than to wetlands, to which Mr. $chroeder replied no. Mr. Jankowski stated that this could be delayed and looked at again in the future. He added that if the City does build a road up to the wetland, it may be more difficult to complete in the future. Mayor Gilbertson inquired if the DNR says yes to this proposal, can we look at it again to which Mr. Jankowski replied yes. Mr. Schroeder asked Council if they do not believe this is a wise expenditure, why are they asking for the permit. Mr. Jankowski stated that the DNR has recommended denial but the City can appeal. He added that there is the risk that the project may not be completed. We have been told it's hard to get in there to develop the area further. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired what the cost of this project was when the box culverts were proposed, to which Mr. Jankowski replied $814,700. The addition of two half-bridges increased the project cost by $300,000. Councilmember Zimmerman stated that is a substantial amount but he feels that residents have stated they want to preserve wetlands. Mayor G-ilbertson inquired about the MSA funding. Mr. Schroeder replied that this project is being funded out of throe separate funds. Mayor Gilbertson stated the question is how City Council/November 7, 1994 Page 9 of 13