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Drive from CSAH 5 to the end of the existing trail approximately 100 feet west of Krypton Street. This gap forces pedestrians using the existing trail north of
<br />Alpine Drive to cross Alpine Drive using the marked mid -block pedestrian crossing approximately 150 east of Krypton Street. Mid -block pedestrian crossings
<br />are not widely used and therefore can violate driver expectations. As such, mid -block crossings are considered less desirable than intersection crossings. This is
<br />especially true when younger children are anticipated to use a crossing on a frequent basis as is anticipated in this area due to the nearby location of Ramsey
<br />Elementary School approximately 1,500 feet south of Alpine Drive on the west side of CSAH 5. Staff therefore recommends constructing this 700-foot long
<br />trail connection north of Alpine Drive as part of this project, especially considering that it can be done at a greatly reduced cost due to the exchange for
<br />stormwater ponding easement as proposed by Anoka County.
<br />The estimated construction cost for the trail connection is $17,000 and additional costs would be required to secure needed right-of-way and temporary
<br />construction easements, as well as to provide compensation for associated tree removals (these costs are unknown at present). However, Anoka County is
<br />proposing to reduce the City's costs for the trail connection as follows. If the City provides the necessary drainage easement over the City -owned 0.57 acre
<br />parcel and allows the County to use the parcel for stormwater ponding, the County will pay to secure the necessary right-of-way and temporary easements
<br />needed to construct the trail, and will provide compensation for tree removals as needed. The City will then only be responsible for paying to construct the trail,
<br />though the County is also proposing to apply federal funds to the trail construction (federal funds currently cover about 60% of all construction costs) instead of
<br />requiring the City to pay 100% of the construction costs which is standard practice for any improvements not required by the County. This will result in an
<br />estimated total cost to the city of $6,800, thereby saving the City about $10,200. Additionally, Anoka County will design the trail connection, incorporate it into
<br />their plans, then pending City Council approval, the County will bid and inspect the trail construction too, thereby providing additional benefit to the City.
<br />Trunk watermain connection / loop — City staff recommends constructing a watermain connection under the proposed trail connection north of Alpine Drive
<br />between CSAH 5 and Krypton Street which will loop the trunk watermain system in this area to provide additional flexibility while maintaining the trunk
<br />watermain. Construction of this watermain connection will not require any portion of Alpine Drive to be reconstructed. The estimated cost for this work is
<br />$40,000.
<br />Existing Trails — All existing trails impacted by this project will be replaced with identical trail sections having the same width and pavement section, and new
<br />ADA compliant pedestrian curb ramps will be installed on all 4 corners of the intersection.
<br />Alpine Drive Culvert Replacement (separate proiect) — Staff wants Council to be aware that an RCP equalizer pipe crossing Alpine Drive about one -quarter
<br />mile west of CSAH 5 was recently repaired and needs to be replaced. Since the intersection of CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) and Alpine Drive will be temporarily
<br />closed during this project, staff proposes to replace the pipe at that time to avoid disruptions to traffic and to save on traffic control costs. This work, which is not
<br />included in the CIP and would be completed under separate contract, is estimated to cost $35,000.
<br />Estimated Costs:
<br />The total estimated construction cost is $1,692,666.35. Available federal funds are capped at $936,000. The federal funds shall be split based on the ratio of
<br />eligible cost incurred by each party to the total eligible project cost. Eligible costs are the costs of items that can participate in federal funding as shown on
<br />Exhibit B of the attached JPA.
<br />The total estimated construction cost to the City is $385,918.61. After available federal funds are applied (190,777.80), the cost to the City for our share of the
<br />construction costs is $195,140.81. City participation in construction engineering will be at a rate of eight percent (8%) of our designated construction share of
<br />$385,918.61, or $30,873.49.
<br />The City's total share of this project before federal funds are applied is $296,883.36 which includes construction and construction engineering costs. The total
<br />project cost to the City after federal funds are applied, including construction engineering which is not eligible for federal funding, is $226,014.30.
<br />Upon award of contract, the City will need to pay the County, upon written demand, ninety five percent (95%) of its portion of the project costs which is
<br />estimated to be $214,713.58. Prior to billing, this estimate will be updated by the County to reflect the actual bid prices as awarded. An updated cost estimate
<br />shall be provided to the City at the time of billing. The City's share of the cost of the project shall include only construction and construction engineering
<br />expense and does not include engineering design and administrative expenses incurred by the County.
<br />Upon final completion of the project, the City's share of the construction cost will be based upon actual construction costs. If necessary, adjustments to the
<br />initial ninety five percent (95%) charged to the city will be made in the form of credit or additional charges to the City's share. Also, the remaining five percent
<br />(5%) ofthe City's portion ofthe construction costs shall be paid.
<br />Public Works Committee Recommendation:
<br />City and Anoka County staff reviewed the proposed improvements with the Public Works Committee on Tuesday, December 3rd. The following is a summary
<br />of Committee comments.
<br />• Access modifications — The Committee generally agreed that they would prefer that raised concrete median islands not be constructed on County Roads
<br />within City limits. However, in this case it appears to be acceptable given that County staff met with the affected property owners who generally
<br />supported the access restrictions created by the raised medians because of the increased safety provided by them.
<br />. Stormwater ponding — The Committee was generally supportive of providing a drainage easement over this property for use as stormwater ponding.
<br />• Trail connection — Two of the three Committee members (CM Backous and CM Kuzma) supported constructing this trail connection due to the regional
<br />benefits provided by this trail connection. However, CM Riley was not supportive of constructing the trail connection as two of the abutting property
<br />owners contacted him to note their objections due to reduced green space along their front yards, as well as potential impacts to their driveway alignments
<br />and/or grades. If Council approves the trail connection, staff will work with Anoka County to ensure that the proposed driveway alignments and/or grades
<br />will meet the property owner's needs.
<br />. Gatermain connection — The Committee was generally supportive of constructing the trunk watermain connection given the benefits provided by looping
<br />the system as noted above.
<br />The Public Works Committee recommended City Council approval of the draft Joint Powers Agreement as drafted by a vote of 2 to 1. CM Riley voted in the
<br />negative in keeping with his objections to constructing the trail connection and, to a lesser degree, due to raised medians being proposed along CSAH 5
<br />(Nowthen Blvd).
<br />As discussed with Council on December loth, the Public Works Committee recommended approval based on a city cost share of more than $60K less than the
<br />amount presented herein. The city's cost share and attached JPA were updated by Anoka County after the Public Works Committee meeting and was submitted
<br />to City staff on Thursday, December #1. According to Anoka County, the city's share increased because the previous estimate included all drainage
<br />improvements as Anoka County costs. These costs were then prorated based on the percentage of runoff coming from City and County right-of-ways. This
<br />percentage may still change based on State Aid percentages, but the estimates now show $111,026.61 as the City's portion ofthe drainage costs minus
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