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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-04-13city council minutesBook 17 Page 96 SPECIAL MEETING April 13, 1976 7:00 P.M.' The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pasley. The roll of the City Council was called with the following members present: McCloskey, Olesen, Williams, Raymond, Banks, and Bauman. Absent: none. (REQUEST FROM POLICE CHIEF) The Mayor stated that the Police Chief had requested him to bring before the City Council a request to send Officer Charles Miller to a Regional Seminar entitled "Crime Resistance in the Elderly" at Pocatello, Idaho. This was a two day seminar on April 20th and 21st. The primary purpose of the seminar was to train attending,officers to conduct similar training sessions for retired people, schools, and etc. The cost would be a maximum of $100.00. MOVED by Olesen, SECONDED by Banks that approval be given to send Officer Miller to this Seminar. MOTION CARRIED (CITY ATTORNEY LEGAL OPINION ON BID BY MR. HARRIS) The City Attorney stated that it was his opinion that the bid submitted by Mr. Boyd Harris in the amount of $72,500.00 was a legal bid. Some discussion followed in regards to the court action brought against the City by Mr. Roark. (DISCUSSION REGARDING CONDEMNATION - GENE GRAVES) The Mayor stated that he felt some consideration should be given as to how to approach the condemnation of street right of way requested by Gene Graves. The Mayor then called on the City Engineer, Mr. Lewis, to further explain. The City Engineer, Mr. Lewis, discussed the following for consideration of an agreement between Mr. Graves and the City prior to proceeding with condemnation of the right of way of the East half of Sunset Avenue from West Oak Street extended to West Maple Street extended. The purpose of the condemnation would be to provide a completed street system in the area; namely Sunset Avenue from West Ash Street to Linden Street and West Oak Street from Sunset Avenue to the end of the present right of way to the West of Sunset Avenue and West Maple Street from Sunset Avenue to the end of the existing West Maple Street West of Sunset Avenue. In order for the City to be in the most favorable position for condemnation, all of the rights of way described above should be secured such that the right of way secured by condemnation would be needed to complete the street system above described. The City in showing need for the right of way must have an assurance from Mr. Graves that the property will be developed within a stated period of time. The developments would be residential in nature and the intention to do so should be expressed in a form acceptable to the City Attorney that could be used in court. Mr. Graves' property has an area which exceeds the minimum that requires platting. In acceptance of the plat, the City would Book 17 Page 97 impose the requirements of the subdivision ordinance. These requirements would include street development, sewers, irrigation, and underground utilities. Consideration should be given to the acceptance of a preliminary plat of the property which Mr. Graves intends to subdivide prior to condemnation. Mr. Graves has assured the City that he will pay the cost of the proceedings. These costs should be detailed in an agreement. MOVED by McCloskey, SECONDED by Olesen that this action be tabled and the City Engineer put in writing the.contingencies he has developed before any definite action is taken. MOTION CARRIED The meeting was recessed for a few minutes until the people interested in the bicycle path discussion were seated. The Meeting was reconvened by the Mayor for the purpose of discussing bicycle paths. . (DISCUSSION ON BICYCLE PATHS) The Mayor stated that the school system made a survey for the City on the number of bicycles in the City of Caldwell. The survey showed 2,200 bikes in the families of children who attend Wilson School and 1,961 bicycles in the families of the children who attend Jefferson Junior High. The number of bicycles in the community as near as they could ascertain was 5,728. The Mayor said that he would like to start out by having the Police Chief show a video tape of. a proposed bike path that.was -being discussed at this time. This route included.going: down Ray Street. After the video tape presentation, the Mayor stated that he felt the City Council had three possible decisions: Will there be a bicycle path anywhere, will there be a bicycle path down the Dixie Drain, and will they approve this proposed path as shown by the Chief of Police. The Mayor then opened the Meeting to discussion from the audience and invited anyone who wished to speak to do so. Councilman McCluskey was recognized and stated that he would like to make one statement in regard to this proposed plan since he was the one who was accused of sponsoring it. Councilman McCluskey said that he had sponsored nothing. This was only a proposal or an alternative that the City Council was considering due to the fact that all of the rights of way could not be obtained on the Dixie Drain. He further said that the City Council has determined that they will take a firm stand in not purchasing rights of way. He felt that if the City would begin buying them, it would stop the further development of streets in the City of Caldwell. The Mayor recognized Boyd Cooper, who stated that he was a resident_cf Ray Street and was strongly objecting to a bike path being put on that street. This was,due to the fact that it was very narrow and if it was to be made one way it would be a tremendous inconvenience to the people living on Ray Street in making them all park on one side of the street. He felt that striping Tenth Avenue would be safer. Ned Thurston of 2111 Ray Street was recognized and also expressed his feelings against the path on Ray Street due to the narrow street and the inconvenience to those living on this street. Book 17 Page 98 Charles Shaffer was recognized. He also lived on Ray Street