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7.4. SR 08-19-2002Item 7.4. Howad R, Green Company August 15, 2002 File: 230000M-0325 Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 RE: PROJECT STATUS REPORT Dear Council Members: City Administrator Pat Klaers has asked me to prepare a memo updating the City Council on the status of the various engineering projects now underway in the City. I have broken this update down into three sections: City initiated projects, developer projects, and miscellaneous projects. The status of the various engineering projects is as follows: A. CITY PROJECTS Zane Street Improvements This is the MnDOT cooperative agreement project in the area of Saxon Motors and Napa Auto Parts. The purpose of the project is to close the Trunk Highway 10 (TH 10) access at Zane Street, including the median opening. This area will be connected at the east end to Zane Street to the Mississippi Ridge development. The project also included the extension of lateral sanitary sewer and watermain to service the businesses in this area. The contractor for this project is S. R. Weidema, Inc. The status of the project is the utilities are now complete and the contractor is beginning work on the street construction. It is anticipated that the concrete curb and gutter will be poured within the next few days, followed by street construction, and finally, the closing of the access on TH 10. The final lift of blacktop will be placed on this project in 2003. Through negotiations with the owners of Saxon Motors and Napa Auto Parts, the alignment'of the road was changed slightly. The two owners of these businesses donated property for the realignment with the understanding that the existing right-of-way would be vacated at the end of the project. This will be accomplished through a replating process of the old right-of-way and these two business properties. This plat will move forward through the Planning Commission and City Council in the fall of the year. = Various Signal Improvements The contract has been awarded to Design Electric, Inc., for the various signal improvements, which include a new signal system at TH 10 and Waco Street, the installation of a fourth leg of the intersection of TH 10 and 171st Avenue, installation of left turn arrows in two directions at the intersection of School Street and Jackson Avenue, and the installation of emergency vehicle preemption detectors at three intersections. Thus far the contractor has been working Ltr-081302-Council.doc 1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 = City Council August 15, 2002 Page Two on installation of the signal bases and the wiring for the new signal at TH 10 and Waco Street while they wait for the delivery of material to install at the various locations. It is our understanding that the mast arms and poles should be shipped the week of August 12, 2002, and installation of the actual signals should begin the week of August 19, 2002. The left turn arrow material is scheduled to be delivered to the contractor on August 20, 2002, and installation will likely take place in less than a day. 1 75th Avenue Improvements Contract was just awarded to S. R. Weidema, Inc., and a preconstruction meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, 2002. It is anticipated the contractor will begin immediately by milling the road possibly as early as this Friday. This will be followed by sanitary sewer installation, and pending the decision by the Elk River Municipal Utilities water installation. Once the utilities are installed, street construction will begin immediately. There is minimum elevation change--only a slight widening of the road base to support the wider road section. The contractor will easily finish the utilities and street construction through the first lift of blacktop. The final lift of blacktop and possibly the trail will be installed in 2003 with final restoration and clean up completed next year also. Orono Parkway Improvements This project was just recently awarded to Jay Brothers, Inc. The preconstruction meeting for the project was held on Wednesday, August 14, 2002. The project includes the modifications to the median necessary for the expansion of City Hall and construction of the Public Safety Building. The project will include the removal of the lights along Orono Parkway. The lights will be delivered to the Public Works facility and used at a later date in Lion's Park. The second component of the project is the repair at the intersection of 193rd Avenue and Evans Street. This includes replacement of the concrete valley cutter across Evans Street and some milling and overlaying of the westbound lanes of 193rd Avenue and southbound lanes of Evans Street. Watermain Extension to the Public Works Facility This project was initiated by the City to provide sufficient water quantity and pressure to the Public Works facility to operate a new fire suppression sprinkler system to be installed in the building. The watermain will be directionally bored from Triangle Road in the Elk River Industrial Park to the Public Works facility. Award of this project is a City Council agenda item for consideration at your August 19, 2002, meeting. Main Street Left Turn Lane Expansion Construction on this project is complete. We are currently working on the paperwork to finalize the contract. 