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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-21-14-WS -A DEN HILLS 14 Approved: February 10 ,2014 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 21,2014 5:00 P.M. —MARSDEN ROOM—PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council work session at 5:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden (arrived at 5:04 p.m., left at 5:30 p.m. and returned at 6:50 p.m.), Fran Holmes, Dave McClung, and Ed Werner Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Public Works Director Terry Maurer; Assistant City Engineer John Anderson; and City Clerk Amy Died Public Works Maintenance Workers: Max Arvidson, Scott Freyberger, Jeff Frid, Dave Winkel, Dave Schifsky, Darien Schifsky, Tony Nolan, Thomas Mikacevich 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Public Works Presentation Public Works Director Maurer introduced the Public Works Maintenance Workers to the Council and discussed the training provided to public works employees. He provided the Council with a presentation highlighting the Public Works Department's accomplishments in 2013. He reviewed the work that was completed at Valentine Park and on the triangle parcel. Assistant City Engineer Anderson explained how the Public Works Department was migrating towards the use of technology in their day-to-day operations. He explained that the new system has been extremely helpful with the utility line locate calls. He reported that the City is receiving approximately 350 Gopher State One calls per month during the summer, making this work almost a full-time job. Tony Nolan described the Korweb program in detail with the Council. He then discussed how this new technology is assisting to streamline work completed by the Public Works Department. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 21, 2014 2 Councilmember Holmes thanked the Public Works staff for their work on Valentine Park, stating the work was nicely done and that the park has been heavily used. Councilmember Werner thanked the Public Works Department for their assistance and professionalism with a recent watermain break in his neighborhood. Jeff Frid discussed the Omni system explaining how it is used to monitor the City's 14 lift stations. He noted that the program is extremely user friendly and can be viewed by staff on a smart phone. Public Works Director Maurer reported that each lift station is still inspected and reviewed each day by staff to ensure that stations were running properly. Staff will continue this process until they are more comfortable relying on technology. Darien Schifsky provided the Council information on the water tower monitoring software. He discussed how the program is assisting the Public Works Department monitor the water levels available in the tower. Councilmember Holmes asked if the City's monitoring system is tied to the water system in St. Paul. Public Works Director Maurer explained that the City's system is not coordinated with St. Paul as St. Paul has a very sophisticated SCADA system. He reviewed the graphics of the water usage in the north tower for January. Assistant City Engineer Anderson provided the Council with information on the GIS data that has been collected by the Public Works Department. He stated that the GIS information collected covers the City's sewer, water and storm sewer lines, along with park benches, valves and street locations. The data that has been collected is available through the City's network and to multiple users on other platforms. The numerous benefits of this system were further discussed. Public Works Director Maurer explained how the information collected through the GIS system is used by his department on a daily basis. He indicated that his crew is working to keep the City's infrastructure map updated. A brief video titled"Liquid Assets" about infrastructure in the State of Minnesota was presented. Public Works Director Maurer discussed the condition of the City's infrastructure. He explained that the City is investing in its infrastructure and these investments are paying off. He reviewed the efforts the Public Works Department has taken to reduce I&I throughout the City. He commented that sewer lines are televised, jetted and cleaned on a three year rotating cycle. He is pleased with the progress his department is making in this area. Assistant City Engineer Anderson reviewed the work that has been completed on the storm sewer lines. He explained that catch basins and rain gardens have been created throughout the City to assist with managing the quality of the City's storm sewer. The City needs to continue to maintain these areas. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 21, 2014 3 Councilmember Holmes questioned if the City needs to install rain gardens on the TCAAP property. Public Works Director Maurer reported that rain gardens are mostly used in reconstruction projects to assist in managing water runoff. He anticipated that rain gardens will not be installed on the TCAAP site. He reported that rain gardens are a requirement from the Rice Creek Watershed. The special projects planned for 2014 were then reviewed. Mayor Grant thanked the Public Works Department for their presentation this evening. He is pleased with the growing efficiencies that have been taken on by the department along with the great work completed by the crew. He understands that water and sewer services are taken for granted and he appreciates all of the hard work the Public Works Department accomplishes each and every day. B.County Road E Bridge Over TH 51 / I-694 MnDOT Landscaping Project Public Works Director Maurer