The City Council approved the feasibility report and authorized preparation of plans, specifications and easement acquisition for the Cedar Lake Road and Ridgedale Drive improvement project (project no. 26209), a mill‑and‑overlay intended to address aging pavement and add pedestrian and bicycle safety features.

Public Works staff described the project as a pavement management approach that repairs curb, sidewalk and storm sewer as needed, replaces signals coordinated with MnDOT, and widens shoulders to add a 10‑foot bike lane on the south side and a 7‑foot bike lane on the north. Staff also proposed several pedestrian crossings and median refuge islands at key locations adjacent to Hopkins schools and busy crossing points.

Council considered an optional raised curb or small concrete divider to protect bike lanes; staff estimated such a curb across the corridor would increase project cost by about $160,000 and create snow‑removal and maintenance complications. Council voted to move the project forward but asked staff to explore additional safety options — including higher‑visibility striping, selective delineators in constrained zones, potential shorter lengths of physical separation, and coordination with the school district on circulation improvements.

The motion to adopt the feasibility report and authorize design and easement acquisition passed on roll call with one dissenting vote (Councilor Foster Bolton), who expressed concern about the proposed design and maintenance implications. Staff said final design will return to council for review prior to bidding and will include an assessment of the safety enhancements requested.