2003 Pavement Rehabilitation Project The first project considered under the pavement management program by the City Council in early 2002 is currently beginning. Survey crews are picking up existing topography information for the preparation of base maps leading up to an informational meeting with affected property owners in the fall of 2002. This will be followed by a feasibility study, public hearing and preparation of plans and specifications through the winter months of 2002, Ltr-081302-Council.doc Howard R, Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS City Council August 15, 2002 Page Three anticipating a spring 2003 construction bid. Main Street to TH 10. The general area of this project is 4th Street from = Trunk Highway l OIMain Street Intersection Improvements This project includes geometric improvements at the intersection TH 10 and Main Street. The main focus of the project will be to widen the two legs of Main Street to allow for the construction of dedicated left turn lanes with concrete medians. There will be a signal modification needed to relocate some signal poles and to add left turn phases for each direction of Main Street. This is a TEA 21 federally funded project. The project is on the State Transportation Plan in fiscal year 2005. The City has initiated this project now in anticipation of being able to get it funded in an earlier fiscal year as other projects in our region are delayed for various reasons. We have initiated the conceptual design process and work on the federal paperwork. We have briefly discussed some of the issues with MnDOT personal and are anticipating a fall meeting with MnDOT after the conceptual designs are available to discuss project issues. B. DEVELOPER INITIATED PROJECTS Trott Brook Farms 7th Addition This is a plat that consists of single-family homes in the east-central portion of the Trott Brook Farms area. The project was started in 2001 and is being completed in 2002. There are currently homes beginning construction in this addition. Trott Brook Farms 8th Addition This is immediately north of the 7th Addition and will complete Trott Brook Parkway out to its intersection with CSAH 13. Grading for this project was completed earlier in 2002 and the contractor has begun work on the utilities, anticipating utility completion and street construction in 2002 so that building permits can be issued by the fall of 2002. Marshes of Trott Brook Addition This is the townhome development south of Trott Brook Parkway near the intersection of CSAH 13. This is the project that will also develop a small remnant portion of the Deschenes property. We are currently reviewing construction plans, waiting for the final redline changes to be made. We anticipate construction activities will begin shortly on this project. Trott Brook Farms South Addition This is the townhouse/residential development on the Reitsma property south of CSAH 12 east of Tyler Street. The grading of the site has been nearly completed. Construction plans have been approved, the preconstruction meeting held, and construction activities will begin shortly. Sm Trott Brook Crossing Addition This is the extension of Trott Brook South, with more multi-family and residential units into the VanDenBerg property. The schedule on this is very similar to the Trott Brook South and actually the same contractor will be building both projects. Ltr-081302-Council.doc Howard R. Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS = 10. 11. City Council August 15, 2002 Page Four Park Pointe Addition This is the 95 lot residential development on the Mitchell property at the east end of 175th Avenue. The grading has been completed, and the contractor is nearing completion of the underground utilities. Currently, service extensions are being installed to each of the lots. This would be followed by street construction. As you are aware, this project is depended upon sanitary sewer extension along 175th Avenue from Tyler Street. We anticipate that the project will be substantially complete within approximately six weeks when home-building activities should begin. Windsor Oak Hills 2"'~ Addition This is the development on the west side of CSAH 1 on the former Nord property. All of the utilities have been installed and streets constructed in this development. Earlier this week, contractors were working on grading the boulevards, installing sod for erosion protection, and street signs. Model home permits have recently been issued in this development and it will soon be opened entirely for building permits. Mississippi Oaks 3~d Addition This is the third and final addition of the Mississippi Oaks development, which is located south of the City Hall site on the south side of County Road 30 (Mississippi Road). We are currently reviewing the final plans and specifications for the development. We anticipate approval of these within the next week or so. At this point, we do not know the developers schedule for construction activities, but we anticipate that they will begin this fall. It is unclear at this point whether or not the developer intends to get street construction to a point this fall where building permits will be issued in this development. Nordic Hills Addition This is the development on the Nord property east of CSAH 1 just south of the Nordic Woods Addition. Grading activities are nearing completion on this site, and we are currently working on final approval of construction plans. We anticipate that a preconstruction meeting and kickoff to the utility construction will be held within the next two weeks. We expect that this project will also get utilities and street construction to a point in 2002 where billing permits will be issued. Hillside Estates 8th Addition This is the cul-de-sac at the end of Baldwin Street. It contains five lots. The plans have been prepared and the developer is currently soliciting quotes to have the work undertaken. We believe this project will be completed to the point that building permits will be issued sometime this fall. Woods of Hillside 3"d Addition This is the extension of 193rd Avenue easterly through the Hillside area. Again, the plans are complete and developer is currently soliciting quotes to have the work completed. We anticipate that construction will start within the month and be complete to point that building permits will be issued by fall. Ltr-O81302-Council.doc Howard R. Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS City Council August 15, 2002 Page Five 12. Kliever Lake Fields Addition This is the first phase, which includes the single-family lots on the Holzem property south of CSAH 12 near Filmore Street. The project is substantially complete, having been begun late last year. Model homes are currently being constructed, and we anticipate the project will be opened to full building permits within a matter of weeks. 13. 14. Kliever Lake Fields East Addition This is the first phase of the townhouse portion of the Kliever Lake Addition. The developer has submitted construction plans for review. We are anticipating final approval of them shortly and expect that construction on this phase of the development will begin this month. The developer is hopeful to get the improvements complete to the point of street construction so that building permits can be issued this fall. Windsor Park 3rd Addition This is the cluster development located south of County Road 33 west of CSAH 1. The site grading and utility installation is complete, and work is beginning on the street construction. The developers are waiting for a final permit to be issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the construction of the cluster septic system. We anticipate that this permit will be issued sometime in late August or early September. This will probably not afford the developers enough time to complete the on-site sewage system this fall. Possibly this development will be allowed model home permits based on holding tanks with full building permits being allowed in the spring of 2003 after the septic system is complete. 15, Windsor Oaks Addition This is the cluster development being proposed on the Dobel farm north of County Road 35 at the far west side of the City. The development will be proceeding to the Planning Commission in August and to City Council in September. It is doubtful that the developers will get much more than some site grading done on this project this fall. 16, Elk Meadows Addition This is the small five-lot subdivision lying just west of Kliever Lake Fields area and south CSAH 12. It was approved by the Planning Commission in July and will be before the City Council on August 19, 2002, for preliminary plat approval. Final plat approval will come later. It is doubtful that the developer can complete the improvements sufficiently far to allow building permits to be issued this fall. 17. Whipple Hill Addition This is the small cul-de-sac south of County Road 35 just west of Pascal Street. The project is essentially complete through the first lift of blacktop. We are waiting for the developer to complete the erosion protection and install the street signs prior to allowing the building permits to be issued in this development. 18. Echo Hill Addition This is the cul-de-sac with five lots just west of Proctor Avenue. This is the highly wooded rolling terrain that has been discussed at a couple of City Council meetings. The preconstruction meeting was held Wednesday, August 14, 2002. We anticipate that tree Ltr-081302-Council.doc Howard R. Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS City Council August 15, 2002 Page Six clearing and street grading will begin in late August and precede through September with substantial completion of the streets in September so that building permits can be issued. 19. Birchview Addition This is the rural subdivision located east of County Road 33. It is a cul-de-sac extending easterly to provide for the plating of five lots. At this point we are not sure of the developer's schedule for improvements. 20. Various 2001 Developer Projects There are a number of projects carried over from last year's construction that only have the final lift of blacktop and minor clean up before they are entirely complete. These would include Fox Haven, Mississippi Ridge, Ridges of Rice Lake, Twin Lake Townhomes 1st--3rd, Meadowoods Village, and MeadowvaleTownhomes. 21. Elk River Station Addition Staff has been having ongoing conversations with the developer relative to the recent revision in the proposal to construct townhomes throughout the development, rather than apartments. We anticipate there will be a submittal for the September Planning Commission meeting, with the project working its way through the City Council in the fall and early winter months. We do not anticipate any construction activities on the site in 2002. C. OTHER ENGINEERING ISSUES Transportation Plan The existing data collection and background road system is complete. Modeling of the road system is beginning. We are working closely with Hkgi to ensure the transportation model reflects the ultimate land use proposal from the Comprehensive Plan Task Force. = Inter-regional Corridor Studies As Council is aware, MnDOT has undertaken two inter-regional corridor studies on TH 10 and TH 169 through the City. From a technical standpoint, we believe these studies are essentially final, although as MnDOT has stated, there will be much more study of alternatives in future phases of projects on both of these highways. The City Council recently held public hearings on both of these. The issue staff would like some direction on is what would the City Council like to do with the input. Clearly MnDOT is still very open to City Council input on either or both of these studies. Northwest Metro Corridor and River Crossing Study This is another study being undertaken by MnDOT relative to the potential bridge crossing the Mississippi River from the City of Dayton to TH 10. It is our understanding that a draft scoping document has been prepared and circulated for comment. Right now we believe the planning activities are essentially on hold as the City of Dayton goes through public input, trying to determine a position for the City. The question staff would like answered by the City Council is how the City Council would like to respond to this study: Do you want to actively solicit public input and respond to MnDOT, or do you want to passively wait until the City of Dayton's position is clear, and then respond after that time. Ltr-081302-Council.doc Howard R. Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS City Council August 15, 2002 Page Seven Trunk Highway 1691County Road 33 Interchange MnDOT continues to work toward the construction date for the interchange at County Road 33 (CR 33) on TH 169. It is our understanding that land acquisition activities are nearing completion. Plans have been completed to approximately 90 percent. We believe MnDOT is hoping to let the project in late 2002, with construction activities in 2003 and early 2004. There is one issue that has been brought up by MnDOT. With the realignment of CR 33 on the west side of TH 169, there will be a small portion of existing CR 33, which will need to be turned back to the City of Elk River to act as a City street for access to the existing businesses on the north side of existing CR 33. MnDOT will be acquiring land and constructing a cul-de- sac at the east end of this piece of CR 33, which will act as a City street accessing the businesses after MnDOT's project. MnDOT has asked the City to consider adopting the attached resolution to allow this property acquired by MnDOT for the construction of the cul- de-sac to be turned back directly to the City of Elk River. Apparently, State statute or MnDOT policy would require them to turn it back to the County without such a resolution being adopted by the City of Elk River. We would recommend that the City Council adopt the attached resolution. County Road 44 and County 40 Potential Turn Backs We have recently met with Dave Schwarting, County Engineer, to discuss the potential turn backs of CR 40 (Cleaveland Avenue) between CSAH 12 and CSAH 13 to the City of Elk River. We also discussed the potential turn back of CR 44 (Meadowvale Road) between TH 10 and CSAH 1. We also discussed briefly with Mr. Schwarting the turn back from the City to the County of 221st Avenue from TH 169 to CSAH 1. Mr. Schwarting provided some information to us relative to how much monies the County has budgeted for these two projects. The County does have a federal TEA 21 grant for CR 40 in fiscal year 2004. We will be further analyzing the information received in this meeting from Sherbume County and will be presenting it to City Council with a staff recommendation at a later date. GIS Mapping The GIS map is essentially complete. It has been entirely reviewed by the County. The County found approximately twenty additional properties in the old core City area, which were not on the first list we worked from to build the map. We are currently adding those, and that will complete the City's obligation for building the GIS parcel map. We, together with the Planning department, are preparing a presentation to other department heads to make them aware of this, the tool the City will have to start building a database of information. Recommendation for All-way Stop Sign Installation The police chief talked with me after the most recent National Night Out neighborhood meetings. There are two neighborhoods where he received comments relative to all-way stop sign installations the neighborhood would like to see. The first is Auburn Street at the intersection with 195th Avenue. This is the neighborhood where we have previously had public informational meetings talking about slowing traffic and cut-through traffic. It is the intersection that the Woods at Hillside 1st Addition created with Auburn Street. Currently, 195th Avenue is a stop condition with no stop signs on Auburn Street. The police chief indicated that the neighbors in this area asked for a stop condition to be also installed on Auburn Street. Ltr-081302-Council.doc Howard R, Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEER8 City Council August 15, 2002 Page Eight The second location the police chief mentioned to me was the intersection of Ulysses Street and 197th Avenue. 197th Avenue is the northernmost signalized intersection on TH 169. It runs east from TH 169 to Tyler Street. Ulysses Street is on the eastern end of that near Tyler Street, as shown on the attached map. Currently, 197th Avenue has a stop condition; Ulysses Street does not. 197th Avenue likely has the higher traffic count of the two roadways. The police chief recommended the installation of the all-way stop condition for two reasons: First, because of the lower traffic count on Ulysses Street, and second, because of the larger lot areas and the more mature vegetation in this area, site lines are not the best at this intersection. As the City Council is aware, there are warrant guidelines spelled out in the transportation manuals relative to where to install all-way stop signs. We could perform a warrant analysis at both of these intersections. It is highly unlikely that the intersection on Auburn Street would meet warrants for an all-way stop. It would be our recommendation that if the City Council sees either or both of these all-way signal requests as a reasonable compromise with the neighborhoods, they should be installed. Also, I believe it is fair to say after my discussion with the police chief that he would support the installation of both of these all-way stop signs. If you have any questions regarding any of these status reports, I will be in attendance at your August 19, 2002 City Council meeting. Sincerely, Howard R. Green Company Terry J. Maurer, P.E. TJM:sgw Enclosures Ltr-081302-Council,doc Howard R. Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS CITY OF ELK RIVER RESOLUTION NO. 02- A RESOLUTION FOR TURNBACK APPROVAL ON TRUNK HIGHWAY NO. 169 At a meeting of the City Council of the City of Elk River, held on the ., 2002, the following Resolution was offered by and seconded by to wit: day of WHEREAS the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation has prepared a tumback map of County Road 33, known as Exhibit 2, and WHEREAS the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation has the authority to turnback a frontage road after construction if a lower governmental body other than Sherburne County accepts the turnback through a resolution, and 33. WHEREAS the City of Elk River will accept a frontage road formerly known as County Road NOW, THEN, BE IT RESOLVED that said part of County Road 33, known as Exhibit 2, be approved and accepted by the City. Upon the call of the roll, the following Council Members voted in favor of the Resolution: __ and the following Council Members voted against its adoption: whereupon the Mayor and/or presiding officer declared the Resolution adopted. Dated ,2002 ATTEST: Mayor, City ofElkRiver City Clerk STATE OF MINNESOTA ) COUNTY OF SHERBURNE) CITY OF ELK RIVER ) I do hereby certify that at said meeting (of which due and legal notice was given) of the City Council of Elk River, Minnesota, on the __ day of ,2002, at which a majority of said Council were present, the foregoing resolution was adopted. Given under my hand and seal this __ __ day of ,2002. City Clerk The design options included in Minnesota Department of Transportation's Highway 10 and Highway 169 Interregional Corridor Studies are devastating to Elk River as it exists today. -The options will result in two freeways traversing the city at its core. Many businesses along ooth freeways will be severely and negatively effected. The city's downtown area (currently under consideration for a major revitablization project) will be drastically changed by the study's proposal to raise Highway 10 to an elevation of 20 feet higher than it currently sits. The projected average daily traffic counts in the studies certainly dictate the need for im- provement of both highways through Elk River to more efficiently move traffic through the city in the future. However, the narrow scope of the studies prevented them from considering alternatives (including new routes) to divert future traffic away from Highway 10 and Highway 169 as they pass through Elk River. The assumption in the studies was that these two highways would need to provide for all projected increases in traffic for, at least, the next 25 years. All conclusions and design options in the studies were based on that assumption. The City of Elk River is opposed to the assumption used by MnDot as a basis for the studies. The city does not feel that it is reasonable for the two existing corridors to be expected to carry all future projected traffic as identified in the studies. The city requests MnDot to undertake another study with a broader scope that would include alternatives to Highway 10 and 169 for future projected traffic through the City of Elk River. Although the conclusions of this broader study would come after the research is completed, the city would like to offer several options for MnDot's consideration. _ First, is the option of a new state highway route as an alternative to future projected traffic on .lighway 169. The current study of the Mississippi bridge between Dayton and Ramsey is gener- ating some interest in providing a major north route at the intersection of the river crossing and Highway 10 in Ramsey. This north route is seen as extremely important to the river crossing because without it all bridge traffic would have no alternative than to exit on Highway 10. Con- gestion at the intersection is a definate possibility with traffic backing up on the bridge route and also on Highway 10. The City of Dayton is very concerned about this scenario. If a new major north highway is constructed, it is reasonable to consider this as an alternative to Highway 169. One scenario would be to initiate the new highway at the intersection with Highway 10 and the bridge crossing in Ramsey and end it at the intersection of Highway 169 and Sherburne County Rd. 9 between Zimmerman and Princeton (which is currently being constructed as an interchange). Secondly, is the option of alternatives to future projected traffic on Highway 10. There is no need to consider a new route as an alternative to Highway 10 since there already exists a com- pletely satisfactory alternative - that being I94. Instead of encouraging the use of Highway 10 as a primary route to all points west of Elk River, MnDot needs to look at ways to encourage the use of I94 as the primary route to all points west of Elk River. The proposed improvements to Highway 10 included in the study will certainly encourage the use of the highway for more and more trav- elers to and from points west of Elk River, including St. Cloud and the recreational area beyond. _The study's projected future traffic numbers then become a self-fulfilling prophesy - if you build, · they will Come. If no improvement to Highway 10, as it passes through Elk River, were to occur, traffic would certainly seek other routes as opposed to putting up with the bottlenecked situation through Elk River. The alternative many travelers (including commuters living west of Elk River and vacationers) would seek would be I94, which is actually the proper route for their travel in the first place. The state has built river crossings at Monticello and Clearwater to accomodate traffic needing to access Highway 10 west of Elk River. Also, there are plans for a new bridge on the east .-side of St. Cloud, which would provide yet another convenient access to Highway 10 for both .:ommuters and vacationers. It is possible that these alternatives to the improvement of Highway 10 and Highway 169 to freeways, would cost more than what is proposed for the options in the studies. These alternatives, however, are more reasonable for the City of Elk River than any options proposed in the Interre- gional Corridor Studies and provide better solutions for dealing with increases in traffic much farther into the future than 2025.