Council told 10th Street assessment can’t be reopened mid-project; school-bus staging raises traffic concerns

City officials told Pine City councilors they cannot reasonably reopen the city’s assessment policy while the 10th Street special-assessment project is underway, and councilors raised separate traffic and safety concerns after observing school buses staging in the street’s new bike lane.

The mayor relayed advice from staff member Greg that the special-assessment and feasibility study for the 10th Street project has already been completed and that changing assessment policy mid-project would be "incredibly difficult" and could generate legal fees that outweigh benefits. Greg (as quoted by the mayor) described the project timing as the wrong moment to attempt policy restructuring and recommended studying changes between projects.

"He put it in much clearer words ... to do this mid project is very unheard of," the mayor said, paraphrasing staff counsel and adding that a full study on assessment policy could be scheduled for the inter-project gap.

Separately, Councilor Swanson had requested the speed-and-traffic item remain on the public-works agenda. The mayor reported recent observations that school buses have been staging on 10th Street by the cemetery — now a bike lane — creating a potential safety and traffic conflict. Councilors suggested restarting quarterly coordination meetings with the school district, county and city in the fall to share assets and reduce overlapping work.

No immediate change to the 10th Street assessment or traffic-control measures was adopted at the meeting; staff will continue to coordinate with public works and report back.