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Home My WebLink About#18 - Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements STAFF REPORT DATE: July 6, 2021 CONSENT AGENDA ITEM: Authorize Preparation of a Feasibility Report and Preparation and Plans and Specifications for the Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements SUBMITTED BY: Jack Griffin, City Engineer REVIEWED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator Marty Powers, Public Works Director Chad Isakson, Assistant City Engineer ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the City Council authorize the preparation of a feasibility report and preparation of plans and specifications for the Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements? BACKGROUND: This project will extend clean drinking water to 44 existing platted properties (37 existing homes) located in the Whistling Valley subdivision in the City of Lake Elmo by extending the municipal water system into the neighborhood prior to reconstructing the neighborhood streets as scheduled for improvement in 2022 in the City’s capital improvement plan. The properties reside in the Special Well Construction Area due to PFAS contamination. The PFAS contamination exceeds HBV and 18 well advisories have been issued. The project extends an 8-inch public watermain from 10th Street North (CSAH 10) into and throughout the Whistling Valley neighborhood along 10th Street Lane, Whistling Valley Road, and Whistling Valley Trail. Individual water service stubs will be installed to the edge of right-of-way at each of the 44 platted properties. Following the installation of the public watermain improvements, the public streets will be improved. The project will also include grant funding and administrative processes for ensuring each property completes the private water service connection from the right‐of‐way to each home, including water meter installation, sealing of the private well, removal of any GAC filters, and all permitting and connection fees. The City intends to implement the public improvement portion of the project that remains within the public right‐of‐way and will require property owners to contract directly for the work to be completed on individual properties. The private property work will be funded on a reimbursement basis. PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: In order to initiate the improvement, the Council must authorize the preparation of a feasibility report as required by the statutory process for public improvements that are specially assessed. The feasibility report will advise on the scope of recommended improvements; provide estimated project costs; identify easement and right-of-way, permits and other requirements of other local agencies needed to implement the improvements; recommend whether the improvements should be best made as proposed or in connection with some other improvement; and advise if the improvements are necessary, cost effective, and feasible. The report will also provide a proposed preliminary assessment roll for each of the benefitting properties based upon the City’s Special Assessment Policy for Local Improvements. In addition to the authorization of the feasibility report the Council is asked to authorize the preparation of plans and specifications. This will allow the design work to commence immediately, including the acquisition of the topographic survey and field reviews. A project schedule is attached and outlines the implementation timeframe necessary to ready the improvements for construction in 2022. The proposed schedule provides necessary time to address public involvement, acquire project related easements, acquire field survey, and to receive contractor bids for construction in 2022. FISCAL IMPACT: The improvements will be funded through the MPCA Grant in the amount of $3,660,000. RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending that the City Council approve a Resolution Ordering Preparation of a Feasibility Report and Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements. The recommended motion for this action is as follows: “Move to approve Resolution No. 2021-073, Ordering preparation of a Feasibility Report and Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements.” Staff is further recommending that the City Council award a Professional Engineering Design and Construction Support Services Contract for the Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements. Staff is recommending SEH, Inc. be awarded the contract. The recommended motion for this action is as follows: “Move to approve a Professional Engineering Design and Construction Support Services Contract to SEH, Inc in the not to exceed amount of $184,700 for the Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements.” ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution Ordering Preparation of a Feasibility Report and Preparation of Plans and Specifications. 2. Project Location Map and Proposed Improvement Exhibit. 3. Project Schedule. CITY OF LAKE ELMO WASHINGTON COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2021-073 A RESOLUTION ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF A FEASIBILITY REPORT AND PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE WHISTLING VALLEY STREET & UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, the City maintains a 5-year revolving Street Capital Improvement Program (Street CIP) that identifies the present and future needs and priorities, and develops a schedule of public improvements to address the most essential improvements first; and WHEREAS, the public streets located in the Whistling Valley subdivision have been identified for improvement in the year 2022; and WHEREAS, the properties in the Whistling Valley subdivision reside in the Special Well Construction Area due to PFAS contamination, and the PFAS contamination exceeds HBV levels for drinking water, and 18 private well advisories have been issued in this area; and WHEREAS, the City of Lake Elmo submitted an application for grant funding from the MPCA through the 2018 3M Settlement Funds for Expedited Projects to extend municipal water service to the neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the MPCA awarded grant funding in the amount of $3,660,000 as outlined in the MPCA Grant Agreement, Contract Number 188422; and WHEREAS, it is proposed to assess the benefiting properties for all or a portion of the cost of the improvements, pursuant to the City’s Special Assessment Policy and Minnesota Statues, Chapter 429. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the proposed improvement, called Whistling Valley Street and Utility Improvements, be referred to the City Engineer and FOCUS Engineering, to complete a feasibility report in accordance with Minnesota Statues, Chapter 429 for the proposed improvements, and to report to the council with all convenient speed advising the council in a preliminary way as to whether the proposed improvement is necessary, cost-effective, and feasible; whether it should be best made as proposed or in connection with some other improvement; the estimated cost of the improvement as recommended; and a description of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for affected parcels. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The City Engineer is hereby designated as the engineer for making this improvement. The engineer, and his consultants, shall oversee the preparation of the Plans and Specifications for the making of such improvement. ADOPTED BY THE LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL ON THE SIXTH DAY OF JULY, 2021. CITY OF LAKE ELMO (Seal) ATTEST: By: __________________________ Charles Cadenhead ____________________________ Mayor Julie Johnson City Clerk TOWER #2 TOWER #1WELL #1 WELL #4 WELL #2 TOWER #4 STATION #1INWOOD BOOSTER TOWER WELL STATION BOOSTER CITY OF LAKE ELMO Feet 0 2500 5000 |LEGENDEXISTING HYDRANT|EXISTING WATERMAINPROPOSED HYDRANT|PROPOSED WATERMAINPROPOSED WATER SERVICEPROPOSED GATE VALVEFeet0300600WHISTLING VALLEY TRL N10TH ST LN N WHI S T L I N G VA L L EY RD10TH ST NWHISTLING VALLEY STREET AND UTILITYIMPROVEMENTSCITY OF LAKE ELMO,MINNESOTAJULY, 2020PROPOSEDIMPROVEMENTS10TH ST NWHI S T L ING VA L L EY RDCONNECT TO EXISTINGWATERMAINEXISTING 10"HDPE WATERMAIN PROJECT SCHEDULE CITY OF LAKE ELMO WHISTLING VALLEY STREET AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 2020.123 FOCUS ENGINEERING, inc. Cara Geheren, P.E. 651.300.4261 Jack Griffin, P.E. 651.300.4264 Ryan Stempski, P.E. 651.300.4267 Chad Isakson, P.E. 651.300.4283 APRIL 6, 2021 Council Approves MPCA Grant Agreement. JULY 6, 2021 Council orders preparation of Feasibility Report and Design Phase Services. OCTOBER 19, 2021 Presentation of Feasibility Report. Council accepts Report and calls for Improvement Hearing. Council approves Plans and Specifications and orders Advertisement for Bids. NOVEMBER 17, 2021 Project Bid Date: Receive contractor bids. DECEMBER 7, 2021 Public Improvement Hearing. Council Orders the Improvement (4/5th Vote). Council accepts Bids and awards Contract. MARCH, 2022 Conduct Pre‐Construction Meeting and issue Notice to Proceed.  OCTOBER 14, 2022 Substantial Completion.  NOVEMBER 25, 2022 Final Completion. *Final Assessment Hearing Schedule TBD