City Council Meeting Date: May 20, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
David Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
City Council discussion on the 2026 Mill and Overlay and Mill Towns State Trail Project Feasibility Report and Crossing Improvements.
Body
Action Requested:
The City Council discussion on the 2026 Mill and Overlay and Mill Towns State Trail Project Feasibility Report and Crossing Improvements.
Summary Report:
City Council Ordered the Preparation of Feasibility Report for the 2026 Mill and Overlay and Mill Towns State Trail Improvements Project at the June 4, 2024, City Council meeting, which includes the following project areas (Attachment 1):
• Maple Street from Meadow View Drive to Jefferson Parkway (mill and overlay)
• Maple Court (mill and overlay)
• Prairie Street from Meadow View Drive to Jefferson Parkway (mill and overlay)
• Jefferson Parkway from Division Street to Spring Creek Road (mill and overlay)
• Prairie Street from Woodley Street to Jefferson Parkway (on-street separated bikeway)
• Prairie Street from Lia Drive to Prairie View Court (new sidewalk on east side)
• Jefferson Parkway from Division Street/Trunk Highway 246 to Washington Street (new off-street trail on north side)
• Jefferson Parkway from Spring Creek Park Trail to Spring Creek Road (new off-street trail on north side)
• Mill Towns Trail from Division Street to Spring Creek Road (south side of Jefferson Parkway until Prairie Street then north through Spring Creek Park)
• Maple Street and Meadow View Drive (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Washington Street (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Maple Street (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Prairie Street (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Michigan Drive (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Sibley View Trail (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Afton Drive (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Bunker Drive East and West (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Wilcox Boulevard East and West (crossing improvements)
• Jefferson Parkway and Spring Creek Park Trail (crossing improvements)
Staff held the first Neighborhood Meeting on April 16, 2025, to discuss the project as a whole. At this meeting, Staff requested feedback on the project listed above. Staff also mailed out a questionnaire with the neighborhood meeting invitation requesting feedback about the upcoming project. Comments are included in Appendix E of the Draft Feasibility Report (Attachment 2).
The purpose of this discussion item is for Staff to receive feedback from City Council on the draft feasibility report and go in more depth on the recommendations for crossing improvements.
Alternative Options:
• Councilor Beumer requested an interest to remove the Prairie Street from Woodley Street to Jefferson Parkway (on-street separated bikeway). He indicated that he is comfortable leaving the painted cycle track markings. This would be an appropriate item to receive feedback from individual councilors to determine if there is consensus for the change.
The attached schedule indicates the next formal action to accept the report would be on August 4th. There is one additional neighborhood meeting planned before that meeting. Staff would be open to any additional alternatives City Council may bring forth other project recommendations within the draft feasibility report that may relate to scoping of the project as proposed in the current draft report. This will allow for either modifications to the scope and work or further analysis depending on the issues raised. Should you have questions on any potential policy considerations or areas of interest for modification in advance of the meeting please feel free to contact Mr. Bennett.
Financial Impacts:
Please see the Council presentation (Attachment 4) for the estimated costs and proposed funding for the project. Staff are still in the process of finalizing the estimated costs for the project. The 2025 - 2029 CIP has a total project cost of $4,851,726. Below are the draft feasibility costs and funding at this time:
Tentative Timelines:
Staff will bring forth the Feasibility Report for approval at the August 4, 2025, City Council meeting (Attachment 3).