Consider Recommending City Council Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for High Point Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-05

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for High Point Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-05.
 
Background:
The proposed 2025 – 2034 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) identifies the streets within the High Point and Section 22 Unplatted subdivision for street reconstruction in 2025. A street segment summary for the project is attached to this case.
 
Existing Conditions
The street within Section 22 Unplatted (156^th Avenue) is 26-foot urban with bituminous curbing and rural with drainage swales at the low point. The streets within High Point are 31-foot urban section with bituminous curbing and cross street valley gutters with drainage flumes at low points. Combined, the street total approximately 1.67 miles in length. Traffic counts have not been taken within the project area, though there are no destinations within the subdivision which would increase traffic above normal.
 
Municipal sewer and water do not exist in the project area, extension of municipal utilities to this subdivision are not proposed as it is outside of the 2040 MUSA. Stormwater is handled with drainage flumes, which carry water to existing ponds, wetlands, and Ditch 66.
 
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 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 #24-340, ordering the City Engineer to prepare plans and specifications for said improvements.
• January 21, 2025, the Ramsey Public Works Committee recommended the Zirconium Street cul-de-sac be constructed to a standard 100-foot diameter.
• February 13, 2025, Ramsey Staff held a public open house for said improvements.

 
Pavement History
The streets within High Point were constructed in 1979 and the street within Section 22 Unplatted was constructed in 1989. All street segments received an overlay in 2001, and subsequently two crack seal / seal coat treatments in 2007 and 2014. Significant patching has occurred over the last several years.
 
GPR was performed on the streets in 2024, at the time the streets averaged 2.5 to 4.3 inches of bituminous over 2.5 to 4.8 inches of aggregate base, with much variability from street to street.
 
Staff review of the geotechnical report found clean sands, ideal for pavement support within the project area. Additionally, groundwater is not anticipated to be a concern for the street reconstruction.
 
Proposed Improvements
The bituminous curbing is proposed to be replaced with surmountable concrete curb and gutter. At driveways, a curb cut similar to what is typically placed in B-Style curb will be placed, to avoid high transition from the roadway to driveways. The new pavement section will include 3.5-inches of new bituminous pavement over 4-inches of aggregate base. The aggregate base is proposed to be made of recycled reclamation.
 
In the project area, 8 of the 12 existing flumes were replaced with storm sewer inlets and storm sewer piping. It was not found feasible to replace the remaining 4 flumes, primarily due to the excessive grading and impact to properties which would be required.
 
Restoration of the impacted boulevards will include a minimum of 4-inches topsoil and hydroseed with a residential turf seed mix. Though the pavement is generally going back to the same location and elevation, driveway aprons will be replaced to match into the new concrete curb and gutter. In general, the boulevard impacts and driveway impacts will occur within 6 feet of the existing pavement.
 
The Zirconium Street cul-de-sac is proposed to be rebuilt as a 100-foot diameter cul-de-sac, centered within the existing right of way. The existing cul-de-sac is 165 feet in diameter. By replacing the cul-de-sac to the standard dimensions, significant savings in both construction and long-term maintenance costs will occur. The existing driveways and boulevard adjacent to the cul-de-sac will be extended approximately 33 feet. At this time, staff is not proposing to adjust the existing right of way, which is 200 feet in diameter. A standard cul-de-sac has a 120-foot diameter right of way.  This will be discussed in detail with the City Council.  
 
Preliminary Schedule Remaining

• Council approves plans and specifications / authorizes ad for bids
  • February 25, 2025
• Staff Receives Bids
  • March 31, 2025
• Council Awards Contract to the Lowest Responsible Bidder
  • April 8, 2025
• Contractor Begins Construction
  • Spring 2025
• Contractor Substantially Completes Construction
  • New bituminous pavement in-place, topsoil and seed in-place
  • August 30, 2025
• Contractor Final Completion
  • Verify final restoration; punch list created
  • September 30, 2025

 
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.

Notification is not required for this case. Staff will update the project webpage, to keep residents informed on the progress of the project.

Timeframe:
Staff anticipates up to 15 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case.
 
Observations:
The public open house was held on February 13, 2025 in the Lake Itasca Room, at the Municipal Center. Staff will update the Committee on any public comments received.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for High Point Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-05.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion of other.

Funding for this improvement is proposed to come from Pavement Management Funds and Storm Water Utility Funds.
 
Pavement Management Funds           $1,743,100
Storm Water Utility Funds                 $476,300
Total Project Funds                          $2,219,400
 
The CIP level estimate had a total estimated project cost of $1,986,165, which includes street costs of $1,727,100 and storm sewer costs of $259,065. The final project costs may change depending upon bid prices and actual construction quantities.

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Motion recommending City Council approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for High Point Street Reconstructions, Improvement Project #25-05.