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SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD AVENUE PUBLIC
Monday, August 20, 2007
6:00 p.m., Community Center, Council Chambers,
100 Pionk Drive
Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Dave Brenna; Troy Foucault; Erica Hom; Tom Lavato; Mayor Stephen Anderson
Others in attendance included John Foschi, City Administrator; John Bray, City Attorney; Jim Schulzetenberg, City/PUC Accountant; Walter Wobig, Police Chief; Greg Stoewer, LHB; Phyllis Hom; Gwen Breemeersch; Dick Kieren; Linda Erdahl; John Erdahl; Terri Siiter; Gerry Jones; Chris Davidson; Jay Boysen; Jesse Annala; Magnes & Elaine Stadler; Peter Privett; Dick Carroll; Jim Hannan; Kathy Hamski; Kathy Hannan; Bob Wilke.
Motion by Lavato, seconded by Foucault and carried: To approve the agenda as presented in packets. M-265-07-401
City Administrator read aloud into the records the following notice:
NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC MEETING
THIRD AVENUE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
City of Proctor, Minnesota
Date, time and place: Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Proctor, Minnesota (the City) will meet on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. (with regular Council meeting to follow this informational meeting), in the Proctor Community Center-100 Pionk Drive, Proctor, to discuss the options for the Third Avenue project.
General nature of the Improvement: Improvement of driving surface and surface drainage, reduction of erosion and clogging of ditches, storm sewer (buried and ditches) installation and 16th Street curve corrections, between 5th Street to 16th Street on Third Avenue (plus driving surface on 12th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues), then 16th Street to St Louis River Road (potential options include curb and gutter).
Estimated cost of the proposed Improvement:
Two plans (options) to be discussed:
1. With curb/gutter included in entire project. The total estimated project cost is $ 982,322, of which $673,082 is proposed to be assessed against benefitting property located in Proctor.
2. With curb/gutter only from 5th - 7th Streets. The total estimated project cost is $ 676,822 of which $ 426,481 is proposed to be assessed against benefitting property located in Proctor
Area proposed to be assessed: All improved benefitting properties abutting Third Avenue from 5th Street to 16th Street (including 12th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues), continuing along 16th Street to St Louis River Road.
Written or oral comments: Such persons as desire to be heard with reference to the proposed improvements will be heard at this meeting. Written and oral comments will be taken and considered at this meeting or else can be submitted in advance of hearing to City Administrator, Proctor City Hall, 100 Pionk Drive, Proctor, MN 55810 or by calling 624-3641. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessment will be available at the hearing.
Legal Authority: This is an informational meeting, so no actions could be taken towards proceeding with this project at this meeting.
Comments on the above and other community needs may be made in person at the hearing through the use of a representative or in writing submitted in advance of the meeting date to City Administrator, Proctor City Hall, 100 Pionk Drive, Proctor MN 55810, or by calling 624-3641.
By Order of the City Council of the City of Proctor, Minnesota
John M Foschi
City Administrator/City Clerk
Mayor Anderson noted this is an informational meeting, thus less formal.
It was noted Council has a recommendation to go with Option 1 - curbs and gutters on the entire project (goal to do project right the first time).
Greg Stoewer (City Engineer on this project) spoke:
noted the last Council public hearing (March 2007) and the revised studies based on public input from that meeting
since then City found out about neighbors concerns and researched them
in May he added work regarding storm water and ditching, i.e. Twelfth Street - to try to get the job done right the first time
April - he started on construction plans
June - he did Addendum #2 and #3 regarding addressing erosion along new paved road, thus still gravel shoulders. Street Committee was concerned regarding this erosion without curbs, thus they added curbs/gutters on the entire project
found one block of sewer mains not televised - found blockage of the sewer main between Sixth - Seventh Street
Public discussion (not all inclusive only notes on conversations with City Administrator):
Property owner(s):
cost shock - likes the current gravel road
whole block (Sixth - Seventh which is shown paying for new sewers and road subsurface is fixed incomes property owners) and these costs are way too much for them
Mayor Anderson:
noted potential of an income survey - LMI for a potential assessment abatement CDBG grant application
Mayor Anderson:
concerns regarding traffic speed on Third Avenue - he noted a Proctor Police speed study which showed average speed of 26 - 29 mph, fastest speed at 35 mph
asked for comments
Property owner:
how much fudge factor has City Engineer put in these costs?
