10-12-11 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 12, 2011 LITTLE CANADA ROAD IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE The Council discussed the report and it was their consensus that the City should make a formal written request to Metro Mobility to extend weekend service to match service levels provided in Roseville and Maplewood. The City Administrator indicated that he would send this request to Metro Mobility. The City Administrator reported that City staff has been working with Ramsey County relative to the improvement of Little Canada Road from Edgerton Street to the freeway. He pointed out that earlier this year the County did a mill and overlay of Little Canada Road west of the freeway. The County is planning a cold -in -place recycle of Little Canada Road east of the freeway in 2012. That improvement may include the narrowing of Little Canada Road immediately east of the freeway, the addition of sidewalks, and the burying of powerlines. The Administrator noted that the City requested a cost estimate from Xcel Energy for undergrounding utilities along Little Canada Road east of the freeway. Xcel initially indicated that that estimate would cost the City $5,000, and then came hack with a $20,000 price for the estimate. In discussing this with Xcel, they indicated they would do a cursory review for $5,000. Estimated cost of the undergrounding work is $662,594. The Administrator noted in his report a comparison of underground costs along Rice Street compared to the quote from Xcel for Little Canada Road. He also pointed out that the actual costs of the Rice Street underground were substantially more than the estimate. The Administrator indicated that the City budgeted $600,000 for this work. Using the partial estimate we have received to date (Little Canada Road to McMenemy) our cost would be $662,594. He noted that the City has to start finalizing project plans with the County, and asked for some direction from the Council. The Administrator also noted that the City increased the electric franchise fee to help pay for utility undergrounding work along Rice Street. The first phase is completed and the second phase (County Road 13-2 to Marketplace Drive) will begin in 2012. He noted that in the short -term, the electric franchise fee will be inadequate to pay the cost of all this undergrounding work. Another option would be to impose an undergrounding surcharge on electric bills which is what the City of Roseville did to pay their share of the Rice Street undergrounding costs. McGraw asked if this would be the City's only opportunity to underground utilities along Little Canada Road. The Administrator stated that he did not look at the franchise agreement with Xcel, but believes the 3