4.9. SR 10-18-1999
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Item #4.9.
MEMORANDUM
RiverTO:
FROM:
Mayor & City Council
Pat Klaers, City A70r
October 18, 1999
DATE:
SUBJECT: Update on Northstar Access Fiber
Optics Program
Representatives of Northstar Access and/or the CC&I Engineering firm will
be at this City Council meeting to discuss what Northstar Access is all about
and the project they are proposing. Please see the attached report from City
Engineer Terry Maurer dated October 13, 1999, on this request.
.
From our staff meeting with the Northstar Access representative and
representatives of CC&I Engineering, I understood that the fiber optic cable
trunk line has already been installed within the Highway 169 right-of-way.
Accordingly, construction is ready to begin as soon as council approval is
received.
I echo the city engineer's comments and recommendations aslisted in his
report and would like to note the following:
· While seeding may be appropriate in some areas, the city must
be able to require sod when we feel it is appropriate and this will
generally be required in some of the newer subdivisions.
· The city should determine the location of the cable in the city
right-of-way and the location of the junction boxes.
· This "permit" only be given for six months - meaning that the
permit will end in mid April- at which time another permit will
need to be obtained. By April 2000, the city should have a
formal permitting process for these types of requests.
· A bond of $25,000 be required for this six month permit in order
to ensure appropriate restoration.
.
13065 Orono Parkway. P.O. Box 490. Elk River, MN 55330. TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420. Fax: (612) 441-7425
OCT-13-1999 14:34
HR GREEN CO.
651 644 2349 P.02/03
.
Howard R. Green 'Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
October 13, 1999
File: 808550J-0325
Mr. Pat Klaers
City Administrator
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: f\ORTHSTAR ACCESS
Dear Mr. Klaers:
.
As you are aware, yesterday we had a meeting with a representative of Northstar Access and
three representatives of CC & I Engineering. Northstar Access is a new company formed by
two existing companies, Connexus and Sherburne Rural Telephone. Their mission is to provide
consume,rs an alternative choice for telephone, internet and potentially cable TV service.
Northstal- Access is requesting approval to install a fiber-optic cable in the Lafayette Woods sub-
division. In order to access Lafayette Woods they are proposing to cross through the
Brentwood subdivision. In addition they plan to come out of the south end of Lafayette Woods
and into =Ik River Industrial Park. In the next construction season they have indicated it would
be their elesire to continue installing fiber-optic cable throughout the populated portions of the
City of Elk River.
As you are aware, we have no formal permit process for these types of requests, in fact this is
the first request of this type we have ever received. Some of the issues that we discussed that
ought to tie considerations for issuing permission to Northstar Access would be the following:
. The type of restoration that will be used and the timing for implementing the
restoration for all disturbed areas. Northstar Access has indicated their normal
restoration would be seeding disturbed areas, potentially they could hydro-seed the
areas. I question whether seeding is an appropriate restoration method in the
Lafayette Woods subdivision. Most of the homes in this area have nicely manicured
lawns and I assume many of them have irrigation systems.
. The location of the cable within the right-of-way should be dictated by the City. In
other words, the cable should be as far removed from the street as possible and not
fall under sidewalks in areas where sidewalks do exist.
.
. The placement of junction boxes should be dictated by the City, I believe that
Northstar Access will want to install junction boxes very similar to U.S. West. These
boxes are approximately 8-inches square and tend to fall on every other lot corner, I
would suggest that the City insists that the junction boxes be placed where current
boxes already exist and try to keep lot corners clear that are currently free of these
types of installations.
\\SPNWF$\vOL 1 \DA T A\PROJ\808550J\0325\klaers.1302.oct99.doc
132€ Energy Park Drive . Sl Paul, MN 55108 . 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
OCT-13-1999 14:35
HR GREEN CO.
651 644 2349 P.03/03
. Mr, Pat Klaers
October ',3, 1999
Page TWI)
. I would suggest some type of letter of credit or security to insure adequate and timely
restoration in the disturbed areas. Since this initial request is a relatively small area
of the City, it could be treated as a test case for Northstar Access. For this first
request I would recommend a security of at least $25,000.
I would rElcommend that the City staff work through the winter months to come up with a more
formalized permit process incorporating some of these issues along with any other issues
brought Lip by staff or City Council. I believe that this initial request from Northstar Access will
likely be followed by other similar requests as the City of Elk River continues to grow.
If you have any questions regarding these issues please call.
Sincerely.
Howard R Green Company
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Howard R. Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
October 13, 1999
File: SOS550J-0325
Mr. Pat Klaers
City Administrator
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: NORTHSTAR ACCESS
Dear Mr. Klaers:
.
As you are aware, yesterday we had a meeting with a representative of Northstar Access and
three representatives of CC & I Engineering. Northstar Access is a new company formed by
two existing companies, Connexus and Sherburne Rural Telephone. Their mission is to provide
consumers an alternative choice for telephone, internet and potentially cable TV service.
Northstar Access is requesting approval to install a fiber-optic cable in the Lafayette Woods sub-
division. In order to access Lafayette Woods they are proposing to cross through the
Brentwood subdivision. In addition they plan to come out of the south end of Lafayette Woods
and into Elk River Industrial Park. In the next construction season they have indicated it would
be their desire to continue installing fiber-optic cable throughout the populated portions of the
City of Elk River.
As you are aware, we have no formal permit process for these types of requests, in fact this is
the first request of this type we have ever received. Some of the issues that we discussed that
ought to be considerations for issuing permission to Northstar Access would be the following:
. The type of restoration that will be used and the timing for implementing the
restoration for all disturbed areas. Northstar Access has indicated their normal
restoration would be seeding disturbed areas, potentially they could hydro-seed the
areas. I question whether seeding is an appropriate restoration method in the
Lafayette Woods subdivision. Most of the homes in this area have nicely manicured
lawns and I assume many of them have irrigation systems.
. The location of the cable within the right-of-way should be dictated by the City. In
other words, the cable should be as far removed from the street as possible and not
fall under sidewalks in areas where sidewalks do exist.
.
. The placement of junction boxes should be dictated by the City. I believe that
Northstar Access will want to install junction boxes very similar to U.S. West. These
boxes are approximately S-inches square and tend to fall on every other lot corner. I
would suggest that the City insists that the junction boxes be placed where current
boxes already exist and try to keep lot corners clear that are currently free of these
types of installations.
\\SPNWFS\vOL 1 \DA T A \PROJ\808550J\0325\klaers-1302.oct99.doc
1326 Energy Park Drive. 51. Paul, MN 55108 . 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
. Mr. Pat Klaers
October 13, 1999
Page Two
. I would suggest some type of letter of credit or security to insure adequate and timely
restoration in the disturbed areas. Since this initial request is a relatively small area
of the City, it could be treated as a test case for Northstar Access. For this first
request I would recommend a security of at least $25,000.
I would recommend that the City staff work through the winter months to come up with a more
formalized permit process incorporating some of these issues along with any other issues
brought up by staff or City Council. I believe that this initial request from Northstar Access will
likely be followed by other similar requests as the City of Elk River continues to grow.
If you have any questions regarding these issues please call.
Sincerely,
.
Howard R. Green Company
~f:
/~ ~. ,',/t;(,u)
Terry J. aurer, P.E.
.
\\SPNWFS\VOL 1\DATA\PROJ\808tjQ~ar:g1a.~r.~~n Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS