HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-02 PACKET 04.G.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 11/2/11
PREPARED BY Engineering Jennifer Levitt
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Authorize the Capital Improvements Plan response letter to be sent to Washington County.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends authorizing the Capital Improvements Plan response letter to be sent to
Washington County.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO /LETTER: Letter of response to the Washington County 2012 -2016 CIP, October
26, 2011
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
® OTHER: Washington County Capital Improvements Plan website link:
httr): / /www.co.washinaton.mn.us /info for residents /board of commissioners /capital improve
ment plan/
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
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COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
H: \COUNCIL FORMS \Council Action Form Washington County Improvement Response Letter.doc
City of
Cotta Grove
Minnesota
Department of Public Works
8635 West Point Douglas Road South / Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 -3318
vmv. cottage - grove. org
October 26, 2011
Mr. Wayne Sandberg, P.E.
Deputy Director
Washington County
Department of Transportation
11660 Myeron Road North
Stillwater. MN 55082 -9573
and Physical Development
RE: Draft Washington County 2012 -2016 CIP
Dear Mr. Sandberg:
651 -458 -2808 Fax 651 - 458 -6080
TDD 651- 458 -2880
The City of Cottage Grove appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the Washington
County Draft 2012 -2016 Capital Improvement Plan. The City recognizes the County's large
financial commitment for improving roads and bridges throughout the County in the coming
years. Transportation improvements are vital to our city and our region. The City's specific
comments on the plan are as follows:
Parks Projects
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park (Project Park - 4003). We strongly support the
continued investment in this park that is proposed in 2013 and 2014 for improvements to
the picnic shelter, parking lots and roads. These improvements will help enhance and
increase usage of the park. This will be a positive to the County in increased revenue and
to the City as a destination for visitors to the area.
In the 2011 construction season the City provided enhanced trail connections from the
Ravine Parkway near the South Service Center and CSAH 19 to Cottage Grove Ravine
Regional Park. In addition, trails are provided to the new Public Safety /City Hall facility
which will have an outdoor patio and amphitheater, which will compliment the park and
provide for interpretation programming opportunities.
Mississippi River Access. A key open space goal for Cottage Grove is enhancement of
access to the Mississippi River. An opportunity to achieve this goal is available through
development of County owned parkland on Lower Grey Cloud Island for a boat launch
and related facilities. The County and City should work together to develop improved
access to the river at Lower Grey Cloud Island.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Mr. Wayne Sandberg
Draft Washington County 2012 -2016 CIP
Page 2 of 3
Road and Bridge Projects
• Red Rock Corridor (Project RAIL- 2297 -09). Cottage Grove remains committed to transit
improvements in the corridor and welcomes the leadership of the County Railroad Au-
thority on commuter rail and high speed rail initiatives. The City supports the Advance
Alternatives Analysis for the corridor.
• CSAH 22 —US TH 61 to CSAH 19 Mgmt & Safety (Project RB- 2564). The City supports
improvements to this segment of roadway, which were outlined and studied in 2010 to
improve safety and mobility in the corridor. The City has been making improvements to
the Highlands Park, located on CSAH 22 and Idsen Avenue South. The newest addition
to the park will be a community scale aquatic facility, known as a splash pad. The splash
pad will be an attraction to the adjacent neighborhoods and the community. This
increased attraction will generate more pedestrian traffic across CSAH 22 near the
intersection of Idsen Avenue South. The splash pad will be completed in July of 2012.
The City would request that safety funds be allocated in 2012 for installation of a high -
intensity activated crosswalk (H.A.W.K.) system to provide for enhanced safety of
pedestrians crossing the busy, high speed and uncontrolled intersection.
• CSAH 19 and US TH 61 Interchange (Project RB- 2515). Improvements to this inter-
change were identified in the Southwest Cottage Grove Transportation Study completed
in 2007. The City appreciates the cooperation the County has provided on planning for
this interchange which is critical to future development in Cottage Grove. The City has
been pursuing additional funding partners for this project through Federal and State
solicitations. The City is supportive of the $500,000 that is proposed in 2016 for
consultant services to further design and environmental assessment.
• CSAH 22 — CSAH 20 — CSAH 19 Area Improvements (Project RB- 2555). The City
applauds this initiative by the County to improve the flow of east -west traffic in this part of
the community which is consistent with the AUAR that was completed for the area. The
City supports the partnership the County has engaged in with the South Washington
Watershed District for this project as it produces a win -win situation for the region and
ultimately produces financial savings for all parties involved.
• Jamaica Avenue /CSAH 20 Jurisdictional Transfer (Project RB- 2502). The City's CIP has
the project programmed for construction in 2014. The City is supportive of the $50,000 in
planning /design in 2013, but would request that $2.8 million be moved to 2014 to
coincide with the City's programming schedule. The sequencing of this project in 2014
works well in relation to the CSAH 22 -20 -19 project, assuming construction is completed
in 2013.
Mr. Wayne Sandberg
Draft Washington County 2012 -2016 CI
Page 3 of 3
Public Facilities
Park Grove Library Building Expansion /Replacement. The City continues to support the
efforts of the County to construct a new library in the southern part of the county. We
urge the county to continue to coordinate library planning with the City.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the plan. We look forward to continued coopera-
tion with Washington County on meeting the capital needs in our community.
Sincerely,
Ryan Schroeder
City Administrator
Cc: Washington County Commissioners
Cottage Grove City Council Members
Jim Schug, Washington County Administrator
Don Theisen, Washington County Public Works Director