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. . . . , URS Agenda Item 2A Thresher Square 700 Third Street South Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612) 370-0700 Fax: (612) 370-1378 To: Michelle Wolfe/Arden Hills City Administrator File: 31809363 From: Gregory S. Brown Arden Hills City Engineer Date: January 19,2005 Subject: CSAH 96 Landscaping Improvements Background The Council directed staff to develop concepts and cost estimates for potential landscaping improvements along CSAH 96 in addition to the proposed County Scope. Kathy Ryan has prepared two alternatives for Council consideration and comments. The following is a brief description of the alternatives, including plant materials, cost and maintenance issues. Renderings of the alternatives are attached to the memo. Kathy will be present at the meeting Monday to discuss the concepts and provide renderings of the entire corridor. Landscaping Concept Discussion URS has prepared two alternative landscape plans and cost estimates for Highway 96. The plan for boulevard trees is the sarne for both alternatives. Green Ash, White Ash, Red Oak and Swamp White Oak trees are proposed in alternating groupings of three and four. These groupings will alternate from north to south and provide a continuous rhythm along the highway without imposing a rigid order that would accentuate missing trees. The number of trees is similar in both alternatives, and the bulk of the cost would be taken care of by Rarnsey County. , The color graphics included portray two alternative median planting schemes. Each scheme shows planting group A and planting group B. These two groups represent the different median configurations at the intersections. The numbers of each group for each alternative are listed on the graphics. Alternative I consists of plantings that are linear in character and spread evenly along the corridor. This cxplains the higher number of plant groupings in alternative 1. The preliminary cost estimate for Alternative I includes approximately $115,000 in County costs and $190,000 in City costs for a total project cost of $305,000. Thc cost of Alternative] could be reduced by eliminating three or four of the planting bcds along the corridor keeping only the planting areas near the intersections.