Agenda - Public Works Committee - 10/16/2007

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Chair Elvig stated the City does not know which homeowners will be impacted because the City does not have an actual road yet. He reiterated that nothing will happen before residents have a chance to say whether or not they like the plan. Ms. Peterson stated that she feels the City has been giving a mixed message on this project. Councilmember Dehen stated that everybody deserves the right to have communication about potential projects, so residents feel they have had some due process. He stated that when he was campaigning, he did hear that transportation issues were important to people. He stated that he feels something needs to be done to move traffic through the City, but doesn't know how the City should do it. He stated that the forum for this decision is meetings to get input from residents. Ms. Peterson stated that she and her husband are open to talking to the City about the necessary acquisition process involved with their property, but they are opposed to the project. Public Works Director Olson stated that the City learned through the situation with the Petersons, to try to give written notice to residents if anyone will be out on their property looking at things. Kris Gates, 7630 166th Avenue, stated that the area near the Peterson's driveway has already been dug out for the road to continue and would like to know when she would have been notified. She stated that she feels that the citizens should have been told by now about this project. She stated that she feels this is where the distrust may be coming from for City officials. She asked if all collector roads involved State money. Public Works Director Olson stated that most times the State is involved and explained the State allows for a certain number of miles to be designated as State Aid. He explained that if the roadway ended up not going through this area of town, it could be moved, with approval from the State, and the City would not necessarily lose the aid money. Chair Elvig stated that roads are put onto a phantom map and if the City does do not have State aid roads, they allow us to have an overage of a certain amount, which is designated towards future projects. He asked what Ms. Gates meant when she said that the road was dug out forthe project to continue. Ms. Peterson stated that it is the drainage and utility easement, so there is a 66 foot wide swath that has water on one side and sewer on the other, which looks like preparation for a road. Chair Elvig stated that the work that was done was only for utilities and there is no plan for a road, at this point. He reiterated that he wanted residents to be assured that there would be no road moving forward without people giving input. He stated that he understands that the City needs to communicate throughout this process. He asked that discussion move away from the lack of notification to the issue. Charles Genacy, 7751 166th Avenue, asked if his understanding was that this proj ect is on hold. Public Works Committee I September 18, 2007 Page 7 of 23