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ARDEN HILLS JOINT COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 30, 2012 2 Council consensus was to direct staff to proceed with the work session schedule as presented. B. Old Snelling Avenue Feasibility Discussion Public Works Director Maurer stated that at the December 19th Work Session the Council gave consensus for staff to start the preparation of the Old Snelling Avenue Feasibility Study. That study could be complete in February and ready to present to Council at a regular meeting. He explained, however, that before staff places this on a February agenda, he would like to know whether the Council plans to move forward with this project in 2012. Public Works Director Maurer reviewed the following issues for the Council to consider: • The Council has engaged Kimley Horn to prepare final bridge replacement plans in an effort to acquire some State Bridge Bonding Funds to help with the construction costs. Due to the amount of time it takes to complete the hydraulic analysis and have it reviewed, these plans will not be completed and approved by the Mn/DOT Office of State Aid in time for the 2012 funding cycle. The absolute soonest the bridge could be reconstructed would be 2013. • The project could be funded using MSA funds but that may require the placement of more (thicker) bituminous surfacing to meet an MSA design. The City really will not be able to quantify the increased cost to use MSA funds without actually submitting the plans to the Office of State Aid for approval. Even after plans have been approved by the Office of State Aid, the City could still decide to fund the project with local funds and forgo the use of MSA funds on the project. • The last traffic count showed about 1,000 cars a day on Old Snelling Avenue. That number is not likely to grow significantly in the future due to the developed nature of the area and the turning restrictions at TH 51. • If the project is not undertaken in 2012, it would be best to wait past the US 10/Highway 96 project in 2013 and not do the work the same year the bridge over TH 51 is replaced, which is currently scheduled for 2015 in Mn/DOT's plan. • There are only about 27 properties that could be assessed for the street work. This is a very small number relative to the length and cost of the project. The City's Assessment Policy will not be applicable to this situation. A modification will be necessary. Public Works Director Maurer explained that the only recommendation staff would have is that if doing the Old Snelling Avenue project in 2012 would make it difficult to proceed with some of the neighborhood street projects in the CIP, staff would rather wait on the Old Snelling project. There are no serious utility issues on Old Snelling that need attention and the current street surface could be maintained for a few more years. If the Council decides to delay the Old Snelling project, the draft feasibility study will be filed until the project is actually scheduled. He also recommended that if this project is not done in 2012, it also not be done in 2013 because Highway 96 will be closed. In addition, this project should not be done when the County Road E bridge replacement is scheduled, which is currently 2015 in Mn/DOT's plan. Councilmember Holmes commented that she thought the Council had discussed proceeding with this project in 2012 so it would be done before the bridge project begins and because MSA funds would be available.