04-11-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 11, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. • (8. • OLD CRYSTAL BAYROAD RECONSTRUCTIONPLANAND SPECIFICATION APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE, Continued) during a street's life cycle, renovation costs increase quickly if maintenance activities are delayed too long. Streets that receive no maintenance are often beyond repair in just 10 years, while streets that are properly maintained in the life cycle can last 25 years or more. Lavang questioned what those streets will look like in 2016 if the City is going to delay improvements for another five years. In addition, the City's community management plan under transportation states that Orono Orchard Road, Brown Road, Willow Drive, and Old Crystal Bay Road are primarily located in the rural area and serve a dual function as collector and local streets. Discouraging expansion of their use by nonlocal traffic will help to preserve the rural character of the area while enhancing safety. Lavang stated Old Crystal Bay Road is a rural road and what the Council is proposing is not in keeping with a rural road. McMillan closed the meeting to public comments at 8:49 p.m. Printup commented this has been a tough issue and that emotion comes into play when the safety of children is being discussed. It appears that much of the help needed occurs at the pickup and drop -offs at the school. It was also very clear that much of the traffic problems may only be helped by a new road with three roundabouts, a landscaped median and replacement of utilities. The vehicles will still likely stack and the pickup and drop -off times would still probably be pretty long and frustrating. • Printup commented he looks at the project and would like it. Printup indicated he attended Orono schools from kindergarten and eventually graduated from Orono High School. The new road would be beautiful and help with the security and safety, but that he cannot look people in the eye and tell them that we need all of this. Printup stated they do not need it but rather want it. This project will consist of $250,000 in lights, $100,000 in landscaping, $30,000 plus in irrigation and water in the middle of the street, $20,000 of ongoing maintenance, and replacing utilities in a road that might not even be necessary. The feasibility study simply points out the suggested improvements of it. The City is proposing to spend $3.3 million for a road that is only heavily used a few months of the year and spending that type of money is not prudent. Printup stated the issue comes down to pickup and drop - off times ad considering the umber od days school is in session, use comes down to about 2.5% for the entire year. Printup pointed out there are lots of streets in Orono that need to be improved and maintained. There are also lots of streets that are privately maintained. This project would put on hold other projects that are traveled heavily year- round. Printup stated he can understand the school's interest in the project, but it is not a road that is traveled by the residents. Government needs to take a good look at each tax dollar spent and get the biggest bang for each dollar spent. The City's priorities should not be the $3.3 million for one road but rather the City Council should be looking very hard at each road that needs repair with the same type of frugality exercised in people's homes. Printup continued that Orono has a AAA bond rating because of its spending restraints and not because the City is going to put all of their eggs in one basket. There is no such thing as free money. Printup stated unfortunately half of the discussion regarding this project took place with the previous council that • had a different philosophy. Additional discussions have incurred costs, but also brought about an open house that allowed people to have a voice. Page 17 of 30