5.2. SR 05-01-2006
City of Elk River
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Section Meeting Date
Administration May 1, 2006
Item Number
5.2.
Prepared by
Scott Clark, Community Development
Director
Reviewed by
Item Description
Temporary Changes to Downtown Traffic Flow Plan
Introduction
Staff is in receipt of a letter dated April 27, 2006 from the Bank of Elk River's contractor (VanMan) to
temporarily re-route a portion of Main Street for a period of three months, starting on or around May 2,
2006. In turn, Metro Plains has submitted a letter dated April 24, 2006 stating that they will abide by the
construction schedule and traffic plan that was approved by the City on July 18, 2005. These two
positions appear to conflict with each other since the re-routing of a portion of Main Street, coupled with
the MetroPlains approved plan, creates a one-way Jackson Avenue that will create a temporary dead-end
in downtown. Staff is of the opinion that by a series of signage and other changes this situation, although
not ideal, could work and will appear as an option. The work on Main Street will have extensive utility
work for two to four weeks (the majority of this work is driven by Metro Plains) with the additional two
months necessary for the bank's contractor to complete retaining wall work and other improvements on
the front side of the bank. This aforementioned work must be completed with equipment located along a
portion of Main Street between Jackson Ave and Highway 10.
The second factor that complicates the picture is the necessity of MetroPlains to start construction on
Jackson Place. At this time, Metro Plains is of the opinion that their financing will be in place by June and
a June 15,2006 construction start is a possibility. At this time, MetroPlains has completed all of the
necessary steps in the Development Agreement to accomplish the transfer of Jackson Square and all
building permits have been reviewed and approved. Staff has reviewed with MetroPlains the feasibility of
having their construction limits extend only to the curb line until the re-opening of Main Street (which
keeps Jackson Avenue a two-way) and then have the construction limit fence extend into Jackson Avenue
(30 ft.) as agreed to by the Council in the summer of 2005. MetroPlains is of the opinion that this
physically does not work and that due to the limited construction area, they need the 30 ft. construction
limit in order to build. It should also be noted that the City's park construction and ERMU's directional
boring summer project should not affect these schedules.
Discussion
Staff has had a series of internal meetings with all departments affected by this request. In addition, staff
has been constandy in contact with the Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association's members (both
bye-mail and in person) to explain the fact situation and the preliminary recommendations. As discussed
with the Association, staff will be having more discussions between the time of the writing of this report
and the Council meeting so additional information may be forthcoming.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
. MetroPlains approved (2005) construction and traffic flow plan
. Proposed Main Street Re-Route Plan Option 1 )
. Proposed Main Street Re-Route Plan (Option 2 )
. Downtown Traffic Flow after Re-Route
. Draft Signage and Detour Plan
. Letters from VanMan and MetroPlains
. Downtown Business Marketing Plan
. Original City Council discussion memo and minutes July 18, 2005
Action Requested
Staff evaluated and proposes these options based on two priority issues 1) public safety -vehicle,
pedestrian, and construction site and 2) keeping downtown open for business. The following are options
for this proposal:
Option 1:
The first option assumes that the request to re-route Main Street is approved by the Council but that the
30ft. staging area into Jackson (per the July 18, 2005 action plan) is not given until through traffic resumes
on Main Street. The ability of MetroPlains to actually construct work under this scenario is questionable.
1. The Bank of Elk River's contractor is requesting the temporary re-route of Main Street from
Jackson Avenue to Parrish Ave. for three months (May, June July).
2. Keep Jackson open as a two-way for this period of time. This will require the Jackson Square
project to have a fence along Jackson Ave to be along the curb. Once through traffic resumes on
Main Street they then would go back to the originally agreed upon position of having a fence 30
ft. into the street and having Jackson revert to a one-way south. This scenario is problematic
since MetroPlains has all of the necessary permits to proceed. Equally important, the Jackson
Place site is small and it appears that the 30 ft. staging is critical to the construction.
3. Staffs target date for street re-route is May 8th in order for signage to be put into place and have
the motoring public understand the upcoming changes.
4. A street disruption permit will be required to insure who will replace the street (the street will be
effectively removed as part of utility connection work) and to require that when the through
traffic resumes on Main Street, a hard surface lift will be constructed.
5. Permanendy eliminate intersection parking that is the northerly extension of the Rivers Edge
Common Park as part of the temporary Main Street re-route.
S:\Community Development\Scott Clark\Request Council Action Temporary Re-Route Main Street.doc
6. When Main Street is re-routed, parking on the south side (between the Cinema Building and the
Law Office) will be converted to ninety-degree parking and then converted back to diagonal
when the street resumes to through traffic. (Striping to be the responsibility of the private
contractors)
7. The City Engineer will be developing a signage and detour plan (installation to be the
responsibility of the City but to be paid for by the applicants).
