Albert Lea’s first community bicycle lanes may soon be in the works.

On Monday, the Albert Lea City Council will vote whether to authorize the city engineer to prepare a feasibility report regarding placing bicycle lanes on Front Street.

The idea comes at the request of a biking committee formed as part of the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project and Blue Zones sustainability efforts.

Albert Lea Community Development Director Bob Graham said members of the committee met with City Engineer Steven Jahnke to discuss whether there’s a street where there could be bike lanes on both sides of the street.

Though Front Street does have on-street parking, essentially all of the businesses and residents have some form of off-street parking, making it a possible choice for bike lanes, Graham said. If they come to pass, the lanes would also connect with the Blazing Star Landing on one end and Skyline Plaza, the Albert Lea Family Y and Wedgewood Cove, eventually, on the other.

Graham said if the council decides to order the study and eventually approve the bike lanes, parking would be eliminated on the street.

Any action Monday, however, would simply determine whether to move forward with the report that would find out if the idea is feasible.

The report would determine the pros and cons of going through with the project, along with the estimated cost, Jahnke said. If everything works well, it will be a project for spring 2010.

The project comes after earlier this year, transportation expert Dan Burden conducted a report about the walkability in Albert Lea.

Among several suggestions in that report, Burden concluded Albert Lea needs to identify places for bike lanes, fill gaps in the trail system and fill sidewalk gaps.

When the results of that report were released, Albert Leans interested in biking identified Front Street, Bridge Avenue, South Shore Drive, Newton Avenue and Fountain Street as streets they felt deserved bike lanes.

Front Street will be the first out of this group to receive consideration.

During the Monday meeting, the council will also:

Have a public hearing regarding the construction of a 14-inch sanitary sewer force main from the Bay Oaks area to the intersection of Edgewater Drive. This will be the location of a future sanitary sewer lift station, which will service the Manchester area, Stables area and Plaza street.

In March of 2008, the council authorized a connection agreement with Manchester, as a means of wastewater collection and treatment.

If the connection happens, the city will receive about $1,500 a month in new revenue for providing wastewater collection services.

The council will vote Monday whether to authorize a sanitary sewer maintenance agreement with Manchester.

Hear an update from City Engineer Steven Jahnke regarding the Inflow and Infiltration Project in the city.

Have the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would adopt the current version of the Minnesota State Fire Code. This will allow the city to continue local enforcement of fire safety standards and requirements.

Have the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would repeal Chapter 62-148 of the city code regarding bicycle registration. The registration has not been implemented for several years, and the state law regarding it has been repealed.

Vote on a request from the Shell Rock River Watershed District to have services of a police officer during the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts summer tour scheduled for June 26.

Vote whether to approve a request from the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce for a reduction in the newly adopted pyrotechnic display fee of $500.

Vote whether to approve a request from the Parks and Recreation Department to have a bonfire at City Beach on July 24 in conjunction with a beach luau.

Vote on a request from the Sunset Saddle Club about whether to allow noise to extend past 11 p.m. on July 24 and Aug. 28 at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

Vote whether to approve a request to use the city water tower parking lot behind the American Legion on June 26 for activities in conjunction with a benefit for the Rick Kelly family.

Vote whether to approve a request from Youth for Christ to use the Sondergard playpark building for kid’s club activities on Thursdays during June.

Vote whether to approve a neighborhood party with a DJ on Aug. 1 on North Shore Ave. from 8 p.m. to midnight.