Greg Stoewer:
these numbers have a 20% contingency because plans are not done yet
Mayor Anderson noted payments would be spread over a 15-year assessment. Interest would be the bonds tax exempt rate.
Property owner:
is this a go project?
when can neighborhood give input?
if doing the project do it right the first time - curb and gutter will make this project and increase property values
Mayor Anderson noted:
now is the time for property owners to speak
City could apply for CDBG assessment abatement funding (application needed before construction starts) this could delay the project into 2009 (or at least a phase of it)
City could do an income survey
project is not a go until Council has a public hearing and accepts the feasibility study for a specific option then orders the plan preparation for bidding
Property owner(s):
a slight delay in this project is not a problem - if 1-2 families can get grants it would be worth it
asked what is next?
Mayor Anderson answered the Council decides either Option 1 or Option 2, then calls for a public hearing and then orders the preparation of the plans.
Property owner:
voiced concerns regarding increased speed on the road
Chief Wobig:
noted he ran a several week speed study - it is a concern that if a nice road then cars go faster
Property owner asked has the City seen that earlier projects up the speeds on resurfaced roads?
Chief Wobig answered no, not true - traffic on new roads not always faster. Tickets would be given but not before that all are educated such as with the tour speed LED signs.
Property owner(s):
this road was gravel before, then blacktopped in 2006 (two blocks) and since blacktopped the speeds have slowed down, thus not a concern
how much wider will the road be?
Greg Stoewer answered they are not planning on widening the road - it will stay at 23 feet wide, then wider from Fifth - Seventh Streets.
Mayor Anderson mentioned it may appear wider once all mailboxes are in a line.
Property owner:
owns the property west of 16th Street curve. His driveway is at the curve
if curve is changed, then traffic will use outside curve for a drive off
Greg Stoewer:
budgeted in grassing in this outside curve area
Mayor Anderson:
this outside curve will be addressed as part of this project - this should be defined now and not later as a change order
Property owner(s):
even with a light curb there, people will drive over a curb at this curve
asked LHB regarding curbs/gutters versus none - if no curb then there would be a swale? Greg Stoewer answered yes, if no curb would need a blacktop swale (something substantial - a drop in elevation to catch the water)
how is Council going to find out what all owners want - asks that Council finds out who wants curb/gutter?
Councilor Brenna asked for a show of hands.
Option 1 (curb and gutter the entire way) - six property owners were in support of
Option 2 - one property owner was in support of
Nothing done - one property owner was in support of
Mayor Anderson and Greg Stoewer note that this sewer replacement (Sixth Street - Seventh Street sewer main) is an old pipe with lots of offset joints - service lines into the main, etc., thus not possible for spot repairs.
Property owner asked how long a project (construction time wise)?
Greg Stoewer answered he was not sure, might want to phase first two blocks then the rest of the area.
Mayor Anderson answered it depends on the work done per block.
Greg Stoewer:
in terms of time, 1 month - 6 weeks on Phase 1 (say 5th - 7th); Phase 2 (7th - 16th) also 4 - 6 weeks
Mayor Anderson noted that maybe Phase 1 & 2 could be done as two projects.
Property owner asked if it would make sense for two projects to be done at the same time to save money (such as Kirkus Street and Third Avenue)?
Greg Stoewer answered no to two such large projects saving money by being done at the same time.
At 7:00 p.m. the public hearing was closed in order to begin Council discussions.
Motion by Lavato, seconded by Foucault and carried: At 7:00 p.m. to close the Third Avenue Public Informational meeting. M-266-07-401
Motion by Hom, seconded by Brenna and carried: To call a public hearing for Third Avenue using Option 1 for October 1, 2007, 6:00 p.m. before the regular City Council meeting. M-267-07-401
Motion by Foucault, seconded by Hom and carried: To adjourn this meeting at 7:06 p.m. M-268-07-401
The foregoing is only a summary of the proceedings of the Third Avenue Public Informational meeting described above.
The complete minutes of such meeting are available in the office of the City Administrator during regular business hours of the City.
John M. Foschi
City Administrator
P.J. Sept. 13, 2007
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