8. Work with MNDot regarding timing of any traffic signals at intersections along Highway 10 to
accommodate changes in traffic flow.
9. This schedule should not affect ERMU's directional boring project or the park construction
10. City will place will create a Downtown Marketing Plan including ads the Star News, City
newsletter, cable etc to give additional advertisement for downtown businesses (Marketing Plan
enclosed) .
Option 2:
The second option assumes that the MetroPlains Traffic Plan is adhered to and that: 1) 30 feet of
Jackson Avenue is taken for the staging and construction area and, 2) Main Street remains
temporarily re-routed for the three months with through traffic resuming sometime between early to
mid August. This option assumes that the northbound "out of downtown" would then happen on
Lowell Ave and Proctor Ave. The period of time that this scenario would be in place would be up to
55 days, depending on when Jackson Place construction begins (earliest assumed is June 15,2006
and through traffic resuming on Main Street on or about August 8, 2006).
1) Re-route Main Street per the request of the bank's contractor on a date of or around
May 8, 2006
2) Allow Metro Plains to place a construction limit fence 30 ft. into the easterly portion of
Jackson Avenue per the previously approved July 18,2005 Plan. Staff would work with
MetroPlains to ensure that this change would not happen until actual construction
begins.
3) Create signage as needed to direct traffic onto Lowell and Proctor and warning the
motoring public that after Lowell there is no oudet back to Highway 10.
4) Items 3 - lOin Option 1 remain.
Consideration for Main Street Heconftguration when Main Street is He-Routed
During the period of time that Main Street is rerouted per this request, the City has the option to
convert Main Street from Jackson A venue to King Avenue from diagonal and parallel parking to 90
degree, head-in parking. This would almost double the amount of parking that is available, but once
Main Street resumes through traffic, parking along Main Street would have to convert back to
existing conditions.
Council Action
Motion by _
Second by _
Vote
Follow Up
S:\Community Development\Scott Clark\Request Council Action Temporary Re-Route Main Street.doc
April 27, 2006
Cathy Mehelich
City of Elk River
13073 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: Street Closing Request
Dear Ms. Mehelich,
This letter is to request the closing of Main Street for a period of three months in the area
of The Bank of Elk River property at 630 Main Street. Vanman Architect and Builders
needs to access Main Street for a connection to city utilities as well as dig in close
proximity to the city street for foundation walls for the expansion of The Bank of Elk
River. We request the closing to stalt May 2nd.
~~--
7' am olmes
Project Manager
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VANMAN ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS INC.
669 Winnetka Avenue North · Suite 210 · Minneapolis, Minnesota 55427
888.327.2817 . 763.541.9552 · fax 763.541.9857
www.vanmanab.com
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METROPLa-J-~s
DEVELOPMENT' PROPER;;ES ~ M^-~^~tMEN:
April 27, 2006
Catherine Mehelich
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Box 490
Elk River,MN 55330
RE: Jackson Place & The Bluffs of Elk River
Dear Catherine:
MetroPlains is not requesting additional modification to the Parking/Staging/Safety &
Construction Limits Plan dated 7-14-05 that was approved by HRA and the City Council
and made part of our Development Agreement.
Utilities connection on Main Street for both Jackson Place & The Bluffs may cause either
temporary disruption or temporary closure. The duration of these would be kept to a
minimum and only as long as needed to make the connections and street repair.
Sincerely,
~~-
"".
LaVerne Hanson, Jr.
cc: Ken Hinz, Flannery Construction
Chris Schulz, CSS Builders
O:\Elk River\ \Mehelich ltr re Jackson Place & Bluffs 04-27-06
OFFICE: 651.646.7848 . tAX: 651.646.8947 . WEll: WWW.METROPLAINS.COM . 1600 UNIVERSITY AVENUE' SUITE 212 . ST. PAUL. MN 55104-3825
Downtown Business Marketing Plan
Keeping Downtown "Open for Business" During Construaion
Purpose
The purpose of this plan is to provide a structure and organization for downtown business
marketing efforts with target audiences throughout various construction projects happening
downtown Elk River, which are projected to last from Spring 2006 through Fall 2007.
