Agenda Packets - 1995/09/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCILMEMBER'S REPORT Submitted by: Councilmember Julie Trude Topic of Report: Pedestrian Bridge Date of Report: August 31, 1995 SUMMARY: Additional information has been pulled together by staff to answer your questions about the potential financing, maintenance and use of the proposed pedestrian bridge for which we have been awarded a federal grant of $480, 000. As you have noticed, residents have attended several work sessions this summer anticipating possible action by the Council on this item. In addition, we have received several letters from residents, even a letter from a Shoreview resident who has children employed and attending school in Mounds View. I've been contacted by many members of our commissions, FOCUS 2000 issue study groups, and people who want this bridge built that have never come to City Hall for any other issue. The issue is whether the City Council approves the 20% matching portion of this grant ($120, 000) and agrees to enter into a fixed price contract with BRW for the engineering, design and construction management and inspection costs (about $63,000) . All of the architectural/design firms believed that an attractive, creative and functional design, requiring virtually no maintenance, would come in under the $600, 000 allowed for this project. Some of the options available include using colored concrete, arching the walkway to reduce the amount of ramping required to enter the walkway, ornamental railing and lighting, a roof design that ties in with the architecture of the shopping centers and library, circular ramps as opposed to the switchback ramp, identifying our city on the side of the bridge, etc. The grant was awarded to our city under the "Enhancement" category and the engineering experts have informed us that rules about approved construction materials will allow more creativity in 1996 than has been the case in the past.