City Council Meeting Date: September 17, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
David Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
The City Council approves Resolution to Accept the Feasibility Report and Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the 2025 Reclamation and Overlay Project.
Body
Action Requested:
The City Council approves Resolution to Accept the Feasibility Report and Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the 2025 Reclamation and Overlay Project.
Summary Report:
City Council Ordered the Preparation of Feasibility Report for the 2025 Reclamation and Overlay Project at the March 12, 2024, City Council meeting, which includes the following project areas (Attachment 2):
• Maple Street from Jefferson Parkway to the south end (Mill & Overlay)
• Lake Drive from Jefferson Parkway to Maple Street (Mill & Overlay)
• Superior Drive from Michigan Drive to Maple Street (Mill & Overlay)
• Washington Street from Sumner Street to the south turnaround (Pavement Reclamation)
• Laurel Court (Pavement Reclamation)
• Industrial Drive (Pavement Reclamation)
• Washington Street Bikeway
• Washington Street Trail
• Maple Street Trail
• Laurel Court Trail
• Sechler Park Trail (Mill Towns Trail)
• Festler Farms Trail Connection
• Woodley Street and Washington Street Crossing Improvements
• Washington Street and Ames Street Crossing Improvements
• Maple Street and Superior Drive Crossing Improvements
• Superior Drive Crossing Improvements
Staff held the first Neighborhood Meeting on May 1, 2024, and Neighborhood Meeting #2 on July 24, 2024, to discuss the project as a whole. At this meeting, Staff requested feedback on the options listed above. Staff also mailed out a questionnaire with the Neighborhood meeting invitation requesting feedback about the upcoming project. Comments are included in Appendix B of the Feasibility Report (Attachment 3).
Staff is recommending that the Feasibility Report be approved as presented which includes the Washington Street portion of the project being put on pause and programmed in a future year. This is based on input received from neighbors and to allow for the pedestrian and bike infrastructure to be further analyzed. The existing shared road bikeway isn’t All Ages and Abilities from Woodley Street to Second Street where this project connects. This pause will allow time to study what bikeway is best from Second Street to Jefferson Parkway on Washington Street.
In addition to the Washington Street pause, Staff is also recommending not pursuing the Mill Towns Trail portion of the project through Sechler Park at this time to allow Staff to pursue additional DNR funding for the trail segment.
Lastly, Staff is recommending not to pursue the Festler Farms Parcel trail at this time. Staff has reached out to the property owners, and they are currently working with a Developer on the parcel.
Alternative Options:
Staff would be open to any additional alternatives City Council may bring forth.
Financial Impacts:
Please see the feasibility report for the estimated project costs and estimated project funding (Attachment 3).
Tentative Timelines:
See Attached