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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-25-196255 & Record of Official Proceedings of the Common. Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., January 95, 1962 OSWALD PUBLISHING CO.. NEW ULM. MINN A3528 Minutes of a•special meeting of the.Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minnesota held in the Council. Chambers in the City Hall, in said City,. on January 25, 1962. President Tingley called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P. M., the following members being present: President Tingley, Aldermen DeVries,' Leonard, Morris, Stadler, Wilkus, Wilson. The call of the special meeting was read and President Tingley ordered the same placed ,on file, the said meeting.having been.called for the purpose of (1) considering and approving the street construction program for 1962,-including plans and details,of assessments and (2) considering granting of additional taxicabs, length of franchises, etc. and any other business the said Common Council may deem proper. The following recommendation of the Public Works Committee was again read: "Honorable Mayor & Common Council City of Rochester, Minnesota Gentlemen: • We recommend the following streets and bridges for the Major Street Improvement" Program 'for 1962, ' The Council's consideration and approval is requested so that we may be authorized to proceed with the preliminary plans and scheduling. Proposed roadway width and pavement type for each project will be subsequently submitted for Council approval before detailed plans are started. Item #1 is a carry-over from 1961, and has been previously approved. .1. Paving 16th Ave. N.W. and S.W. from 2nd St. N.W. to 2nd St. B.W. 2. Widen and pave 4th Ave. S.W. from West Center St. to 6th St. S.W. 3. Widen and pave 6th St. S.W. from 2nd Ave. S. W. to 4th Ave. S. W. 4. Widen and pave 3rd Ave. S.W. from 5th St. S.W. to 6th St. S. W. 5. Widen and pave 2nd St. S. W. from 3rd Ave. S.W. to 240 feet west of 4th Ave. S. W. 6. Widen and pave'3rd Ave. S.E. from 4th St. S.E. to 12th St. S. E. 7. Replace bridge on 6'th St. S.E. over Bear Creek. Respectfully, /s FRANK J. WILKUS, Chairman Public Workd /s HUOLD DE VRIES Committee -Is JAMES R.. WI•LSON". C. A. Armstrong, City Engineer, explained that all of the items except No. l*aving 16th Avenue N. W. and S. W. from 2nd.St. N. W. to 2nd St. S.W.)and item No. 7 (JCeplace bridge on 6th.St. S. E. over Bear Creek) were included in the last bond issue; he said that item #1 could be financed by assessments and state aid-money'and item #7 could be financed out of the Bridge Fund. -When asked if the work on 16th Avenue could be proceeded with, R. V., Ehrick explained that the case of Kennedy Cabins against the City was now on the calendar,•there was never any formal dedication of the west of 16th Avenue between 2nd Street.and 1st Street S:W. and although it has been used as a street Mr. Hopfenspirger, on behalf of the owner of Kennedy cabins, has instituted this law suit seeiking damages from the City. Mr. Ehrick said it was his contention that this is a public street. He said Mr. -Marion Schleiff has also instituted actionfor the same thing. A motion was made by Wilkus, second by Wilson, that the recommendation of the Public Works Committee be approved -and all voting in favor thereof, President Tingley declared the motion carried and the recommendation approved. The following recommendation from C. A. Armstrong, City Engineer was then read: 1 • 11 1 n �J Record. of: Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., -January 25, 1962 1 r� X • 1 r� 1 "Honorable Mayor & Common Council City of Rochester, Minnesota Gentlemen: I am submitting for your consideration and approval or revision our proposed raodway widths on 4th Ave. S. W. from West Center Street to 6th Street S. W. 4th Ave. S.W. (a) Center St. to 1st, St. S.W. - proposed roadway, 49 feet, no change from present width. (b) 1st St. S.W. to 2nd St. S.W.,- widen roadway front, 37 to 44 feet. No change on west curb. Widen east curb 7 feet and rebuild sidewalk on 33 foot line, approximately 8' east of present location. This will still be well within the 37� ft. right-of-way line, but will use 8 feet of the right of way presently used as side yard for the reisdences and Episcopal ?. Church yard in this block. (c) 2nd St. S.W. to 3rd St. S.W. - widen roadway from 37 to 44 feet. .No change on west curb except along side of Baptist Church where present parking bay wi•11 be discontinued. Widen east curb from 15 to 22 feet. Sidewalk on east side has been rebuilt. (d) 3rd to 4th St, S.W.: The roadway in this block is 44' wide and no change or construction is planned here. (e) 4th to 5th St. S.W. Proposed roadway 40 feet wide, 20 feet on each side of center line. This will require moving both the curb and the sidewalk on the east side to a point 5� feet east of their present locations; and the sidewalk will occupy the westerly 5 feet of what appears to be the yards of the property here. It will still be, however, 6k feet within the actual right of way of the street. (f) 5th to 6th St. S.W. Proposed roadway 40' wide, 20 feet on each side of center line., This will require widening the curbs on both side 5 feet from their present location. The sidewalk on the west side will.not be changed. The sidewalk on the east side will have to be rebuilt 5k feet farther east than it is now located. This will also occupy the westerly 5k feet of what appears to be the front yards of the houses in this block, but is still 6h feet within the right of way line. ..Several of the houses in this block are right on the right of way line (37k feet from center line). Determination and approval of roadway width -is the -essential to any further work on plans, and because of the special problem on the east side of 4th Avenue in this project,. I am bringing it particularly to your attendtion. Yours truly, /s C. A. ARMSTRONG, City Engineer'. Mr, Fred Reed, a member of the Vestry of the Eqpiscopal Church, was present in regard to item (b), heexplained that the church had a door on the west side,of the building that opened right on to the street'and he requested that the sidewalk be kept 3 feet fromthe door or building, he said