Consideration of Recommending Approval of Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for CSAH 5/Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements.

The purpose of this case it to review the Anoka County led CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard & Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements project with the Public Works Committee, and to request a formal recommendation for the City Council regarding approval of the attached draft Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between Anoka County and the City of Ramsey.
 
The CSAH 5 & Alpine Drive Intersection Improvement project, designated as City Improvement Project #14-20, will provide various operational and safety improvements at this skewed intersection.  The primary improvements include installation of a signal system, construction of dedicated right and left turn lanes, and access management measures including disconnecting the nearby intersection of old CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard with new CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard, and constructing raised median islands along CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard on both sides of Alpine Drive.  A layout of the proposed improvements is attached.
 
The JPA defines the terms of agreement between Anoka County and the City of Ramsey including such items as project purpose, method of delivery, estimated costs, fund disbursements, any maintenance considerations, and termination of the agreement. 
 
This project is proposed for construction in the summer/fall of 2014.  Construction is proposed to begin after schools recess for the summer to minimize impacts to school bus routes, especially as related to Ramsey Elementary School.
 
The City Council will be considering approval of the draft JPA at their next regular meeting on December 10, 2013.

15 minutes

The primary impacts of this project to the City of Ramsey are as follows.
 
Signal system installation –
This intersection is currently controlled by a 4-way STOP which was installed several years ago in response to numerous crashes that occurred at this intersection.  The 4-way STOP was intended to be a temporary traffic control measure until such time as a signal system could be installed at this intersection.  The new signal system will control traffic operations on all 4 legs of the intersection, and will include an Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) system to allow emergency vehicles equipped with EVP to change the signal during emergency calls.
 
Access modifications –
Raised median islands will be constructed along CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard on both sides of Alpine Drive to physically separate opposing streams of traffic and to restrict access from abutting properties including:

• Old Municipal Center – Access from/to this property will not be impacted by this project.  The raised median on CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard is proposed to end just north of the entrance to this site and will therefore still allow full access to/from CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard.
• 15200 Nowthen Boulevard NW – Access to be restricted from full-access to right-in/right-out only.
• 15220 Nowthen Boulevard NW – Access to be restricted from full-access to right-in/right-out only.
• 15250 Nowthen Boulevard NW – Access to be relocated from Nowthen Boulevard to Alpine Drive (remains full-access).
• 15243 Nowthen Boulevard NW – Access to be restricted from full-access to right-in/right-out only.

 
The intersection of old CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard and new CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard just north of Alpine Drive will be disconnected and the south end of old CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard will be converted into a dead-end road with a “T” turn-around to accommodate snow plow and emergency vehicle access.  All traffic will then access CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard at the current intersection with old CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard approximately one-quarter mile north of Alpine Drive.  To address safety concerns due to restricted sight-lines at this intersection as noted by numerous residents during the public Open House, Anoka County will construct a bypass lane along southbound CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard and will remove numerous existing trees within the County right-of-way.
 
Stormwater ponding –
The City owns a 0.57 acre parcel of property in Alpine Acres in the northwest quadrant of the intersection that is dedicated in a plat as parkland.  According to Anoka County, the property has an assessed value of $3,300 and a portion of the property is classified as wetland.  Anoka County is proposing that the city provide a drainage easement over the entirety of this parcel to allow the County to use this parcel for stormwater ponding to offset the additional impervious area created by this project.  Due to access and grading issues associated with the potential development of this site as parkland, and because an opportunity exists at this time to exchange the use of this parcel for costs related to construction of a missing trail connection north of Alpine Drive between Krypton Street and CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard, staff recommends providing Anoka County with the requested drainage easement over this parcel.
 
Trail connection –
As noted above, city staff recommends working with Anoka County to provide a drainage easement over the 0.57 acre parcel of city-owned property in Alpine Acres, which is platted as parkland, for the County’s use as a stormwater ponding facility.  This will be in exchange for Anoka County preparing the plans and specifications and procuring the necessary right-of-way and temporary construction easements to allow a missing trail connection approximately 700 feet in length to be constructed north of Alpine Drive between Krypton and CSAH 5/Nowthen Boulevard.  The existing trail currently ends approximately 100 feet west of Krypton Street.  Staff from Anoka County will be meeting with the abutting property owners to discuss associated tree removal and right-of-way/easement needs.
 
