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ARDEN HILLS CITY COLINCIL WORK SESSION _ JANUARY 13,2025 <br />Director of Public Works/City Engineer Swearingen said after staff received direction for the <br />chain link ba:rier along the onramp for Highway 51, he engaged with MNDOT and they are <br />receptive to the idea of putting a fence there. They would like to bring it back to their team to <br />discuss timing, location, cost share and long-term maintenance. MNDOT has a repaving project <br />scheduled in2026. They are looking into including that fence with that construction project. More <br />discussions will be forthcoming so that was removed from the scope of work. The cost estimate <br />for the fencing along the west side of the property line of the upper part of the project is under <br />review. It wasn't in the initial scope of work or budget. Staff decided to remove that from the <br />estimated cost. Staff will budget for that accordingly in the future or possibly it could be tied in <br />with the fence improvement. <br />Director of Public Works/City Engineer Swearingen presented the Arden Oaks Park bid <br />alternate. The ADA trail improvement would extend from Arden Oaks Court on the south with a <br />pathway that connects to both play structures. It includes an ADA restroom stall. The proposed <br />location for the ADA stall seems like the best fit with the screening around it. The issue is there is <br />no access. There will need to be a maintenance route to get there. The truck would need to access <br />the stall weekly for cleaning. We want to avoid rutting through the grass and it needs to be ADA <br />access to the stall. Staff decided to include this as a bid alternate to determine what that will cost. <br />Staff can then either budget for that or move forward with it this year. That decision can be made <br />after Council sees the bids. The bid alternate is not included in the total estimated project cost. <br />Councilmember Weber said he noticed the silt fence isn't included in the estimate. He wondered <br />if other erosion control items are missing. <br />Director of Public Works/City Engineer Swearingen said the silt fence and rock entrance are <br />considered incidental items. It is not a specific bid item. It was discussed at the previous week's <br />meeting. It's drawn on the plans but it is not called out as a specific bid item. <br />Councilmember Holden said we are $64,000 over budget. Which part is causing the overage? <br />Director of Public Works/City Engineer Swearingen said notable increases are due to <br />Council's decision to approve the better play structure at Arden Oaks which was an additional <br />$22,000. During design it was discovered the swing set container at Arden Oaks needed to be <br />expanded and modified, for clear zone issues. The container at Freeway Park needed to be <br />modified for the same reasons. <br />Councilmember Holden asked if it was $10,000 for the containers. <br />Director of Public Works/City Engineer Swearingen confirmed that was close. He said Arden <br />Oaks is at $40,000 and $44,000 for Freeway Park. It is split relatively evenly between the two <br />parks. <br />Director of Public Works/City Engineer Swearingen said Public Works is going to review if <br />we are able to do the removals of the playground. Staff reached out to an outfit that recycles play <br />structures and they said they are not interested in these two. Public Works will look at what <br />equipment it would take to remove that. Per the estimate that could generate a $10,000 cost <br />savings.