they were in favor of widening the street but would like the boulevard narrowed. C. A•. Armstrong stated that if 4th Avenue were widened as recommended it would mean.that�the sidewalk would come up to the church if a•boulevard were allowed but he said they could put the concrete right out to the curb which would allow 3-feet next to the building. Mr. Armstrong then went through each item on his recommendation and showed plans as to what would be done. A motion was then made by Wilkus, second by Wilson, that the recommendations of the City Engineer be approved as submitted with the two following revisions;•item•(b) the east side of the sidewalk be put 30 feet from the center line and three feet from the building and -the concrete be right -up to the curb and item (c) this item be checked with the•Baptist Church officials as to the present parking bay: All voted in favor thereof and the recommendations were approved. The following recommendation submitted by C.-,A. Armstrong, City Engineer, was then read: "Honorable Mayor & Common Council City of Rochester, Minnesota Gentlemen: In addition to the 4th Ave. S.W. project submitted January 2, 1962, I am enclosing for your consideration and approval or revision, our proposed widths'on the following described paving projects: r 1 U Record of Official Proceedings of the Common. Council • of the City of Rochester, Minn., January 25 .1962 OEWALD PU6L16HINI3 DD., NEW ULM• MINN. A3528 3rd Ave:.-S:W: between Sth and 6th St.-S.W. Widen from present roadway of 27 feet to 40 foot width, 20 feet on each side of center line. This will narrow the existing boulevards on each side by 6k feet, but will still leave a 9 foot wide boulevard on each side. -It will not require removal of existing sidewalks or boulevard trees. 6th St:.,S.,-W: from 2nd Ave 0,S.W. to 4th Ave..S.W. This is a primary 2-way street. We to widen the roadway from i-ts present 30 ,propose foot width to 44 feet - 22 feet each side of center line. This will narrow the present boulevards by 7 feet on each side. It will also require reconstruction of most of the existing sidewalks and removal of" most or all of the,trees. The'. location of the .sidewalks will not change. 2nd St: -S: -W. �. from 3rd Ave. to 4th Ave.-S.W. Widen from -existing 40 foot roadway to 70 feet - _(a) 35 feet each side of centerline. .(b) from 4th Ave. to 5th Ave. on the north side of 2nd St. Widen from existing 40 foot to raodway 60 feet - 30 feet on each side of center line. .Will cause removal of'trees in north boulevard in front of Junior Collete building. • Respectfully, /s C..A. ARMSTRONG, City Engineer" Mr. Fred Redd, a member of the vestry for the Episcopal Church, was also present on widenting of 2nd Street S. W., he said they had already paid for improvements 'on this street once and did not feel they should be assessed again and asked if they could be relieved of these assessments. C. A. Armstrong stated.there was a probelem in assessing , he said the present assessment policy provides that the property owners will be assessed for only the first36 feet and the city or public pays for anything beyond that here on 2nd Street in front of the Episcopal Church we have 1 P P Y Y g Y s �1 - a street that is already 44 feet wide and we plan to widen it to 70 feet and there is a question if it is of any benefit to the property, he said some policy would have to be made for these cases before the assessment is made. Mr 'Armstrong then went through each of these items with the Council. A motion was made by Stadler, second by Morris,. that the recommendation above on 3rd Ave..S..W. between 5th and 6th St. S..W, be approved and all voting in favor thereof, President Tingley declared the motion carried. A motion was then made by Wilkus, second by Wilson, that the recommendation on 6th Street S. W. from 2nd Avenue S. W..to 4th Avenue S..W..be approved and all voting in favor thereof, President Tingley declared the motion carried. ,A motion was.then made by Morris, second by Wilson that the recommendation on 2nd Street Southwest be approved and all f� voting in favor thereof, President Tingley declared the motion carried. The matter of assessments was to be discussed by the Public Works Committee and they recommend back to the Council. The matter of granting additional taxicab licenses, length of franchise,.etc. was then 1 brought up Mr. Carl F. Peterson of Rocabco, Inc.. (Blue & White) was present, he stated that he • had requested two additional licenses so his company could give better service to Rochester, he said he thought that rates should be changed and lowered. Mr..Joe Kremer of Yellow Cab Company was also present, he said he did not agree that more cabs were needed in Rochester, he said he thought the taxi service in Rochester was adequate but felt that private autos were now their greatest competitors. Mr. Matt Ginter of the Teamsters Union was also present and gave the Council copies of a letter stating why he felt Mr. Peterson's request for more cabs should be rejected. After a lengthy discussion on this matter a motion by was made by Stadler, second by j Wilkus, that this be taken unver advisement pending receipt of a financial statement from both companies, the number `of trips and,earnings of the'diivers by the month, and any other information (1 concerning this question they might be able to offer.. Allvoted in favor thereof* f� 1 r0 A motion was then made by Leonard, second by Wilkus, that the Council consider business other than the call and upon roll call and all voting in favor thereof, President Ting declared the motion carried. Alderman Stadler introduced a resolution authorizing and directing the City Attorney wo take whatever action he deems appropriate, including the institution of necessary law suits, to attempt recovery of whatever damages the City of Rochester, Public Utility Department, may have suffered as a result of the recently disclosed electrical conspiracy and bid rigging activities, which was read. A motion was.made by Stadler, second by Wilkus, that the said resolution be adopted as read and all voting in favor thereof, President Tingley dec the said resolution duly passed and adopted. Upon motion by Morris, second by Wilson, the meeting was adjourned. CitV Clerk