The Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved feasibility reports for two neighborhood improvement projects for 2011.

A public hearing will be held Feb. 28 to seek input.

The first project involves the bituminous overlay of the following residential streets in the southeast part of the city:

• 11th Street from Margaretha Avenue to the east end

• 14th Street from Myers Road to the east end

• 16th Street from Myers Road to the east end

• 16th Street from Margaretha Avenue to Gene Avenue

• 17th Street from Margaretha Avenue to Gene Avenue

• 18th Street from Larson Avenue to Milo Avenue

• Larson Avenue from 19th Street to the north end

• Milo Avenue from 16th Street to 17th Street

• Gene Avenue from 16th Street to south of 17th Street

• Botsford Avenue from Lakeview Boulevard to the end

This project also includes a series of smaller projects, including the reconstruction of the Bay Oaks Drive cul-de-sac. A portion of this pavement has failed before the 20-year replacement period ended, so the cost of repairs will not be assessed to adjacent homeowners.

Estimated costs for the remaining projects are about $536,000 with $280,000 being assessed to adjacent property owners and about $256,000 being city costs.

If approved, assessments would be spread over 10 years at the rate of 4.75 percent.

City staff will meet with people affected by the potential project Feb. 17.

The second project involves the bituminous overlay of four state-aid streets:

• Eighth Street from Broadway Avenue to Margaretha Avenue

• Margaretha Avenue from 14th Street to 19th Street

• Garfield Avenue from the railroad to Fairlane Terrace

• Greenwood Drive from the bridge to Hammer Road.

It also incorporates replacing sections of curb and gutter in these areas that are damaged and installing sidewalk on the west side of Margaretha Avenue from 19th Street to 24th Street.

Estimated costs for this project are about $674,000 with about $254,000 being assessed to adjacent property owners, $380,000 being paid for by state-aid funding and about $40,000 being city costs.

Assessments would be spread over five years at a 4.75 percentage rate.

A neighborhood meeting on this project will be Feb. 22.

In other action, the City Council:

• Directed city staff to send a letter of interest to the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame regarding 150 memorial plaques that need to be relocated.

The plaques were originally displayed at Heritage hall in Owatonna.

With the closing of Heritage hall, they were moved to the Duluth airport terminal; however, people can only view them if they have a boarding pass.

Duluth is reportedly renovating its terminal in 2012, and at that time the plaques will have to be moved.

Fifth Ward Councilor Larry Anderson said the Airport Advisory Board discussed how the plaques would be a draw to Albert Lea. He said people make day trips to look at them.

• Approved a request to put a memorial at the Albert Lea Airport in honor of former resident Sherman Booen.

Booen was born in Glenville and was the first announcer on KATE radio in 1938 and later moved to Minneapolis, where he conducted a weekly aviation show on WCCO on Sunday mornings.

Costs of the memorial will be between $500 and $1,000.

• Approved a joint powers agreement with the state’s Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The agreement allows the Police Department and City Attorney’s Office to access state and federal criminal justice information databases.

There is no cost to participate.

• Authorized a joint powers agreement with the South Central Drug Investigation Unit that reflected some recent legislative changes related to task forces.

• Authorized the transfer of about $16,600 in matching funds from the general fund Fire Department budget, using interest earnings, for the purchase of new ultra high frequency radios. This is related to the regional assistance firefighters grant received.

• Authorized Interim City Manager Pat McGarvey to sign any grants or required documentation from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at the Department of Public Safety on behalf of the city.

• Approved the submittal of a pay equity report as required by state statute. This is the state’s method of eliminating discrimination against women paid less than men for jobs requiring similar expertise.

• Approved a request from the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club to place a large sign in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot for the week of March 12 through 19 to promote the club’s 50th annual show.

• Approved a request from the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce to hold the Big Freeze on Feb.19 and 20 on Albert Lea and Fountain lakes. The request included placing a 30-foot by 60-foot tent on the property, using electricity at the site and removing snow at various sites.