Agenda - Council - 09/25/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Jackson asked why the pedestrian bridge is needed as he did not believe that many Ramsey residents would use the bridge and did not believe that the bridge would be used much during the winter months. He noted that the bridge would be positioned between two intersections, which would already allow for crossing the highway on foot or bicycle. He agreed that Ramsey Boulevard could use crosswalks and a sidewalk but did not believe that a pedestrian bridge would be needed. He believed that the pedestrian bridge would mainly be used by people outside the community and did not believe that the bridge would fit well in the community. He did not think it would be a good use of the tax funds. He believed that the grant funds could be better spent in the community if obtained. He stated that there are only one or two parks in the community that have shade structures over the play equipment, he suggested using the grant funds within the parks and trails system. Acting Mayor LeTourneau thanked Mr. Jackson for his comments. He stated that there were complex issues brought forward which will be addressed by staff. He stated that staff is continually investigating issues of safety in the community in terms of infrastructure and public safety. He noted that the comments have been heard and staff will give a reply. Councilmember Riley stated that the Public Works Committee hears requests for stop signs and semaphores. He noted that once a number of signatures are received requesting the action, the Committee will hear the request. He appreciated the input on the pedestrian bridge, noting that the vote for the potential project has not been unanimous as he is opposed to the project as well. Todd Embury, 9041 159th Lane, stated that 20 years ago he took a business trip to Germany and was impressed with how easy it was to get from the suburbs to the larger cities using their mass transit. He stated that six years ago his daughter went to school in Chicago and he has also been impressed with their mass transit system which allows people to move around without having to own a vehicle, purchase gasoline, and pay for car insurance. He stated that mass transit is the future and the City has to put money together to make it work. He stated that the money spent on mass transit, especially when using grant funds, is money well invested in the community. He stated that parks and mass transit will bring people from all over the metro area and believed that the City should take advantage of the funds available to create that infrastructure. Heidi Miller, 16390 Uranimite, asked if this is the appropriate manner to communicate to the City that residents are opposed to a project, such as the pedestrian bridge. Acting Mayor LeTourneau noted that making comments during citizen input is appropriate. He noted that another method would be to simply call a Councilmember or the Mayor to express opinions. He explained that the Council are elected officials that are meant to represent the residents of their wards and therefore input from residents is important. He noted that the Councilmembers attempt to weigh the opinions of the community as a whole in order to make the best decision for Ramsey. City Administrator Ulrich stated that the City is in the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan. He noted that a number of citizen forums have been held to gather public input on the different elements, including infrastructure and the parks and trails system, which is another great platform for providing input. City Council / August 28, 2018 Page 3 of 23