Four months after the Albert Lea City Council voted against the city’s first bike lanes because of concerns over timing, funding and the location, the issue will again come before the council on Monday for a vote.

The proposal includes 1 1/2 miles of bike lanes on Front Street, starting at U.S. Highway 69 through to Frank Avenue, where the route would connect to the Blazing Star Trail.

A memo from City Engineer Steven Jahnke states the project is estimated to cost around $39,000 for initial construction and between $15,000 and $20,000 in annual maintenance costs.

It would include limited parking on one or both sides of the street.

“Engineering believes this is a safe and feasible project,” Jahnke wrote. “However, this is a project where the council will need to weigh the benefits of installing bike lanes against the loss of parking and long-term annual painting costs before the council makes its decision to move forward with this project.”

Since the last meeting on the issue in July, the Engineering Department looked at three concerns raised at that meeting, including no parking along Southwest and Sibley schools, the no parking section in front of Kwik Trip and the connection to downtown.

Jahnke said based on additional conversations with the school district, engineering is recommending changing the layout of the bike lanes in front of Southwest and Sibley to allow parking on the south side and moving the bike lanes away from the curb.

Engineers verified that the road width at Kwik Trip does not allow for bike lanes and parking next to this business. Based on this, engineers are recommending the layout near Kwik Trip remain at no parking if the project goes through.

There would also be no parking on both sides from Fourth Avenue to First Avenue, parking on just the north side from First Avenue to Spark Avenue and then no parking from Spark Avenue to Euclid Avenue.

From Euclid Avenue to Washington Avenue parking would be allowed on the north side in order to accommodate the businesses in this segment, and then from Washington Avenue to Frank Avenue there would be no parking on both sides.

Engineers did not come up with a good option for bike lanes connecting to the downtown, Jahnke said.

At the last discussion over the issue in July, the Albert Lea Medical Center stepped forward to commit $5,000 a year for the next three years.

Since, the Statewide Health Improvement Program has approved $10,000 for the project and the Pioneering Healthier Communities program has approved $20,000.

Freeborn County SHIP Coordinator Ellen Kehr said the issue is coming before the council at this point because of funding deadlines for SHIP and PHC. If the council chooses not to put in the bike lanes at this time, these two entities need the time to go and find other projects for which they can use the grant money in their prospective programs.

Kehr, who is also the 3rd Ward councilor, told her fellow councilmembers during the council’s Thursday workshop that she will abstain from the Monday vote because of her involvement with SHIP.

Dennis Dieser, who is involved with the PHC program, said this program is in favor of the bike lanes as they would be a way to connect the community, promote physical activity and increase safety for nonmotorized users from one end of the community to another.

“Hopefully this will be a stepping stone to build and really complete all the areas of the community and make it very welcoming and easy for residents to use,” Dieser said.

He added that bike lanes have been shown to calm down the speed of traffic, and that contrary to what a person might think, widening the streets doesn’t do anything to calm the traffic, it actually speeds it up, he said. Adding the bike lanes would slow the traffic down.

“We’ve looked at it and feel it’s a positive way we can help give support for something that would be positive for the community,” Dieser said.

PHC grant money comes from three major entities, including the CDC, Robert Woods Foundation and Pepsi Cola. These dollars are given through the Y of the USA and distributed through the Healthy Community initiatives.

Albert Lea was one of 21 communities during the past year to receive this funding.

It has also been just more than one year since the end of the pilot AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

“If we truly are a Blue Zones community, this is a huge step toward that goal,” said Albert Lea Medical Center Anesthesiologist John Schulz. “Biking is so important. I think it’s time for Albert Lea to make a commitment.”

He said from a health perspective, biking provides a great cardiovascular workout, but it’s also good for people psychologically.

“It keeps us feeling good about ourselves,” Schulz said.

“This is a huge step toward making it a little safer in the community,” he added. “This is a step in the right direction.”

He noted he is supportive of the location, and a biking committee that stemmed from the Vitality Project has also talked about additional locations they’d like to see bike lanes in the future, one of which is around Fountain Lake.

With one vacant position on the council, plus Kehr’s decision to abstain, that will leave five councilors to decide about the issue on Monday.

During Monday’s meeting, the council will also:

Have the second reading on whether to amend an ordinance regarding public places in the city where alcohol can be served with a liquor license.

Generally, alcohol is prohibited in public places, except for at community events at the National Guard Armory, City Arena and the Freeborn County Fairgrounds where it can be served by an entity with a liquor license.

The Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has recommended to expand this list to include Bancroft Bay Park, the cottage and new pavilion at Edgewater Park and Fountain Lake Park and gazebo.

The recommendation did not include any changes for individuals, only for community-type events. It will remain illegal to consume alcohol without a license in other locations within the city.

Vote whether to authorize an agreement with AEM Financial Solutions LLC for temporary finance director services.

City Human Resources Director Mike Zelenak said the group does audit work but also works as finance directors for cities when needed.

According to the proposed agreement, the company would provide the city with 8 to 10 hours per week of services at a rate of $110 for the first 50 hours and $122 per hour thereafter. Travel time would be billed at $60 per hour.

The services will especially be needed as the city approves some of its end-of-the-year finances, including the levy and budget.

Vote whether to amend the city’s signatories to include Mayor Vern Rasmussen, Mayor Pro Tem Al Brooks, City Attorney Lee Bjorndal and Sandy Bera in the finance department.

Have the second reading of an ordinance amendment regarding applications for municipal licenses.

Hear an update on the Vitality Center.

Vote on the election judges and polling places within the city for the 2011 special primary and general elections for the vacant 5th Ward county commissioner seat.

The seat includes the 3rd and 6th wards.

Vote whether to approve a request for an alternate day for the Prescription Take Back Day in case of snow. The event is scheduled for Nov. 27 and organizers are proposing Dec. 4 as the alternate day.

Vote whether to approve a request from Albert Lea Community Theater to place a lit sign in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot to announce the dates for the box office and upcoming plays.

The dates the organization would like to have the sign out are Feb. 15-22, May 3-10 and July 11-19.

Have a public hearing regarding proposed assessments for unpaid utility bills and other miscellaneous charges.