8.2. SR 08-20-2012 City of REQUEST FOR ACTION
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To ITEM NUMBER
Mayor and City Council 8.2
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
General Business August 20, 2012 Jerem y Barnhart,Planning Manager
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED R
Orono Median Plan Cal Portner, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY
ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize staff to request quotes to improve Orono Parkway consistent with Option 2, including the
mowing of the prairie grasses in later July when they exceed 30 inches in height.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At the May 21, 2012, Council meeting, the Council agreed to continue the discussion on the Orono
Parkway improvements until August. It was determined that the grasses and plant materials needed to
grow to allow for a better understanding of their impacts to the area.
The prairie grasses have grown and were mowed to approximately 18 inches at the end of July.
On August 14, staff reviewed the sight visibility issues at the three intersections along Orono Parkway
(Fresno, the western entrance to the public safety building, and the Library/ City Hall entrance). At that
time, staff placed stakes within which mass plantings should not exceed 30 inches. These are intended to
help the Council and interested persons visualize the breadth of impact to the prairie grasses. There is no
concern with single trunk trees or the flower end caps recently installed due to their length. The areas of
concern are shown on the attached graphic as black triangles.
With this information,it becomes clear that prairie plants are not appropriate in the Orono median
unless they are mowed in late July, after they have flowered and they exceed 30 inches.
Staff has identified a number of options to improve Orono Parkway while addressing the visibility
concerns.
Option 1. Leave the prairie planted median as is. The"do nothing" plan. The median would be
mowed after the bloom period (late July) to about 18 inches and left as it currently sits until new
growth in the spring. Analysis:The least expensive of the options. In staffs opinion, this does not
address the beautification goals.
Option 2. Add over story and ornamental trees and mow prairie grasses where they obstruct vision.
Retain recently planted ornamental plants. Analysis: Staff's recommendation—addresses
beautification,visibility, cost, and maintenance goals.
P B E R E 0 a r
N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\08-20-2012\SR to CC boulevards 8-20-12.docx
Option 3. Add overstory and ornamental trees,retain prairie grass in center (mow late July), add turf
grasses to edges. Analysis: Requires irrigation,is costly,but meets the beautification,visibility, and
maintenance goals, although weekly snowing would be required. If irrigation is added, there is no
reason to retain prairie plantings.
Option 4.Add overstory and ornamental trees and add turf grass to remaining areas. Analysis:
Requires irrigation,is costly, but meets the beautification and visibility goals, although weekly
mowing would be required.
Option 5. Add overstory and ornamental trees,place rock mulch in center, and replace outside
areas with turf grass. Analysis: Requires irrigation,is costly, but meets the beautification,visibility,
and maintenance goals, although weekly mowing would be required. Frequent weeding of mulch
areas will be necessary.
Option 6.Add overstory and ornamental trees,place wood mulch in center, and replace outside
areas with turf grass. Analysis: Requites irrigation,is costly, but meets the beautification,visibility,
and maintenance goals, although weekly mowing would be required. Frequent weeding of mulch
areas will be necessary.
Irrigation. Understanding the Council's concern with the aesthetics of prairie type plantings, it is
apparent that the introduction of turf grass will require an irrigation system. While staff understands
there was irrigation in the median in the past, all connections to this system were removed when the
berms were removed. Of the $40,000 irrigation estimate, $35,000 is the landscape architects estimate of
the system, $5,000 for the WAC fee and other incidental plumbing costs associated with creating a new
service near the Fresno Street alignment. It is possible that a lower cost could be identified by the
contractor during the quoting process.
Maintenance expectations. One of the draws of the current prairie planting configuration is the limited
maintenance necessary. Improvements to the boulevard will require additional maintenance,including
hand watering the tree installation until establishment (plans with no irrigation),mowing (plans with turf
grass), and weeding (plans with mulch areas). These items could be handled by Parks and Recreation
staff or contracted with bids.
Recall that there is over 2000 linear feet of median on Orono. In formulating staff's recommendation,it
was our belief that the aesthetic concern did not outweigh the expense of the irrigation system.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
ATTACHMENTS
• Planting plan
• Obstruction illustration
• Cost summary
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\08-20-2012\SR to CC boulevards 8-20-12.docx
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Orono Parkway median options
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Option 6
No irrigation Irrigation
Prairie grass Grass Rock Mulch Wood Mulch
Median 1 $ - $ 2,008.00 $ 3,293.00 $ 1,442.00
Turf strip $ 2,935.68 $ 2,935.68 $ 2,935.68 $ 2,935.68
Edging $ 4,016.00 $ 4,016.00 $ 4,016.00 $ 4,016.00
Median 2 $ - $ 3,520.00 $ 5,790.00 $ 2,536.00
Turf strip $ 4,235.44 $ 4,235.44 $ 4,235.44 $ 4,235.44
Edging $ 6,400.00 $ 6,400.00 $ 6,400.00 $ 6,400.00
Median 3 $ - $ 1,576.00 $ 2,597.00 $ 1,122.00
Turf strip $ 1,629.76 $ 1,629.76 $ 1,629.76 $ 1,629.76
Edging $ 2,464.00 $ 2,464.00 $ 2,464.00 $ 2,464.00
Median 4 $ - $ 749.00 $ 749.00 $ 749.00
Median 5 $ - $ 1,402.00 $ 2,333.00 $ 1,008.00
Turf strip $ 2,029.78 $ 2,029.78 $ 2,029.78 $ 2,029.78
Edging $ 2,520.00 $ 2,520.00 $ 2,520.00 $ 2,520.00
Trees $ 12,550.00 $ 12,550.00 $ 12,550.00 $ 12,550.00 $ 12,550.00
Subtotal $ 38,780.66 $ 48,035.66 $ 53,542.66 $ 45,637.66
I&M $ 1,255.00 $ 3,878.07 $ 4,803.57 $ 5,354.27 $ 4,563.77
Site prep $ 2,627.00 $ 4,520.00 $ 4,520.00
Irrigation $ 40,000.00 $ 40,000.00 $ 40,000.00 $ 40,000.00
Total $ - $ 13,805.00 $ 82,658.73 $ 95,466.23 $ 103,416.93 $ 94,721.43
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