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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - MARCH 16, 2009 2 County Open Space Trail Project. Final plans, specifications and required environmental reviews have been completed. A public informational meeting wase held last September and an open house was conducted in February. The PTRC reviewed this proposal at their February 24th meeting. City Engineer Bloom explained that based on concerns expressed at the public informational meetings, staff met with Mn/DOT and eliminated one crosswalk in the project. Also the school district agreed to budget in 2009/2010 two adult crossing guards for crossings on County Road E2. In addition, the school will provide a kick-off event and walking reward program as well as a bike rodeo to be co-sponsored by the Ramsey County Sheriff s Department. The construction project will include the installation of speed monitoring. Ramsey County has committed $15,000 toward a pedestrian crosswalk warning at the main trail connection. (Staff is considering a different option and will review with Council at a later time.) Ramsey County Sherrif has also committed to increasing the patrols in that area before and after school. Additional Costs City Engineer Bloom further stated that the original proposal was based on 2007 construction prices. Current prices result in an increase of $14,,471 in the construction costs for the pathway. Also to avoid an impact to the wetland and keep the pathway on public right-of-way, a retaining wall will be necessary along the pathway east of the lift station road at an estimated cost of $66,,375. (This wetland boundary was not delineated until last fall after the City had received the grant.) Drainage is another consideration that must be addressed. A portion of this project connects County Road E-2 to Venus Avenue through Ramsey County Open Space. This open space contains DNR protected wetlands as well as a creek. Any modifications to the crossings or wetlands in this area will require a permit from Rice Creek Watershed District and they are requiring that the new creek crossing be sized so it does not impede the flood plain of this natural drainage way. To meet federal guidelines the culvert or crossing must be at least 14 feet wide. Since a bridge would cost between $150,000 to $250,000, staff is recommending a lOx 4 box culvert in this location at an estimated cost of $75,,000. The culvert must be sized to handle a 1 00 year flood at that crossing. Drainage improvements in the amount of $13580 will also be necessary; the first will be just to the east of the easterly Valentine Hills driveway and the other is at the intersection of Chatham and County Road E2. Another addition is erosion and sediment control to protect the wetlands at an estimated cost of$6,,275.