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<br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson MusgroveandCouncilmembers Howell. Voting No: <br />None. Abstain: Councilmember Riley. <br /> <br />5. COMMITTEE BUSINESS <br /> <br />5.A Trail Gap Update <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Riverblood stated that late last winter the committee <br />provided direction to staff to move up the Highway 47 trail gap project. He stated that the plans <br />and specifications have been completed and the City was able to secure the two remaining <br />easements on the undeveloped properties, therefore the City now has trail easements along the <br />entirety of the corridor. He stated that the cost estimates for the project were also completed and <br />the total projected would be $135,000. He stated that they are ready to go, and the project could <br />move forward as early as spring of 2025. He stated that MnDOT may be amenable to consider the <br />same trail proposed by the City to be combined with their 2028 Highway 47 overlay project. He <br />recognized that would mean delaying the project from 2025 to 2028. He stated that there is a <br />sidewalk along Xkimo Street, which was installed as part of the road reconstruction project this <br />summer. <br /> <br />Chairperson Musgrove asked if the $135,000 includes the two sections from the businesses that <br />came in. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Riverblood replied that would be the total estimated <br />cost. He noted that one of the properties had already paid park dedication fees when the property <br />was established, but there was a trail fee contribution from one property which is low for a <br />commercial property, at about $1,500. <br /> <br />Chairperson Musgrove asked the budget that had been set for this trail. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Riverblood replied that the budget for this trail had <br />been earmarked at $80,000 in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley referenced the comment that MnDOT “may” agree to the trail construction, <br />or contribute funding. He stated that while improving existing pedestrian facilities would seem <br />likely, it would seem less likely that MnDOT would agree to put in a trail that does not yet exist. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Riverblood commented that on a previous call with <br />MnDOT representatives, there did seem to be interest in constructing pedestrian improvements as <br />part of the project. <br /> <br />City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby commented that MnDOT is now looking to close <br />gaps in local trail corridors as part of their projects to keep people off the shoulders of highways. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley commented that it would be absolutely desirable to have MnDOT fund and <br />construct the trail gap. He asked when it would be known if MnDOT were amenable to doing that, <br />Public Works Committee / September 17, 2024 <br />Page 2 of 12 <br /> <br />