1997-09-30 Council Special meetingPage No. 1
September 30, 1997
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Special Meeting
Held on Tuesday, September 30,1997
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the City Council of Mendota
Heights, Minnesota was held at 7:30 o'clock p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota
Heights, Minnesota for the sole purpose of conducting a workshop with interested property
owners from the Bunker Hills neighborhood to consider reconstructing their streets.
Mayor Mertensotto called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M. The following members
were present: Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers Huber, Koch, Krebsbach and Smith.
There were 35 residents, two reporters and three staff members present.
BUNKER HILLS Mayor Mertentsotto opened the workshop by giving an overview
STREET of the project and answering some general questions from the
RECONSTRUCTION audience.
WORKSHOP
Civil Engineer, Marc Mogan introduced the project by showing a video
of the streets. He reviewed areas where City's street standard width
were proposed to be reduced to 25 feet to preserve trees, vegetation and
to accommodate steep slopes. He also reviewed a proposal to
reconstruct Valley Curve between Hilltop Road and Willow Lane as a
trail. Valley Curve has no homes fronting on it and would be costly to
continue to maintain as a street. One homeowner on Hilltop Court
objected, stating that she used the street for parking, another vacant lot
owner, objected stating that the road is used as much as any other in the
area.
Marc then reviewed a proposal to shift Wachtler Avenue's alignment and
reduce its width in order to preserve a large oak tree. Mrs. Schuster the
resident most affected by the shift expressed concern. The option of
removing the tree to allow realigning the street was discussed.
Marc discussed the desirability of reducing the size of the Hilltop Court
cul -de -sac. Hilltop Court is significantly larger than standard cul -de -sacs
and extends right to the edge of the right -of -way line. One resident who
lives on the cul -de -sac opposed its reduction.
Mayor Mertensotto asked for a show of hands from the audience to
determine the number of households represented at the workshop. There
were 25 households out of a neighborhood total of 74 represented.
Page No. 2
September 30, 1997
Councilmember Krebsbach made a suggestion to consider a proposal
whereby the City would contribute 1/4 of the cost toward a street overlay
project (option 3, mill and overlay). The offer was made because the
streets were so deteriorated that they could not be seal coated.
One resident expressed a concern for proceeding with any project that
would not include surface water management improvements.
Councilmember Smith stated that, based upon her tour of the
neighborhood, she had concluded that it would be appropriate for the
City to allow streets of varying width.
Mayor Mertensotto asked for a show of hands from those households
present to indicate who supported a project with curb and gutter, 80% of
those present indicated that they were for a curb and gutter project. The
possibility of completing a second mail -in survey was discussed but
rejected. Mayor Mertensotto described the Minnesota Statute 429
hearing process.
Councilmember Koch stated that she was unsure whether or not she
could support Councilmembers Krebsbach's proposal for the City to
subsidize an overlay project.
It was announced that the public hearing to formally consider this project
would be held at the October 21, 1997 City Council meeting.
ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council,
Councilmember Koch moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Councilmember Huber seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT 9:25 o'clock P.M.
Nays: 0
James E. Danielson, Public Works Director
ATTEST:
,.,X 'r RX
Charles E. Mertensotto, Mayor