Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/14/2017

Home

A total of four pavement corings were completed by WSB and Associates (WSB) to assist with the preparation of this report. In addition, eleven soil borings were completed by Northern Technologies, Inc. (NTI). Both firms offered pavement design recommendations which were considered and incorporated to varying degrees while preparing this report. Copies of WSB's and NTI's reports are attached in Appendix D. This improvement project, which is listed in the City's current Capital Improvement Program, is proposed to be funded using a combination of special assessments to benefiting properties, street reconstruction bond proceeds, and stormwater utility funds. Staff recommends using special assessments to pay for 25% of eligible improvement costs, which totals $151,750 and will be applied across 9 assessable properties using the "area" method of assessment. All costs for this project are eligible for special assessments since the street is proposed to be reconstructed at its existing width, which meets current State Aid standards, and since the existing and proposed pavement sections both meet 10-ton design standards meaning they are equivalent sections. This project does not include any ineligible project costs related to the use of special assessments. Staff recommends ordering a special benefit consultation report for this project to verify that the proposed assessment amounts will not exceed the amount of benefit to any of these properties. If the report concludes that the benefit to any property is less than the proposed preliminary assessment rate, Staff would propose to lower the assessment rate accordingly for the Assessment Hearing scheduled for October 10, 2017. However, if the special benefit consultation report verifies that the assessment rates as proposed are justified, Staff will propose to adopt the final assessment roll using the rate as preliminarily proposed herein. Staff has not yet had an opportunity to discuss the proposed improvements or the use of special assessments to pay for a portion of the improvements with impacted property owners. However, upon Council acceptance of this report Staff will immediately contact impacted property owners for the purpose of explaining the proposed improvements, how special assessments are proposed to be applied, and to request a meeting to discuss the proposed improvements in more detail and to gather their input on the project, including any information that should be explored in more detail during development of plans and specifications. Staff will then present this information to Council during the Public Hearing on February 14th. This project would best be constructed as a stand-alone project and is necessary, feasible, and cost-effective from an engineering standpoint, and can be constructed as proposed herein. Feasibility Report Sunwood Drive Reconstruction City of Ramsey Project No. 17-00 Page 2