Report from Public Works Committee meeting dated September 18, 2012.

The Public Works Committee held its regular meeting on September 18th, 2012 and discussed the following nine cases:


5.01: Review Resident’s Concerns with the Sunfish Lake Boulevard / CR 116 Project

Public Works Superintendent Riemer reviewed the staff report and resident concern relating to traffic cutting through the townhome neighborhood by non-residents; limited access to Casey’s General Store due to the center medians on Sunfish Lake Boulevard and CR 116; increased traffic in surrounding neighborhoods due to the center medians on Sunfish Lake Boulevard and CR 116; and, gaps in the sound wall.

The consensus of the Public Works Committee to recommend the City Council follow the guidelines of the Anoka County Highway Department and direct staff to call resident Jessie Diaz several months after project completion to learn whether cut through traffic is still a concern.


5.02: Consider Stop Sign Request for 145th Lane and Tungsten Way

Public Works Superintendent Riemer reviewed the staff report and petitioned request from residents in the Chestnut Hill 4th Addition to place a four-way stop at the intersection of 145th Lane and Tungsten Way. He advised that most warrants were not met with the exception of restricted view caused by the grade differential at the intersection. Staff recommends installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of 145th Lane and Tungsten Way.

Motion to recommend that the City Council accept staff’s recommendation to install a four-way stop at 145th Lane and Tungsten Way because of the limited sight distance caused by the grade differential at that intersection.

5.03: Consider Stop Sign Request at 152nd Lane and Helium Street

Public Works Superintendent Riemer reviewed the staff report and petitioned request from residents in the neighborhood near the intersection of 152nd Lane and Helium Street for a stop sign at that intersection.

No residents from this neighborhood were present to offer comments.

Motion to recommend that the City Council accept staff recommendation to not install stop signs at the intersection of 152nd Lane and Helium Street because it does not meet the warrants outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), traffic volumes are low, and visibility is satisfactory on all three legs.


5.04: Consider Sight Triangle Concerns at Alpine Drive and Puma Street

Staff reviewed in the report they received a concern from a resident about visibility at the Alpine Drive - Puma Street intersection.  Puma Street was paved in 2011 and provides a connection from the western extension of Bunker Lake Blvd to Alpine Drive.  The concern states that north bound traffic on Puma cannot see eastbound traffic on Alpine Drive in time to safely enter or cross Alpine Drive.

Motion to recommend that the City Council authorize entering into negotiations with the landowner for necessary easements to lower the boulevard south of Alpine Drive and west of Puma Street to provide better sight distance.

5.05; Crosswalk Request for Zirconium Street and Alpine Drive

Staff reviewed in the report that residents have requested a cross walk that would offer access to Alpine Park to the residential neighborhoods to the north.  The chief concern is the ability to access the park safely across Alpine Drive which has a 45 mile per hour speed limit and a daily traffic count of 2400 vehicles per day. 

The consensus of the Public Works Committee was to recommend the City Council direct staff to further research and make recommendation on the installation of a crosswalk near the Zirconium Street and Alpine Drive intersection.


5.06: Consider Retention Pond Improvements Near 5430 149th Lane

Staff reviewed in the report that they had previously received a concern on the storm water retention pond by the adjacent landowner.  The resident had requested that the City consider clearing trees and removing the pond.  The resident was also concerned with the smell. 

Motion to recommend that the City Council authorize staff to work with the property owners to remove selected trees adjacent to the pond near 5430 149th Lane for ease of future maintenance and to leave the pond configuration as is.


5.07: Consider Storm Water Improvements at Rum River Hills Golf Course – A continuation of discussion related to 2011 flooding concerns

This was brought forward has a separate case at the September 25, 2012 City Council meeting. 


5.08: Sunwood Drive Project – Supplemental Agreement #1, Change Order #2 and Connexus Relocation Charges

Interim City Engineer Nelson reviewed in the staff report that a supplemental agreement addresses two item that were included in the original design as trail width for maintenance purposes should be 10' wide and the drainage along Armstrong Blvd was discovered to have elevation conflicts between two sets of plans. 

Motion to recommend that the City Council approve Supplemental Agreement #1 for a trail width of ten feet and to extend the curb to the south 126 feet to prevent runoff from Armstrong Boulevard from sheet flowing onto the proposed parking area in the COR TWO, estimated at $5,001.

Staff was directed to perform further analysis to evaluate the contemplated development patterns in the overall drainage area, associated runoff rates and volumes, and required storm sewer pipe sizes.  A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 10th and will be brought to a future meeting for discussion. 

Interim Engineer Nelson presented the issue relating to Connexus installing an electric cabinet that obstructs the proposed development signage for COR TWO and request for $10,000 to cover the cost to relocate the cabinet.  Staff has a meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 4th and will bring to a future meeting for discussion. 

Motion to recommend that the City Council direct City Administrator Ulrich to have all parties in the room at one time and negotiate a settlement for City Council Consideration.


5.09: Review of Miscellaneous Storm Water Appurtenances in the Vicinity of Lake Ramsey

Staff reviewed in the report their observation of several large storm water appurtenances in the vicinity of Lake Ramsey.  An inventory was completed and have been determined what items are usable or salvageable and which items should be recycled or discarded. 

Motion to recommend that the City Council declare storm water appurtenances in the vicinity of Lake Ramsey to be surplus property, to ask Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood to provide a recommendation on potential park use, and to dispose of all items that have no future use so as not to be a concern for future development.


6. COMMITTEE / STAFF INPUT

6.01: Follow-up Information on Radar Speed Signs

At the July 17th Public Works Committee meeting, staff was directed to research the cost of radar speed signs and their possible use for traffic control in the COR.  Staff provided the Committee with pricing in their report.

Motion to recommend that the City Council approve the purchase of two SP 100 signs with solar panel and 3-cell battery backup.


6.02: Sunwood Drive Traffic Control Plan

Interim Engineer Nelson presented the traffic control plan after the new alignment of Sunwood Drive is open when a section of Zeolite will be closed by installing barricades. He explained that staff discussed whether this section should be closed now or wait until Anoka County directs it to be closed. Interim Engineer Nelson asked if the City wants it to remain open, acting as a shortcut.

The consensus of the Public Works Committee was reached to recommend the City Council keep Zeolite open as long as possible.

Staff recommends ratifying the recommendation of the Public Works Committee.

Motion to ratify the recommendation of the Public Works Committee.