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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 18, 2002 Central Ave ImpOFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING CENTRAL AVENUE PROJECT MARCH 18, 2002 The following are special meeting minutes of the Central Avenue Public Improvement Hearing of the City Council held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 18, 2002 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 40th Avenue N.E., Columbia Heights, MN CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Peterson, Councilmember Nawrocki, Councilmember Williams, Councilmember Szurek, and Councilmember Wyckoff PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING: CENTRAL AVENUE STREET, UTILITY & STREETSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS. Presentation by staff: Project Introduction and Background Presentation of Information on Street Reconstruction Projects by Staff Street & Utility Improvements Presentation of Information on Street & Utility Improvements by URS Streetscaping Improvements Presentation of Information on Streetscaping by URS Project Cost & Funding Presentation of Information on the Engineer’s Estimate and Proposed Funding by Staff Assessment Methodology Presentation of Information on Proposed Assessment for Project 1999-12A by Staff Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director, listed items in the Council member’s information packets. Feasibility report copies were also available for the public. He stated that this project started in 1998 as a traffic study, and evolved from there. There have been many meetings held over the last four years with the public and with MnDOT to include their standards. Kevin Kelb and Bob Kost from URS were present to review the project. thrd Kelb stated the project area would be from 37 to 43 Avenues, as a system of safety improvements. The project will involve removing some on street parking, median openings, and Reservoir Boulevard. He described the water main and service improvements, and some minor sanitary sewer and storm sewer system improvements. Nawrocki questioned driveway upgrades. Kelb referred to repair of broken sidewalks and driveway replacement,s and the consolidation of driveways at Mady’s and Burger King, allowing a left hand turn onto Central Avenue. MnDOT refused to allow a median opening at 42nd and 43rd Avenues. Access during construction will be open for each driveway, with a maximum of one-half day closures to a business. There will be large construction signs directing traffic to the ramps for free parking. Wyckoff questioned what the signs would look like. Kelb showed examples with sizes from 48” x 36” to 72” x 48”, and would be orange to draws the driver’s attention. Hansen indicated the need to make the public aware of our public parking with permanent signs. Hansen stated that parking would be preserved on the west side of Central Avenue. Nawrocki stated that the ramps do fill up. Bob Kost, URS/BRW, presented the urban design improvements: litter receptacles, matching sidewalk banding, old fashioned pedestrian lights, painting current lighting poles, benches (combination metal and wood), seasonal planters in pre-cast concrete, and new street trees with tree grates (with soil and gravel mixture under sidewalks to promote growth and prevent heaving). Decorative lighting in the outlying area would be 150 feet apart and 80 feet apart in the more dense area. Hansen stated that total funding is $4.6 million. The water services and streetscaping would be $895,000, and paid with a combination of assessments and city funds. The sanitary/storm sewer and street repairs would be a combination of MnDOT and City funds. Hansen stated that the adjacent property owner would pay for water services from the building to the water main. Lead jointed or lead pipes are required to be replaced and assessed at 100 percent of the cost. More intense work will be done in the core central business district and would be assessed at higher rate. The total cost would be spread over ten years. Szurek asked what the number of intersections that would have color enhancements. Hansen stated that th 40 Avenue would have color-banded crosswalks. Hansen indicated that MnDOT’s objective is to eliminate left turnouts. Peterson asked if the City of Minneapolis is working on their section of Central Avenue this year. Kelb stated that Minneapolis is currently going through the submittal process with MnDOT. Nawrocki referred to his meeting with the Minneapolis Councilmember of that Ward, who stated and they do plan to go ahead this year. Hansen stated that bids would be advertised in a week or two, and construction would be from the first week of June to the end of November. Peterson referred to above street wires and asked that they be buried. Hansen has asked Excel to bury rd them, and they are looking at doing this from Wargo Court to 43. Nawrocki referred to February cost estimates of 4.6 and 4.8 million. Hansen stated the difference is a five th percent construction contingency. Nawrocki referred to the March 13 information where the soft engineering cost is 20 percent but are now 22 percent. Hansen stated that MnDOT allows a percentage of costs to be recovered, if they remain under their set limits. Wyckoff commented on the Reservoir Boulevard roadway being reduced. Hansen referred to the Council work session where this was discussed, which narrows the approach of the intersection for the first 100 feet. Williams asked Hansen to again explain the soft money. Hansen referred to overhead costs such as engineering costs for a cooperative project. Nawrocki stated that the engineering costs are out of line. He referred to the March 13 information Council received, and asked if the storm and sanitary funds are sufficient to fund this. Hansen stated they are, but there are no water funds and the entire amount will have to be bonded for. Nawrocki asked how they would be paid. Hansen stated they would be paid through water rates. Nawrocki referred to land costs. Hansen stated that land costs are State aid reimbursable. Williams informed citizens that engineering costs have gone up over the years, and these fees are not out of line. Hansen stated that we have gone through three revisions with MnDOT, which has brought up the cost. He referred to a survey conducted whereby costs range from 20 to 25 percent. Fehst referred to the process to