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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 12, 2024 10 <br />Mayor Grant asked if the trail is only 750 feet long. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen said he was pretty sure, it's definitely <br />less than 1,000 feet and the one on Hamline is even shorter, being 450-500 feet. <br />Councilmember Holden asked if retaining walls would be needed. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen said he would have to visit the site <br />again to be certain but there is a ditch there so there will be some storm water improvements. <br />Mayor Grant thought the estimated cost could be increased since we're in such a preliminary <br />stage. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen agreed it is very early but the said he <br />thinks $400,000 total, including the 50150 split with the county is a safe estimate. <br />Councilmember Monson said if the Minnesota 51 Trail connection will be $880,000 in our <br />budget would be a good use of that money to go to these other trails in 2026. Even if the $100,000 <br />and $200,000 city portion is low, hopefully that balances. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen pointed out that $300,000 of that <br />number was anticipated to come from grants. So direct city funds would be $580,000. <br />Councilmember Holden said that if we go in and ask for TCAAP money, it will be really hard to <br />ask for $1 million somewhere else. She said the county needs to get the money for Lake Johanna. <br />If they give the money to the city instead of the county, it plays against other options. She thought <br />if we are asking for TCAAP money, there should only be one other project in 2025. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen plans to complete a condition <br />assessment on utilities that cross Highway 51 to determine if replacement should be planned in <br />2026 in conjunction with the state's project. <br />Councilmember Holden asked approximately how old the utilities are. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen said they are around 50 years old but <br />made with good material. He is unsure if the casing around them was extended when the highway <br />was extended at the same time. He plans to explore that this fall. <br />Councilmember Holden said that would be a good ask from MNDOT because they are redoing <br />the road. Similar to how the City got money for 35W. <br />Mayor Grant was present when they were doing the televising of that crossing. He reported what <br />he saw and wondered what was needed in that area. <br />Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen stated he spoke to Councilmember <br />Holden regarding making sure utilities are replaced when we build a new road or trail. In 2026 or <br />2027, he will be doing a condition assessment of the water main that runs along Lake Johanna <br />