Consider Recommending City Council Approval to Solicit Requests for Proposals to Prepare Plans and Specifications for Bunker Lake Boulevard/CSAH 116 Improvements, Improvement Project #20-03

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider recommending City Council approval to solicit Requests for Proposals to prepare plans and specifications for Bunker Lake Boulevard / CSAH 116 Improvements, Improvement Project #20-03.
 
Background:
In April of 2005, a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) was executed between the City of Ramsey and Anoka County defining required public works improvements related to the Ramsey Town Center development, now referred to as The COR.  Two amendments have been executed since, one in February of 2009, and the other in February of 2012.  A copy of the JPA, including the two amendments, is attached.
 
The required public works improvements, which total slightly more than $13,000,000 in 2005 dollars, are generally intended to be constructed in four separate phases per the JPA. Individual project cost summaries are included in Schedules A through C.  The JPA outlines the requirements of each party as related to the design and construction of the improvements, allowable use and access to County-owned properties and highways, and other terms and conditions.
 
Phase 1 identifies required improvements to Ramsey Boulevard from Highway 10 to 1,000 feet north of Bunker Lake Boulevard including expansion to a four lane divided highway with turn lanes and signal system modifications at Highway 10, railway crossing upgrades, and signal systems installed at Sunwood Drive and Bunker Lake Boulevard.  This work has been completed.
 
Phase 2 identifies required improvements to Armstrong Boulevard from Highway 10 to 1,000 feet north of Bunker Lake Boulevard including expansion to a four lane divided highway with turn lanes and signal system modifications at Highway 10, railway crossing upgrades, and signal systems installed at Sunwood Drive and Bunker Lake Boulevard.  This work has been completed.
 
Phase 3 is one of the larger and more costly improvements required by the JPA.  This work includes the expansion of Bunker Lake Boulevard between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard to a four lane divided highway with turn lanes and construction of signal systems at Center Street and Sunwood Drive.  This project was estimated to cost $3,170,109 in 2005.  This work has not been completed.  It was originally intended to be completed in 2007 based on anticipated development, but was delayed when development slowed in the late 2000’s.
 
Phase 4 identifies required improvements to Sunfish Lake Boulevard from Highway 10 to 1,000 feet north of Bunker Lake Boulevard including expansion to a four lane divided highway with turn lanes and signal system modifications at Highway 10, railway crossing upgrades, and a signal system installed at Bunker Lake Boulevard.  This work has been completed.
 
Anoka County Highway Department Staff recently informed City staff that they want to expand Bunker Lake Boulevard to a four lane divided highway all the way to Armstrong Boulevard in anticipation of the need for a reliever route due to the work proposed to Highway 10 through the cities of Coon Rapids (adding a third lane to Highway 10 in each direction) and Anoka (the Anoka Solution improvements).  Anoka County is starting to explore their right-of-way needs related to expanding Bunker Lake Boulevard between Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard, and asked that the City of Ramsey begin designing the required improvements for Bunker Lake Boulevard between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard per the JPA.
 
City Staff is in the process of developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit engineering services for the preparation of plans and specifications for improvements to Bunker Lake Boulevard between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard.  Staff is preparing to present a draft RFP to the City Council on November 26 or December 10, 2019, and to request authorization to solicit proposals directly to engineering companies as selected by Anoka County.  Staff therefore requests that the Public Works Committee recommend City Council approval of this request.

Staff anticipates this case will take approximately 15 minutes to present and respond to questions.

Observations:
Additional information will be discussed and presented during the meeting.

Alternatives:
Alternative #1: Motion to recommend City Council approval to solicit Requests for Proposals to prepare plans and specifications for Bunker Lake Boulevard / CSAH 116 Improvements, Improvement Project #20-03.

Alternative #2: Motion of other.

Attached is a copy of the project summary sheet from the draft 2020 – 2029 CIP, which identifies updated estimated costs and proposed funding sources.

Staff recommends alternative #1 as required by the attached JPA.

Motion to recommend City Council approval to solicit Requests for Proposals to prepare plans and specifications for Bunker Lake Boulevard / CSAH 116 Improvements, Improvement Project #20-03.