Agenda - Council - 10/08/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 10/08/2019 Submitted For: Grant Riemer, Engineering/Public Works By: MaryJo Warner, Engineering/Public Works 5. 10. Information Title Report from Public Works Committee. The Public Works Committee held its regular meeting on September 17, 2019 and discussed the following cases. 1. Consider Lowering Speed Limit on Residential Roads: The Committee directed staff to bring the topic back for consideration in six months. 2. Recommend City Council Approval of Funding Program for Variolite Street Reconstruction, Improvement Project #20-01: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council approval of a funding program for the Variolite Street Reconstruction project, Improvement Project #20-01, not including special assessment, and to consider amending the assessment policy to provide flexibility in cases where it would not make financial sense. 3. Recommend City Council Approval of Ramsey Town Center 9th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Ramsey Town Center 9th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06. 4. Recommend City Council Approval of Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council to table the Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09. 5. Recommend City Council Approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project # 19-10: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10. 6. Recommend City Council Approval of Water Efficiency Grant Application: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend that the City Council approve of a Water Efficiency Grant application in the amount of $50,000. Purpose/Background: 1. Consider Lowering Speed Limit on Residential Roads: Public Works Superintendent Riemer stated that the current speed limit on residential roads is 30 mph. In the past this speed limit was set by the Commissioner of Transportation at MnDOT. Earlier this spring the State Legislature passed a law allowing the local road authority the ability to lower the speed limit on residential roads to 25 mph, if they so choose. A residential roadway is not defined to include all city streets in an area zoned exclusively for housing and are not collector or arterial streets. The change in definition of a residential roadway expands the ability of cities to designate such streets at 25 mph, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.14, Subdivision 2(7). Changing the speed limit on such a street no longer requires a traffic study by MnDOT, nor does it require an engineer analysis by the City. Cities may simply adopt the 25-mph speed limit by Council action, provided the roadway meets the new definition. After speaking with the City Attorney, he advised that any Council action to change the speed limits must be done by Ordinance, because only Ordinances are enforceable by law. The Committee directed staff to bring the topic back for consideration in six months. 2. Recommend City Council Approval of Funding Program for Variolite Street Reconstruction, Improvement Project #20-01: City Engineer Westby stated that the 2.24-mile segment of Variolite Street between Alpine Drive and 173 rd Avenue is proposed to be reconstructed in 2020. The pavement on this segment of Variolite Street is in poor condition. Only 13 properties have direct access on this segment of the street and therefore receive special benefit from the proposed improvements and could therefore be assessed a portion of the cost. The estimated project cost for reconstructing this segment of Variolite Street is $2,643,600, of which $315,3330 is estimated to be funded through Stormwater Funds. This leaves an estimated $2,328,270 unfunded. Municipal State Aid System