and stated he was in favor of bike paths, but he would like to have an explanation as to why the route was brought from Tenth Avenue over to Ray Street and then back to Tenth Avenue. Councilman McCluskey explained that there was much discussion regarding a striped bike path down Tenth Avenue and that he had done an extensive study into the safety of this. Councilman McCluskey was very strongly opposed to the striped path on Tenth Avenue as he felt it was very dangerous. That was the reason for the Dixie Drain plan and then when the easements could not all be secured, they proposed this plan of coming over to Ray Street. He was not opposed to striping on other streets, but he was for Tenth Avenue. The Mayor further explained that the striping of Tenth Avenue for a bicycle path was voted on in 1974 and was defeated. Shirley Conger was recognized and stated that the Dixie Drain plan was not a dead issue. They were working on making changes that would allow the path to go along this area without the easements being secured. This would involve contacting more property owners and it would take time. Mrs. Roehr, a teacher at Washington School, spoke in favor of considering extending the path on towards Washington School so those children would be safer. Betty Budock, who lives on Brookside Drive, stated that she felt some input should be received from the people on Canyon Hill and those near Van Buren School. She felt a decision should be delayed until this was done.. Much more discussion was held with both pro and con statements made. Don Reed spoke for the Dixie Drain route, Judy McCulloch spoke against the Dixie Drain route, and many others commented including Charleen Matheson, Mr. Hinkle, Leslie Fuller, Evelyn Reed, and Bobbie Rankin. Councilman Raymond was recognized and stated that he had done his homework by walking the Dixie Drain, riding a bike on Tenth Avenue and on Ray Street. He felt that a bike path aiong the streets was much more feasible than along the Dixie Drain as he felt the water was a safety hazard. He agreed with Councilman McCluskey regarding the safety factor of striping the path along Tenth Avenue, but he also felt that Tenth Avenue was no more dangerous than the Dixie Drain Ditch. He found no parking problem on Tenth Avenue, no additional cross streets, there was adequate width and even though it was a main thoroughfare it was still the shortest distance between Logan Street and Jefferson Junior High School. He was in favor of putting the path along the East side of Tenth Avenue with signs and no striping for the additional eight block area. Councilman Olesen was then recognized by the Mayor. He said that he felt everyone was being unfair to Councilman McCluskey in the fact that the proposed route along Ray Street was presented to get some input and suggestions from the public. He further stated that very little was being said about the economics of these bicycle paths. The last figure he had heard, with the elimination of a number of things such as the development of the beautification along the path and the elimination of the fencing, was $17,000. This was almost one mill which would be for only one and one -tenth mile of bicycle paths which does not include maintenance of the path. When he considered how many miles were included in the proposed bike paths, it was frightening to think of the eventual cost. Councilman Olesen again stated that there was three possible Book 17 Page 99 decision: any path, the proposed path, and the Dixie Drain. He felt that it was a foregone conclusion that the Dixie Drain was out for now. MOVED by Olesen, SECONDED by Raymond that anymore discussion regarding the bicycle paths along the Dixie Drain be tabled. The Mayor called for a roll call vote. Those voting yes: Olesen, Raymond, and McCloskey. Those voting no: Williams, Banks, and Bauman. Since there was a tie vote, the Mayor was required to vote and voted in favor of the motion. MOTION CARRIED MOVED by Raymond, SECONDED by Banks that the City of Coldwell establish bicycle paths from Logan Street to Linden Street on Tenth Avenue with an eight foot path on the Easterly side with signs only. Some discussion followed the motion by members of the City Council. It was felt that it was better to leave it designated as just signs for the present as it could be easily changed to stripes if this was ever decided. The question was asked as to whether the motion stated that the parking would be restricted on both sides of Tenth Avenue. The Police Chief stated that this would not present a problem on Tenth Avenue. Councilman Raymond reminded the City Council that the path running through the Golf Course was on the East side of Tenth Avenue and this was the reason for his motion stating that between Logan Street and Linden Street be on the East side of Tenth Avenue. The Mayor asked if the City Council was Councilman Olesen called for the questi The Mayor called for a roll call vote. Raymond, Banks, McCluskey, and Olesen. and Williams. ready for the question. Dn. MOTION CARRIED Those voting yes: Those voting no: Bauman, MOTION CARRIED The Mayor said that this could be accomplished at very little cost because all of the signs were in town and in stock. He further explained that the City could give this a try and if it does not work, then something else could be tried. Councilman Raymond again pointed out that the long range planning was still left open and that the Beautification Commission's work was not in vain. Councilman McCluskey expressed the hope that the Police Department would keep this under surveillance. The Police Chief was recognized and asked if it was in the motion to eliminate the parking on the East Side of Tenth Avenue. Councilman Raymond pointed out that the.Police Chief has the option of limiting parking as he sees fit for the needs of the traffic pattern on streets in the City. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M. written 20th April APPROVED AS THIS DAY OF , 1976. mayor J ATTEST City Cl