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) Mayor did not request it sooner. Franchot stated in his view the public input has been more than adequate and that the City Council and Staff have met frequently with the School District. Franchot commented it is easy to pick pieces of the project out and complain about them, but as a whole the project stands on its own, is reasonable, and has been vetted very well. Franchot stated he understands that Printup and McMillan have never been supportive of the project, but that in his view this is a well thought out, well considered, and financially prudent plan that would replace a deteriorated road with a better functioning design that will last for 40 to 50 years. Franchot stated in his view the Council should move forward with the agenda item. Franchot noted there is a motion on the floor but that he is hopeful it will be defeated and that the Council can then move forward with a motion to go out for bids. McMillan noted the third roundabout came about towards the end of January and that she did overlook holding an open house at that time. The feasibility study had a 4 -foot median as an option. This project has been a work in progress and that there has been time pressures due to the limited construction season. McMillan commented that if she could do it over again, she,would have had a public hearing in October and a second one earlier this year. McMillan commented that it was better to have one than not at all. • Franchot stated as it relates to the comments received at the open house, there were two or three that were • strongly opposed, several that had comments of the nature that they hoped the City would have a connecting trail, and three or four that were quite positive about the plan. Franchot stated the public commentary that was offered was, at worst, split, and in actuality fairly positive. Kellogg noted the feasibility study offered two options for the median and the City Council in October directed Staff to design a wider median not to exceed 12 feet in width. McMillan noted the Council did discuss alternative median sizes. At the meeting with the school board on January 21", there was a discussion about adding the third roundabout and that she suggested at that time the width of the median be narrowed in an effort to reduce costs. The school board's consultant thought that was reasonable. McMillan commented she felt that was a direction that the Council could have pursued in order to alleviate some of the costs. Franchot stated it was his understanding that it was determined that a 4 -foot median was at least as much money as a landscaped median. McMillan stated the 4 -foot concrete median had 800 feet of cabling included in it and it was not really comparing apples to apples. Bremer requested the motion be voted on. Bremer indicated her comments have been consistent throughout this process and that she would let them stand. VOTE: Ayes 2, Nays 3, Franchot, Bremer and Rahn Opposed. MOTION FAILED. • Page 20 of 30