Agenda - Public Works Committee - 01/21/2025

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Timeframe: Staff anticipates up to 30 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case and respond to questions. Observations: In 2004, when the Gravel Road Elimination Policy was first discussed, Ramsey had about 12 miles of gravel surfaced roads. Roughly 10.1 miles of gravel roads have been paved since, or are proposed to be paved with private developments. In 2024, the 0.07-mile gravel surfaced segment of Basalt Street was paved as part of Improvement Project #24-07. In addition, the 0.13-mile segment of Limonite Street that was gravel surfaced was paved as part of the Jam Hops development. For the purpose of tonight's discussion, the focus should be on paving the remaining 1.9 miles of gravel roads. Until a Gravel Road Elimination Policy is developed, Staff will continue to explore and promote the elimination of gravel roads as part of City improvement projects and as additional private developments occur. Alternatives: Alternative #1: Motion to direct staff to prepare a draft Gravel Road Elimination Policy that explores estimated project costs for each gravel road segment in more detail, includes a project prioritization schedule, and identifies recommended funding sources. Alternative #2: Motion of other. Funding Source: Preliminary estimated project costs to convert the six public gravel surfaced roads to bituminous paved streets meeting current city design standards previously ranged from $1.5M to over $3M, depending on required subgrade corrections and stormwater management needs. Attached is the geotechnical report dated October 7, 2024, prepared by Independent Testing Technologies (ITT) that provides design recommendations for each gravel road segment based on the results of 24 soil borings completed on September l l th and 12th, 2024. This report, which was used by Staff to refine estimated project costs for the 6 public gravel road segments totaling 1.9 miles in length, recommended no subgrade corrections or stormwater improvements. Current estimated project costs total $2,260,000. Copies of the preliminary cost estimates for all 6 segments are attached. Potential funding sources for Gravel Road Elimination Program projects include; • Public Improvement Revolving (PIR) funds • Sanitary Sewer Funds . Water Funds • Stormwater Funds . Municipal State Aid (MSA) . Bonds . Assessments Per the attached Special Assessment Policy, property owners are to be assessed 50-percent of project costs to convert the street they directly access from gravel surfacing to bituminous pavement. Pavement Management (PM) Funds are not an option as these funds are strictly dedicated to funding pavement overlay and street reconstruction projects and are not applicable to gravel road conversion projects. Attached is a copy of the cash flow projections for these funds copied from the 2025 to 2034 Capital Improvement Plan.