Center Street Area Capital Improvement Planning

The purpose of this case is to advance the planning activity for several interrelated projects around Center Street—some of which having timelines that require the work to commence soon.

A summary of these projects (and a brief description of the interrelatedness) is as follows:

~ Center Street sidewalk(s) in front of the Sapphire building:
The city has collected money for the sidewalk/streetscape improvements for a city-lead construction project. The developer may have the Sapphire apartment building ready for these improvements as soon as late summer/early fall of 2020.  The specific design work for matching the public realm (sidewalk and streetscape) to the adjoining and parallel private sidewalk and building has not been completed.

~ Center Street streetscape/trail (west side) near the interface of the Affinity at Ramsey building and Municipal Plaza:
East of the Affinity building is a narrow area of the park, south of a new segment of Ramsey Parkway.  This is also the Central Anoka County Regional Trail which is a temporary section of bituminous, with the plan to convert it to concrete, (like the the finished 10' foot concrete trail to the south, parallel to Center Street). The 2020 Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes a proposed project page for this, with some of the preliminary conceptual work done.

~ Municipal Plaza at the interface with Affinity:
This area is largely unfinished with the sandy area restored with temporary seeding following the Affinity project's completion. The preliminary concept plans for the park, show a plaza-like extension of the streetscape/trail blending into the park for a usable, programmable space. The final design (to include public furniture, hearth, landscape, for the narrow north portion of the park) should be considered for completion in 2020 to match the Affinity project's edge. This would allow for the irrigation system to be designed for this park area as well.  Additionally, the city has the obligation to 'take over' the irrigation for the median swale within the Ramsey Parkway, (this city property is presently being served by the Affinity building at their expense).  Completing this specific park area would be of benefit to the future residents who will reside on either side of this space as well as other park patrons, including for Happy Days' programming.

~ Municipal Plaza, south of the above (the larger, Happy Days site):
The fill from the 2019 COR Infiltration Basin was intended to be placed in this low area of the park, which has not occurred yet. (City Engineer Westby will brief the Committee on the status of this work.) If this fill is hauled and placed early enough in the Spring of 2020, the area can be leveled (eliminating the muddy area at the entrance to the Happy Days entrance), and seeded with appropriate turf grass in time for the September 12th HD's event. The city may also consider an underground irrigation for the park, as large scale park improvements may be a few or more years out. This flat, turfed area would function as a lush park space until the final improvements to the park are warranted and complete.

~ Pump House Plaza:
The area immediately surrounding the small Pump House No. #3 is unimproved and consists of sand-burs and weedy grasses. As part of the 2019 Metropolitan Council Local Community Development grant exploration, the Pump House site was evaluated and found that its grounds can bring significant value to Ramsey's downtown by functioning as a plaza and practical extension of the sidewalk and connected park (and especially when Center Street may be closed for events).  The cost and design of adding a public restroom to this site to serve the the area parks and trails will be evaluated as part of the planning process this case would approve.

~ Pump House Exterior completion:
The facade treatment was withheld from the Pump House when it was constructed over a decade and a half ago. This was deliberate, so as to match the building with the municipal architecture at such time as this was known.  It is believed that this project is timely, in that the city has made the investments in civic place and architecture, and the other related improvements (Municipal Plaza and the future Waterfront) can be considered along with this endeavor—each informing the other, thus setting forth the civic architecture for establishing the sense of place, in the very center of Ramsey's walkable downtown.  Additionally, the Pump House is stark in appearance (without the architectural cladding), and finishing the building will meet with the same standards as other private projects are held to in The COR, raising property values, and at the same time the site's utility (discussed above). The city's CIP shows this project occurring in 2020, (with that worksheet as the second attachment).

~ 145th Avenue sidewalk:
As soon as the Fall of 2020, the Sapphire project site will be completed, including a widened sidewalk from Sapphire Street, westerly along 145th to the Pump House site. The city is required to complete approximately 100' feet of sidewalk on the south side of the Pump House to make the connection to Center Street. The planning for this will occur alongside the above Pump House Plaza planning activity. 
 

With Staff overview and Committee discussion, this case may be anticipated to require up to 20 - 30 minutes.

As indicated, the above project listing is merely a summary outline of the work to be performed if the Committee authorizes the consulting services this case recommends. The Scope of Services Proposal (the first attachment), will result in design guidelines to allow the city to develop specifications (cross-sections with details) such that quotations may be sought for work that must be completed like the sidewalk/streetscape adjoining the Sapphire building.  Additionally, the scope and cost of the other features this case discusses may be better understood, and accordingly, will result in the ability to proceed with improvements to Municipal Plaza, and the Pump House site (plaza, concrete, landscaping and conceivably an attached public restroom), at such time it is authorized by City Council, (in 2020 or 2021).

Further, authorization to proceed with the above referenced Scope of Services will develop the design for the Pump House facade and related architectural treatments, and result in a Design-build RFP that will provide City Council with the cost and contractor (upon approval) that can complete the 2020 Capital Improvement Project for Municipal Pump House #3.

Additional information will be available at the meeting on Monday, March 16th.

Funding for the planning endeavor this case advances, would consist of $6,800 from Water Enterprise Fund consulting services line item ($150,000 budget), and $5,000 from the line item allocation for parks consulting services as part of the 2020 General Fund ($35,000 budget).

Funding for the various capital improvements (approved outside the scope of this case) are identified within the respective portion of the CIP or other separate Council authorization.

Staff recommends proceeding and approving the planning activity this case outlines.

Motion to recommend to City Council, $11,800 for Center Street area capital improvement planning.