Agenda Packets - 2012/11/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 7D Meeting Date: November 26, 2012 Type of Business: Council Business Administrator Review: ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Nick DeBar, Public Works Director Item Title/Subject: Resolution 8023, Authorizing Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to Perform Final Design and Prepare Bidding Documents for County Road H Sidewalk Project Background: The City has been pursuing improvements to the trailway and sidewalk system over the past few years to make the community “walkable” and provide regional connections. The Comprehensive Plan contains a citywide trailway and sidewalk map that shows existing and proposed trails and walks (see attached). This is the official map to be used and referenced for any new trail or sidewalk. Trails and sidewalks are constructed as stand-alone projects, or as part of street and utility improvement projects if located adjacent to a street being reconstructed. A sidewalk in the north boulevard of County Road H was proposed by Public Works as an alternate to the proposed trail/sidewalk along Woodcrest Drive, between Silver Lake Road and Long Lake Road, during Area E discussions at a Streets and Utilities Committee meeting last fall. The Committee agreed with Public Works that County Road H would be a more suitable location, but thought the Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission should also consider the proposal. The Commission also agreed that the County Road H option was far better and further recommended that the sidewalk be extended to Edgewood Drive to accommodate the middle school pedestrian traffic. Currently, sidewalk exists in the south boulevard (New Brighton side) of County Road H between Silver Lake Road and Edgewood Drive. The proposal for a sidewalk along County Road H was not included in the Area E project due to project schedule and winter weather conditions (for surveying). In May 2012, the City Council authorized Stantec to perform preliminary engineering design services for a proposed sidewalk between Silver Lake Road and Edgewood Drive (Res. 7935). Stantec completed the preliminary design services in summer 2012, including a topographic survey, base drawing, sidewalk layout, cost estimate, and identification of potential issues and conflicts. The sidewalk layout map and proposed typical section is attached to this report. The preliminary layout and details were reviewed with the Parks Commission in June 2012, and a public information meeting was held in conjunction with the Parks Commission meeting in July 2012. All adjacent 26 property owners were mailed a notice of the meeting and invited to attend. Approximately 20 individuals attended the Commission meeting and provided feedback to the Commission. With several exceptions, property owners appeared to be open minded about the proposed sidewalk. It is likely that having the sidewalk immediately adjacent to a new curb and gutter, coupled with knowing that Public Works will be responsible to clear the sidewalk of snow, provided some relief to the adjacent property owners. The Parks Commission unanimously recommended moving ahead with the proposed sidewalk at that meeting. Discussion: Public Works has been coordinating details of the proposed sidewalk with Stantec and Ramsey County Public Works over the past few months. The City will need to get approval from Ramsey County to construct and maintain the sidewalk within their County Road H right-of-way. Ramsey County has a cost-share policy for new sidewalks initiated by municipalities where they will contribute 25% of the construction costs. There are proposed changes to this cost-share policy to