Minutes - Public Works Committee - 04/17/2007

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Councilmember Dehen indicated he would like to know the costs involved with ditching and culvert redirecting the water as an alternative solution whenmaking this decision. Cha#'Person Elvig'noted there is the question of whether it js right on an agricultural propertY to pay more for the stormwater fee. The City has tried to be cognizant and work something out, . which is why they are looking intothe ponding and things of that nature. The City is interested in helping to find a solution, and possibly participatirig, but it will be a three pronged approach: 1) What Mr. Rowe will do to improve the property; 2) A possible decrease to the stormwater fees; 3) What the CitY can do to assist. He stated it is a matter of sitting down to determine what is fair and equitable. He asked what direction is being req'-lested from the Committee tonight. Public Works Dir.ector Olson indicated based on the discussion staff will identify different alternatives and costs to the Committee at a future meeting: Case #8: Ramsey Elementary School S'afety and Transportation Issues City Engineer Jankowski stated staffhad been contacted by the principal of Ramsey Elementary school regarding a safety concern associated with parents and students crossing Nowthen Blvd directly across the trail stub coming west from the end of the 148th Lane cul-de-sac. The sight. distance from southbound traffic coming over the hill at this location is less than de~irable. Pedestrians likely cross at this location because there is no trai1.on the east side ofNowthen Blvd and they are not likely to walk south to the marked pedestrian crossing at Sunwood Drive when their destination is the school to the north. The pedestrian.use of this location for crossing Nowthen .Blvd should be discouraged. At the present time there are. marked crosswalks with crossing guards during school arrival and dismissal periods at Sunw09d Drive and at 1 50th Lane along Nowthen Blvd. It would :appear the best solution toward encouraging use of these crossings would be the extension of the trail system along the east side ofNowthen Blvd. City Engineer Jankowski advised it should also be noted that the em~rgency evacuation site for the elementary school is currently. the old city hap. However, when this facility is razed within the next several years the .new evacuation site will be Lord of life Church. It will be necessary that a trail system be completed to accommodate such an evacuation by that .time. The trail crossing should also be extended between 150th Lane to the old city hall and Alpine Drive to allow children from the new Meadows development and the area north of Alpine Drive to safely travel to and from the school- through the sidewalk and trail system. This last segment is anticipated to be installed this summer as a requirement.of the Meadows development. Mr. Jankowski explained the City's park and trail plan calls for the installation of trail on both sides of county and state highways, and the proximity of this segment of Nowthen Blvd relative to Ramsey Elementary School makes this trail installation a high pnority. The 150th Lane to 148th Lane should be constructed as a higher priority overthe segment extending.the trail system to Lord of Life Church. . . . City Engineer Jankowslci reviewed the following range of costs associated with the installation. of the trail segments: 150th'Lane to 148th Lane: 1,200 foot length at an es~imated cost rangeof$19,200 to $24,000. Public Works Committee I April 17, 2007 Page 12 of 18.