presented the Council with information on the current MnDOT layout for the County Road E Bridge over TH 51. A small scale drawing was reviewed. The layout shows three 12 foot lanes – one in each direction and a center left turn lane. In addition, there would be a six foot shoulder on the north side, a six foot shoulder on the south side and a 10 foot raised pedestrian facility on the south side. Public Works Director Maurer explained that no formal approvals are needed from the City, however if the City wants to add anything to the design, such as a pedestrian facility on the north side, it can be added as long as the City is willing to pay for the cost of the additions. For budgeting purposes, MnDOT estimates the bridge cost at $150 per square foot. He recommended the bridge remain as proposed by MnDOT without an additional pedestrian facility on the north side of the bridge. City Administrator Klaers asked how pedestrians would cross from one side of the roadway to the other in order to cross the bridge. Public Works Director Maurer explained that there would be crosswalks at the lights before and after the bridge in order to allow for pedestrians to cross County Road E. Councilmember Holmes commented that she has seen pedestrians walking on the north side of the bridge. She asked if there would be any space along the north side for pedestrians. Public Works Director Maurer reported that the north side of the bridge would have a six foot shoulder, which is an improvement over the two foot shoulder that is currently present. Mayor Grant expressed concern with how emergency services would be provided to the west side of the City while the bridge is out. Public Works Director Maurer commented that he will address this concern with the Fire Chief or the Fire Marshall. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 21, 2014 4 Councilmember Holmes expressed concern with the lighting on the County Road E bridge. She was not concerned with decorative lighting at these intersections, but recommended the lighting be improved in this area. Public Works Director Maurer recommended the City work with Xcel Energy on the lights as this would be less expensive than the City installing and maintaining its own light poles. He stated that he would discuss this issue with the County as well. Councilmember Werner questioned how traffic would flow through the City while the bridge is out. Public Works Director Maurer indicated that traffic would be rerouted through the City for a time while the bridge is out. Further discussion ensued regarding traffic flow and emergency services, and how this would work with the bridge being out. Mayor Grant asked if the Council was comfortable with the bridge layout as proposed by MnDOT. i The Council supported the plan as presented by MnDOT. Public Works Director Maurer discussed the preliminary landscaping plan MnDOT has prepared for the 1-694 corridor that will follow the recent construction. He reported MnDOT has budgeted $200,000 for this project and it is scheduled for an August 2014 letting with planting occurring in the spring of 2015. Public Works Director Maurer stated that the Council placed a $5,000 item in the 2014 CIP should they want to make additions to the MnDOT landscaping project. MnDOT would need a decision on any additions within the next 45-60 days to get this into the final plan. MnDOT has estimated that additional trees, if added to the project, would cost between $275 and $375 depending on the variety of tree. Therefore, with a $5,000 budget, approximately 15 trees could be added. He requested direction from the Council on how to proceed. Councilmember McClung stated that plantings in the Briarknoll area were the main concern. He questioned how additional tree plantings would impact this area. Public Works Director Maurer explained that additional trees would provide more of an aesthetic appeal, but would not fully screen the neighborhood from the roadway. Mayor Grant recommended that this landscaping information be placed on the City's website. Public Works Director Maurer commented that this information could be posted by staff. Councilmember Holden expressed concern with the noise level for the residents living on Norma Circle. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 21, 2014 5 Assistant City Engineer Anderson reviewed the plantings proposed for this area of the 1-694 corridor. He noted that the plantings would be decorative in addition to providing some measure of screening. Councilmember McClung suggested the Council review where 15 additional trees could be placed to positively impact the corridor. He recommended this be reviewed after the County hears back on their grant application and decides what they will do further to the west along TH 10. Mayor Grant agreed that the Council should wait to hear back from the County. Public Works Director Maurer commented that he would pass along to MnDOT that the City does not want to add anything to the landscaping project at this time but may want to add some plantings in the future depending on what the County's plans are for the rest of the TH 10 corridor. Any added plantings would likely be placed after MnDOT implements its current proj ect. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Holmes discussed an article she read in the Star Tribune from December 31, 2013, regarding water and sewer bills in Belle Plain. She indicated that she will provide staff with a copy of the article which could then be passed along to the entire Council. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council work session meeting at 7:03 p.m. din Amy Died David Grant City Clerk Mayor