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however, the majority of the traffic will go somewhere else - and some of this traffic is cut-through traffic. Some of this traffic problem will be rectified with the construction of #116. That will provide a quicker route, however, even after #116 is constructed, there will be a certain amount of internal neighborhood traffic. A good portion of the traffic will disappear. The alternatives petitioned for by the 149th Avenue residents is a cul-de- sac at 149th and Uranimite. They also suggested that the City could horseshoe 149th Avenue and 149th Lane by providing a diagonal barrier across the intersection. That would take substantial traffic off 149th Lane and Avenue but it would place that traffic somewhere else. Robert Hanson, 14960 Uranimite Street NW, stated he lives right on the comer of the suggested barrier. He is concerned about the speeding traffic problem but also expressed concern about the barrier causing a right turn only intersection which would also be a problem. Roads do not necessarily belong to neighborhoods, everyone has the right to use them. Closing off a road and redirecting traffic will not help anything. He felt that the extension of#116 will help the problem. Shifting the traffic is not a solution to the problem. He noted that the petition has 56 signatures on it but there are actually about 200 people in the area. He stated he is against the cul-de-sac and the diagonal diverters. Some alternatives would be added patrolling, maybe speed bumps and/or stop signs plus a neighborhood watch would help. He felt anything but redirecting traffic would make a difference. He understood the issue of speed being the safety of children but questioned what speed is safe enough to allow children to play on the roadside. He felt that 15 miles per hour wasn't even slow enough for that. The most important thing to do is to not allow children to pay in the streets. He submitted a petition which is attached to these minutes marked "Exhibit A". The petition was received by Councilmember Zimmerman. Councilmember Haas Steffen stated she visited the area suggested for diagonal diverters and feels it will not work as it is sending added traffic to the neighborhood with the deaf child. She noted that what is being talked about is not being advocated. This is in response to things brought up by the neighborhood. Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that she came to Ramsey in 1971. The township was not building streets for children to play on and the City is not building them for playing on now either. The streets in the 149th Avenue area are not safe for walking or biking. She suggested that trails should be discussed with the Park and Recreation Commission. She suggested also looking at moving the crosswalk up at the first entrance to Tom Thumb from the north on #56 - maybe move that down to 149th and that would hook up with Tom Thumb. Trails could be looked at for behind that area. She reiterated that children do not belong in the streets. Patty Hoffman, 7446 - 149th Avenue NW, Ramsey, asked the signers of the petition presented this evening where they have been with their suggestions for the last year and a half. She stated her group has been coming before the Council with ideas and it would have been helpful if the whole group would have been present with ideas instead of now the neighborhoods appearing to be in an us against them situation. She did not really know what the point of the petition was as the Council appears not to be in favor of a cul- de-sac anyway. The diagonal diverters were brought up as a possible solution. She Road and Bridge Committee/May 19, 1998 Page 2 of 7