Agenda - Public Works Committee - 01/18/2022

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Public Works Committee 5.2. Meeting Date: 01 / 18/2022 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Title: Consider Sound Wall Improvements East of State Highway 47, North of Xkimo Street Purpose/Background: As discussed at the Public Works Committee meeting on October 19, 2021, the noise wall constructed as part of the three (3) single-family residential unit development called Ramsey Villas North, located in the northeast quadrant of State Highway 47 and Xkimo Street, was not constructed such that it will serve it's intended purpose as a noise barrier. Though plans for this development, including the noise wall, were approved by the City, the wall was designed and constructed to extend downwards into a low area such that the top of the wall is lower than Highway 47, which prevents the wall from being effective at reducing traffic noise. During the project approval process, several residents from Xkimo Court contacted City staff to ask what could be done to reduce traffic noise from Highway 47. The residents were informed that the developer would construct a noise wall similar to the existing wall east of Highway 47 roughly 600 feet to the north, and that the wall would extend along the west edge of the Ramsey Villas North plat. Attached is a copy of an email received by the City Engineer from residents along Xkimo Court NW, east of State Highway 47 and north of Xkimo Court, following a meeting between the City Engineer and the residents on site on Monday, September 27, 2021. The email requests that the City consider the following items: • Partner with MNDOT to determine if building an appropriate, effective noise wall would be their responsibility or the City's • If MNDOT has the responsibility, then to partner and advocate for them to seek funding to build an effective noise wall on par with the height above street level of, and extending to, the existing noise wall further north along cty 47 • If the City has the responsibility, pursue approval and prioritize allocating funding to build an effective noise wall on par with the height above street level of, and extending to, the existing noise wall further north along cty 47 • Establish a noise ordinance to discourage vehicles from excessive acceleration or jake-breaking at the 47/5 intersection • Seek partnership with Ramsey PD and/or the Anoka County Sheriff, to establish a presence in the area [even if simply parking in-between calls or completing paperwork] to discourage the above behavior • Post signs on Hwy 47 to notify drivers of the noise ordinance and that it is enforced by the City of Ramsey • Provide a plan timeline, along with regular communication on progress, regarding the above to the residents of Xkimo Ct. Nw. After the Public Works Committee considered the residents request on October 19, 2021, the committee directed