Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/07/2022

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CC Work Session 2.2. Meeting Date: 11/07/2022 Information Title: Review Final Visual Quality Recommendations for Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Improvements Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to present the final visual quality recommendations from the design team for the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Improvements project, and to receive final consensus direction from the City Council for incorporation into the final plans. Background: On April 26, 2022, the City Council reviewed aesthetic/visual quality options for the design of both grade -separated interchanges at Ramsey Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard that will be constructed as part of the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Improvements project and provided general direction for the design elements to seek public feedback on and incorporate into the plans. Based on that feedback, the design team prepared visual examples and presented them at two different open houses on June 29, 2022. On September 27, 2022, Joshua Shields with Bolton & Menk, Inc. summarized the public feedback received at the June 29th open houses for the City Council, and received additional direction from Council to allow the design team to progress into the final stages of design. Generally, lower cost visual enhancements were identified for incorporation into the plans with the Armstrong Boulevard interchange aesthetic treatments targeted as a base level design, with fence, lighting and railing aesthetic enhancements added to the Ramsey Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard interchanges, along with a request to determine if MnDOT would approve incorporating the City's name into the interchange bridge(s). Attached to the case are slides that will be presented by Joshua Shields with Bolton & Menk to briefly recap previous City Council consensus direction, and to provide updates on the design teams findings regarding the City Council's most recent visual quality requests. Examples of potential visual enhancements are included within the slides, as are estimated costs for the enhancements and MnDOT's aesthetic participation factors for three funding levels, A through C. Costs for aesthetic enhancements above level B would generally need to be funded by the City. Timeframe: Staff anticipates 20 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions as many of the slides were previously presented and are included again as reminders of past direction. Funding Source: Based on discussion and Council direction. Responsible Party(ies): City Administrator Brian Hagen will introduce the case. Joshua Shields with Bolton & Menk will present the attached slides. Outcome: Provide final Council direction on visual enhancements to incorporate into final design plans.