02-27-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 27, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. (S. NAVARRE COMMUNITYINITIATIVE UPDATE, Continued) Once the responses from the Navarre business community are received, the committee should be in a better position to consider one or more initial projects to be pursued. Staff would like approval from the City Council to send the letter and questionnaire to the Navarre business community. - Ralph Kempf, 3675 Togo Road, thanked the City Council for allowing Mike Gaffron to serve as the city liaison on their committee. The committee is still in the formative stages and it is still evolving. Before the committee began its work, Kempf indicated he came before the City Council advocating a number of possible improvements to the Navarre area, including a direct connection between the Dakota Trail and the Navarre business district. Kempf stated in the discussions of the committee, they came to the conclusion that each of the committee members has their own perspective on what the vision for Navarre should be and what improvements should be made to the area. Input from the community is very important to the committee and they appreciate the efforts of Mike Gaffron in that regard. L� Kempf stated he personally has some items that he would like to keep advocating for the City of Navarre regardless of the committee's position on them, and one of his interests is to see -a direct and safe connection between the Dakota Rail Trail and the Navarre business community. According to the Metropolitan Council, in 2010 they estimated that 75 percent of all visits to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail, which is 272,925 visits to the trail, use the portion of the trail between County Road 51 in Orono and County Road 51 in Spring Park. Whether or not the committee deems that as something they would • like to pursue, Kempf indicated he would still like some type of avenue available to him to approach the Council to discuss issues similar to that. Kempf stated he does not have an objection to being occasionally invited to a work session, but that he would like to continue that type of communication with the Council. Kempf stated he does have a short laundry list of items for Navarre that he would like to see accomplished and that he has a vision of Navarre as a pedestrian and bike safety zone with safety islands in the crosswalks. Kempf noted he and another gentleman are willing to sponsor a bike rack for the Navarre Park and that he would like to work with Staff on that item. In addition, Kempf stated he would like the City to designate approximately a half dozen parking stalls in the city -owned parking lot for people who would like to utilize the trail. Kempf stated in his view that would help alleviate some of the parking in the residential areas and would help invite people into the Navarre business community. Kempf noted he visited Excelsior and took a number of pictures showing their pedestrian friendly amenities. Excelsior has planters, trees, and benches on the sidewalks. Kempf stated his vision for Navarre would be that there will be benches, bike racks, and places that invite people to get out of their cars and remain as pedestrians for a while in the Navarre community. Kempf encouraged the City Council to once again review the 2005 study that the City of Orono had completed for the Navarre area. Kempf commented that plan is a good blueprint for the future of Navarre and that small portions of the plan can be implemented over time. Rahn indicated he is fine with the letter being sent out. • McMillan asked if a date should be added for when the responses should be sent back. Page 6 of 17