Adopt Resolution #21-010 Ordering Plans and Specifications for Improvement Project #21-03, Business Park 95 Street Reconstructions.
 

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #21-010 ordering plans and specifications for Improvement Project #21-03, Business Park 95 Street Reconstructions.
 
Background:
City Improvement Project 21-03 proposes to reconstruct the streets within the Business Park 95 subdivision in 2021 including; 140^th Avenue, McKinley Street, Radium Street and Unity Street. The streets total approximately 6,314 lineal feet (1.20 miles) in length. A figure showing the project scope is attached to this case.
 
On December 8, 2020, the Ramsey City Council approved the 2021 – 2030 Capital Improvement Program, which identifies the streets in Business Park 95 for reconstructions in 2021.

On February 24, 2020, the Ramsey City Council indefinitely suspended the annual sealcoat program and reallocated $250,000 of the budgeted 2020 sealcoat funds for pavement overlay improvements in the Business Park 95 subdivision since the streets within Business Park 95 are prematurely deteriorating due to pavement stripping, which is the driving force for suspending the annual sealcoat program.

In February of 2020, Staff hired WSB to perform a pavement forensics analysis, which included the extraction of pavement cores from each street segment proposed to receive overlay improvements in Business Park 95. Based on WSB and Associates pavement forensics analysis, it was found that the deterioration of the streets in Business Park 95 were beyond the scope of overlay improvements. WSB's report solidified Staff’s recommendation not to overlay the streets within Business Park 95 in 2020. The WSB report is attached to this case.

On March 16, 2020, the Public Works Committee supported Staff’s conclusions and recommendations that the proposed Amended 2020 Pavement Overlay Improvements, including Business Park 95, were not feasible or cost-effective from an engineering standpoint, and that the overlay improvements as proposed should not be completed in 2020.

On November 10, 2020, the Ramsey City Council authorized Staff to execute proposals from Bolton & Menk for topographic survey work, and from Chosen Valley Testing (CVT) for geotechnical evaluation work, both of which are required to complete the project design and prepare plans and specifications. The CVT Geotechnical Report has since been received and is attached to this case. The geotechnical report generally found clean sand below the existing bituminous and gravel pavement sections.
 
On December 8, 2020, the Ramsey City Council authorized Staff to execute proposals from Nelson Sanitation & Rental, Inc. for televising services of the sanitary sewer and storm sewer within the project area, and from Water Conservation Services, Inc. for watermain leak testing services within the project area. The testing of the municipal utilities is not yet complete, but if utility testing reveals any issues, the required repair work will be incorporated into the plans. No extensions to municipal utilities are proposed with this project.
 
In 2020, Business Park 95 was included in the Ground Penetrating Radar Pavement Evaluation performed by Braun Intertec. This data provides bituminous and aggregate base thickness information. The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data is included in the street segment summary attached to this case.
 
The Business Park 95 subdivision is a commercial subdivision with heavy truck traffic. During the fall of 2020, Staff took traffic counts with annual daily traffic (ADT) volumes of; 846 on Unity Street south of Bunker Lake Boulevard, and 2,245 on McKinley Street east of Sunfish Lake Boulevard. The City does not have a standard commercial pavement section, however, since these roads must be open during all seasons to heavy truck traffic, Staff is proposing to reconstruct the streets to a 9-ton design, per MnDOT design guidelines. Based upon pavement coring's, the existing pavement section meets a 9-ton design. The existing concrete curb and gutter is generally in good condition. Staff proposes reconstructing the streets by the full-depth reclamation method. This includes reclaiming the existing pavement and aggregate base section, removing the top 4-inches of reclaim material, then compacting the remaining 6-inches of material in place to serve as aggregate base.  Then 4-inches of new bituminous pavement is proposed to be placed on top to effectively provide a 10-inch minimum pavement section, meeting a 9-ton design strength.
 
During project review, Staff has noted that the east end of McKinley Street dead ends approximately 450-feet east of Radium Street. McKinley Street is gravel for approximately 75-feet before turning into a private driveway, leaving no space within public right of way for snow plows or emergency vehicles to turn around. Staff therefore proposes to extend McKinley Street approximately 250-feet and create a 100 foot diameter cul-de-sac to the east within existing city-owned right-of-way. The cul-de-sac improvements are supported by the City Public Works Department and Fire Department. This cul-de-sac extension would have the added benefit of providing better access to an existing trunk sanitary sewer line which exists in green space east of McKinley Street. Staff proposes adding this cul-de-sac extension as an alternative bid to the Business Park 95 Street Reconstruction plans, which will allow the City Council to discuss the proposed 250-foot street extension and cul-de-sac improvements knowing the estimated construction costs.

Approximately 450-feet of the west end of McKinley Street is currently proposed to be left as is as this segment will be reconstructed with the Sunfish Lake Boulevard & BNSF Railway grade separation improvements, part of the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Improvements project. The construction limits on the west end of McKinley Street will be designed to match the tie down location for the segment of McKinley Street to be reconstructed with the Ramsey Gateway Improvements to avoid throw away costs. It is currently anticipated that the preliminary design layout for the Sunfish Lake Boulevard & BNSF Railway / Highway 10 grade separation improvements will be complete by mid-February, well before final plans for Improvement Project #21-03 are to be presented to the City Council for approval and authorization to advertise for bids.

The engineer’s opinion of probable project costs for completing the proposed improvements is $1,070,000. Estimated costs include 10-percent contingency costs, as well as 23-percent indirect costs for administrative, engineering, finance, and legal costs.
 
The street improvements proposed with this project are identified in the City’s current 10-year CIP, and can be funded using a combination of Pavement Management Funds, Stormwater Utility Funds, and the previously dedicated $250,000. This project would best be constructed as a stand-alone project and is necessary, feasible, and cost-effective from an engineering standpoint, and can be constructed as proposed herein.
 
The proposed improvements are designated as City Improvement Project #21-03, Business Park 95 Street Reconstructions. 

Notifications are not required for this case.
 

Motion to adopt Resolution #21-010 ordering plans and specifications for improvement project #21-03, Business Park 95 Street Reconstructions.
 

Staff estimates project costs based on anticipated 2021 construction costs to be $1,070,000.

Preparation of plans and specifications will be completed in-house as part of Staff's normal duties.

Funding for the improvements is proposed to come from the Pavement Management Fund, Stormwater Utility Fund, and $250,000 in previously dedicated funds.  Below are estimated costs 
 

• Base Street Project Costs                   $  920,000
• Base Storm Sewer Project Costs        $    25,000
• Alt CDS Street Project Costs               $  110,000
• Alt CDS Storm Sewer Project Costs   $    15,000
• Total Estimated Project Cost               $1,070,000

Staff recommends adopting Resolution #21-010 ordering plans and specifications for improvement project #21-03, Business Park 95 Street Reconstructions.

Adopt Resolution #21-010 Ordering Plans and Specifications for Improvement Project #21-03, Business Park 95 Street Reconstructions.