03/28/05 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Meeting March 28, 2005 Ms. Brot said there was an item in this proposal relating to numbers which said something about replacing existing improvements and she asked for an explanation. Then she asked if there is a timeframe on this money and whether it must be used by a certain time and she was advised yes. Her concern is that the Advisory Board for Economic Development has recommended an international district. She would like to see the Council think of this as a “whole project” with everything going together with one theme, so that this is a wonderful place to shop, to eat and to live in. She asked if these funds needed to be spent before the Council had the opportunity to debate what is absolutely wanted on Olive? Mr. Ollendorff said they were trying to carry out the standards from the Olive Enhancement for every single development that takes place. Everybody puts in the same lights, the same landscaping, the same sidewalks. This is the standard to be followed and the City will insist that future developers carry out this theme and standards. Ms. Brot said the sidewalks were widened in the Loop and in the East Loop and suggested that it might be a good idea to make a few blocks, perhaps from 170 to North and South, more of a walking area. She asked if it could be done later and was advised no, that at this point the plan for sidewalks, lights, bus shelters, landscaping, and walls have been approved by the Council and the State approved it a couple of years ago. Minds cannot be changed at this time. The standards developed by the consultant and approved by the Council are excellent ones. Ms. Brot asked when the money needed to be used, and Mr. Ollendorff said the contract had to be awarded this month and he believed the funds needed to be used by the fall, but he would have to check. Ms. Brot then asked what existing improvements will be removed. Mr. Ollendorff said he would provide a schedule, an insert to the existing improvements question, because he does not know the answer. Ms. Brot then asked about dead trees and whether they had been replaced. He said he would find out and would report. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Ollendorff commented on Ms. Brot’s question about standards. He said the standards approved by the Council, for example a specific street light standard, and every time there is a development proposal along Olive, that standard becomes a condition attached for the developer. Not only does the City receive two million dollars worth of improvements from these two grants, but the gaps in between will be filled piece-by-piece as each development takes place and as long as the Council does not delete some of our conditions. Ms. Brot commented that it sounds like there is overall plan that is in place but she obviously wasn’t part of those decisions. Mr. Ollendorff said it would have been from two to two and one-half years ago that these decisions were made. Mr. Ollendorff added that Federal projects take forever. Page 14