5.4 ERMUSR 08-11-2020UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:FROM:
ERMU Commission Chris Kerzman –Engineering Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
August 11, 2020 5.4
SUBJECT:
Field Services Facility Expansion Project
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize ERMU staff to request the City Council initiate vacation of the portion of right of way
on the attached exhibits, if the property owners at 1433 Main Street do not sign on to the
petition.
BACKGROUND:
Staff is continuing work on the design of the field services facility with the architect. The current
plans are attached for reference. Estimates used in 2017 for wetland impacts did not factor
enough of an impact from the base material for retaining walls at the eastern edge of the
property. This estimate would not allow us to extend the paved area to the easternproperty
line and would limit future inventory and expansion options. Resolving this would involve
impacting approximately 0.085 additional acres. The need to acquire credits at a 2:1 ratio
requires the purchase of approximately 0.17 acres of wetland credits.
As part of the application to the City, ERMU needs to request that the City vacate the right of
th
way for the portion of 4 (Depot) street that runs through the property. We would request that
only the portion that is within the project area be vacated to leave the driveway access to the
neighboring residential properties. As ERMU owns all other propertiesabutting the right of way
that were part of the original platwhen the right of way was dedicated, ERMUis entitled to the
entire vacated right ofway.
Staff would also like to discuss options for signage along the corner of Main Street and Main
Street. With the city force main replacement, there has been increased public interest in the
area, and with our plans to submit an application to the city, information on the project and
contact informationwill help answer residents questions quickly and accurately.
DISCUSSION:
We are progressing with the plans for the Field Services Facility Expansion Project. While
working with the civil engineers, we have discovered that we need additional wetland credits
than we had purchased in 2017. We expect to need to purchase approximately 0.17 acres of
wetland credits, typical pricing has been $2.30 - $2.50 per square foot. This would result in a
cost of up to $18,000. Credits that were purchased from the City of Elk River three years ago
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were significantly cheaper and we have reached out to city staff to see if purchase from the City
is an option this year.
Staff sent a letter to theproperty owners of 1433 Main Streetrequesting they sign onto a
petition to vacate the portion of right of way shown on the attached exhibits. Since their
property abuts the right of way, we need their signature to initiate a petition to vacate the right
of way. If the property owners are not interested in signing on to a petition, ERMU would need
to request that the City Council initiate vacation of the right of way. Staff requests a motion
authorizing them to request the City Council initiate vacation of the portion of right of way on
the attached exhibits if the property owners do not to sign on to the petition.
The petition to vacate the right of way, or the request to City Council to initiate the vacation,
will be submitted to the City on August 31 along with the application to replat the property and
the application for a conditional use permit for the project. The request to initiate the vacation,
if necessary, would go to the City Council on September 8. If the City Council initiates the
vacation (or a signed petition to vacate is submitted), the vacation, plat and, conditional use
permit will be heard by the Planning Commission on September 24 and by the City Council on
October 19.
Kodet has provided a sketch for a sign to put at the corner of Main Street and Main Street,
where the residential properties are located. We would like to get commission input on
anything additional to put on the sign, and a timeframe for putting up the sign.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
We expect that the funds previously approved for design costs will cover the amount needed
for the additional wetland credits, which will be replenished from bonding next year. No
additional financial impact is expected beyond what has previously been approved.
ATTACHMENTS:
Field Services Building Perspective Drawing
Field Services Building Preliminary Plans
Field Services Building Proposed Sign Sketch
Field Services Building Easement Vacation Exhibits
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