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<br />Councilmember Dehen asked if hard channelization was statewide. <br /> <br />Andrew Witter, Anoka County Assistant County Engineer, responded hard channelization was <br />not a statewide standard, but it was common practice to put in hard channelization. He <br />understood the Council's concerns and believed the businesses affected could remodel their <br />business plans to accommodate hard channelization. He stated the County had strong safety <br />initiatives and one of the ways to control traffic was to put in hard channelization. <br /> <br />Mayor Ramsey believed the businesses should be compensated for the money they will lose <br />because of the project. He stated he would not vote in favor of hard channelization. <br /> <br />Councilmember McGlone believed a road with concrete median was safer than a road without a <br />concrete median. He stated he was not against the idea of hard channelization. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wise noted anytime a road was closed and was not made accessible, it made the <br />road safer. He indicated businesses have gone out of business because of hard channelization. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated residents wanted the ability to move traffic. He indicated he did <br />not know if businesses adjusted to hard channelization or not. He stated the City needed to <br />figure out how to lessen the impact to the businesses. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated the problem the City was dealing with was the future problems the <br />County believes might happen with traffic. He indicated the City had not been given any hard <br />figures. He agreed with Mayor Ramsey regarding hard channelization. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wise noted businesses that could adjust to channelization were not retail or <br />convenience stores. <br /> <br />Mayor Ramsey stated he was not opposed to hard channelization in areas where there were no <br />businesses that would be affected. <br /> <br />Ms. Corkle stated Casey's had been informed in the past that at some point their access would be <br />changed. <br /> <br />Councilmember McGlone indicated it was the County's job to predict the future and with the <br />additional lane being added, it would help with moving traffic along also. He noted there was a <br />cost for everything. He stated he was not against this project and he would like to see it happen. <br /> <br />Mr. Witter indicated the County's model was based on the City's comp plan. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if it was Council's opposition for hard channelization only for <br />Casey's. He asked ifthere was a concern with hard channelization in other areas also. <br /> <br />Mayor Ramsey responded it was the Casey's business as well as past history, in his opinion, that <br />the County did not care about the businesses in the City. He stated in the past, the City had to <br />close local neighborhood streets because those streets became a major thoroughfare. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / September 15, 2009 <br />Page 3 of8 <br />