Agenda - Council - 02/10/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session 4. 8. Meeting Date: 02/10/2015 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Information Title Adopt Resolution #15-02-035 Accepting Feasibility Report and Ordering Public Hearing for IP #15-20, Jarvis Street Reconstruction and Railroad Crossing Quiet Zone Improvements Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to accept the attached Feasibility Report and order a Public Hearing for February 24, 2015 for City Improvement Project #15-20, Jarvis Street Reconstruction and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Crossing Quiet Zone Improvements. Background: In June of 2014, staff was informed that the City of Elk River intended to reconstruct Jarvis Street between Trunk Highway 10 and 165th Avenue as part of their 2015 Street and Utility Improvements project. This section of Jarvis Street includes a segment approximately 3,800 feet long that is bisected by the political boundaries of the cities of Elk River and Ramsey and is therefore mutually shared and maintained between the two cities. It also includes a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad crossing that is currently not designated as a whistle -free quiet zone. A map showing the location of these improvements is included on the third page of the attached proposal letter from the City of Elk River. Elk River's staff explained that a joint meeting of the City Councils was held on May 9th, 2011, and that at the time the Ramsey City Council provided verbal support for sharing in the costs of reconstructing the shared section of Jarvis Street, as well as the railroad crossing quiet zone improvements. Based on the results of the joint meeting the City of Elk River developed the Jarvis Street reconstruction and quiet zone improvements project for inclusion with their 2015 Street and Utility Improvements project. While Ramsey's staff agreed that the condition of Jarvis Street is such that it should be reconstructed in the near future, and that the Jarvis Street railroad crossing quiet zone improvements would benefit City of Ramsey residents and businesses, these improvements were not included in Ramsey's 5 -year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) so funds were not available to pay for the improvements in 2015. It was therefore discussed that the reconstruction of the shared segment of Jarvis Street should be delayed until the City of Ramsey was in a better position to fund our share of the improvements. On August 15th, 2014, staff from both cities met again to further discuss the benefits and viability of the project, including potential financing options. Elk River's staff noted their strong preference to reconstruct Jarvis Street in 2015 and that they may be able to pay the City of Ramsey's share of the costs up -front, and then allow Ramsey to repay our share of the costs back over a 3 -year period. On August 28th, the City of Elk River provided the attached proposal letter to the City of Ramsey formalizing their request for the City of Ramsey to share in 50% of the costs for reconstructing the shared segment of Jarvis Street, plus 50% of the costs for the quiet zone improvements, and that Elk River will pay for Ramsey's share of the costs up -front while allowing repayment over a 3 -year period. Staff has since verified that repayment would be allowed to occur interest-free over calendar years 2016 to 2018, which would not impact the City's adopted 2015 budget. On September 16th, 2014 staff presented Elk River's proposal to the Public Works Committee for consideration of recommending Council approval of the project, pending further direction from Elk River. It was discussed that though the railroad crossing is located entirely within the City of Elk River, City of Ramsey businesses and residents would share the benefit of the quiet zone so Elk River's request to share in 50% of the costs seems