09-24-2001 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCn SEP 2 4 2001 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY OF ORONO DATE: September 20,2001 ITEM NO: 2 Dcparfntenl Approval: Name Ron Moonc Title City Administrator Administrator Reviewed:.\|*cnda Section: City Administrators Report Item Description: Public I Icaring-ColTee Channel Snowmobile Access In March of 2001. when the Hennepin County Water Patrol closed the CofTee Channel to snowmobiles due to unsafe ice conditions, a large number of snowmobilcrs began using the fifteen foot wide alleyway between the properties at 1998 and 2000 Shadywood Road. In response to concerns expressed by the owners of these properties regarding safely and noise, the City Council took action to close the alleyway to snowmobiles, and directed staff to explore solutions to the snowmobile access issue. The initial solution explored was the provision of a floating bridge to provide safe access through the CofTee Channel. When staft'pursued this alternative, it was found that a floating bridge was not feasible. Other possible options for addressing the snowmobile access issue ore as follows: -Purchase properly for a wider access lane. -Widen the channel and replace the bridge with one that accommodates snowmobile access, -close the channel to snowmobilcrs -Open the alleyway to snowmobilcrs -Close the allc) w,iy to snowmobilcrs, with the exception of use by the Water Patrol The Water Patrol has requested the ability to use the alleyway, like the alleyway to be open for snowmobiling. Some residents of the area w ould The DNR has indicated the 15 foot wide alleyway located directly adjacent to two homes is not a desirable snowmobile route. The DNR is open to working with the City to determine if the acquisition of propcrt>’ for a more w orkable land route is a feasible option. There may be funding available from the DNR to assist in implementing a solution. Hennepin County Transportation has indicated the current bridge on Shady^vood Road is structurally sound and no w-ork is planned on the bridge over the next five years. The reconstruction of the bridge to widen the channel, or to accommodate snowmobile access through the channel, would not coincide with any other needs related to the maintenance or replacement of the bridge. From stair s perspective, the alleyway is not a desirable snowmobile access alternative due to noise and safety concerns. However, the alleyway should be made available for use by the Water patrol. This could be accomplished by installing a gate across the alleyway, with a lock to which the Water Patrol has a key. The long term solution to the access issue will most likely involve the acquisition of land for a wider, less intrusive trail right-of-way, since the widening of the channel and the building of a new bridge to accommodate snowmobile access through the channel currently would be on a very long timeline.