02-22-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM: Eric Seaburg, P.E., City Engineer DATE: February 22, 2023 RE: Twin Lake Boulevard Improvements State Aid Variance Request ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Motion to approve resolution requesting a variance from Minnesota State Aid for the Twin Lake Boulevard Project, City Project No. 2023-04. BACKGROUND: In partnership with the City of Vadnais Heights, the City of Little Canada continues to plan for proposed improvements to Twin Lake Boulevard in 2023. The final design of roadway and trail improvements required a delicate approach to balancing cost, private property impacts, and wetland & floodplain impacts, all while staying within the design constraints of the Minnesota State Aid Rules. Per Minnesota State Aid Rule 8820.9995, a bituminous shared-use path located at back of curb must be ten feet wide. The existing roadway constraints make this very difficult to achieve. In order to avoid extensive private property impacts, wetland & floodplain impacts, and keep the project affordable, project staff is recommending a variance that would allow for an eight foot wide bituminous shared-use path located at the back of curb. In order to obtain a variance from Minnesota State Aid, each City must pass a resolution authorizing the variance request. Then, project staff will bundle all necessary variance documentation and submit to Minnesota State Aid for review and consideration by the Variance Advisory Committee. If the variance request is denied, the shared-use trail would likely need to be converted to an 8’ concrete sidewalk. Conversion to concrete is estimated to cost an additional $125,000 in total but would be better for long-term maintenance. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the following resolutions: • Resolution requesting a variance from standard for State Aid Operation for Project No. 200-115-001 (Twin Lake Boulevard)