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<br />Assistant Public Works Director Olson replied staff did not check that. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig indicated he would be concerned about requiring a permit for all retaining <br />walls. He would support drainage walls not being allowed in water or drainage easements. A <br />property owner could request a variance if they can show a benefit to the City with the wall they <br />are trying to construct. <br /> <br />Chairperson Zimmerman concurred. <br /> <br />Assistant Public Works Director Olson indicated in most cases the drainage and utility easement <br />is there to try to protect the adjacent property owners, and in most cases that will alleviate the <br />problems. There are right"of"way issues, and they may want to reword the policy to state <br />. "... within a drainage easement, utility easement, and right"of-way easement." <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember Cook, to recommend to the City <br />Council that it adopt the following policy prohibiting retaining walls in drainage and utility and <br />right-of-way easements. <br /> <br />A Policy Prohibiting Retaining Walls <br />Within Drainage and Utility easements <br /> <br />The location of retaining walls within drainage and utility easements has the potential to cause <br />damage to the wall from flooding events. In addition, the construction of retaining walls results <br />in decreasing the volume of the designed pond volume which consequently reduces the <br />protection to property from flooding. For the above reasons it shall be the policy of the City of <br />Ramsey to prohibit the construction of any retaining wall within a drainage easement, utility <br />easement, and right"of-way easement. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Zimmerman, Councilmembers Elvig and Cook. <br />Voting No: None. <br /> <br />Case #4: <br /> <br />Consider Feasibility Study on St. Francis Boulevard Frontage Road <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski explained within the past week the City received a petition signed by <br />all three of the fronting property owners along the frontage road paralleling TH 47 south of 160th <br />Lane. One item within the petition requests consideration of City assistance in pursuing the <br />improvement of the road. Recently the City Council discussed constructing a trail along this <br />same frontage road to complete a bituminous trail system north to Elmcrest Park. There may be <br />an opportunity to address the citizen concerns with the street improvement and the City's desire <br />to install a trail in a single project. He suggested the Committee may wish to share with staff <br />some alternatives which might be considered in a feasibility study addressing street and trail <br />improvements along this frontage road. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee/July 20, 2004 <br />Page 6 of8 <br />