Minutes - Council - 09/25/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ellen Stanley, 5670 - 150th Lane N.W., Ramsey - stated she would like to address the lighting on the comer of County Road #5 and 150th Lane N.W. She stated that she had circulated a petition in July, 1990 to have the street light at 14963 County Road #5 moved to the comer of County Road #5 and 150th Lane N.W. She mentioned her idea was to use the same street light. She mentioned she had spoken with ken Peterson this past Monday evening and he informed her that it is unlikely that the street light at 14963 County Road #5 will be relocated. He stated that if a street light that complies with the specifications the City has chosen is installed at the comer of 150th Lane N.W., the City of Ramsey will pay for the installation and operating costs of this light. Ms. Stanley stated that since this street light would illuminate the crosswalk to Ramsey Elementary School and the Lions Community Park, she would like to see it placed on the Priority #1 - Very Much Needed List of Areas in Need of Lighting, and be budgeted to be installed as soon as possible. She also stated that the street light presently at 14963 County Road #5 would be removed during or following the installation of the public light at private expense. Ms. Stanley presented her ideas on financing the installation and operation of future street lights. She stated that a street light is a shared source and while some areas of the City need more lighting than others, the safety at intersections and the security in the neighborhoods for each citizen should be the concern of all citizens. She suggested the creation of a "general street lighting fund" to finance street lights. The tax base for this fund would be paid equally by each property owner in the City. Ms. Stanley stated she also believes a policy should be adopted by the City requiring future real estate developers to finance the installation and first year's operating cost of street lights in newly developed areas. After the first year, the operating costs for these street lights would be taken from the general fund. This "general street lighting fund" would be maintained by the City of Ramsey and it would never have a deficit balance. Any surplus in the fund at the end of the fiscal year would roll into the next year's fund, and would not be reallocated to other funds or projects not related to street light, until the surplus balance in the fund would be of a feasible amount to be refunded to the citizens of the City of Ramsey. Councilmember Peterson asked Chief of Police Mike Auspos to describe what a Priority #1 is. Chief Auspos stated a Priority gl areas are areas which are obviously hazardous. Ms. Stanley stated she felt this area was not on the list because of the light in the neighbor's back yard. She asked if it would meet the specifications to be considered a Priority gl if that light was removed. Chief Auspos stated that if the light was removed, it would be an obvious hazard and it would be ranked Priority gl. Motion by Councilmember Peterson and seconded by Councilmember Cich to direct City Staff to prepare a draft street lighting policy and return to Council to schedule a public hearing on said policy. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Reimann, Councilmembers Peterson, Cich, DeLuca and Pearson. Voting No: None. Case #13: Receive Bids on Passenger Vehicle for Engineering Department City Engineer Jankowski stated that the only bid received was from Elk River Ford-Mercury regarding a Crown Victoria S Sedan for $14,266.00. Motion by Councilmember Cich and seconded by Councilmember Peterson to adopt Resolution #90-09-321 accepting the bid from Elk River Ford-Mercury for the 1991 Ford Crown Victoria S Sedan. City Council/September 25, 1990 Page 18 of 20