Minutes - Council - 01/26/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

can be made to the assessment. He provided information on the State -aid funds that are received each year in the amount of $1,100,000 which are currently encumbered, paying bonds for previous road projects through 2021 and therefore would not be available for this project. Mr. Herrick asked if in 2021 there would be an option to bring some of the State -aid funds into this project to reduce some of the assessments. City Engineer Westby stated that the City has never done that and he was not sure how that would work. He explained that the assessments would be adopted in October with the term and therefore that would need to be amended in the future. Councilmember Riley stated that the assessment policy dictates that the State -aid funds would be used to fund the City's portion of road improvements. City Administrator Ulrich stated that from a financial model the City needs to stick with the assessment policy that is fair for everyone and would not be able to go back retroactively to pay for a project. Mayor Strommen stated that the Council has struggled constantly to find a way to improve the roads within the City as a large number of roads need, or will need, improvement. She stated that the Council previously proposed a franchise fee that could be used to fund road improvements but the majority of residents that spoke out at those public meetings did not support that option and preferred that the cost be assessed through an assessment policy. She noted that this is the start of the needed road projects and as the City moves along, more residents will be assessed for their improved roads, which will spread the burden among the residents being benefited. Councilmember Shryock asked the road speeds on Andrie and 164t" City Engineer Westby replied that the speed is posted at 30 miles per hour. Councilmember Shryock stated that she is very pro -cyclist but noted that given the circumstances in this case she would support not having the bike lane. She stated that the additional trail easement to the north would provide the needed connection to the Trott Brook corridor. She stated that because the traffic counts are low, posted speeds are low, and the residents feel safe walking on the roadway she feels that the roadway can be shared by vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Councilmember Kuzma disagreed with the comments of Councilmember Shryock. He stated that this is a community and this roadway is used all the time by pedestrians and bicyclists. He stated that he has supported this project since he began on the Council and is passionate on the bike lane because he believes it is a safety issue. He asked what would happen if there is a big vehicle parked in the parking lane and a small child pulls around the vehicle; that is a risk for being hit by a passing motorist. He stated that he hears and acknowledges the comments made by the residents as to what they want but noted that he also has to listen to the rest of the City Council / January 26, 2016 Page 8 of 13