Agenda - Public Works Committee - 04/16/2024

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Staff to contact the developer and their engineer to determine if either or both are willing to partner with the City to redesign, reconstruct and/or extend the noise wall to serve it's intended purpose. The Committee also directed Staff to return with estimated costs to reconstruct and/or extend the sound wall to the end of the plat and/or to connect to the existing wall to the north for consideration at a future meeting. The City Engineer contacted the developer and received the attached letter in response. Based on this letter Staff does not anticipate that the developer will be willing to partner with the City to resolve the resident's concerns either by assisting with potential design modifications and/or by contributing to costs. The City Engineer also contacted the project engineer with Bogart -Pederson to discuss this issue. The project engineer stated he would be discuss this issue in more detail after the Public Works Committee discussed this issue again this evening. Construction of a sound wall could not begin until the ground thaws in the spring of 2022, at the earliest. This would require the collection of topo survey to determine where a sound wall could effectively be constructed along this corridor. For a sound wall to be effective it should be constructed to a height of 6-feet or more above the pavement of northbound Highway 47. Attached is a figure showing how long the sound wall would need to extend to the north of the Ramsey Villas North plat to connect to the existing sound wall approximately 900 feet north. Staff estimates construction costs for a similar noise wall would be approximately $210 per linear foot at today's construction costs. This would equate to a minimum construction cost of $50,000 to salvage and reinstall the section of wall that extends below the grade of Highway 47 and to then extend the wall to the north end of the Ramsey Villas North plat, and a minimum construction cost of $125,000 to extend a similar wall along the undeveloped parcel to the north to connect to the existing wall. These costs do not include indirect costs or costs required to enter into a Limiter Use Permit with MnDOT if the wall needs to be constructed within their right-of-way. Timeframe: Staff estimates 20 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions. Observations/Alternatives: Observations: Staff contacted MnDOT and was informed that their preference would be for the wall to be on the private property. However, MnDOT did confirm that they would be willing to discuss construction of a wall in MnDOT right-of-way, but that they do not have funds to pay for such work. Also, the City would need to execute a Limited Use Permit to define the responsibilities of the City related to maintenance and removal of the wall, if necessary in the future. Staff informed the Xkimo Court residents that this case would be presented at this evening's Public Works Committee meeting so Staff anticipates there will be several residents in attendance, either in person or remotely. Alternatives: Alternative #1 — Motion directing Staff to further explore noise wall improvements along the Ramsey Villas North plat. Alternative #2 — Motion directing Staff to further explore noise wall improvements along the Ramsey Villas North plat, and to further explore noise wall improvements along the undeveloped parcel to the north. Alternative #2 — Motion of other. Funding Source: