Adopt Resolution #16-07-135 Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Bids for Improvement Project #16-95, Zeolite Street Storm Sewer Extension

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider adopting Resolution #16-07-135 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisements for bids for Improvement Project #16-95, Zeolite Street Storm Sewer Extension.

Background:
In 2006, during development of Ramsey Town Center 8^th Addition, a portion of the trunk storm sewer system along the west side of Zeolite Street from 147^th Lane to the south side of Bunker Lake Boulevard was installed.  This trunk storm sewer system was designed to convey storm water drainage from Ramsey Town Center 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th Additions, as well as additional areas to the north, to “Lake Ramsey”, east of Zeolite Street and south of Bunker Lake Boulevard.  The last few hundred feet of this trunk line under Bunker Lake Boulevard and into Lake Ramsey was proposed to be constructed with 73” Arch Reinforced Concrete Pipe (A-RCP) storm sewer.  Attached is a plan sheet from RTC 8^th Addition showing a portion of the proposed 73” A-RCP storm sewer alignment and profile north of Bunker Lake Boulevard.  However, this plan sheet does not show the entire portion of trunk storm sewer that was constructed in 2006 extending to the south side of Bunker Lake Boulevard.  The City never received as-built record plans for RTC 8^th Addition so this is the only plan sheet available.
 
While the 73” A-RCP storm sewer was being constructed, questions arose as to whether the remaining unconstructed portion of the 73” A-RCP trunk storm sewer outlet to Lake Ramsey should be down-sized to save on construction costs.  While options were being considered, the end of the storm sewer pipe was simply covered with a sheet of plywood and the pipe and plywood were backfilled.  The housing market then collapsed meaning the outlet was not immediately needed so the pipe covered with the plywood sheet was simply left buried without an outlet.  The plywood sheet eventually rotted and failed in 2012.  At that time, the rotted plywood was replaced with another sheet of plywood as the storm sewer was anticipated to be extended later that year, which then never occurred.
 
The 73” A-RCP storm sewer line incorporates an outlet pipe from the undeveloped triangular parcel in the northwest corner of the intersection of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Zeolite Street, more commonly known as COR Three North Commons.  After the 73” A-RCP storm sewer line fills with a little over a foot of stormwater runoff, the excess stormwater flows back out of the COR Three North Commons outlet pipe where it is then stored in a low area until it infiltrates into the ground.  The 73” A-RCP storm sewer pipe therefore typically has a foot or more of standing water in it, meaning the sheet of plywood blocking the end is continually wet which makes it even more prone to rotting.

No notifications were required for this case.

Observations:
On June 16, 2015, City staff asked the Public Works Committee to provide a recommendation to City Council to approve an improvement project removing the plywood sheet and extending the 73” A-RCP storm sewer into Lake Ramsey as originally proposed.  At that time, Staff estimated costs for this work at $175,000 and proposed to pay for the work using City Stormwater Utility Funds. Staff proposed that the improvements be completed in 2015 due to concerns that the plywood sheet would rot out again and that a portion of the pavement section and/or shoulder of Bunker Lake Boulevard could potentially buckle during a heavy rain event.  However, the Public Works Committee did not recommend Council approval of the proposed improvements at that time, and instead recommended waiting until the storm sewer outlet was needed for a specific reason, which could potentially reduce the City’s share of the costs.  Such reasons may include a new development, in which case the developer could fund a portion or all of the work, or the reconstruction of Bunker Lake Boulevard, in which case the cost of the improvements could be reduced due to being constructed as part of a larger project.  A copy of the minutes from the June 16, 2015 Public Works committee meeting is attached.
 
Staff completed preliminary plans, specifications, and an engineer’s estimate for the proposed improvements prior to the June 16, 2015 Public Works Committee meeting.  Then following recent City Council approvals related to the sale of the COR Three North Commons parcel, staff completed the plans and specifications, which are attached to this case.  As shown in the plans, staff is not proposing to down-size the trunk storm sewer outlet to reduce construction costs as was discussed in 2006.  This is because this would remove the ability to provide future drainage for areas north of RTC 10^th Addition though this storm sewer line, plus it is not good engineering practice to reduce downstream pipe sizes.
 
In a previous case this evening, the City Council considered approvals required for development of the COR Three North Commons parcel.  Development of this parcel requires the completion of the proposed storm sewer outlet.  Staff is therefore requesting Council approval of the attached plans and specifications prepared by Staff, as well as authorization to advertise for bids.  Upon Council approval, advertisements for bids will be published in the Anoka Union Herald and in Finance and Commerce on July 29^th and August 5^th.  Bids will then be opened Friday, August 19^th, and Council would consider accepting bids and awarding a construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder on August 23^rd.  Work may then commence as soon as contract documents are executed and a Notice to Proceed is issued, which is anticipated to occur on or soon after September 1^st.
 
Construction of the proposed improvements is anticipated to take 5 weeks or less to complete, depending on weather and availability of materials.  The bidding schedule outlined above would allow the storm sewer outlet to be operational by early October, allowing unimpeded development of the COR Three North Commons parcel.
 
A traffic detour is proposed along Center Street between Bunker Lake Boulevard and Sunwood Drive during portions of construction, which given the low traffic volumes on Zeolite Street should not result in any issues for drivers or local businesses.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion adopting Resolution #16-07-135 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisements for bids for Improvement Project #16-95, Zeolite Street Storm Sewer Extension.

Alternative #2 – Motion denying adoption of Resolution #16-07-135 at this time.

Plans and Specifications were completed in-house as part of staff’s regular duties. No outside expenses were incurred.

The engineer’s estimate based on the attached plans is $150,717.44.  This cost includes 23% indirect costs for administrative (6%), engineering (15%), finance (1%), and legal (1%) fees.
 
Project costs would be funded through the Storm Water Utility Fund which has a sufficient balance to absorb the costs and was noted in the 2016-2020 Capital Improvement Plan as a 2018 project.

Staff recommends Alternative #1 to prevent any delays to the proposed development of the COR Three North Commons parcel.

Adopt Resolution #16-07-135 approving plans and specifications and authorizing bids for Improvement Project #16-95, Zeolite Street Storm Sewer Extension.