Centerville Tidbits
Transportation Funding Resolution Approved
At its regularly-scheduled meeting of February 14, the Centerville City Council approved a resolution requesting a comprehensive transportation funding package from the state legislature. The resolution requests an "initiative that permanently increases dedicated funding for state and local road and transit systems in Greater Minnesota and the Metropolitan Area."
While council members Jeff Paar and Tom Lee voted against, Mayor Mary Capra and Council Members Michelle Lakso and Linda Broussard Vickers supported the measure. Paar vowed not to support the resolution unless all language regarding the possibility of increasing taxes for transportation funding was taken out.
A Park By Any Other Name.
The official naming of the new park located on Centerville Lake at 1601 LaMotte Drive was tabled until a later council meeting.
The Parks and Recreation Committee had unanimously voted to name the park "Hidden Spring Park," but council members expressed concern about the name since it implies that a spring is actually located - and will continue to flow - on park property. Whether the spring can be incorporated into the park design remains to be determined.
Maintenance Policies Approved
The council also approved policies codifying sidewalk/trail inspection, pothole repair, and street sweeping practices to clarify current practices by making them city policy.
City Administrator Dallas Larson told The Citizen that significant changes shouldn't result from the approval of these policies.
"It puts in writing what's already being done to provide some clarity to it," he said. "When and how we plow snow is very much the same as it was before."
Jon and Ladine Krueger expressed concerns that they might be required to pay for repairing the dilapidated stretch of sidewalk abutting their property. They contended that being forced to pay for the repairs would be unfair, as the sidewalks were in poor condition before they moved into their residence.
In other action, the Council:
. Approved the Anoka County Integrated Waste Management Agreement for the 2007 Residential Recycling Program. The agreement will provide Centerville with $15,659 to continue to
develop and promote residential recycling.. Approved the adoption of the Anoka County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Anoka County's 911 Communication Manager John Tonding presented the plan.
. Dedicated land parcels adjacent to Anoka County Road 14 to the county for purposes of highway reconstruction and assigned custodianship of various easements to the county for the duration of the project. Compensation will be in accordance with the Joint Powers Agreement.
. Authorized a feasibility study by the city's engineer in the amount of $10,946 to address the possible relocation of major utilities presently located along Main Street to a different corridor in light of the city's proposed downtown redevelopment project.
. Ordered the improvement of Fairview Street between 20th Avenue and a point approximately 800 feet east of 20th Avenue, to include construction of paving, curb, and related drainage improvements. A feasibility study estimated the cost of such improvements at $282,673. The project will be assessed against adjoining property owners.
. Named Suzanne Seeley as Chairperson and Kevin Amundson as Vice-Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee for 2007.
. Approved the usage of the LaMotte Memorial Park Ball Fields by the Centerville Lakes Little League during evening hours from April 1 through August 15, 2007.
. Retained Ehlers and Associates as the city's downtown redevelopment financial consultants.
. Tabled adoption of the 2007 Fee Schedule pending further review by city staff.
. Scheduled for March 21 at 6:30 p.m. a meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board and the Parks and Recreation Committee to discuss Joint Goals and Objectives for 2007.
. Scheduled a public hearing for March 14 to consider the vacation of a portion of Westview Street. According to staff, although Westview was vacated a number of years ago, the vacation was never filed with the county.