Minutes - Public Works Committee - 05/16/2006

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APPROVE MINUTES Motion by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Chairperson Elvig, to approve the regular meeting minutes of April 18, 2006. Voting Yes: Chairperson Elvig, Councilmembers Olson and Pearson. Voting No: None. Absent: Councilmember Cook. COMMITTEE BUSINESS Case #5: Consider Request for Additional City Funding for Improvement Project 05-27 Welcomes Road Street Grading and Paving Improvements City Engineer Jankowski reviewed that bids were opened on February 23, 2006 for Project 05-27 and were approximately 78% higher than those anticipated in the feasibility study, which was prepared 12 months earlier in February of 2005. A second public hearing was held on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 to initiate the reconsideration of this street paving project at the higher cost. The revised feasibility study was prepared with the same cost sharing that was directed by City Council for the original project; that is the City sharing 50% of the total project costs. Testimony at the public hearing requested that the City consider some additional forms of cost relief for the residents involved with this project. Following the close of the public hearing as a result of this testimony, City Council directed that a meeting should be held with the affected residents to determine their level of support for this project and requested staff to suggest alternative funding support for this project by the City which might be attributed to unique aspects of this particular project. A meeting was held on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 6:30 pm in the lower level of City Hall for this purpose and ten residents representing nine of the 19 properties were present. City Engineer Jankowski indicated the direction from the City Council at the March 28th meeting was to identify unique project elements associated with this project, which would not set a precedent on similar future projects requiring City funding participation. Mr. Jankowski reviewed the following project financing considerations that were discussed at the neighborhood meeting: Storm Water Utility to Fund Storm Sewer Costs. Items 9 through 13 of the estimated project costs are associated with elements of storm sewer. These costs, which total $10,300, could be reasonably assigned funding from the City's Storm Water Utility since they would improve the existing drainage situation. Staff is recommending support of this project cost assignment. City to Fund Costs Associated With Increased Road Section: Because of organic soils identified in the eastern portion of the project area it was the recommendation of the soils engineer to increase the strength of the road section with additional class 5 (from 4 to 6 inches) and bituminous wear course (from 1.5 inches to 2.0 inches). The extra material results in an additional cost of $10,000. City participation in funding this element of the project could set precedent for future street paving or reconstruction projects. Although sandy soils predominate within the City, there are areas having clay soils, which would require a section stronger than the standard section. Two new subdivisions within the Public Works Committee / May 16, 2006 Page 2 of 16