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<br />City Council :Minutes <br />November 20, 2006 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />suffer. He further expressed concern with the safety of pedestrians crossing Highway 10 and <br />doesn't want the city to rely on the parking lots across the highway. <br /> <br />Councilmember Gumphrey concurred with Council.member Farber. He stated he would like <br />to see the timeline accelerated and the parking across from Highway 10 taken out of the <br />equation. <br /> <br />Chief Beahen stated the city is looking at pedestrian crossing improvements with the state <br />but there have been issues with the railroad crossing located nearby. He stated safety <br />concerns with pedestrians crossing the highway and noted that state highways are not <br />intended to have pedestrian traffic. He stated a pedestrian crossing would help but is costly <br />and suggested creating additional parking on the west side of downtown. <br /> <br />Councilmember Motin stated he has no issues with the timeline. He stated a ramp may be <br />needed in the future but the city needs to find the funds to build a ramp and he is not in <br />favor of a ramp unless some of the cost can be assessed to downtown property owners. He <br />stated there are enforcement issues with employee parking because downtown business <br />owners don't want the city to enforce parking regulations. Council.member Motin stated <br />there are too many unknowns at this time to know how to resolve future parking issues. He <br />stated concerns with rushing to turn existing buildings into parking lots when the city may <br />want to continue with redevelopment. <br /> <br />Council.member Dietz stated he doesn't object to spending some funds to make pedestrian <br />crossing safe on Highway 10. He questioned if Mn/DOT would be willing to cost <br />participate for funding. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Chief Beahen stated he was unsure if Mn/DOT would assist with any funding. He stated <br />Mn/DOT is trying to eliminate crossings on highways. <br /> <br />Keith Holme, property owner of Kemper Drug-Stated safety concerns with pedestrians <br />crossing the highway. He started that during the winter snow builds up on the sidewalks and <br />there is no where for pedestrians to safely wait for traffic except on the highway. He <br />requested to be on the task force. <br /> <br />Tom Robertson 9956 153rd Avenue-Suggested the city install a pedestrian bridge. <br /> <br />Mayor Klinzing stated a pedestrian bridge creates issues with the disabilities act, funding, <br />and possible changes with the realignment of Highway 10. <br /> <br />ChiefBeahen stated the snow buildup along the highway is a concern and it would be <br />difficult for the city to keep up with cleaning up after Mn/DOT plows through each time. <br /> <br />HRA Commissioner Larry Toth volunteered to serve on the Advisory Focus Group as the <br />HRA representative. <br /> <br />Council.member Farber stated he would like the solution portion for future parking issues <br />moved up whether they are acted upon or not. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY <br />COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY FOCUS <br />GROUP, CONSISTING OF EXISTING DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS, <br />REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEW REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND <br />