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04-37 - 05-18 - Adopt Revised Sidewalk & Trail Policy Resolution 04-37 May 18, 2004 Member Tremere introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption, as amended: RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE REVISED SIDEWALK AND TRAIL POLICY BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Golden Valley, Minnesota, as follows: WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Golden Valley to promote pedestrian connections and promote pedestrian safety; and, WHEREAS, the City Council has been considering various options available to the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of Golden Valley, Minnesota, that the Revised Sidewalk and Trail Policy for the City of Golden Valley dated May 18, 2004, and the attached hereto as Exhibit A, is adopted. Linda R. Loomis, Mayor ATTEST: Donald G. Tayl ty Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Member Grayson and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Freiberg, Grayson, Loomis, Shaffer and Tremere; and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the Mayor and her signature attested by the City Clerk. Resolution 04-37 - Continued May 18, 2004 EXHIBIT A PUBLIC SIDEWALK AND TRAIL POLICY Revised May 18, 2004 INTRODUCTION Pedestrian connections and safety are high priority concerns for the City of Golden Valley. The City recognizes that the most effective method of providing a safe environment for pedestrians is through the construction of a public off-street sidewalk and trail system that provides physical access for all residents of the City. The intent of this policy is to provide the guidelines for the location of a pedestrian system throughout the City of Golden Valley, and to provide standards for construction. DEFINITIONS The following terms, as used in this Policy, shall have meanings as stated: Disability. Disability means any condition or characteristic that renders a person a disabled person. A disabled person is any person who has, has a record of or is regarded to have, a physical, sensory, or mental impairment that materially limits one or more major life activities. Physical Access. Physical access means the absence of physical obstacles that limit a disabled person's opportunity for full and equal use of or benefit from use of the City's pedestrian facilities. Sidewalk. A sidewalk is a pedestrian facility with anticipated primary users who are walking. Sidewalks are generally parallel to a street or roadway and are constructed of concrete. Trail. A trail is a pedestrian facility with anticipated primary users that include walkers, bicyclists or other wheeled users. A trail may be parallel to a street or roadway or may be located outside of a public street right-of-way. Trails that are paved are typically surfaced with asphalt; trails that are unpaved may be surfaced with gravel, rock, woodchips or other similar material. Resolution 04-37 - Continued May 18, 2004 PRIORITIES The installation of sidewalks and trails in Golden Valley shall be based upon the following: 1) Sidewalks and trails should be located to facilitate access and connections and maximize the safety of users, with an emphasis on areas of high use, including but not limited to, schools, parks, churches, businesses, and other public meeting places. 2) Sidewalks should be located on streets that carry relatively high volumes of pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic. These streets include county roads, Municipal State Aid streets, residential collector streets and local streets as needed. 3) Trails may be located on streets that carry relatively high volumes of pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic. These streets include county roads, Municipal State Aid Streets, residential collector streets and local streets and needed. Trails should also be located in parks and nature areas as designated in the Comprehensive Plan and other public open spaces. 4) The City will cooperate with other agencies in implementing their trail and sidewalk plans within the community. These agencies may include Hennepin County Public Works, the Three Rivers Park District, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, school districts, neighboring cities and others. 5) A citizen may request a sidewalk or trail through a petition. Petitions must be submitted to the City Council for forwarding to the appropriate commissions and committees for consideration. 6) The recommended location of sidewalks and trails shall be reviewed by the Sidewalk Committee. The Sidewalk Committee shall make recommendations to the City Council for new facility location. CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS The construction of sidewalks and trails within the City of Golden Valley shall be in accordance with the standards contained in this section of the policy, the Public Works Standards of the City, dated April 2001 and as amended; the Minnesota Department of Transportation; the Minnesota Human Rights Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, as amended through September 2002, and as may be amended in the future. The following standards shall apply, under normal circumstances, as the sidewalk/trail construction standards within Golden Valley: 1) The preferred location of sidewalks and trails within public street right-of-way is one foot from the street right-of-way line (outside edge of sidewalk or trail) with a minimum turf boulevard of four feet. Resolution 04-37 - Continued May 18, 2004 2) The standard concrete sidewalk width shall be six feet wide when separated from the roadway by a boulevard that is a minimum of four feet wide. If a four-foot wide boulevard cannot be provided, the sidewalk should be placed at the back of curb, and shall have a minimum width of eight feet. 3) The construction of sidewalks shall be standard within public street right-of-way when concrete curb and gutter is present, unless the facility is classified as a trail, in which case a bituminous path shall be constructed. 4) Trails shall be constructed within public street right-of-way_in cases where no concrete curb and gutter is present and a minimum boulevard of four feet cannot be achieved. 5) Trails within parks and other public open spaces shall be a minimum of eight feet wide with bituminous surfacing. 6) Trails, as identified in the comprehensive plan, should be paved based upon the need for year-round use or access for all users. Priority shall be placed on paving trails that provide access to the existing system, and to parks, nature areas and other public open spaces. 7) Trails within nature areas, as identified in the comprehensive plan, may be surfaced with alternative materials based upon the expected use of the trail and consistent with state and federal law. The goal of these standards is to ensure sound design of the City's sidewalk and trail system. The implementation of these construction standards is the goal of sidewalk and trail design. However, it is recognized that strict application of these standards may result in significant impacts to the properties adjoining the walk, and may be in conflict with the portion of the Pavement Management Policy that strives to minimize impacts to the adjoining properties. Therefore, the City Council may make exceptions to these standards in cases where impacts can be minimized or avoided altogether by varying from the standards. MAINTENANCE Maintenance of sidewalks and trails, including snow removal, shall be the responsibility of the City. Snow removal shall be on a priority basis according to policy established by the Department of Public Works. Resolution 04-37 - Continued May 18, 2004 SIDEWALK AND TRAIL COMMITTEE The City Council has established a sidewalk and trail advisory committee to provide recommendations regarding the location of sidewalks and trails within the City. The sidewalk committee shall consist of two members of the Planning Commission; two members of the Open Space and Recreation Commission and one representative of the Environmental Commission. The sidewalk committee shall meet on an as-needed basis to review new requests for sidewalks and trails, review the existing plan as it relates to location and construction priorities, and make recommendations to the Council regarding these issues. The Director of Public Works, or his/her designee, shall be the staff liaison for the sidewalk committee. FINANCING When development or redevelopment occurs adjacent to sidewalks or trails included on the Sidewalk Plan, the developer shall be responsible for constructing the sidewalk or trail according to the standards in this policy. Any public street construction or reconstruction project that has a sidewalk or trail identified within the boundaries of the project shall include the construction of that facility. The recommended Capital Improvement Plan may include an annual allocation to address outstanding needs for the construction of sidewalks and trails identified on the sidewalk map, but not within the boundaries of a public improvement project.