03-25-03 PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Arden Hills Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee Meeting Minntes 3 March 25, 2003 - Mr. Moore discussed quotes they have received for the underpass and overpass. He indicated the underpass quote was $535,000, however you then need to add 10 percent for the engineering fees and 10 percent for overhead, meaning the actual cost would be $642,000. He stated the overpass quote was $709,000, and with the additional 20 percent would be $850,800. He indicated the underpass would be a 12-foot by 12-foot box culvert, and the prices quoted are ifit is done as part of the Highway 96 project. The overpass would be a 14-foot wide bridge with a 12-foot walkway. Mr. Moore explained the problem with the underpass is that the utilities are 12 feet below ground, so the boxes would need to be 21 or 22 feet below the road. He added this could cause additional problems with lighting and drainage. The advantage of the overpass is no utilities would be involved and it could be done after the project if necessary, as long as supports were put in as part of the project. He indicated the County would not fund this, however they have agreed to construct it as part of the project. The Committee discussed other locations an underpass might be located, however it was determined that the other logical locations will have signals, which the County does not believe is a good location for an underpass. Mr. Moore explained the County would be stopping short of the intersection of Highways 10 and 96. He stated the County has indicated they would pay for an underpass that would go under Highway 10 and connect where the City specifies, at their cost. However, he added today they e learned that the trail components, which was to consist of a 10 foot wide bituminous trail on the south side and a six foot concrete sidewalk on the north side, would not be provided because the County has run out of money. He stated that although they have paid for the other cities along the project, the County no longer has the funds to provide this and the City will have to pick up the cost, approximately $100,000, if they want it. He indicated the $100,000 would cover the trail on both sides, however the six-foot concrete sidewalk would become a five-foot bituminous trail. Mr. Moore outlined four options: 1. Forget about having a trail because it is too expensive, which does not seem fair since the County paid for the other cities. 2. Suggest to the City Council money from State Aid is used. Currently the City has approximately $1,000,000 of State Aid money, with $600,000 dedicated and nothing on the horizou for a few years that qualifies for State Aid funds. 3. Suggest to the City Council that General Funds are used to provide the trail. 4. Suggest to the City Council that PTRC funds are used to provide the trail. The Committee discussed how much was in the General Fund that was discretionary. The thought was it was somewhere in the $9 to $10 million range, and the PTRC currently has approximately $560,000. Committee Member Crassweller stated he feels the PTRC funds should be used to pay the $100,000 for the trails, and it should be recommended that the City spend the $600,000 needed for the underpass. He feels if the PTRC is willing to spend 20 percent of their funds, the City should be able to spend less than 10 percent of theirs for a project that is part of the Comprehensive Plan at a time that it makes sense to do it. He stated that is true . long-term planning.