Construction Timeline
The Bluffs of Elk River Construction. ............. . Spring 2006 through Summer 2007
Jackson Place Construction. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . ..Summer 2006 through Fall 2007
The Bank of Elk River expansion project. . . . . . ..Spring 2006 through Spring 2007
Rivers Edge Commons Park construction. . .. . . . Summer 2006 through Fall 2006
Target Audiences & Marketing Goals
Target Audience
Elk River residents
Non-resident customers
downtown (those who
work in Elk River or
other current
downtown shoppers)
Marketing Goal
Retain current downtown customers
Same as above
Marketing Tools
Tool
Ads
Description
Place ads in the Elk River Star News (print ads and
ads on their Website) stating that all downtown
businesses are open for business (include the best
ways for customers to travel and park downtown)
Signage
-Many traffic signs directing downtown customers
of parking and traffic issues
-"Downtown is open for business" signs in
locations such as on the Kemper Drug building
facin H 10 and other ke locations
Timing
Weekly during
traffic rerouting &
bi-monthlyor
monthly for
duration of
construction
Spring 2006
Q&A Downtown Revitalization Q& A Newsletter to include As needed
Newsletter information that downtown is "open for business"
News News releases to the Elk River Star News As needed
Releases
Website City Web site updates As needed
updates
City Articles for City newsletter, The Current. Every other month
newsletter
articles
ERtV City government access cable channel to include -Billboard part of
Channel 12 information (on station "billboard", via video daily programming
footage, Mayor's show, etc.) that downtown is "open -Repeat video and
for business" Mayor's show
weekly
Last updated 4-27-06
Item' 5.7.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Bruce A. West, Fire Chief
DATE: July 18, 2005
SUBJECT: Downtown Traffic Flow Plan
As the Mayor and City Council are aware, I have been designated as the liaison between Flannery
Construction, CSS Builders, and Elk River city staff regarding the Jackson Place and the Bluffs of
Elk River construction projects. Parking/ staging/ safety and construction limit plans have been
submitted to city staff for our review and comments about the downtown traffic plan. I have been
in contact with both Flannery Construction and CSS Builders numerous times to discuss the
proposals submitted to the Elk River city staff.
I will be in attendance at the July 18,2005 City Council meeting to update the Mayor and City
Council with the proposed traffic flow plan in downtown Elk River during the approximately 12-18
month construction project. City staff has had two opportunities to review the submitted proposals
and questions and discussions have occurred at the staff level with recommendations made to
Flannery Construction and CSS Builders to improve and ensure we are "keeping the downtown
open for business" during the construction period.
If you have any questions prior to the City Council meeting, please feel free to call me at the Elk
River Fire Department at 763.635.1105.
s: \Council\Bruce \2005 \Downtown Traffic.doc
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City Council Minutes
July 18, 2005
Page 8
1.
INCREASE THE PARCEL SIZE TO TEN ACRES OR GREATER,
DELETE THE REFERENCE TO WHAT MAY BE STORED
INSIDE THE STRUCTURE, RENUMBER THE REMAINING
ITEMS, AND ADD A CONDITION REQUIRING A 250'
SEPARATION BETWEEN THE STRUCTURE AND ANY
ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.
Ms. McPherson suggested that a new condition not be added but that the condition
requiring the structure to meet the accessory structure setbacks be amended to include the
250' separation.
Councilmembers Motin and Farber accepted staff's suggestion.
MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Councilmember Dietz opposed.
5.5. Consider Ordinance to Amend Chapter 74 of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinance
Relating to Parking. Case No. OA 05-10
Director of Planning Michele McPherson submitted the staff report. Ms. McPherson
discussed the King Avenue Parking Lot Task Force recommendations. She reviewed night
time parking, municipal parking lots, and parking permits. She stated staff would like to
begin enforcement after the entire downtown construction project is completed but
business owners would like enforcement to begin with the start of construction.
Mayor Klinzing questioned why the public can't also use the employee parking area and how
the police department planned to control enforcement.
Councilmember Dietz stated there have been problems with employees parking in front of
businesses and an employee only lot will help address this situation.
Councilmember Motin stated the employee lot should also be open to the public (especially
in the evenings) with time limits. He stated if the vehicle has an employee parking sticker,
then it would be exempt from following the time limit.
Chief Beahen stated enforcement would begin wi~ signage and parking time limits along
with permit controls via the police department. He stated the existing policy was not
working and the task force has made the requests for the new policy. He stated it will take
time to see how the parking issues will work out. Chief Beahen stated he is concerned that
the employee lot may not be big enough to hold all the employees who work in the
downtown. He stated that realistically enforcement by community service officers would be
done during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. due to Police Department staffing.
Councilmember Motin suggested language changes to the ordinance regarding
timeframes and the two city owned municipal parking lots along the'railroad tracks.
It was the consensus of the Council to have the language changes made to the
o ordirumce ",d the Council will review it ag>in at the Augu,t I, 2005 Council meeting.
