Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/23/2010

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Consider Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Anoka County for the reconstruction of Bunker Lake Boulevard, between Basalt to Germanium Streets By: Tim Himmer, City Engineer Background: City staff has been working with the Anoka County Highway Department since 2008 on the design of a reconstruction project for Bunker Lake Boulevard (CSAH 116) between Germanium and Basalt Streets. Currently the City is obligated to install a traffic signal and associated turn lanes at the intersection of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard as a requirement of the existing Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County related to Ramsey Town Center transportation improvements. This project was initiated and proposed by Anoka County to expand on the City's required intersection improvement, and will utilize a substantial amount of federal funds to construct. The main purpose of this project is to increase mobility and safety through the CSAH 116 corridor for a more efficient transportation system within the City, through the County, as well as functioning as a reliever for TH 10. Anoka County has previously attended City Council work sessions on September 15 and October 27, 2009 to introduce the project, provide information, discuss its specifics, and answer questions. The discussions at those meetings primarily focused on two issues; hard channelization and access, and impacts to local traffic in the surrounding neighborhood. At the last meeting Council requested information on whether around-a-bout could be constructed at the intersection of CSAH 116 and Sunfish Lake Boulevard, and it was determine that a sketch would be provided and discussed when a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) was available for consideration. This information was to be discussed by Council in work session on February 9, 2010 but due to time constraints that discussion was tabled and continued to tonight's meeting. Due to lost time, and in an attempt to understand whether this project will be moving forward in the required time frame to utilize the allocated federal funds, the County is requesting review and consideration of a JPA at this time. The County is at the point in the project schedule where acquisition is necessary and the cost implications of this are necessitating a decision on whether the project will advance. Staff negotiated several revisions to the previously proposed MOU, and those items have carried forward into the attached JPA for your consideration. City and County staff will be available to discuss the JPA with Council in an attempt to reach consensus on an agreement that could be approved at the regular Council meeting later this evening.