Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #20-038 indefinitely suspending the City of Ramsey’s annual sealcoat program and reallocating budgeted 2020 sealcoat funds.

Background:
Since 2015, the City of Ramsey has budgeted $500,000 annually for cracksealing and sealcoating between 13 and 23 miles of City streets. Prior to 2015, cracksealing and sealcoating was completed less frequently based on availability of funding.
 
The purpose of sealcoating was to protect existing bituminous pavement from damage due to stormwater runoff, ultraviolet rays from the sun, and petroleum deposits left by vehicles using the streets. In addition, a small amount of oil in the sealcoat emulsion is absorbed by the underlying pavement, helping to rejuvenate up to the top quarter-inch of pavement.

In the spring of 2019, Staff began observing significant damage to the underlying pavement on several streets sealcoated since 2015. Staff has since been monitoring streets sealcoated since 2015 and documenting the scope and severity of observed pavement stripping issues in hopes of better understanding the root cause(s) of pavement stripping observed in Ramsey.  Pictures of damage caused by pavement stripping under sealcoats on several streets in Ramsey are attached.
 
Numerous cities across the Twin Cities metro area have experienced pavement stripping under sealcoats over the last decade or more, including several cities in the northwest metro.  Since last spring, Staff has discussed the pavement stripping issues experienced by various metro area cities, including those that have been experiencing this issue the longest.  Staff’s goal is to better understand the cause(s) of pavement stripping, how to cost-effectively repair damaged pavements, and if reasonable alternatives to sealcoating exist.
 
Attached to this case is a summary of Staff’s research into pavement stripping, which includes findings and practices of other metro area cities, general comments and/or observations received from other cities and from sealcoat practitioners and experts, as well as conclusions and recommendations reached by pavement stripping research reports completed by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB).  The LRRB was established in 1959 through state legislation with the goal of improving the quality of Minnesota’s transportation systems through grassroots research efforts.  Copies of LRRB Technical Reports #2013-08 and #2017-35 are attached for reference.
 
In summary, Staff is concerned that continuing the sealcoat program will continue to cause unnecessary damage to our public streets.  Staff therefore recommends indefinitely suspending the City’s sealcoating program, which will allow Staff to further study the causes of pavement stripping in Ramsey and in other northern tier cities, to determine if reasonable alternatives to sealcoating exist, and to verify how to most cost-effectively repair pavement sections damaged by pavement stripping.

Not required for this case.

Observations:
The City budgets $500,000 for annual crack seal and sealcoat improvements, of which $175,000 is typically spent on crack sealing, and $325,000 is spent on sealcoating.  After reviewing our current crack seal needs, Staff recommends allocating $150,000 for crack seal improvements in 2020 and recommends allocating the unspent $350,000 as follows in 2020.
 
Business Park 95 Pavement Mill and Overlay
The streets in Business Park 95 were sealcoated in 2015 and are exhibiting the most signs of damage as a result of stripping under sealcoats of any streets in the City.  If these streets do not receive a mill and overlay this year, extensive patching will be required.  This carries significant cost and takes time away from patching other streets across the City.  Staff therefore recommends completing a 2-inch mill and overlay on all streets in Business Park 95 in 2020, which are currently included in the CIP as a mill and overlay project in 2024.  Staff recommends allocating $250,000 towards this work.  The estimated cost for this work is $500,000.  The remaining $250,000 would best be allocated from the 2020 overlay improvements funding source.
 
Collect Ground Penetrating Radar Data
Staff recommends contracting with Braun Intertec to collect ground penetrating radar data on all street segments for which pavement section data is not available. This data will assist Staff in completing a comprehensive review and making the necessary revisions to all pavement management program improvement projects in the 10-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) this fall.  This will help ensure that all pavement overlay and reconstruction improvement projects identified within the CIP are able to be completed as proposed, and that the scope, cost and schedule of all proposed street improvement projects are accurate.  The estimated cost for this work is $75,000.
 
Increase Spray Patching Program
Staff recommends increasing the spray patching program to allow Staff to rent additional spray patching equipment and purchase additional patching materials.  This will allow Staff to spray patch more streets in 2020 to help hold the streets together until they receive their scheduled pavement mill and overlay and/or reclamation/reconstruction improvements.  Staff budgeted $60,000 for Spray patching in 2020 and recommends allocating an additional $25,000.  This should allow Staff to continue spray patching streets through September and into October, weather permitting.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to adopt Resolution #20-038 indefinitely suspending the City of Ramsey’s annual sealcoat program, and reallocating budgeted 2020 sealcoat funds to include $150,000 for 2020 crackseal improvements, $250,000 for Business Park 95 mill and overlay improvements, $75,000 for ground penetrating radar data, and $25,000 for additional spray patching in 2020.

Alternative #2 – Motion of other.

The City annually budgets $500,000 for crack seal and sealcoat projects. Staff recommends that the City continue to complete crack seal projects at an estimated cost of $150,000 in 2020.  The remaining $350,000 is recommended to be allocated as follows;

• $250,000 for 2020 mill and overlay improvements in Business Park 95
• $  75,000 for collection of ground penetrating radar data on numerous City streets
• $  25,000 for additional spray patching in 2020

Staff recommends that the City’s sealcoat program be indefinitely suspended to allow Staff to further study the causes of pavement stripping in Ramsey and in other northern tier cities, to determine if reasonable alternatives to sealcoating exist, and to verify how to most cost-effectively repair pavement sections damaged by pavement stripping.
 
Staff also recommends that the 2020 sealcoat budget be reallocated as follows;

• $250,000 for 2020 mill and overlay improvements in Business Park 95
• $  75,000 for collection of ground penetrating radar data on numerous City streets
• $  25,000 for additional spray patching in 2020

Motion to adopt Resolution #20-038 indefinitely suspending the City of Ramsey’s annual sealcoat program, and reallocating budgeted 2020 sealcoat funds to include $150,000 for 2020 crackseal improvements, $250,000 for Business Park 95 mill and overlay improvements, $75,000 for ground penetrating radar data, and $25,000 for additional spray patching in 2020.