Memo from City Mgr (Re: Signs Directing Traffic to DT)b
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January 16, 1981
MEMO
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Signs Directing Traffic to Downtown
I have met with the Hopkins Betterment Association sign committee, discussed
the types of signs needed and their location, and also refined the list with
Lee Cooper, determining alternate sign sizes and costs. Several of the sign
locations desired by the committee are in adjoining cities, which will require
negotiation with those cities and probably in several cases with the state and
county highway department. It is possible that alternate sites will be necessary.
The basic sign, as requested by HBA, would be green with white letters, saying
"Downtown Hopkins and featuring either a white arrow or the words "straight
ahead." The sign would also have a red raspberry, and (presuming the HBA pays
for the signs) the HBA logo in one corner. Two signs would be a standard free-
way type (24" x 48 and be located on Highway 7, saying "Downtown Hopkins,
Next 4 left (or right) Turns." The basic signs described earlier could be
24" x 48 30" x 24 or 30" x 18 at varying costs.
The method of routing travelers desired by the committee was as follows: All
westbound traffic on Highway 7 would go to County Road 3, preferably on Blake
Road. All eastbound traffic on Highway 7 and County Road 3 would go to Excelsior
Avenue, preferably on Shady Oak. Westbound traffic on County Road 3 would be
directed into downtown at 5th, 8th and llth.
Sign locations for the freeway -type signs on Highway 7 would be at Blake and
Shady Oak, directing drivers south.. Preferred locations for the others would
be 1) on the descending County Road 18 ramp., 2) at the foot of the County Road 18
ramp, 3) at County Road 5 and County Road 18, pointing south, 4) at Highway 7 and
County Road 18, on the north side facing north, 5) and 6) at Second Street N.E.
and Washington, facing both east and west, 7) at Minnetonka Mills and 5th Avenue
North, facing north, 8) at Excelsior and Blake, facing north, 9) at Shady Oak and
County Road 3, facing west, 10) 5th and County Road 3, facing east, 11) and 12)
Shady Oak and Excelsior, facing both north and south.
The above is a very ambitious program, could be pared down, and may very well
have to be reduced if county, state, or adjacent cities refuse permission for
certain signs. If they do all approve, we may subsequently have requests for
permission for signs directing drivers to Knollwood shopping center, Country
Village center, etc., which we could scarcely refuse. In any event, the entire
program would cost as follows:
Signs Basic size 30" x 18"
30" x 24"
48" x 24"
Posts Hardware 275.00
Labor 88.00
546.40 (These are
606.40 alternate
800.80 prices)
a
MEMO
Signs Directing Traffic to Downtown
Page 2
The above does not count a more expensive routed wood sign which the city
is having installed at 8th and County Road 3, and funding with downtown
redevelopment money since it is in that area. Since the signs listed
above primarily benefit the business community, it would be appropriate
for the HBA to fund at least a portion of the project. We have a great
many businesses and industries which attract traffic, but as a general
rule have not funded directional signs to them, in the past. I would
suggest, however, that the city pay for posts and labor for whatever signs
are approved, and provide routine maintenance thereafter.
Respectfully submitted,
i3=kk G
William P. Craig
City Manager