HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-17 PACKET 05.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 10/17/201 i
PREPARED BY Administration Ryan Schroeder
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Receive response to previously raised open forum issues regarding various City projects.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
® MEMO /LETTER: Letter from Ryan Schroeder.
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
Document3
City of
-* m Grove.
7516 80th Street South / Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 -3195
www. cottage - grove. org
October 5, 2012
Kathy Lewandoski
9043 - 75th Street South
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Dear Ms. Lewandoski,
651 - 458 -2800 Fax 651- 458 -2897
TDD 651 - 458 -2880
You appeared at the October 3, 2012 open forum of the City Council meeting to express concerns
regarding a number of topics. I'm not certain of your specific concerns as you did not provide much
embellishment. However, I'll attempt to address what I believe your issues to be.
You had noted the 80th Street drainage system improvement (often referenced as the box culvert
project). This is actually a piece of a much larger regional drainage plan for which the South Washington
Watershed District (SWWD) is responsible. The project costs are borne by the SWWD but for costs
associated with a local trail system. The City has a long practice of leveraging storm water projects into
community enhancements and this project is another one of those. Under our agreement, City costs are
limited to $87,000. This is an extremely inexpensive safety improvement for persons using the trail
system between Kingston Park and Hillside Trail.
You had suggested that the water use for the splash pad is excessive. We reviewed options for the
splash pad construction on the front end and have reconfirmed decisions after one season of operation.
What we have confirmed is that operating the system as a flow through system is much more cost
effective for the City and taxpayer than what you seemed to suggest as an alternative which would be a
treatment system. The construction cost for a treatment system would have increased the project by
about $100,000 and the per year treatment costs are estimated at approaching $20,000. The cost of the
water use for the flow through system is less.
You had asserted that the new City Hall has acoustical tiles from France. The millwork company is from
the Twin Cities. The pre- manufactured tiles in the Council Chambers are a responsibility of that
subcontractor who has the option of purchasing material from any supplier he determines appropriate
so long as that supplier meets or exceeds the material specifications. Where that material is purchased
from is not something under the control of the City Council.
You appeared to assert that there was a process flaw with the new City Hall in that a start date and
deadline date were not in place. Your assertion of lack of deadlines is not accurate in that both exist
within the contractor's bid proposal. Further, the project will be substantially complete by November 1
which is a 13 -month delivery from the bid award. This delivery timeframe is aggressive for a project of
this scope.
I am uncertain of your assertion regarding the lack of development near the Keats /70th intersection
other than you suggested that the property is not developed due to a process flaw at the City. The
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
property is not developed because a developer and the landowner(s) have not achieved an agreement
on price such that a financially viable development can occur within the market.
As always, if you have an interest in edification regarding future projects please do not hesitate to ask.
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Sincerely,
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Ryan R. Schroeder
City Administrator