November 30, 2006 at 6:47 a.m.
New #95 bridge gets ‘municipal consent’ to move project toward 2009 completion
New #95 bridge gets ‘municipal consent’ to move project toward 2009 completion
With this resolution North Branch Council is also agreeing to cooperate with involved parties based on a memorandum of understanding that spells out project cost percentages divided among the federal government, city, county and state.
Over this winter the next step is selecting consulting engineers; but the city’s engineering firm representative Becky Hayden, of WSB, cautioned that the U.S. Senate still has to enact a modification bill and finalize future federal appropriations on projects. This High Priority Project Funding (HPP) is $6.7 million, so this is a major part of what is a $14 million project.
Once this senate action is taken, the design and right-of-way steps begin.
Final design approval will come in summer 2007. Construction would begin fall of 2007. This is scheduled as a two-year construction project.
Hayden explained the cost-sharing is divided out on contributing roads and traffic origination, so the main lights at the interchange, because they are on a state highway, are funded by the state. New construction and lights at any city street intersections are city costs, or shared. The county is involved where County Road 68 is being widened and improved and a new lighted intersection will be installed west of where the main Tanger Mall intersection now sits. The details of this overall project are so complex, Hayden added, that there will be two full-time project managers during the busy stages.
The assessment roll of about $146,000 for the MarketPlace improvements was also adopted. The Market Place developer will be fully assessed for these projects. Market Place is a major commercial/retail project being built in the northwest corner of this interchange.
In other business, the city council certified delinquent sewer and water bills of $29, 985. This will be put on tax bills for 2007.
City Administrator Bridgitte Konrad mentioned this year’s delinquent list is about twice the size it usually is.
North Branch Cinema racked up multiple false alarms in 2005 and the city had not gotten payment on the fees due, so staff was recommending to certify about $2,100 to the movie theatre taxes for 2007.
Council heard an appeal from the theatre owner who said the false alarms were due to construction- remodeling crews. He added he didn’t know why there had not been better communications between his manager and the city on the growing false alarm surcharges.
Council agreed to cut the amount due in half, due to the construction chaos, but the fee must be paid by the end of this week. The vote was 4-1 with Council member Amy Oehlers voting no.
Under North Branch’s ordinance a residential or commercial property is allowed three false alarms in a year. After that each false alarm response by police and fire are charged at $100 for the first and an additional $100 subsequent.
Council approved a purchase of about $20,000 for a police car, which doesn’t get delivered for a few months yet.
Chief Steve Forner was also asked by Council member Theresa Furman about hours being put in by patrol officers. Forner agreed that there has been a need to work some officers extensively-- some for 12 hours daily for many days at a stretch and it hasn’t been ideal. With the addition of Officer Engebretson there should be some relief. Forner also offered to talk with Sheriff Todd Rivard about using contracted deputy time to fill hours if necessary; but the city administrator advised that use of outside personnel might first need to be reviewed in relation to the union contract.
The council voted unanimously on two actions that have seen lengthy discussion over the last few months. The ESSBY redevelopment area will have “Living Unit” zones as an amendment to the Land Use Guide Plan. The ESSBY areas on either side of the Goodview Avenue extension were also rezoned to allow for housing, LU 1 and LU 2. The total units will not exceed 360. The maximum number of housing units built in any year is capped at 50.
Council member Oehlers thanked staff and the planning commission for their “extra work” in addressing resident and council concerns about the housing issues within this ESSBY site.
Alan Cottingham, city planner, asked council for a vote to “reaffirm” the city’s commitment to work with GMHF on a $1 million mortgage underwriting program and this vote was 4-1, Oehlers voting no.
The Valez Acres plat was approved 4-1 with Council member Kathy Blomquist opposed. Blomquist sought restrictions on use of the new lots adjacent to Mud Lake, as they lie within the city’s conceptual wildlife and open space corridor. Council felt the existing Shoreland Management Code was good enough.
A summary and findings was presented by Patrick Kelly of Kelly and Fawcett Law Firm on a civil rights complaint. The city was accused a few months ago of “unequal” application of zoning code. The Maldanado family submitted the complaint.
Kelly and his associate report the city needs to do some more training on property access issues and the city’s documentation of complaints and inspection and remedy follow-up should be improved. Mayor Gloria Karsky placed this on the January council work session.
Kelly emphatically stated the complaint as submitted-- that the city was treating one property owner substantially different or outside of what is legally required-- had no basis.
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