4.1. SR 07-28-1997ITEM 4.1.
Howard R, Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
July 24, 1997
File: 230-347-20
~OGUL~NGI~i~
Formerly
Consulting Engineers
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of.Elk River
13065 Oreno Parkway
P,O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE:
FENCING AND LIGHTING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
TRUNK HIGHWAY 169 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
Dear Council Members:
As directed by the City Council, we have been working on plans and specifications for
the fencing of the TH 169 corridor from Main Street to 193rd Avenue. At the same time,
MnDOT has been worki,g On lighting plans for the same stretch of highway. As we
have discussed before, MnDOT has requested that these two projects be combined for
bidding and construction purposes. They would like the City of Elk River to take the lead
in the letting of this project and overseeing the construction. We have now received the
lighting plans fram MnDOT andare in the process of blending the two projects together.
The action that is necessary for the City Council to take at this time would be to approve
the plans and'specifications and authorize the advertisement for bids. A brief description
of the major components of the project is as follows:
The fencing plan consists of a 6-foot high cyclone fence generally placed along
the right-of-way line on both sides of the highway corridor from Main Street to
193rd Avenue. The three locations that the fence will deviate from the righl-of-
way line are at the large wetland complex on the east side near 193rd Avenue.
The second location is along the Dodge Avenue curb line where it will be offset
by twelve feet to allow adequate snow storage. The final location is along the
Auto Mall, Pizza Hut, and Superamerica on the west side of the highway near
Main Street. At this location, it is then proposed that the fence be located 30 feet
into the right-of-way to minimize the visual impact' on the adjacent businesses.
MnDOT has approved these modifications to the fence location with the condition
that the City, in turn, agrees to maintain the highway right-of-way behind the
fence. I have discussed the need for the property owners to take on the
responsibility for grass cutting and litter pickup in the area of the Auto Mall with
J.R. of J.R, Tach. If the Council directs the plans to be advertised for bid, I will
follow up with the other business owners in that area to ensure that they will take
on this responsibility.
Honorable Mayor and City Council
July 24, 1997
Page Two
The lighting plan consists of 62 light fixtures which are cobra head style, 40 feet
in height, with a 9-foot cobra head. They will each have a 250-watt, high
pressure sodium lamp. The light fixtures appear to be located along each side of
the highway approximately 225 to 250 feet on center. The lights will generally be
directly opposite each other on the east and west sides of the highway.
MnDOT has requested that we include in the fencing plan fence to be located on
three sides of the Park and Ride area located south of Main Street on the east
side of the highway. This apparently is in response to a number of problems in
this area with vandalism of parked cars.
MnDOT has also requested that we include in this project the installation of
crosswalks at the Main Street, School Street, and 193rd Avenue intersection.s.
In the past several weeks, there have been discussions regarding whether the fence
should be installed along both sides of the right-of-way or just along one side. Most
commonly, the one side discussion proposed the fencing along the east side of the
highway north of School Street, and on the west side of the highway south of School
Street. The reason suggested for this change in plans is because of the openings, that
cannot be fenced along the highway right-of-way with the interjection of 5th Street on the
east side and the entrance to Elk Park Center on the west side, I have previcusly
discussed this concept with Gary Dirlam, MnDOT Traffic Engineer, and he has indicated
that MnDOT would agree to this change in the plans, with the condition that if the City
Council decides to fence only one side of the highway in the future, any additional fence
would be installed at City cost.
Attached for the City Council's consideration is a resolution which approves the plans
and specifications, and authorizes the advertisement for bids. It would be appropria*,e to
have any discussion regarding the potential change in the fencing plan prier to
consideration of this resolution.
I will be in attendance at Monday evening's City Council meeting should you have any
questions.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
Terry lurer, P.E.
TJM:tw
Attachment
O :'~proj~230:347~347-2403,Jul
Howard R, Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
RESOLUTION 97-
A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
AND ORDERING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
IN THE MATTER OF THE FENCING AND LIGHTING
IMPROVEMENT OF 1997
WHEREAS
pursuant to City Council direction, the Project Engineer has prepared
plans and specifications for the Fencing and Lighting improvement along
Th 169, which plans and specifications have been reviewed by the C.~ty;
NOW, THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Elk River,
Minnesota:
Such plans and specifications, a copy of which is attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference, are hereby approved.
The City Administrator shall prepare and obtain the publication of an
advertisement for bids for the making of the improvement pursuant to the
attached plans and specifications. The advertisement shall be published once
each week for three consecutive weeks, shall specify the work to be done, and
shall state that the bids will be received by the City Administrator until 10:00 a.m.
on Wednesday, August 20. 1997, at which time the bids will be publicly opened
in the Council chambers of the City Hall by the City Administrator and the Project
Engineer and will then be tabulated for consideration by the City Council at a
meeting thereof at 6:00 o'clock p..m. on Monday, August 25, 1997, in the City
Council chambers at City Hall. No bids will be considered unless sealed end
filed with the City Administrator and accompanied by a cash deposit, cashier's
check, bid bond, or certified check payable to the City Administrator ir~ the
amount of $% of the amount of such bid.
Passed and adopted this 28th day of July, 1997.
ATTEST:
Henry A. Duitsman, Mayor
Sandra A. Thackeray, City Clerk