Minutes - Public Works Committee - 05/21/2013

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owner relocate the fence. Chairperson Backous felt the answer was ordinance enforcement, not changing the policy. City Engineer Westby stated that is a very good point to raise and the only way around it is to stop your fence at the lot corners and not construct a new fence in front of the existing fence. He stated staff addressed the issue of adverse possession after a certain number of years but found that to be a civil matter. Chairperson Backous stated there will also be fights over property line location and whether the fence is located on or close to the property line, and the City should not get involved. He stated the two -foot buffer eliminates that concern and if the buffer is large enough to maintain, he does not think the City should get involved. City Engineer Westby stated if directed, staff lean check with other cities to see what they are doing. He stated perhaps a gate or some form of access should be required to the buffer area so a property owner cannot claim they cannot access the buffer area. Chairperson Backous stated he is disappointed that City staff spent any time on this matter and he would not support further research of other communities. He stated the City needs to enforce its ordinances and handle it in that manner. Councilmember Kuzma agreed. Chairperson Backous stated he would like to see what is on the Committee's agenda before it gets this far and staff has spent time investigating. He felt the Public Works Committee should set its own agenda. Motion by Chairperson Backous, seconded by Councilmember Riley, to recommend that the City Council take no action to create a policy as this problem is being caused by ordinance violations. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Backous, Councilmembers Riley and Kuzma. Voting No: None. Absent: Mayor Strommen. 6. COMMITTEE / STAFF INPUT 6.01: Update on Reconstruction Requests for Andrie Street City Engineer Westby reviewed the staff report, noting that in 2008, the City completed a feasibility study and prepared plans and specifications for the reconstruction of Andre Street; however, the project was never constructed due to the controversy over whether or not sidewalks should be constructed. Public Works Superintendent Riemer advised that recently, there has been renewed interest on the part of area residents to reconstruct Andrie Street but likely not a new sidewalk. He noted that Andrie Street is one of the worst in Ramsey in terms of pavement condition and should be the next street reconstructed after Garnet/168 City Engineer Westby presented the two alternatives detailed in the staff report and stated staff recommends updating Public Works Committee / May 21, 2013 Page 6 of 9