4.5. SR 01-19-1999
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Howard R. Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
m
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
Formerly MSA
Consulting Engineers
January 14, 1999
File: 803570J-0030
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE: SCHOOL STREET FEASIBILITY STUDY
Dear Council Members:
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Attached is a copy of the Feasibility Study for the School Street Improvements between Proctor
Avenue and Jackson Avenue. This study was authorized by the City Council in May of 1998. It
was originally anticipated that this would be a 1998 improvement. The proposed improvement
consists of the completion of the widening of School Street to a four-lane facility from its current
location just west of Jackson Avenue to Proctor Avenue. It also includes construction of a
sidewalk along the south side of the road between Proctor Avenue and Jackson Avenue.
After the project was initiated by the City Council, there were a number of meetings between
City Staff and School District Staff and between the City Council and School Board Members.
Through these various meetings it was agreed to delay the project to 1999. At the same time,
however, it was decided to proceed with the School Street improvements west of Proctor
Avenue in 1998. This was done to save the School District's ALC project the cost of restoring
School Street after installing the storm sewer. After these decisions were reached, the School
Board did authorize the granting of an easement to the City along the north side of School
Street to facilitate the construction of the widened street. In 1998, Elk River Municipal Utilities
moved power poles along the north side of School Street to allow for the widening project to
take place.
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As directed by the City Council in 1998, the feasibility study proposes the assessment of the
sidewalk along the south side of School Street to those abutting properties on a front foot basis.
The recommended assessment rate is $12.00 per front foot. The feasibility study goes on to
take the remaining project cost and assess half of it to the School District and proposes the
funding of the other half with Municipal State Aid Construction Funds. The rational used by the
City Council in determining the assessment method was the increased traffic generated by the
School District and increased accidents during the school day. The feasibility study does
include traffic counts along this portion of School Street taken both in early August and late
September while school is out of session and just after school is back in session. These traffic
counts indicate that the number of vehicle trips along School Street increased by approximately
o.lproj.l570-0112.jan
1326 Energy Park Drive. 81. Paul, MN 55108 . 612/644-4389 fax 612/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
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The Honorable Mayor and City Council
January 14, 1999
Page two
50 percent when school is in session. This increase amounted to over 4,000 additional trips
when school is in session. In addition to the traffic counts, the Police Chief provided the
following accident information to the City Council at one of their discussions of the School Street
project.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
1996
Total
Durin!:! School Hours
School Street
Jackson Avenue/School Street
Proctor Avenue/School Street
18
15
7
15
7
4
1997
Total
Durin!:! School Hours
School Street
Jackson Avenue/School Street
Proctor Avenue/School Street
17
13
4
15
9
3
There were a number of different funding scenarios suggested by the School District when the
discussions with the City were taking place last year. Since School Street is on the City's
Municipal State Aid system, all of the proposed improvements are eligible for Municipal State
Aid funding. Prior to holding a public hearing, the current Council may want to revisit some of
these funding discussions that were held last year. Therefore, we are recommending that the
public hearing be held on February 22, 1999 to allow time, if necessary, for the Council to
consider other funding scenarios. Attached is resolution for the City Council's consideration,
which receives the feasibility study and orders the public hearing for the School Street
improvements to be held on February 22, 1999.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, please call.
Sincerely,
HOWARD R. GREEN COMPANY
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Terry J.I\4'~urer, P.E.
Attachment
o.lproj.l570-0112.jan
Howard R. Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
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RESOLUTION 99 -
A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
A RESOLUTION RECEIVING THE FEASIBILITY REPORT
AND ORDERING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE SCHOOL STREET
IMPROVEMENT OF 1999
WHEREAS, the feasibility Report ordered by the Council in Resolution 98-52 has been
prepared with reference to the School Street improvement and was received by
the City on January 19, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the Feasibility Report recommends that the proposed improvement is feasible;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Elk River, Minnesota:
1. The City Council will consider the School Street improvement as described in the
Feasibility Report and the assessment of the property abutting this proposed
improvement for all or a portion of the cost of the improvement pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes, Section 429 at an estimated total cost for the improvement of $315,000.00.
2.
A public hearing shall be held before the City Council on the proposed improvement on
the 22nd day of February, 1999, at 6:00 o'clock p.m. at Elk River City Hall Council
Chambers.
3. The City Clerk shall provide two published notices (one week apart) in the official
newspaper with at least three days between the last publication date and the hearing,
and mailed notice ten days prior to the hearing as required by law.
Passed and adopted this 19th day of January 1999.
Stephanie A. Klinzing, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sandra A. Peine, City Clerk