receive approval from sixteen different departments and the dealings to obtain right-of-way easements. Peterson stated that this would be a giant step toward making our community more presentable. Jen Kuppe, 420 Central Avenue, was concerned about the assessments to properties abutting the project, as she is still paying for improvements from twenty years ago. She asked that items such as trash receptacles and planters be scaled down to decrease costs. She stated that the trashcan at Sahibs has never been scrubbed out. Hansen stated that existing receptacles and planters would be reused. The new receptacles and benches are only a small cost of the project. The larger portion would be the sidewalk, trees, and street lighting. Hansen reminded owners that water mains elsewhere in the City are paid for by residents, and that residents on Central Avenue have never paid for street improvements, only sanitary sewer. Hansen stated that less than 10 percent of the project is being assessed. Kuppe spoke of the tax increment across the street. Fehst explained the TIF project and that her taxes were frozen at that time. Hansen stated that the City does the maintenance of street sweeping and sidewalk sweeping, BFI empties the trash receptacles, and Metro Transit cleans their own facilities. We will need to be more active in our cleaning efforts. Hansen stated that BFI would continue to clean the receptacles. Wyckoff referred to the bushes that are full of trash and weeds in the center median. Hansen stated that the medical center is private property and the median is MnDOT’s responsibility, but we also spray them with weed killer. th Larry Burman, 4142 7 Street, asked if the contractor would be held to a completion date. Hansen stated nd that this would be in the contract with a substantial completion date of November 22. There is some expected restoration next spring. The resident at 4525 Tyler, asked if Metro Transit has come up with a bus rerouting plan. Hansen stated that would be addressed at the work session following this meeting. Steven Glenn, 4219 Central, asked where crews would put the sidewalk snow. Hansen stated that tree placement would need to be worked out so as to not block signage and hinder snow removal. Glenn stated the lights would be too close to the curb and hinder snow removal. Hansen indicated Excel would maintain the lights. The bases are fiberglass. Hansen stated that we would be removing snow as before. Glenn asked why business owners are being charged more than residential owners. Hansen stated that the services vary in size and would depend on the actual replacement. Glenn asked if there is currently a copper pipe in place whether it would be replaced. Hansen stated no, only if it were less than one inch. Hansen stated that the best time to upgrade service is when the streets are dug up. Glenn asked if all sidewalks are being replaced. Hansen yes, with curb and gutter. Nawrocki asked how far the lights are from the curb. Kelb stated more than two feet. th Connie Kuppe, 968 40 Avenue, representing her mother, felt this would hurt small businesses and should be covered to a larger extend by the large businesses. Fehst stated that fees must show the improvement to each property. Kuppe stated that the City should support small businesses more by eliminating lengthy approval processes, and referred to the timeline for small businesses to get established. Fehst referred the EDA Business Revolving Loan fund for building improvements. He stated the need to be aware of business owner’s situations, but need to continue improvements. She disagreed, from a marketing viewpoint, stating consumers don’t care where the business is, only if there are roadblocks or no parking. Fehst referred to community pride upon entrance to the city. Williams stated that improving our industrial sites would attract people by providing jobs and that small businesses would prosper. Wyckoff stated that Ashok Bedi will be featured in the Star Tribune. st Bill McReavy, 41 and Central Avenue, of the McReavy Chapel, stated it is difficult to spend this money, but other communities such as Robbinsdale, Hopkins, and Uptown have made such improvements to their benefit. He stated the need to re-invest in our community. He commended the Mayor and Council for their actions. McReavy agreed that engineering costs are expensive, but necessary for a project that works. Nawrocki referred to the anticipated discussion at the work session following this meeting for a cooperative agreement with MnDOT, which includes commitments for ongoing maintenance items, and asked where the funds would come from. Hansen stated that we already do many of these items, but would need to address additional costs in the 2003 budget process. Additional sweeping will be necessary, and a cost analysis needs to be done. Snow removal will follow current City Code. Hansen stated that most items in this area are State aid reimbursable, except maintenance. Nawrocki questioned weeds in the paver blocks. Hansen stated it would be solid concrete with a design. Peterson addressed the City’s attempts to assist small business owners in a timely manner. He stated that Council members want to promote our people and our community. Peterson suggested inviting a local businessperson to each Council meeting to introduce them and have them speak about their business. Being there were no additional comments, Mayor Peterson closed the public hearing. Wyckoff questioned if this vote would be a conflict of interest for Councilmember Williams. Jim Hoeft, City Attorney, stated no, that Williams is voting in favor of the project and he is not receiving any money, but to the contrary. Consideration of Resolutions MOTION by Szurek, second by William,to waive the reading of Resolution No.2002-18, there being Motion carried ample copies available to the public. Upon vote: All ayes. . MOTION Szurek, second by Williams to adopt Resolution No. 2002-18, being a Resolution ordering Motion carried. public improvements, P.I.R. #1062, Project #9912A. Upon vote: All ayes. Hansen stated there would be another informational meeting for the public, with the contractor on the construction schedule, in about mid-May. Peterson stated that any Councilmembers could be contacted if there are any problems with this project. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. ___________________________________ Patricia Muscovitz, Deputy City Clerk