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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, May 13,2013 Page 22 the remainder would be in St. Paul. Mr. Chelson noted that the rationale in pursu- ing this section at this time was to get the installation completed prior to future detours onto Rice Street during the I-35E construction project, and anticipated heavier traffic along that corridor. At the request of Mayor Roe, Mr. Chelson addressed the work at County Road B, and whether most could be completed during normal daytime hours versus off hours. Mr. Chelson advised that there would be a few tie-in's beginning next week, and again at the end of the project, with plans to do the work during normal working hours as much as possible. However, Mr. Chelson advised that, when they were cutting open a pipeline, the tie-in and welding needed to be completed inspections passed before backfilling, as they couldn't leave the trench open to complete in the morning without posting a guard. Given the fifteen nights available during this variance window, Councilmember Willmus questioned if there was any better way to delineate when those off hour nights might occur; and further questioned how the number of variances were tracked or monitored. Mr. Schwartz advised that, in staffs consultations with Xcel staff, Xcel was to notify city staff so the Police Department could be notified if necessary of the af- ter-hours work; with Xcel working on how best to minimize and identify those variance windows. Mr. Chelson advised that they would able to better identify the initial cases next week; however, he noted that the remaining schedule depending on construction, weather, and other variables affecting removal of the existing pipe and at what point tie-in's could be accomplished. Xcel Energy Community Relations Coordinator Collette Jurek Ms. Jurek assured the public and Councilmembers that Xcel was trying to antici- pate the schedule, and did not expect to require the entire fifteen days, but sought to provide a conservative estimate. Regarding notification to city staff, Ms. Jurek advised that once it was determined how to proceed, if there were any timing problems or if Ramsey County delayed a request to shut down an intersection for a procedure or tie-in, she would notify city staff as much in advance as possible. Ms. Jurek advised that it was in their best interest, as well as for all parties, to streamline this project for as little disrup- tion and completion in the most efficient manner possible. At the request of Councilmember Willmus, Ms. Jurek advised that some of the disruptions would be back to back.