Agenda - Council - 04/12/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Assistant Public Works D{rector OIson replied s'taff did not check that. Councilmember Elvig indicated he would be concerned about requiring a permit for all retaining walls. He would support drainage wails not being allowed in water or drainage easements. A property owner could request a variance if they can show a benefit to the City with the wall they are trying to construct. Chairperson Zimmerman concurred. Assistant Public Works Director Olson indicated in most cases the drainage and utility, easement is there to try to protect the adjacent property owners, and in most cases that will alleviate the problems. There are right-of*way issues, and they may want to reword the policy to state "...within a drainage easement, utility easement, and fight-of-waY easement." Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember Cook,-to recommend to the City Council that it adoPt the following policy proh/biting retaining Wails in drainage and utility and ' right-o f-way easements. A Policy Prohibiting Retaining Wails Within Drainage and Utility easements The location of retaining walls within drainage and utility easements has the potential to cause damage to the wall from flooding events, in addition, the construction .of retaining wails results in decreasing the volume Of the desi=~ned pond volume Which consequently reduces the protection to property from flooding. For the above reasons it shall be the policyofthe City of Ramsey to prohibit the construction of any retaining wait within a drainage.easement, utility easement, and right-o f-way easement. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Zimmerman, Councilmembers Elvig and Cook. Voting No: None. Case #4: Coasider Feasibility Study on St. Francis Boulevard Frontage Road City Engineer Jankowski explained within the past week the City received a petition signed 5y all three of the fronting property owners along the frontage road paralleling TH 47 south of 160th Lane. One item within the petition requests Consideration of C-ity assistance in pursuing the irr~provement of the road. Recently the City Council discussed constructing a trail along this same frontage road to complete a bituminous trail system north to Elmcrest Park. There may be an opportunity to address the citizen concerns with the street improvement and the City's desire to install a trail in a single project. He suggested the Committee may wish to share with staff some alternatives which might be considered in a feasibility study addressing street and trail improvements along this frontage road. .. public Works Committee/July 20, 2004 Page 6 of 8