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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-14 Special WS ,- VEEN HILLS Approved: September 8, 2014 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 28,2014 5:30 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Pro-Tem Holmes called to order the special City Council work session at 5:31 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant (arrived at 5:35 p.m.); Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung, and Ed Werner Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Director of Finance and Administrative Services Sue Iverson; Public Works Director Terry Maurer; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; City Planner Ryan Streff; and City Clerk Amy Dietl 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. B2 District Improvements • West County Road E Trail • 1203 County Road E West Public Works Director Maurer explained that on March 31, 2014, the Council adopted Resolution 2014-019 receiving the feasibility report and authorizing preparation of plans and specifications. This action was taken by the Council after several meetings reviewing the draft feasibility and directing changes; most notable was reducing the street lighting cost to reflect Xcel Energy installed lighting. Bolton and Menk has been working on the plans and specifications since this action and are approximately 90% done with the plans. The major components of the project are: • County Road E will be milled and overlaid (this is a change as previously the County had planned to just sealcoat the road). • All medians will be reconstructed. • The restriped road will narrow the center left turn lane and provide more space (approximately 5 feet) near the curb for bicyclists. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 28, 2014 2 • The intersection at Lexington Avenue will be expanded to provide dual left turn lanes from eastbound County Road E to northbound Lexington. • The existing signal system at Pine Tree Drive will be modified to add new ADA pedestrian crossing facilities and repainted. • The signal system at Connelly/TH 51 will be newly constructed by the MnDOT Bridge project. • Deteriorated curb and gutter will be replaced (Ramsey County will help to identify these segments). • Deteriorated driveway aprons will be repaired. • Deteriorated sidewalk will be repaired. • Where no sidewalk exists on County Road E new sidewalk will be constructed. In front of Staples the existing sidewalk will be lowered to meet ADA standards for crossing County Road E. • A new sidewalk will be constructed on the west side of Pine Tree Drive from County Road E to approximately 900 feet south. • Boulevard trees will be added to County Road E. • The existing lighting system will be removed and replaced with an Xcel Energy lighting system (style of light poles and fixtures still to be determined). Public Works Director Maurer stated that there are a few issues that the Council should be aware of and/or comment on before the plans are completed. These issues are as follows: • The feasibility report included some work to define driveway access on Connelly Avenue to the Flaherty's parking lot and Pot-o-Gold. Mr. Flaherty has stated that only a striping of the curve is necessary and he did not feel the improvements discussed in the feasibility report should be constructed. That curve has now been striped and at this time staff has told the engineers to not proceed with the design of the curb and gutter and driveway improvements. • Discussion of the assessment method and amounts are detailed further in the City Administrator's memo. • The Carroll's Furniture property, relative to the inability to continue the sidewalk across the front of the property due to lack of appropriate easements. The City could pursue the necessary easements but, it would likely be viewed by a court as a substantial (large dollar amount) taking because it would take away parking, which is very limited on the site. Staff would recommend continuing the trees and lighting across the small green space within the existing right of way in front of Carroll's and wait on the sidewalk until a future date. • Staff has had a few discussions with the City Attorney's office regarding the assessment of this project. A couple of staff recommendations that came out of these discussions would be that first, the Public Hearing and the Assessment Hearing be held the same night. There has been a significant public involvement process with this project already. By the time the hearings are held the plans will be very close to 100% done and all of the adjacent properties will have had a chance to view them. Second, because of the nature of the assessment (street scaping vs. typical street reconstruction) it may be appropriate to have ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 28, 2014 3 the Assessment Hearing before the project is bid. The largest part of the assessment is for street lighting and staff will have a firm price from Xcel Energy by the Hearing date. The rest of the assessable improvements will be fully designed and the engineer's estimate should be accurate enough for assessment purposes. This way, if there are a number of potential assessment appeals the Council could decide to not proceed to bidding the project. • Staff would recommend adding colored pavers to the new medians. This was not discussed in the feasibility report but would add a nice feature to a relatively large blacktop road. The incremental cost to add pavers from standard concrete for the medians is estimated at $30,000-45,000 for the entire project. • Staff would recommend adding the trail/sidewalk on the south side of County Road E between the new bridge and Old Snelling Avenue to this project. The easiest time to build this segment would be when the bridge is closed and there could be some economies of scale to add this similar type of work to the County Road E project. Staff has asked Bolton and Menk to prepare a cost estimate for just the initial analysis to determine if it is possible to have this work added to the bid package for County Road E (if we need temporary construction easements it may not be possible to get done in time). The added cost would be $14,680 for a topographic survey, property/right-of-way research and preliminary design at which time a decision would be made whether or not this work could catch up to the rest of the project. If not, the work done by Bolton and Menk would not be wasted; it would be useable work for the continuation of the project at a later time. The proposed project schedule moving forward would be: • Completion of the plans and review by City, Ramsey County, MnDOT office of State Aid in the next 60-90 days • "Walk through" with the property owners to review the final project details late summer • Public Hearing/Assessment Hearing early November • Project bidding in November, early December • Consider awarded of the contract in January • Start construction in Spring of 2015 to coincide with MnDOT's bridge project City Administrator Klaers reviewed his memo on financial and assessment issues. Items for the Council to consider include the Connelly Street improvements, street lighting, trees, and adding pavers in the street medians. Staff requested comments and direction from the Council. Discussion ensued regarding the possible future redevelopment of the Pot O'Gold property. The council was in agreement to leave the Connelly Street improvements in the project at this time. Councilmember Holmes asked how much the City would have to pay for the more expensive light fixtures. