Agenda - Public Works Committee - 03/21/2006

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CASE #a UPDATE ON STREET RECONSTRUCTION IN NOW AND THEN ESTATES By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: One of the two street projects which was identified for reconstruction in 2006 according to the current Capital Improvement Program (CIP) included the Garnet Street and 1681h Avenue in the Now and Then Estates subdivision. Since this subdivision is adjacent to the Brookfield Addition which will be served with municipal sanitary services the Public Works Committee gave direction at their February 21, 2006 meeting to determine the status of several issues that could affect the future planting for these roads. There are 14 lots within Now and Then Estates, with all but one lot fronting on these two streets. One of the issues of concern to the Committee was the status of commitments that these property may have with Oakwood Development, the developer of the Brookfield Addition. Staff spoke with Mr. John Peterson of Oakwood regarding the status of any agreements with these property owners who indicated that he has had discussions with these property owners and has reached a verbal understanding with approximately 80% of them favorable to redevelopment and conceptual plans for the redevelopment of this subdivision have been prepared. Mr. Peterson indicated that he would be in a position to continue the process of addressing the redevelopment of this subdivision in about 90 days. Staff was also directed at the February meeting to suggest the establishment of a street assessment policy that would differentiate between streets that were being reconstructed due to having reached their service life and those which needed to be reconstructed as an element of sanitary municipal services being extended into an area. A survey of 16 cities in the state shows a wide variety of individual street assessment policies, as is evidenced by the survey summary sheet attached. Also attached to the case are the complete policies offered by four cities including Woodbury, Plymouth, West St. Paul, and Mendota Heights. What might be most striking in reviewing these policies are the variations between each city in allowing for the policy to address local issues. The concept of participating at a different level for street reconstructed as a result of sewer and water installation versus street age and condition would not appear to be unusual in light of these other distinct policies. Recommendation: The City has approximately 160 miles of City streets which will eventually require reconstruction at some point. Staff has not estimated the cost of street work beyond the performing overlays. Prior to establishing a policy on the assessable of reconstruction work, it would be helpful to establish some projections on the estimated annual cost for this work. Staff therefore recommends that it be directed to prepare an estimate of the cost for future street reconstruction prior to establishing an assessment policy. In the