Minutes 02/24/1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.... ' 4,,' 7~ " J TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987 The following is an update report of the status of these projects: 1. Fayette Street/Church Street/Memorial Boulevard Intersection - During a meeting of Council held September 9, 1986, I advised Council that, during a meeting with Highway Department officials on September 2, 1986, regarding this project, we were advised that the plans for this project were virtually complete and it was anticipated that a public hearing on the project could be held in January 1987. Afterwhich right-of-way needed for the right-turn lane from West Fayette Street into Memorial Boulevard could be acquired by the Highway Department under what is referred to as "Accelerated Right-of-Way Acquisition". I indi- cated that this would enable the City to construct the right-turn lane immediately thereafter which, based on the projected date of the public hearing (January 1987), could have been in the Spring of 1987. During my discussion with Mr. Skeens I was advised that, since Federal money is to be used on the project, an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was necessary, therefore, the public hearing as initially scheduled had to be delayed. The EIS has just been completed and, in an effort to save time and move the project forward, the Highway Department, with our concurrence, is pro- ceeding on the basis of publicizing a "Notice of a Willingness" to hold a public hearing which could be accomplished by April 1987. If there are no requests for a public hearing, the plans can then be approved for right-of-way acquisition in June 1987. If, however, a public hearing is required, approved right-of-way plans may be delayed until September 1987. We are hopeful that this delay will not occur. - Shortly after Council's September 9, 1986, meeting I sent a letter to the Highway Department requesting that the right-of-way needed for the Fayette Street right-turn lane be acquired by the "Accelerated Right-of-Way Acquisition" method. I am advised that, since one of the houses needed for the turn lane is occupied which could result in a possible relocation problem, considerable time could be required to obtain this property (up to five months). I am convinced that Mr. Skeens and others in the Department are committed to accelerating this project in any way possible. He has advised me that he believes that right-of-way for the entire project could be obtained in time to get the whole project under contract by the Spring of 1988. Therefore, he is of the opinion that very little time will be saved by attempting to construct the right-turn lane ahead of the entire project. I advised him, however, that as soon as possible after the plans are approved for right-of-way acquisition, whether in June 1987 after the filing of a "Notice of Willingness" to hold a public hearing or in September after a formal public hearing (if required), I wanted the Department to acquire, as a first priority under the accelerated acquisition procedure, the right needed for the Fayette Street right-turn lane in order for the City to construct