04-11-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 11, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. (8. OLD CRYSTAL BAYROAD RECONSTR UCTION PLAN AND SPECIFICATION APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE, Continued) The Council is not at a point of no return. Printup stated in his view Staff should study Option No. 1 with cost reductions in mind, such as better justification for utilities under the road and no cable rail. Printup stated Staff could have the summer to study the project further and then the City could hold an open house in late summer or early fall. Printup recommended the City have the open house at the beginning of the project rather than the end. Printup commented that much of the work can be reused because the reports can still be utilized. Printup moved to have Staff explore Option 1 of the feasibility study, with the objective being to reduce costs wherever possible, to strive to hold an open house in the late summer /early fall, and to go out for bids in January 2012. McMillan seconded motion for discussion. McMillan stated she has similar concerns as those expressed by Council Member Printup and noted that she was involved early on in the discussions regarding the feasibility study and then also the final design. McMillan commented she has struggled with this project and that half a million dollars has been added to an already expensive project. In addition, a third roundabout was added in January at a cost of approximately $150,000. The 10 -foot landscaped median has been reduced to $100,000 but started out much higher. At the time the third roundabout was added in January, McMillan indicated she attempted to reduce the median to four feet but was unsuccessful in steering the project in that direction. McMillan stated initially she felt that the school's offer to do maintenance on the landscaped median • would work out well, but once they got down to the legal agreement, the school ended up saying that they were only willing to do in kind maintenance for five years. After that point it would basically become the City's responsibility. McMillan noted she has had residents tell her that they do not want the City to pay for maintenance. In addition, the Council later on found out there is mandatory lighting required for the roundabouts. The City is looking at installing 30 fixtures for $250,000. McMillan stated she knew the lighting was included in the feasibility study with the non - roundabout option but that she thought it would be something where the City could obtain some cost savings. McMillan indicated she did not have the impression in the beginning that the roundabouts generated a lot of new fixtures. McMillan stated in her view the design of the project has gotten complex and is not really in keeping with the philosophy of Orono. Orono is a low maintenance city and the City Councils in the past have gone out of their way to keep costs down, especially as it relates to ongoing maintenance. As part of this project, the Council is now looking at up to 600 shrubs, 50 trees, and maintaining 400 feet of lineal cabling. McMillan stated in her view parts of this design are not environmentally friendly. Using city ground water to irrigate the median does not send a good message to the residents and that they are talking about irrigating a strip of land that extends for a quarter of a mile long. It also requires the City to pay for the energy costs associated with 30 light fixtures, which is an increase in energy costs to the City. McMillan stated she also does not feel that Orono really wants this road lit up all night with 30 fixtures in basically a rural area, which is also not part of Orono's philosophy. McMillan stated a brief summary of some of the issues that have come up include the City giving up a good chunk of right -of -way for the southern roundabout as well as the school giving up some right -of- way. The southern roundabout now has five access points, which is complex and confusing. McMillan • commented that in her view this project has had a lack of public input even though there was an open Page 18 of 30