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New Business. Monona Drive. Motion to Amend Resolution 09-06-1636 Adopted at the July 20, 2009 City Council Meeting so as to Reduce the Width of the Sidewalk From 8 Feet to 6 Feet (Alderman Thomas, Alderman Kugle). Of course, this is not really new business, it is more like "old business rehashed again business."
Resolution 09-06-1636: Concerning Width of Sidewalks for Monona Drive Phase 2 Construction
Aside from making the use of the road and sidewalk less safe, changing the design will also add costs because the road has been partly designed already.
It does spare me from having to come up with new things to write about.
I previously blogged this issue on May 27: Monona Drive Phase Two - A Compromise and a Crash?
However, word has it that Monona may be due for some in-fighting over the width of the sidewalk on the west side of the roadway in Phase Two. The original plan and consequently the all-important 'environmental document' called for a 10'-wide sidewalk or multiuse path). This increased width would partially accommodate recreational bikers who will continue to use that sidewalk whether there are bike lanes in the roadway or not. The committee later approved a reduction to 8', the bare minimum to still remain faithful to the intent of the plan approved in the environmental document.
And again on September 9 (More Monona Council Report ):
[On September 8] The council again heard from residents along the north end of Monona Drive objecting to the planned 8'-wide sidewalk on the west side. Near
the end of the meeting, alder Kugle requested that this matter be brought back to the council again. My problem with reconsidering this item is that it has been considered and reconsidered multiple times at the ad hoc committee and at the council. Nothing has changed, but the opponents appear to have successfully pressured the council to look at it again. We made up our mind on the issue, but don't have the will to keep it that way....the 2011 construction schedule is heading right out the window.
See also Monona City Updates CORRECTION
Boulder Colorado used eminent domain for a bike path: http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13366982
ReplyDeleteAgain? Really? Hasn't this been decided? Why are we still discussing this. The correct decision has been made- move on.
ReplyDeleteI am kinda of amused by your post.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the deal with borrowing 1.4 million for another TIF. Where is this TIF?
I mean we just bought a tanning salon-for an amount that still has me scratching my head-what are you investing in now?
"What is the deal with borrowing 1.4 million for another TIF. Where is this TIF?"
ReplyDeleteThat's the TIF payment to MSP for the senior housing development on Owen Road.
Doug-
ReplyDeleteThanks for the response-I guess my point was you that you are complaining about sidewalks....yes...it was laid to rest and it should not be back on the agenda unless something has changed.
However, the more important issue for me is that the city is going to borrow a significant amount of money on Monday.
Then....it is your blog.
HP
HP,
ReplyDeletePoint taken. In this case, we are obligated to come up with the money under the developer's agreement, so there's not much to debate.
However, even if there was controversy, in my experience people are more interested in stuff like sidewalks that are easy to understand than TIF Districts which are arcane in the extreme.