City Council Minutes 2001 03 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting March 20, 2001 Page 17 that will be impacted if the City does not proceed. He stated that the issues have been examined and they would like to proceed to the next level. COUNCIL QUESTIONS Mayer asked Public Works Director Phare the cost of Option E, and the difference in cost for Option B. Phare stated that the cost of Alternative B would be $16 million and Alternative E would be between $17-$18 million. He noted the difference being a significant cost related to raising the railroad. Mayer commented that the cost estimates have changed over the years. He stated that in order to do bonding for the project, an election would be required and therefore would not be decided until the fall. One of the cost benefits on deciding now would be to coordinate with the Northwest Parkway Authority construction project. He commented that County Road has become a very busy street and the corner of Front and Pine has become a very dangerous intersection. He noted that $2 million dollars would buy 35 to 75 acres of open space. He stated that is the tradeoff. He stated that he did not see any other option than Alternative B. He agreed that the impact to the open space should be minimized. Levihn concurred with Councilman Mayer's comments. He asked Public Works Director Phare if there had been any discussion about what the Open Space Advisory Board has recommended. Phare stated that the 96th Street Connection Alternatives Analysis was completed prior to the Open Space Advisory Board's recommendation. He noted that he had only received a copy of the recommendation earlier in the afternoon. Levihn asked City Administrator Simmons about the possibility of using open space money to make repairs within the impacted open space areas. City Administrator Simmons stated that the Open Space ordinance was passed by the voters and use of the money is very specific. He stated that he would look at the language of the ordinance to see if that would be a possibility. Brown also concurred with Councilman Mayer's comments and stated that there is a need for the road. He stated that it is the City's road and it must be dealt with. He hoped that they could focus on some of the issues in the recommendations of the Open Space Advisory Board. He asked if Council will have the opportunity to review specific design decisions that would affect the sensitive corridors of open space, plant and wildlife habitats. Public Works Director Phare stated that Council would have that opportunity. He noted that there would be cost impacts in choosing one option over the other. 17