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City Council Minutes <br />May 18, 2020 <br />Page 8 <br />Councilmember Westgaard questioned if CSAH 12 could be reduced to a mill and <br />overlay project to help the city get through its major road projects and budget <br />impacts over the next 15 years. <br />Mr. Roedel stated CSAH 12 started as a mill and overlay but in 2018 morphed into a <br />larger project based on past discussions. He stated it could be scaled back, but the <br />current safety concerns would remain. <br />Mayor Dietz referenced a letter in the staff report received from resident Donita <br />Grell and noted he agreed with many of her points. He stated the left turn onto Tyler <br />Street will become a U-turn for Hillside Park users and is not a benefit to the city. He <br />doesn't like the location of the roundabout given it will allow a legal U-turn to Trott <br />Brook Parkway. He questioned who would drive further to the roundabout when a <br />U-turn could be completed sooner at Trott Brook Parkway. He concurred with <br />Councilmember Westgaard regarding scaling the project to a mill and overlay. He <br />stated he would not be voting to have the city spend over $1 million from the <br />pavement management fund for this project because those funds are earmarked for <br />several years. He stated the signal lights will be a vast improvement. <br />Councilmember Christianson asked if it is typical for counties to have cost sharing <br />policies. <br />Mr. Roedel stated county policy is in line with other county policies. He stated there <br />haven't been major projects in Elk River on an urban roadway, noting this is a <br />different type of project as the road is being built to an urban standard with inclusion <br />of items such as curb and gutter; therefore, the cost participation comes into play. <br />He stated there will most likely be drivers making U-turns at Tyler Street but a driver <br />making a left turn at Tyler Street without a left -turn lane would not be protected <br />from a rear -end collision. <br />Mr. Femrite stated back in 2017 the county updated their policy and were reviewed <br />by the city. He noted the county made changes to the cost participation portion of <br />the policy at city request to be less of a burden than originally proposed. He stated, <br />since joining the city in 2010, the county has not asked for any cost participation on <br />any of their road projects. He stated the city has not budgeted for county road <br />project participation because it was never asked for funds and previous county staff <br />wasn't following their own policies. <br />Councilmember Ovall stated the city had a great plan with franchise fees but now it <br />is an issue and suddenly needs to be evaluated. He questioned why the city is now <br />having a rash of projects needed now. <br />Mr. Femrite stated this is a larger discussion for the city capital planning process. He <br />stated other funding options, besides franchise fees, should be considered as well. <br />NXATURE <br />