City Council Workshop

SPECIAL WORKSHOP OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL September 14, 2020 ATTENDANCE The City Council held a special workshop on Tuesday, September 14, 2020, at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting began at 6 PM. Present: Mayor Paul Reinke Council Members: Jake Ingebrigtson Susan Olson Colleen Swedberg Kevin Zabel Also Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Brian Bachmeier, Public Works Director/City Engineer Susan Barry, City Clerk Bob Streetar, Community Development Director GOLD LINE – 4TH STREET AND HELMO/BIELENBERG BRIDGES The City Council discussed the bridge over 4th Street and the proposed bridge over I-94 that will connect Helmo Avenue in Oakdale to Bielenberg Avenue in Woodbury. They also discussed a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) policy change that local entities, rather than the state, own and maintain bridges. Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier provided details on typical maintenance costs for bridges. City Administrator Volkers asked for input on assuming maintenance costs of these bridges as well as how maintenance costs for the Helmo/Bielenberg would be split between Oakdale and Woodbury. She also informed the City Council that the City of Woodbury had asked the bridge be called the “Bielenberg/Helmo Bridge.” Concern was expressed about MnDOT’s unilateral change in policy for new bridges over trunk highways. After much discussion, the City Council supported taking on maintaining the 4th Street bridge. In addition, City Administrator Volkers was asked to negotiate the maintenance allocation for the Helmo/Bielenberg Bridge with Woodbury to be a much lesser share for Oakdale and much greater share for Woodbury. ADJOURNMENT The special workshop adjourned at 7:10 PM. Respectfully submitted, Susan Barry, City Clerk