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<br />Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan stated Interim City Administrator Nelson 1S <br />present to provide an update on the median study and upcoming meetings. <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Nelson informed the Board that on June 26, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. County <br />Officials will be present at the Council work session to discuss the Sunfish Lake Boulevard <br />reconstruction project. The project is on-line for 2008. Ms. Nelson stated there has been <br />tremendous discussion about the median closure proposed along Sunfish Lake Boulevard and the <br />concern among the business community. Approximately six weeks ago the County hosted an <br />open house at the City where business owners expressed concern to the County about the median <br />closure. Before a final decision is made about the design staff feels it is important for the City to <br />sit down with the County and try to work through some of the issues. It would be appropriate for <br />EDA members to attend the work session, and it would be a good time for the EDA to express <br />concern as a body about the impacts to local businesses. From the County perspective, this is <br />looked at from a traffic efficiency and public safety standpoint. They want to build a road that <br />gets the most traffic flow and reduces the public safety impacts to the greatest amount possible. <br />Ms. Nelson stated information from Landmark Bank regarding the impact at Bunker Lake <br />Boulevard has been forwarded to staff. It could be considered whether Bunker Lake Boulevard <br />could be used as a case study in relation to median closures. <br /> <br />Chairperson Riley stressed the impact from the median closures. He asked if there is any <br />openness from the County to make changes in relation to the closures. Interim City <br />Administrator Nelson replied if change is to happen it will likely come via elected officials to <br />staff. <br /> <br />Member Strommen suggested research on how other areas have addressed this problem in terms <br />of design and traffic flow. She noted in San Diego there are medians everywhere with specific <br />places to u-turn into businesses. However, in this area they are not necessarily used to that type <br />of traffic flow. There may be options available to be proactive and come up with alternatives to <br />address these issues. Member Elvig concurred. He stated if it is going to be promoted to people <br />to make u-turns the roads need to be built so that it is comfortable to do so. <br /> <br />Chairperson Riley asked if the affected properties have been made aware of the June 26th work <br />session. Interim City Administrator Nelson indicated staff will verify that there has been <br />notification. Member Steffen suggested the properties affected by the CR 116 / Highway 47 <br />median closure be notified of the meeting, since that median closure is a potential case study. <br /> <br />Member Elvig suggested staff compile information on the CR 116 businesses, including sales tax <br />records this year versus the two previous years. Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan <br />noted the businesses would likely be willing to work with the City to provide this type of <br />information. He contacted the Snyder's Corporation and they had indicated the store's business <br />had been increasing up until the median came in and then it just fell off. The median closure was <br />cited as the reason for closing the store. The person he talked to said they potentially could <br />provide sales records showing what happened on the date the median went in, and how the <br />business declined. <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority/ June 14, 2007 <br />Page 3 of7 <br />