HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 26, 2026 City Council Workshop Meeting MinutesC.
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
City Council Workshop
City Hall
2077 West Larpenteur Avenue
MINUTES
August 26,2026
6:00 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 5:00 P.M
B. ROLLCALL:GUSTAFSON-X- MAY-X-
MIELKE X MOGEN X WASSENBERG X
STAFF PRESENT: LINEHAN X HENRICKSEN X
POLICY ITEMS:
1. 2027 BudgetWorkshop #2 (6:00 P.M.)
a. Pavement Management Project
City Engineer Henricksen presented the draft 2026Pavement Management Plan (PMP) and the
proposed 2027-2031, Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). He noted that the updated
PMP was reoriented to serve more clearly as a planning document and'decision-making
framework, rather than a software-focused report as in prior years. The primary focus of the
workshop was to gather Council feedback before the PMP is formally submitted for adoption
the following month.
Henricksen reported that the City's pavement network is in excellent overall condition. The
most recent pavement condition survey, conducted by GoodPointe in 2025,yielded a weighted
average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 85.9 - among the highest in the metro area. He
noted this represents a significant improvement from the 2022 average of 69.0, and substantially
exceeds the City's long-term goal of maintaining a citywide average PCI of 75 or greater.
Council acknowledged the strong results as a reflection of sustained investment in the
pavement network.
Council members sought clarification on the distinction between maintenance and
rehabilitation treatrnent types. Henricksen explained the key differences: a mill and overlay
removes a top layer of asphalt and repaves it appropriate at the midpoint of a road's lifecycle;
full-depth reclamation (FDR) grinds the full pavement depth and reincorporates it with the
aggregate base to create a new road section; and reconstruction involves removing all existing
materials and rebuilding from the ground up, typically required when the underlying base has
failed or when significant utility work or geometric changes are needed. Linehan cited the
Garden Avenue project as an example of full reconstruction. Henricksen committed to ensuring
consistent use of these terms in the final PMP document.
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Given the strong network-wide PCI, Henricksen emphasized a shift toward preventative
maintenance as the next strategic priority. He highlighted tfuee approaches:
. Crack Sealing was described as a highly cost-effective treatnent - "pennies on the
dollar" - that seals pavement cracks to prevent moisture infiltration and extend road
life. The City reintroduced crack sealingin2025 in the Grove neighborhood. Henricksen
acknowledged there were some application issues with the contractor related to the use
of backer rod material, which staff was working through under warranty, but affirmed
the practice itself is sound. The CIP proposes budgeting $50,000 every other year
beginning in 2027 , witl;. 202'1, PMP roads as the initial target after staff field inspection
confirmed they were holding up well.
Chip Seal was discussed as a broader surface treatrnent that was suspended city-wide
after widespread delamination issues occurred across the metro n201.6. Henricksen
noted that the Local Road Research Board has continued to study the issue, but no
definitive solution has been established. Staff does not intend to reintroduce chip seal
until the science is more settled, and would also seek Council policy direction before
doing so, given the messiness and community impact of the operation.
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a Spray-On Rejuvenators were described as a newer emulsion-based product - likened to
"lotion for your pavement" - that is absorbed into the asphalt to slow oxidation and
extend surface life by up to seven years when applied within one to tfuee years of a new
surface. Henricksen noted that several neighboring cities, including Eden Prairie,
Lakeville, and Woodbury, as well as Ramsey County, are actively exploring rejuvenator
products. Staff intends to continue monitoring results before committing to the
technology.
The most substantive discussion of the evening concerned the propose d 2027 rehabilitation of
alleys in the Northome neighborhood, currently estimated at approximately $340,000 in total
street cost, with approximately 90% assessed to adjacent property owners - a projected per-
property cost of roughly $1,200 to $L,600.
Henricksen explained that the City's 2026 decision to assume responsibility for alley snow
plowing - previously the responsibility of adjacent property owners - prompted staff to
evaluate the condition of the alleys and consider whether a rehabilitation project waslvarranted
to bring them up to a maintainable standard. Public Works Director Callahan had flagged alley
conditions as a growing concerry with some sections becoming difficult to maintain through
pothole patching alone.
Council members raised several concems and perspectives in response.
Mielke expressed discomfort with the optics of simultaneously offering residents a new City
service (alley plowing) while also proposing to assess them for alley rehabilitation. She
questioned whether it was fair to charge residents to improve alleys that are being taken over
by the City.
May suggested decoupling the alley rehabilitation discussion from the snow plowing policy,
arguing that project timing should be driven by pavement condition - particularly in areas
showing low PCI ratings on the map - rather than by the City's assumption of plowing
responsibility.
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Mogen offered three specific inpub: (1) he did not view the City taking over plowing as
analogous to a private-to-public infrastructure transfer that automatically requires bringing an
asset up to full standard; (2) he suggested the City observe at least one or two winter seasons to
determine whether alley conditions acfually create maintenance problems for Public Works
before committing to a projec! and (3) he expressed concern about "doubling up" on financial
burden for residents in the Northome neighborhood, where many property owners are still
paying off assessments from the 2025 street project. He suggested pushing the alley project out
in time if the roads in that area are already under assessment.
