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<br />City Council J'v1inutes <br />December 6, 2004 <br /> <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />order to accomplish the vacation of these rights-of-way. She stated that Ed Barder (Olde <br />Main Eatery) and Steve Johnson (Antiques property) have indicated that they would sign as <br />well but they are waiting for minor revisions to be made to the quit claim deeds. Ms. <br />Mehelich indicated that the title company has directed the city to acquire the reversionary <br />interests from the dedicators of the original plat and the only way to do tl1is is to proceed <br />with eminent domain for the strip along the north side of Highway 10. She noted that the <br />Barder,Johnson, and Lenzmeier (former Houlton building), properties have also been <br />included as a potential for needing to condemn in case staff is not able to collect the quit <br />claim deeds from these property owners. <br /> <br />MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY <br />COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 04-100 <br />AUTHORIZING EMINENT DOMAIN AND ACQUISITION OF REAL <br />PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH MINN. STAT. 9117.042 FOR THE <br />DOWNTOWN PHASE 1 TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NO. 22 <br />AND TO CLEAR TITLE TO AN EXISTING CITY STREET. MOTION <br />CARRIED 5-0. <br /> <br />4.2.C. Discuss Right Turn Lane to Parrish Avenue from Main Street <br /> <br />Director of Planning Michele McPherson stated that one of the items noted in the <br />discussion of the Bluff Block preliminary plat was the transportation challenges on Main <br />Street, specifically in regards to a right turn lane from Main Street onto Parrish Avenue. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dietz indicated that concerns were raised regarding transportation in this <br />area when the median was constmcted near the Main Street/Parrish Avenue intersection. <br />Councilmember Dietz stated that he would like Council direction on whether or not they <br />would like to see a right turn lane from Main Street onto Parrish or if they would rather <br />keep the current parking stalls. <br /> <br />City Engineer Terry Maurer stated that the downtown improvement and this turn lane are <br />two separate issues. He stated that the city owns enough right-of-way to construct the turn <br />lane at any time. Mr. Maurer suggested waiting until after the downtown project is complete. <br />Mr. Maurer noted that the turn lane would be short and would only allow vehicles to turn <br />when the traffic on Main Street is not backed up from other conditions such as trains or the <br />traffic light at Highway 10. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kuester inquired if this would help the emergency fire vehicles traveling to <br />Otsego. Mr. Maurer stated that he spoke to Fire Chid Bmce West and he indicated that <br />most emergency vehicles going to Otsego would take Highway 10 to Highway 101 due to <br />the unpredictability of the downtown traffic congestion. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kuester stated that one of the goals with the downtown project was to <br />make it more pedestrian friendly and that she believes this turn lane would be contrary to <br />this goal. <br /> <br />Councilmember Tveite stated that he agrees with Councilmember Kuester that the right <br />turn lane would make the pedestrian issues worse. He also stated that this portion of <br />downtown may need the parking stalls that would be removed with the constmction of a <br />turn lane. Councilmember Tveite indicated that he would like to hold off on the turn lane <br />until after the downtown project is completed. <br />