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Public Works Project Updates October 26, 2009 Page 2 Parking Lot Lighting Improvements at Silver View Park: The construction of two additional parking lot light fixtures at Silver View Park is currently being coordinated with Xcel Energy. Xcel will furnish, install, and maintain the light fixtures and in return, the City pays for energy usage associated with those lights (estimated around $66 per month). Most street lights in Mounds View are operating under these agreements with Xcel. The City is required to cover any costs associated with supplying power to those light fixtures, which totals $2,064 for the pair of lights being installed at Silver View Park. These costs will be covered by Bethlehem Baptist Church from their donation in August 2009 tagged for this use. Parking Lot Lighting Improvements at Random Park: Public Works staff is evaluating the best way to provide lighting for the parking lot at Random Park. Staff is scheduled to meet with an electrician to investigate adding a fixture on the building to address the lighting needs of the parking lot. If lighting from the building is inadequate, staff will pursue a pole mounted light fixture in the lot (by Xcel or City-owned). The Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission recommended that construction for this lighting not exceed $2,000 and be funded by the Park Dedication Fund. New Maintenance Standards for Traffic Sign Reflectivity: New mandates from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are been adopted relating to new traffic sign reflectivity standards. The City is required by Federal law to establish and implement a sign assessment or management method to maintain minimum levels of sign reflectivity by January 2012. Compliance for regulatory, warning, and ground-mounted guide signs is January 2015 and compliance for overhead guide signs and street name signs is January 2018. City staff has been evaluating all traffic signs in areas included in the Streets and Utilities Improvement Program. However, a more formal sign management plan will be developed to inventory and assess all City-owned traffic and street signs, including the systematic on-going periodic assessment, maintenance, and replacement of these signs. City Forestry Update: Rick Whiskey’s last day as City Forester was September 30, 2009. This position was a shared expense between New Brighton and Mounds View through a Joint Powers Agreement established in 1981. Staff from both cities have expressed interest in continuing the agreement and have placed the agreement “on-hold” until a new City Forester is hired or six months from Rick’s departure, whichever occurs first. Under the current agreement, the City Forester spends 1-1/2 days, or 30% of his time, on Mounds View’s forestry needs. Mounds View’s cost for this position is pro-rated to this amount. If the City Forester is to be rehired by New Brighton, it’s expected that this position will be filled by April 2010. In the interim, each city has been on their own with any forestry needs. The Public Works Department has taken on the city forestry services on behalf of Mounds View during this time. Some of these tasks have/will include the following: • Re-inspecting diseased oaks marked for removal (deadline is November 1); • Trimming trees in parks and right-of-way; • Contracting for trimming services (bucket truck and chipper); • Applying for Tree City USA Recertification; • Coordination for the spring tree sale; and • Initiating plans to deal with Emerald Ash Borer. Respectfully submitted, Nick DeBar - Public Works Director