Wassenberg noted that while most alleys appear to be in functional condition, they have visibly
deteriorated in recent years - exhibiting longitudinal cracking and surface raveling - and
cautioned against waiting too long, as further delay could result in more expensive treatment.
He agreed that a thorough condition assessment was needed before assuming all alleys require
full reconstruction, and that some may only require a mill and overlay.
Gustafson provided historical contex! noting that the alley conditions were first flagged by staff
in2021,. At that time, Council's direction was to proceed only by resident petitiory given the90%
assessment burden. The City estimated a cost of approximately $700 per property at that time
and circulated petitions to all affected alleys. Only one alley - between Iowa and Idaho
Avenues - achieved the 5'1,% tfueshold required to proceed, which was completed in 2023.
Linehan noted that two additional alleys - the Crawford Avenue alley south of Snelling
Service and the Iowa/Idaho alley between Pascal and Albert - had been identified by staff
after the draft CIP was prepared. He also noted that the PCI rating of 100 on the GoodPointe
data for the latter alley appears to be erroneous, as that section was not redone n2023.
Henricksen summarized the Council's direction: staff would develop a more refined analysis
presenting multiple scenarios - including a "do nothing" approach, a targeted approach
addressing only critically deteriorated segments, and a full rehabilitation approach - along
with associated cost estimates and downstream consequences, to assist Council in making a
more informed decision. Formal acceptance of the PMP was not required at this meeting and
could be deferred until the analysis is complete.
Henricksen briefly reviewed the remaining elements of the proposed 2027-2031CIP:
Ramsey County Coordination(2028-2030): The CIP includes approximately $685,000 in
anticipated local cost participation associated with Ramsey County's Larpenteur Avenue
corridor study, with $50,000 programmedin2l2S, $100,000 in2029, and $535,000 in 2030. The
corridor study is expected to be completed in 2028. Henricksen noted these figures are high-
level County estimates and will'be refined as the study progresses.
Linehan noted that under the County's cost-share policy, the City may assess a portion of these
costs to adjacent property owners, as was done with the Cleveland Avenue project where the
University of Minnesota ultimately covered nearly all of the City's share.
Prior Avenue Rehabilitanon (2029): Prior Avenue carries a current PCI of approximately 37 and
is proposed for full-depth reclamation at an estimated cost of $175,000.
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Roselawn Avenue Rehabilitation (2031): Originally contemplated for an earlier year, Roselawn
has been pushed to 2031to coordinate with the City of Roseville, which leads the project and
has its own water main replacement needs planned for that timeframe.
Mogen raised the question of whether the project could be advanced to 2029 to leverage the
current University of Minnesota ownership of the adjacent Les Bolstad Golf Course property -
making assessment simpler than it would be once the land is subdivided into individual
parcels.
Henricksen acknowledged this as a valid consideration but noted that Roseville's infrastrucfure
timing is a key constraint.
Linehan suggested 2029 mightbe worth revisiting as the development picture becomes clearer
Border Streets - Fulham Street and Hoyt Avenue: Henricksen identified these as streets shared
jurisdictionally with Lauderdale and Saint Paul, respectively. He noted ongoing coordination
with Lauderdale regarding Fulham Street, and indicated he would pursue contact with Saint
Paul regarding Hoyt Avenue, which runs adjacent to Luther Seminary and carries traffic
implications tied to that development.
Trail Systems: Henricksen previewed that the 2027 PMP update will begin incorporating locally
maintained trail systems into the pavement management inventory, allowing the City to track
condition and plan for fufure maintenance of those assets.
Mielke inquired whether the City could set pavement standards for roads installed by private
developers in connection with projects such as the Les Bolstad Golf Course redevelopment.
Linehan confirmed that if roads are intended to be turned over to the City, the City would
establish the applicable standards.
b. 2027 Preliminary Capital Project Fund Preview
Because it was now 7:00 P.M. and the Regular Meeting of the City Council would begin, City
Administrator Linehan briefly introduced the preliminary 2027 Capital Project Fund preview,
noting that numbers are still being refined and no formal action was required. He highlighted
several items on the preliminary capital list including equipment that has been repeatedly
deferred - such as zero-turn mowers - noting that Public Works staff have done an excellent
job extending equipment life beyond its anticipated replacement schedule. The full capital
discussion was deferred to a fufure meeting.
D. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Mogen motioned to adjourn the workshop;
Approved 5-0
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DISCLAIMER: Gty CouncilWorkshops are heldmonthly as an opportunity for Council Members to
discuss policy topics in greater detail pior to a formal meeting where a public hearing may be held and/or
action may be taken, Members of the public that would like to make a comment or ask questions about an
item on the agenda for an upcoming workshop should send them to mail@falconheights.org prior to the
meeting. Alternatiaely, time is regularly allottedfor public comment during Regular Gty Council
Meetings (typtcally 2nd and 4thWednesdays) during the Community Forum.
Dated this 9m day of September,2026
C.
City Administrator
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