01-10-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 10, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT 6. OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PLAN UPDATE Kellogg stated since the last City Council meeting, Staff has met with the School District to give them an update on the plans for the Old Crystal Bay Road project. The School District had some questions, which were then addressed in the revised plans. The School District is presently in the process of reviewing those revised plans. Kellogg indicated they will be meeting with the School District next week and also with the owners of the medical facility. Kellogg noted the plans will also be submitted to Three Rivers Park District to allow them an opportunity to comment on the revised trail alignment. Realignments are necessary where the roundabouts are located. Kellogg reported they are still on schedule for the project as outlined in the feasibility report. They anticipate awarding the project at the May 9`h City Council project. Construction will then begin in late May related to areas off the street, with the utility and street work commencing after school is let out for the summer. Kellogg stated as it relates to median treatments, the City Council at a previous meeting had directed his office to allow for future improvements to the median but had not definitively decided on a final plan. • The Council has a couple of median options. One is to construct a narrow concrete median that did not allow for any plantings. The second option is to have a wider median that would allow for some plantings. Kellogg requested the Council determine which median they would like to pursue in the very near future. Kellogg displayed a number of pictures of different median options that include various types of landscaping. The City Council will need to make a decision on this in the next couple of weeks so it can be finalized in the plans and specifications. Franchot noted the City has authorized an issuance of bonds for this project and that the bids received on other projects over the past couple of years have been coming in lower than anticipated. Franchot recommended the City should consider doing the landscaping now rather than later to save some costs. Kellogg commented in his view the bids will come in at less than what was anticipated and that Council has the option to include landscaping as an alternate. Kellogg noted that the landscaping was discussed as a means to help promote crossings at specific locations. Franchot stated it is difficult for him to pick which landscaping option to choose without knowing what the costs will be. Franchot stated he would be agreeable with including the landscaping as an alternate but that his decision would need to be based in large part on the costs. Franchot commented he would like to see the median be attractive since this is a busy road and it would also help deter students from crossing the road at undesirable locations. Printup asked why the students are crossing the street at various locations. • Kellogg noted parking for the high school is located on the east side in front of the middle school, which is one of the reasons for students crossing the road. Page 3 of 12