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 28, 2014 4 Public Works Director Maurer reported that the more expensive fixture and pole would cost $358,000. Mayor Grant supported the use of stamped concrete and pavers so long as the materials were salt resistant and would withstand the Minnesota winters. Councilmember Holmes did not agree with the use of pavers for numerous reasons. She reported that pavers can crumble and create a problem. She suggested that the Council pursue colored concrete instead. The Council was in agreement with adding stamped concrete in the median areas. Mayor Grant asked if the Council supported the trail to the west of the bridge and the contract amendment. He reported that this would cost the City an additional $15,000. He stated that he could support the trail being completed at the same time as the bridge. Councilmember Holden feared that the properties on the south side of the road would not want the trail running through their property. She asked about the trail being placed on the north side of County Road E. Public Works Director Maurer stated that the north side of the roadway had a grade issue and ADA concerns. In addition, the trail would be more expensive to build on the north side. He reported that the 10' pedestrian facility would be located on the south side of the bridge. He noted that there would be economies of scale if the City were to complete the trail when the bridge was under construction. However, the Council could wait until 2016 or later for this project. Mayor Grant stated that delaying the project would ensure that Bethel University would contribute to the cost of the trail in a more timely fashion. He requested that staff inquire if it was feasible for the trail to be located on the north side of the roadway. Councilmember McClung was in favor of completing the trail section now. He indicated that the City had a contractual obligation to complete this trail and believed that the residents would have difficulty supporting the trail regardless of when it was completed. Councilmember Holden explained that the trail was previously proposed to the residents by MnDOT to be on the north side and now the south side was being recommended. The Council was in agreement to not do the sidewalk west of the bridge at this time. Councilmember Holden asked how many trees were going to be planted along the B-2 corridor. Public Works Director Maurer estimated that 50-55 trees would be planted and would cost approximately $44,000. Staff provided further comment on the proposed tree varieties. Mayor Grant strongly recommended that the trees be watered regularly. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 28, 2014 5 The Council discussed the street frontage along Carroll's and agreed to install trees and lights but no sidewalk at this time. The Council discussed the proposed assessment schedule. The Council agreed to hold the Public Hearing and the Assessment Hearing on the same night. Councilmember Holmes asked why all properties in the B-2 district would be assessed for the Pine Tree Drive sidewalk. Public Works Director Maurer commented that 900 feet of sidewalk on the west side of Pine Tree Drive past Country Financial would be assessed to all properties as recommended by the City Attorney. Councilmember Holmes questioned why the City would be assuming the entire expense for the trees. She proposed that the City pursue the cheaper lighting option as this would free up funding to cover the other expenses for the B-2 project. Councilmember Holden inquired who would care for the trees after they were planted. Public Works Director Maurer reported that the trees would be the responsibility of the property owner but would come with a two year warranty. He commented that the City would be responsible for maintaining the medians. He anticipated that the City would provide pruning services for the trees along County Road E as the City wanted these trees to be well-maintained and healthy. Councilmember Holden believed that the trees should be viewed in the same manner as the lights and for this reason, should be assessed and maintained by the City. Further discussion ensued regarding the proposed B-2 assessments. Mayor Grant questioned why the City should upgrade and enhance the entire B-2 corridor and then put in cheaper lights. Councilmember Holmes stated that Option 2 was an attractive economical option. She believed that the residents wanted the Council to spend tax payer dollars wisely. Public Works Director Maurer discussed the differences between the two streetlight options. Councilmember Holden supported the more expensive lighting as the fixtures looked much nicer and would be in place for the next 40 to 50 years. Councilmember McClung supported either lighting option. Councilmember Werner commented that the more expensive lights in St. Anthony were very attractive. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 28, 2014 6 Councilmember Holden stated that if concerns were raised regarding the assessment rates, the Council could rethink its decision on the lighting. The Council discussed the street lighting options further and were in agreement to move forward with the more expensive Xcel lighting option. Mayor Grant requested further comment from the Council on the trees. Councilmember Holmes recommended that the City not pay for the trees, but that the expense be assessed to the property owners. Councilmember McClung suggested that the City could pay for half of the expense of the trees. Councilmember Holden supported the recommendation from the City Attorney. The majority among the Council supported the City paying for the trees. City Planner Streff provided the Council with a brief report on the former Carroll's Furniture property. He indicated that there currently were no offers on the property that staff was aware of. Councilmember McClung questioned how badly the property owner wanted to get rid of this property. He explained that he would support an offer as high as $150,000 for Carroll's. Mayor Grant and Councilmember Werner supported this suggestion. Councilmember Holden stated that $150,000 would be the purchase price, but there would then be demolition and cleanup costs. Councilmember Holmes did not agree with purchasing the property. She requested further analysis from staff prior to the Council making a formal decision on this property. Mayor Grant recommended that the Council discuss the Carroll's property in further detail at a future meeting. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES None. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the special City Council work session at 6:58 p.m. -Ct 1 -4^A J)LAA D�_ Amy Dietl David Grant City Clerk Mayor It, --ADEN HILLS Request for Special City Council Work Session A special meeting may be called by the Mayor or by any two Councilmembers. Topics for meeting: A. B2 District Improvements • West County Road E Trail • 1203 County Road E West Requested Date: 07/28/14 Requested time: 5:30 PM Open meeting X Closed meeting Signature of person(s) making request: hm4v_",�i 07/23/14 Mayor or Councilmember Date Councilmember Date -This section to be completed by City staff- Date received: I /-_-�-;L->/ I `( Date meeting to be held: 07/28/14 Time of meeting: 5:30 PM Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. , Signature of City derk Date City of Arden Hills * 1245 West Highway 96 + Arden Hills,MN + 55112-5743 Phone 651-792-7800 * Fax 651-634-5137 * www.cityofardenhills.org