Adopt Resolution #24-355 Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for MSA Sunwood Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #25-02

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #24-355 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for MSA Sunwood Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #25-02.
 
Background:
The proposed 2025 – 2034 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) identifies Sunwood Drive between Nowthen Boulevard (CSAH 5) and Erkium Street for street reconstruction in 2025. A street segment summary for the project is attached to this case.
 
Existing Conditions
Sunwood Drive between Nowthen Boulevard and Erkium Street is a 40-foot-wide urban section street, totaling 0.20 miles in length. Westbound Sunwood Drive includes a stop condition at Nowthen Boulevard, with a right turn only and a thru and left turn lane. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) is 1,050. The corridor includes 5-foot wide concrete sidewalk on both sides of the street.
 
City watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer exist within the project area. However, there are no storm sewer inlets in the curb line of this section of Sunwood Drive.
 
Project History

• May 28, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-138, accepting and awarding a proposal to Hakanson Anderson for topographic survey of the project area.
• August 12, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-220, accepting and awarding a proposal to Independent Testing Technologies, Inc. for a geotechnical report of the project area.
• November 12, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-309, accepting and awarding a proposal to Hydro-Klean, LLC for sewer cleaning and televising of the project area.
• November 19, 2024, the Ramsey Public Works Committee recommended City Council order plans and specifications for said improvements.
• November 26, 2024, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #24-338, ordering plans and specifications for said improvements.

 
Pavement History
This segment of Sunwood Drive was constructed in 1993. The street received crack seal / seal coat improvements in 1998, 2006, and 2013. Public Works staff has performed pavement patching over the last several years.
 
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has been performed on this street, indicating an average of 4.2 inches of bituminous over 2.2 inches of aggregate base.
 
Proposed Improvements
Sunwood Drive is a Municipal State Aid (MSA) street and must conform to MSA design standards, including meeting a 10-ton pavement design standard. Because the existing pavement section is only 4.2-inches of bituminous over 2.2-inches aggregate base (6.4-inch total section), the typical full-depth reclamation (FDR) process cannot be used to meet pavement strength design requirements. Staff is proposing to place 4-inches of new bituminous over 6-inches aggregate base. This will be achieved by removing the existing pavement and aggregate base, removing an additional 4-inches of subbase material, and placing 6-inches of new aggregate base and 4-inches of new bituminous pavement. Ideally the new aggregate base will be made of recycled reclamation material, but to allow for the best bidding environment, the project will not require it.
 
The existing concrete curb and gutter is proposed to remain in-place with spot replacements. Per the ADA Transition Plan, existing pedestrian ramps will be updated to current ADA standards. There are 10 such pedestrian ramps within the project area. Replacing the pedestrian ramps will also result in three concrete valley gutters being replaced.
 
Review of the geotechnical report found clean sands, ideal for both utility and pavement support within the project area. Additionally, groundwater is not anticipated to be a concern for the street reconstruction.
 
Improvements to the existing municipal utilities are not anticipated other than a minor improvement to a watermain gate valve identified by the City Utilities Department.
 
Additional Permitting
Sunwood Drive is an MSA street, which requires review and approval by the MnDOT MSA department prior to bidding the project. Plans have been submitted to MnDOT without revisions anticipated. Because the project goes up to the Anoka County right-of-way, and will require temporary signage within said right-of-way, an Anoka County Highway Department Right-of-Way Permit will be required. No other permits are anticipated. 
 
Preliminary Schedule Remaining

• City Council approves plans and specifications / authorizes ads for bids
  • December 10, 2024
• Public Open House
  • December 11, 2024
• Staff receives bids
  • January 13, 2025
• City Council awards contract to the lowest Responsible Contractor
  • January 28, 2025
• Contractor begins construction
  • Spring / Summer 2025
• Contractor substantially completes construction
  • New bituminous pavement in-place, topsoil and seed in-place
  • August 2, 2025
• Contractor final completion
  • Verify final restoration; punch list created
  • August 30, 2025

 
Bid Opening
Staff proposes to open bids on January 13, 2025, and to present the bid results to the City Council on January 28, 2025, for award of a construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
 
Final plans are not attached to this case to prevent potential bidders from downloading plans attached to the case to prepare and submit their bids, rather than purchasing the plans through QuestCDN, the electronic bidding software used by the City of Ramsey. This ensures all bidders are bidding off the same set of plans, and all bidders are notified of any plan revisions (addenda) issued during the bidding process. Attached is the title sheet showing the scope of the improvements, as well as a plan sheet showing the typical sections, which includes information on the proposed pavement section. Plans are available upon request from the City Engineer.

If City Council approves plans and specifications and authorizes advertising for bids, bids will be advertised on Friday, November 15, and again on Friday, November 22, 2024, in the City’s official newspaper, the Anoka Union Herald. Plans are also advertised on the QuestCDN website, which directly notifies contractors interested in bidding these types of projects.
 
Additionally, letters will be mailed to property owners with updates on the project status. Engineering Staff maintains City Improvement webpages with the most current project information. This can be found on the City website, Engineering Department page.

Observations:
The public open house is proposed to be held on December 11, 2024 at the Ramsey Municipal Center. If comments are received which impact the project design, staff will address the changes with an addendum.
 
Alternatives:
Motion to adopt Resolution #24-355 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for MSA Sunwood Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #25-02.

The CIP identified funding for this improvement from Municipal State Aid Funds and Storm Water Utility Funds. During project design, staff found no required improvement to the storm sewer system, and therefore storm water utility funding will not be required. A minor repair to the City watermain is required, with funding proposed to be from the Water Utility Fund.
 
Staff has completed project cost estimates based on final plans and anticipated 2025 construction costs. The total estimated project cost is $326,906.33, which includes 23-percent indirect costs for administrative, engineering, finance, and legal costs.
 

• Municipal State Aid Funds     $325,307.33
• Water Utility Funds                $1,599.00
• Total Project Costs               $326,906.33

 
The CIP level estimate had a total estimated project cost of $348,450, which includes street costs of $303,000 and storm sewer costs of $45,450. The final project costs may change depending upon bid prices and actual construction quantities.

Staff recommends adopting Resolution #24-355 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for MSA Sunwood Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #25-02.

Motion to adopt Resolution #24-355 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for MSA Sunwood Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #25-02.