31^ST STREET STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

MINUTES

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2008

Location:       City Hall

Purpose:        Introduction of project

                        Provide information to Steering Committee

Michael Caron Eric Struckoff Brad Finkeldei

Paul Phelps Steve Glass Tom Mulinazzi

Karen Heeb Corky Armstrong

Beth Johnson Sue Hack

Committee

Attendees

Others/        

Keith Browning Mark Hecker

Mike Novak Justin Klaudt

Chuck Soules Shoeb Uddin

Ric Johnson Todd Girdler

Staff              

Ric Johnson summarized several options on alignment including general discussion of: 

• Typical section – two lane roadway using 11’ lanes with shoulder
• Speed – horizontal/vertical alignment can to some extent control speed; what speeds does the community want inside city limits (45/55 mph) and in county
• Bike lanes versus bike routes
• Stormwater – how to handle and capture stormwater runoff, i.e. collection system and curb and gutter or open ditches and bio swales

Steve Glass felt curb and gutter was necessary and city policy. 

Corkey Armstrong provided if curb and gutter was installed there may need to be a turtle fence installed to keep turtles from getting stuck between the curb and gutter.

Karen Heeb did not like the Southern alignment that divided several properties/crops and pastures.  She preferred an alignment to the North of the current 31^st Street (E 1300 Road).  The existing road would become a frontage road to access the homes on the South side and access to E 1300 Road from the frontage road at ½ mile.  Joe Baker would need to be contacted about restrictions on the O’Connell Youth Ranch. 

Michael Caron expressed concerns that this will become an alternative to 23^rd Street and a straight alignment would run speeding traffic right to the wetlands.

Eric Struckoff preferred a curvilinear alignment.  This is a gateway to the Wetlands and Lawrence. 

There was consensus among the majority of the committee members a multiuse path would be preferred to bike lanes.

• Curvilinear alignment east of O’Connell and North of existing road
• Two lanes with shoulders, open ditches and medians

On July 25, 2008 City Staff and Wilson & Company met with a few members of the O’Connell Youth Ranch Board.  They were receptive to the project.  The property was donated with specific conditions/restrictions that the land cannot be sold.  However the members that we talked to seemed agreeable to a friendly condemnation process.  The full Board would need to discuss the issue further if/when we had more firm plans; however they were open to project.

The next meeting will be Friday, October 31, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., in the City Commission Room.