Report from Public Works Committee.
The Public Works Committee held its regular meeting on September 17, 2019 and discussed the following cases.
1. Consider Lowering Speed Limit on Residential Roads: The Committee directed staff to bring the topic back for consideration in six months.
2. Recommend City Council Approval of Funding Program for Variolite Street Reconstruction, Improvement Project #20-01: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council approval of a funding program for the Variolite Street Reconstruction project, Improvement Project #20-01, not including special assessment, and to consider amending the assessment policy to provide flexibility in cases where it would not make financial sense.
3. Recommend City Council Approval of Ramsey Town Center 9th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Ramsey Town Center 9^th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06. 
4. Recommend City Council Approval of Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council to table the Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09. 
5. Recommend City Council Approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10. 
6. Recommend City Council Approval of Water Efficiency Grant Application: Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend that the City Council approve of a Water Efficiency Grant application in the amount of $50,000.

1. Consider Lowering Speed Limit on Residential Roads: Public Works Superintendent Riemer stated that the current speed limit on residential roads is 30 mph.  In the past this speed limit was set by the Commissioner of Transportation at MnDOT.  Earlier this spring the State Legislature passed a law allowing the local road authority the ability to lower the speed limit on residential roads to 25 mph, if they so choose.  A residential roadway is not defined to include all city streets in an area zoned exclusively for housing and are not collector or arterial streets.  The change in definition of a residential roadway expands the ability of cities to designate such streets at 25 mph, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.14, Subdivision 2(7).  Changing the speed limit on such a street no longer requires a traffic study by MnDOT, nor does it require an engineer analysis by the City.  Cities may simply adopt the 25-mph speed limit by Council action, provided the roadway meets the new definition.  After speaking with the City Attorney, he advised that any Council action to change the speed limits must be done by Ordinance, because only Ordinances are enforceable by law. The Committee directed staff to bring the topic back for consideration in six months.
2. Recommend City Council Approval of Funding Program for Variolite Street Reconstruction, Improvement Project #20-01: City Engineer Westby stated that the 2.24-mile segment of Variolite Street between Alpine Drive and 173^rd Avenue is proposed to be reconstructed in 2020.  The pavement on this segment of Variolite Street is in poor condition.  Only 13 properties have direct access on this segment of the street and therefore receive special benefit from the proposed improvements and could therefore be assessed a portion of the cost.  The estimated project cost for reconstructing this segment of Variolite Street is $2,643,600, of which $315,3330 is estimated to be funded through Stormwater Funds.  This leaves an estimated $2,328,270 unfunded.  Municipal State Aid System funds are available to pay for the reconstruction of Variolite Street in 2020 since Variolite Street is an MSA route.  In addition, approximately $203,000 is available from the unexpended street reconstruction fund as recently discussed. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council approval of a funding program for the Variolite Street Reconstruction project, Improvement Project #20-01, not including special assessment, and to consider amending the assessment policy to provide flexibility in cases where it would not make financial sense.
3.  Recommend City Council Approval of Ramsey Town Center 9th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06: City Engineer Westby stated that two unlined stormwater ponds were constructed as part of the Ramsey Town Center (RTC) 9^th Addition in the early 2000’s.  However, the developer walked away from RTC 9^th Addition before it was completed.  CentraHomes is currently completing this private residential development.  Based on current stormwater management and wellhead protection standards, infiltration of stormwater is prohibited in Wellhead Protection Areas, which encompasses all of RTC 9^th Addition, including the two ponds.  Staff is therefore proposing to line the two ponds in RTC 9^th Addition to prevent infiltration. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Ramsey Town Center 9^th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06. 
4. Recommend City Council Approval of Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09: City Engineer Westby stated that staff is still working on the details of this project, but it is not yet to the point where it could move forward and asked that the case be tabled to 2020. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council to table the Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09. 
5. Recommend City Council Approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10: City Engineer Westby stated that the property owner at 15639 Hedgehog Street informed staff in 2018 that stormwater runoff from Hedgehog Street and 156^th Lane NW runs through a ditch on their property but lately the runoff is extending outside the easement area to within about 10 feet of their back door.  The property owner inquired what the City could do to help prevent stormwater runoff from ponding in their backyard.  City staff collected topographic survey data in late 2018 and early 2019 and is preparing draft plans, specifications and cost estimates for a drainage improvement project that includes re-grading the existing ditch swale along the south property line of 15639 Hedgehog Street, directly across from 156^th Lane NW.  The ditch and proposed grading improvements are located within an existing drainage easement that fronts several properties in the area.  The City will not need to acquire easements to complete this work.  Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10. 
5. Recommend City Council Approval of Water Efficiency Grant Application: City Engineer Westby reported that the Metropolitan Council is offering grants from $2,000 to $50,000 to municipal water suppliers to help increase water efficiency by lowering the cost for residents to purchase and install products that reduce water use including toilets, washing machines, and irrigation sprinklers and controllers.  Municipalities may use grant funds to fund rebates to residents who replace inefficient water-using devices with approved devices that use substantially less water, or for irrigation system audits.  The Metropolitan Council administered a water efficiency grant program during the 2015-2017 biennium using $500,000 from the Clean Water Fund, which yielded an estimated total savings of 52,000,000 gallons of water per year. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend that the City Council approve of a Water Efficiency Grant application in the amount of $50,000.

1. The Committee directed staff to bring the topic back for consideration in six months.
2. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council approval of a funding program for the Variolite Street Reconstruction project, Improvement Project #20-01, not including special assessment, and to consider amending the assessment policy to provide flexibility in cases where it would not make financial sense.
3. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Ramsey Town Center 9^th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06. 
4. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to table the Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09. 
5. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10. 
6. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend that the City Council approve of a Water Efficiency Grant application in the amount of $50,000.

Motion for City Council to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee as follows:
1. The Committee directed staff to bring the topic back for consideration in six months.
2. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee for City Council approval of a funding program for the Variolite Street Reconstruction project, Improvement Project #20-01, not including special assessment, and to consider amending the assessment policy to provide flexibility in cases where it would not make financial sense.
3. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Ramsey Town Center 9^th Addition Pond Lining Improvements, Improvement Project #19-06. 
4. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to table the Germanium Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-09. 
5. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend City Council approval of Hedgehog Street Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project #19-10. 
6. Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee to recommend that the City Council approve of a Water Efficiency Grant application in the amount of $50,000.