5.7. own town Traffic Flow Plan '
Fire Chief Bruce West discussed the proposed traffic flow in downtown Elk River during
the 12-18 month construction period for The Bluffs of Elk River and Jackson Place. He
.
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City Council Minutes
July 18, 2005
Page 9
stated Jackson Street would become a one-way (southbound) street, Main Street would lose
its parking on the north side of the street between Jackson and Parrish Avenue and on the
south side from the attorney's office to Parish Avenue, and there would be no left turn from
Parrish Avenue onto Main Street between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the
week.
Councilmember Motin questioned if there would be an opportunity to put construction
signage in the City of Otsego. He questioned how the no left turn from Parrish Avenue
would be enforced
Councilmember Gumphrey questioned if there were any emergency response issues.
Chief West stated there would be very limited enforcement of the no left turn from Parrish
Avenue. He stated there would be signage placed in Otsego. He stated a response issue for
the Fire Department is snow removal along Main Street during the winter but that the
construction contractors are aware of this and have been very good to work with as they've
done numerous projects similar to this.
Chief Beahen stated that hopefully most citizens will want to avoid the traffic congestion
altogether and take will alternative routes rather than using Main Street as a drive thru route.
He stated the Police Departm~t had no response issues.
Fred McCoy, 651 Main Street-Stated he was concerned over the loss of parking on Main
Street. He stated that if employees have too much of a hassle to deal with for parking, then
they won't want to work at the downtown business; but yet there are some employees who
are parking in front of businesses all day. He stated downtown construction is supposed to
be completed each day by 3:00 p.m. so he sees no need for the no left turn restriction
between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., especially as it would hurt his business.
Mayor Klinzing stated parking enforcement is critical during construction and should begin
with the construction process.
The Council concurred
Councilmember Dietz would like downtown businesses notified that parking enforcement
would begin at a certain date with the construction process.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW PLAN AS
OUTLINED BY CHIEF WEST AND TO ALSO BEGIN PARKING
ENFORCEMENT WHEN DOWNTOWN CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
5.6.
Consider Encroachment into Sanita1;y Sewer Easement. The Bluffs of Elk River
Director of Planning Michele McPherson submitted the staff report. Ms. McPherson stated
the applicant is requesting an air space encroachment of the sanitary sewer easement located
on the river side of The Bluffs of Elk River project. She stated that seven balconies
encroach over the easement area but that the manhole that is accessed by wwrP employees
for maintenance would not be impacted by these encroachments. She stated the applicant
would be required to maintain liability insurance to protect the city against any claims
resulting from these encroachments. She stated the city engineer recommended televising
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City Council Minutes
July 18, 2005
Page 10
the existing sewer line as it is very old. She further stated that the wastewater lead operator
would recommend abandoning this sewer line in the future when necessary and to reconnect
everyone to the new line (1988) that runs down Main Street.
City Attorney Peter Beck questioned if an agreement would be drawn up between the city
and the developer. Ms. McPherson stated it would be part of the plat recording.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO ALLOW THE BALCONY
ENCROACHMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION:
1. THE CITY COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGES THAT CERTAIN
PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING (BALCONIES) WILL ENCROACH
OVER THE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT. THE BUILDING
OWNER SHALL MAINTAIN UABIUTY INSURANCE TO
INDEMNIFY THE CITY FOR ALLOWING THESE
ENCROACHMENTS.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
6.1. Telecommunications Antennas on Water Towers
Elk River Municipal Utilities Superintendent Bryan Adams stated there are security and
safety issues with allowing telecommunications companies access to city water towers. He
stated it would be cosrly to hire additional city personnel to monitor these activities.
Mayor Klinzing stated she has received complaints from cell phone users regarding the poor
reception in Elk River.
Councilmember Gumphrey questioned what type of security issues Utilities could expect.
Mr. Adams stated contractors would have access to the water towers and could dump things
into the city water supply.
Councilmember Dietz questioned where the revenue generated from allowing antennas on
water towers would go. He felt a large portion should go to Utilities to cover costs. He
further questioned how much revenue would be generated.
Ms. McPherson stated revenue could be anywhere from $600 to $2,000 a month.
Mayor Klinzing stated she would like to allow the telecommunications companies on water
towers for the convenience of the public.
Discussion was held on how to proceed with this request. It was the consensus of the
Council to have the Utilities Commission moved forward with developing a policy to allow
telecommunications facilities on water towers.
6.6.
Utilities Update
Councilmember Dietz and Utilities Superintendent Bryan Adams provided an update of the
Elk River Municipal Utilities meeting held July 12, 2005.
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SAFETY PLAN
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