Consider Recommending City Council Approval of Plans and Specifications and Award of Contract for Improvement Project #21-11, 2021 Pavement Rejuvenation Improvements

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider recommending City Council approval of plans and specifications and award of contract for Improvement Project #21-11, 2021 Pavement Rejuvenation Improvements.

Background:
Sealcoating Background -
The intended purpose of sealcoating streets 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 2019, the City Council indefinitely suspended sealcoat improvements due to observed pavement stripping under sealcoat issues, which causes the top inch or so of pavement to strip away from the underlying pavement in areas that start out small (the size of a quarter), but then grow larger and larger over time until much of the pavement’s surface has disintegrated.
 
Since the sealcoat program was suspended, Staff has been exploring alternatives to sealcoat improvements for northern tier states, such as Minnesota. Numerous alternatives have been tried by many cities throughout the metro area. The most common alternatives in use by other cities include fog sealing, micro-thin overlays, and pavement rejuvenators.
 
City Staff have been conferring with Staff from other metro cities including Anoka, Andover, Brooklyn Center, Coon Rapids, Saint Michael and Woodbury to discuss what other sealcoat alternatives are being tried. Based on these discussions, Staff feels pavement rejuvenators will provide the greatest overall benefit at the lowest cost, while minimizing impacts to the traveling public due to the fast cure times.
 
Reclamite Pavement Rejuvenator Background -
On March 3, 2020, Staff attended a lunch and learn presented by Corrective Asphalt Materials (CAM) and hosted by the City of Coon Rapids.  Staff from the following cities were in attendance.

• Andover
• Brooklyn Center
• Circle Pines
• Columbia Heights
• Coon Rapids
• Fridley
• Ham Lake
• Mahtomedi
• Mounds View
• New Brighton
• Otsego
• Ramsey
• Saint Francis

 
Corrective Asphalt Materials specializes in applying a petroleum maltene-based pavement rejuvenating agent called Reclamite. Maltene-based petroleum products have the ability to absorb or penetrate into asphalt pavement and restore the reactive components (maltenes) that have been lost due to the natural process of oxidation.
 
Reclamite is used as a pavement preservation tool and is applied similar to a fog seal, but with a much quicker dry time along with additional benefits. Numerous cities have been using this product for years and have had good experiences thus far and plan to continue applying Reclamite in the foreseeable future.
 
CAM typically restricts applications of Reclamite to pavement that is 5 years old or less, though they are starting to apply Reclamite to some streets in Edina and Woodbury that are around 8 years old. To determine if the pavement is able to absorb the Reclamite application in sufficient quantity the pavement must first be tested by applying test applications to determine if the existing pavement is porous enough to accept Reclamite using standard application rates.
 
As stated in the attached brochure from CAM, Reclamite has been used for more than 50 years and is proven to add 5 to 7 years of service life to pavements. According to CAM, Reclamite penetrates, rejuvenates and seals the surface of the pavement by replenishing the lost maltene fraction in the asphalt binder making the surface durable and flexible thereby preventing raveling, stripping, and air and moisture intrusion.
 
CAM also claims Reclamite provides a significant cost savings over a 60-year pavement life over traditional sealcoat and overlay improvements.
 
2020 Pavement Rejuvenation Improvements -
Following approvals from the Public Works Committee and the City Council, a pavement rejuvenator demonstration project was completed in 2020. Reclamite was applied to Ute Street in the Stanhope Terrace development, which was reconstructed in 2018.
 
The pavement treated with Reclamite currently appears to be less porous and drains better than the pavement segment to the north that was reconstructed at the same time but was not treated with Reclamite. Staff will continue to monitor the two sections to evaluate the ongoing benefits of Reclamite.
 
2021 Pavement Rejuvenation Improvements -
The City budgeted $200,000 for 2021 crack seal improvements. Total project costs for the 2021 crack seal improvements based on the awarded bid are anticipated to be $125,888.00. Therefore, $74,112 is projected to remain unspent from the 2021 crack seal budget.
 
In an attempt to best utilize the entire $200,000 budgeted for crack seal improvements on pavement maintenance improvements, engineering and public works staff have reviewed the City’s street maintenance needs and offer the following recommendations.
 
Public Works Staff recommends authorizing Staff to replace the old pavement patching trailer with a new trailer, which if purchased through the state contract would cost $33,593. The old trailer could continue to be used by a second patching crew, when available. Staff does not believe the old trailer has much, if any, salvage value.
 
Engineering Staff recommends awarding a contract to Corrective Asphalt Materials in the amount of $41,272.12 to apply Reclamite to 44,861 square yards (SY) of bituminous pavement on numerous street segments in the following residential developments.

• Brookfield 6^th, 7^th and 8th Additions (9,618 SY)
• Covenant Meadows (6,218 SY)
• Ford Brook Estates (3,016 SY)
• Harvest Estates 1st and 2nd Additions (7,826 SY)
• Rivers Bend (7,915 SY)
• Wood Pond Hills & Chestnut Ridge (10,268 SY)

 
Attached is a copy of Corrective Asphalt Materials proposal, as well as a project scope map showing the streets segments proposed to be treated with Reclamite.
 
The total cost associated with Staff’s recommendations is $74,865.12. Again, based on the awarded crack seal bid, Staff projects $74,112 will remain unspent from the 2021 crack seal budget. If Council acts to approve Staff’s recommendations above, an additional $753.12 would be needed.
 
Staff plans to present a case to the City Council on April 27th requesting authorization to proceed with Staff’s recommendations to spend down the unspent 2021 crack seal budget. This case will include any recommendations from the Public Works Committee.   

Staff estimates 15 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions. 

Observations:
During the Public Works Committee meeting, Staff will display several pictures of pavement before and after receiving Reclamite applications. Staff will also present one or two short video clips showing the Reclamite application process.   
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to recommend City Council approval of plans and specifications and award of contract for Improvement Project #21-11, 2021 Pavement Rejuvenation Improvements.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion of other.   

Based on Staff’s recommendations, an additional $753.12 would be needed, which Staff proposes to pay for from the pavement maintenance budget.  

Staff recommends alternative #1.  

Motion to recommend City Council approval of plans and specifications and award of contract for Improvement Project #21-11, 2021 Pavement Rejuvenation Improvements.