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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-07 Agenda Item 7A K.risline Gi9~1k- Engineering 8/13/07 8/13/07 Prepared By: Dept.: Council Mtg. Date: Final Action Needed By: ~ /]'\~ HILLS Request for Council Action Agenda Item:_ 7.A. NIA $2.500- 3,500 General Fund to Authorjze Staff to Obtain Quotes and Contract with a Consultant to Review the Environmental Assessment for the 1-694 Area Actual Amount: Funding Source: Authorize Staff to Obtain Quotes and Contract with a Consultant to Review the Environmental Assessment for the 1-694 Area Improvements. x No.: No.: Recommendation: Recommendation: Dated August 8. 2007 from Kristine Giga and Greg Haag ~ ~ EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: August 8, 2007 AGENDA ITEM 7.A. TO: Mayor and City Council Michelle Wolfe, City Administr~;A / Kristine Giga, Civil Engineer W Greg Hoag, Public Works Director FROM: SUBJECT: Motion to Authorize Staff to Obtain Quotes and Contract with a Consultant to Review the Environmental Assessment for the 1-694 Area Improvements. BACKGROUND The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is planning the reconstruction of a portion ofInterstate 694 as a six-lane freeway with auxiliary lanes and reconstructing the interchanges at Interstate 35W, Trunk Highway I O/Snelling Avenue, Victoria Street and Rice Street. As a part of this process, the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) is required. The EA has been completed and is being distributed to all interested parties, including the City of Arden Hills. The 30-day comment period will begin on August 13, 2007, and end September 12,2007. DISCUSSION Staff is currently in the process of establishing a municipal engineering consultant pool with tasks divided into five separate categories. We have completed interviews, and are making final selections for each of the categories we have identified. Environmental document review is a task for which City staff would utilize the consultant pool. The approval ofthe consultant pool will not be brought to the City Council until August 27th By this time, half of the 30-day comment period for the EA will have passed. If we were to wait for Council approval on the consultant pool before seeking assistance on the EA review, we would be pressed for time for a proper review. Staff is requesting authorization to obtain quotes from \\Metro-inet.us\ardcnhills\PR&PW\Engineering\2007\Council_ ActioTIs\8- I 3-07Memo _ EA _ Rcview.doc S/9/2007 Page 2 consultants for the EA review. Staff plans to contact those firms that would be selected as final candidates for the municipal engineering consultant pool. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Staff estimates that the cost for a consultant to review the EA will be about $2,500 to 3,500. RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION Motion to Authorize Staff to Obtain Quotes and Contract with a Consultant to Review the Environmental Assessment for the 1-694 Area Improvements.