Public Improvement & Transportation Committee

MINUTES PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT/TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING December 12, 2023 4:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Schafer, Lozinski, Alcorn MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Director of Public Works/City Engineer Jason Anderson, Assistant City Engineer Eric Hanson, Senior Engineering Specialist, Geoff Stelter City Administrator, Sharon Hanson Director of Administrative Services E.J. Moberg OTHERS PRESENT: Steven Anderson, City Clerk; Pamela Whitmore, City Attorney; Preston Stensrud, Park and Rec Supervisor; Jamie Lanners, Representative of Lanners Brother Construction, Bryan Arzdorf and Stacey Ross Call to Order Schafer called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. 1. Approval of the Minutes MOTION BY Lozinski SECOND BY Alcorn to approve the minutes of the November 28, 2023 Public Improvement/Transportation Committee meeting. ALL VOTED IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSED 3:0. 2. PK-013 RRFB and Trail Extension at County Road 7 – Proposed Plan and Design The Camden Trail realignment is a proposed project to install a 10’ wide trail on the top of the existing levee. Property owners along the realignment were notified to let them know that this project would be discussed at this Public Improvement/Transportation (PI/T) Committee meeting. The property owners have been invited to this meeting to view the proposed project and offer their perspective regarding the proposed alignment and design considerations for the project. The proposed alignment for the Camden Trail Realignment is identified in the included exhibit. The trail is proposed to start approximately 640’ west of CR 7, cross CR 7 with a new RRFB and end at a connection point approximately 100’ east of CR 7. The existing trail will be partially removed along the current alignments including removal of the pedestrian ramps. The City Council authorized staff to submit an application for an Active Transportation (AT) Grant at their December 27, 2022 City Council meeting. On July 27, 2023 city engineering staff was notified that the PK-013 project was selected for the AT Program funds. On October 10, 2023, the City Council awarded the Proposal for Professional Services to Bolton & Menk, Inc. of Mankato, Minnesota, for the development of construction plans, including preliminary and final design engineering services, to ready the improvement project for competitive bidding for the 2022 Active Transportation (AT) Infrastructure Project. Project PK-013 consists of three project areas with an estimated construction cost of $360,381 Including a 20% contingency. The Camden Trail Realignment has an estimated construction cost of $156,636 including a 20% contingency. This is a preliminary estimate, and the cost will be better identified as staff works through a more detailed project design. An AT Grant has been awarded for the project in the amount of $360,381. Schafer opened the discussion up to members of the audience. Jamie Lanners believed that the City of Marshall purchased part of the original property to create a right of way for the path. One of her concerns was about if the city had plans on removing the existing blacktop. Lanners stated how useful it was to have the blacktop for snow removal. Eric Hanson mentioned that the portion of the trail that connects to the re-alignment would be terminated but the remainder of the blacktop was not currently in the plans to remove. Stacey Ross at 2653 County Road 7 was in attendance and voiced some of her concerns. One of her largest concerns was about safety and security. Many citizens tend to have unleashed animals and many of those animals leave leftovers on their property. A number of people also trespass onto her property believing it to still be a part of the levee. When the levee project was implemented, the city had purchased and planted a number of trees to create a natural barrier at her property. The heavy clay soil in the area that was planted led to many of the plants dying and additional cost for her to removed. Ross also had concerns with PI/T – 12/12/2023 -1- the distance of the proposed trail to her home. Schafer pointed out a number of other properties within the city that were closer to the bike trail such as 106 C Street that was 22 feet from the path. Ross’s property based on aerial photography showed that the proposed trail would be 40-45 feet from her house. The closest bike path that was located to a home in city limits was 411 Whitney Street that had the path within 11 feet of the building. Ross also expressed her concerns about the levy altering the drainage on her property and that the water used to drain to the river but no longer can. The culvert towards the west of her house also seems to be ineffective at moving water towards the river. Anderson addressed the concern with drainage and that the engineering department would be looking into possible solutions. Arzdorf spoke about the draining on the property before the levee was put into place and said that the water in the area never drained to the river. Most of the water came from the South off the Schmitt property at 2641 County Road 7. Schafer spoke about the master plan for the city and the Camden Regional Trail. Anderson said the current alignment of the trail at County Road 7 was too far south and would be moved north to be in line with the levee and a curve would be added to create a natural slowing point. The PI&T committee had spoken about County Road 7 numerous times and had spoken to Lyon County about a possible speed reduction for the road. The conversation circled back to landscaping and options on possible barriers between the Ross property and the trail re- alignment. Ross indicated that a fence would be more welcome than trees or bushes as there was a history of the plants not being able to survive. Based on the testimony from Ross, Chairperson Schafer tabled the item until the engineering department could do additional survey and research into the concerns of the property owner at 2653 County Road 7. 3. Project AP-003: Airport Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) Building The City of Marshall Public Works desires to construct a new Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) and Maintenance Equipment Storage Building at the Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport. The existing building does not adequately accommodate all airport maintenance equipment storage needs. The new facility is planned to be constructed on the East Building Area of the airport, as shown on the recently completed Airport Master Plan. The Project has been identified on the Airport CIP since FFY2011. The following is the most recent timeline received from TKDA, the City’s consultant: o Advertise for Bids – December 15, 2023 o Bid Opening – January 16, 2023 o Contract Award – February 2024 o Material Order (Materials on hand) – March 2024 (City will need to carry costs until grant award which will likely be no sooner than 09/2024.) o Grant Applications – March 2024 o Notice to Proceed – June 2024 o Construction Completion – July 2025 Based on the attached presentation from TKDA, the current construction cost ranges from approximately $3,345,000 to $3,697,000. A Grant Initiation Request for Federal Assistance was submitted to the FAA in October with a total estimated project cost, including engineering and inspection fees, of $4,000,000. Local cost participation based on this estimate is approximately $800,000. MOTION BY Alcorn SECOND BY Lozinski to recommend to Council to authorize advertisement for bids for Project AP- 003: Airport Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) Building. ALL VOTED IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSED 3:0. Adjourn MOTION BY Lozinski SECOND BY Alcorn to adjourn the meeting. ALL VOTED IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSED 3:0. The meeting adjourned at 4:42 pm. Respectfully submitted, Steven Anderson, City Clerk PI/T – 12/12/2023 -2-