The estimated construction costs for the trail connection is $17,000.  Additional costs for the necessary right of way (+/- 2 feet of right-of-way and temporary construction easements) and compensation for tree removals, etc. is unknown at this time as the County is just beginning to complete appraisals.  Anoka County designed the trail connection and incorporated it into their construction plans at no cost to the City, and Anoka County will bid and inspect the trail during construction, all of which provide additional benefit to the City.
 
The County therefore proposes the following cost sharing methodology related to the stormwater ponding and trail connection.  The City will provide the necessary drainage easement over our 0.57 acre platted parkland property as discussed earlier, which would allow the County to use the land for stormwater ponding for the proposed intersection improvements.  The County will then pay for the necessary right-of-way and easements to construct the trail and the City will pay all costs to construct the trail per the County’s standard cost share policy.  The County will also agree to apply federal funds to the trail (federal funds are currently covering about 60% of construction costs), instead of requiring the City to pay for 100% of construction costs per standard practice for work not required for their project.  This will result in an estimated cost of $6,800 for the city to construct the trail connection during this project.
 
Watermain loop connection –
City staff recommends constructing a watermain connection to loop the watermain system in this area to provide additional flexibility for maintaining the trunk watermain lines.  The watermain would be constructed under the new trail connection on the north side of Alpine Drive, thereby avoiding the need to reconstruct any portion of Alpine Drive outside the current project limits.
 
Existing Trails –
Any existing trails impacted by this project will be replaced with identical trail sections having the same width and pavement section, and new ADA compliant pedestrian curb ramps will be installed on all pedestrian facilities in all 4 corners of the intersection.
 
Estimated Project Costs:
 
The estimated construction cost of the total project is $1,567,079.20.  Federal funds are available for this project and are capped at $936,000. The federal funds shall be split based on the ratio of eligible cost incurred by each party to the total eligible project cost. Eligible costs are the costs of items that can participate in federal funding as shown on Exhibit B of the attached JPA.
 
The total estimated construction cost to the City is $233,607.00 (prior to application of federal funds available). After federal funding percentage is applied, the cost to the City for our share of the construction costs of the project is $98,897.00 ($233,607.00 minus $134,710.00, the federal funds available to the City).
 
The City participation in construction engineering will be at a rate of eight percent (8%) of our designated construction share of $233,607.00, which equals $18,688.56.  In summary, the total City share of this project before federal funds are applied is $252,295.56 which includes construction and construction engineering costs. The total cost to the City after federal funds are applied, including construction engineering which is not eligible for federal funding, is $117,585.56.
 
Upon award of the contract, the City shall pay to the County, upon written demand by the County, ninety five percent (95%) of its portion of the cost of the project estimated at $111,706.28. Prior to billing, this estimate will be updated by the County to reflect the actual bid prices as awarded. An updated cost estimate shall be provided to the City at the time of billing. The City's share of the cost of the project shall include only construction and construction engineering expense and does not include engineering design and administrative expenses incurred by the County.
 
Upon final completion of the project, the City's share of the construction cost will be based upon actual construction costs. If necessary, adjustments to the initial ninety five percent (95%) charged to the city will be made in the form of credit or additional charges to the City's share. Also, the remaining five percent (5%) of the City's portion of the construction costs shall be paid.
 
Alternatives:
 
Alternative #1 – Recommend that the City Council approve the draft JPA as written.
 
Alternative #2 – Recommend that the City Council approve the draft JPA with the following modifications; _______________.
 
Alternative #3 – Recommend that the City Council deny approval of the draft JPA at this time.

Funding splits for this project will be apportioned as indicated in the Joint Powers Agreement using Anoka County’s standard cost sharing policy. The City's share would be funded using a mix of Municipal State Aid Funds, Park and Recreation Funds, and Water Utility Funds.
 
The City's total costs are estimated to be $117,585.56 (construction and construction engineering). This total reflects a reduction of $134,710 due to the application of federal funding received by Anoka County for this project.

Staff recommends selecting Alternative #1 or #2 if the Public Works Committee supports the project and is in agreement with the attached draft JPA as drafted, or with only minor revisions as noted.
 
Staff recommends selecting Alternative #3 if the Public Works Committee does not support the project and/or the draft JPA without significant modifications.

Alternative #1 – Motion recommending City Council approval of the draft JPA as written.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion recommending City Council approval of the draft JPA with the following modifications; _______________.
 
Alternative #3 – Motion recommending that the City Council deny approval of the draft JPA at this time.