Minutes: Evansville Public Works: June 26, 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting

Monday, June 26, 2006, 6:00 p.m.

City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, WI

Call the meeting to order @ 6:00 PM.
Roll Call: Ald. Hammann (Chair) & Ald. Sornson , Ald. Juergens. Staff: Dave Wartenweiler, Public Works Director, Dave Sauer, City Engineer & Bruce Woods, Street Architect. Quorum attained.
Minutes of May meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Approval of Agenda - Dave Sauer, City Engineer is required to attend a meeting in Broadhead and requested we cover the CMAR report, Badger Drive bids, bridge over Allen creek, and bowling alley encroachment all before 7 p.m. These items were moved up in the agenda.
Citizen appearances - NA
Lake Leota Restoration
Reviewed Sole’s Kiosk design.

Main Street Reconstruction Public Hearing
Discussion of Main St. & Sidewalk design in front of Evansville bowl.
Foth & Van Dyke surveyed the property line on both sides of Main Street east of Maple Street to the Allen Creek Bridge. The city engineer found that Evansville's Bowl storefront encroaches 1.1 feet onto Main St. right a way.

The current Main St. & Sidewalk design has 4’ wide sidewalk in front of Evansville bowl. ADA requires a 5’ wide sidewalk. The city engineer suggests we design the sidewalk to meet the ADA requirement.

Open public hearing @ 6:35 p.m.

Discussed the design options for the sidewalk in front of Evansville Bowl. We have two options:

Change the road design by adding a bump out in front of Evansville Bowl. This would require 3 – 4 stalls to be compact only parking.
Redevelop Evansville Bowl storefront façade to eliminate the need for a bump out.
Roger Berg, owner of the building, discussed the options with Evansville Bowl management. Since the cost to improve the storefront façade will cost an estimated $35,000, they are requesting a bump out to increase sidewalk width.

The proposed two-foot wide bump out would increase sidewalk in front of Evansville bowl to 6.5 feet, exceeding the ADA requirement. The bump out will created 3 – 4 compact car parking spaces in front of Evansville bowl. This will not change the Main Street reconstruction project cost.

Closed public hearing @ 6:48 p.m.

Change the road design by adding a bump out in front of Evansville Bowl unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.

Review Allen creek bridge design
The city engineer discussed the key points in the WisDOT grant application analysis of the Bridge over Allen creek:

The bridge deck requires reconstruction.
The bridge railings require reconstruction.
The northwest & southwest wing walls are in good condition.
The northeast wing wall needs to be replaced.
The southeast wing wall will be repaired.
The abutments require reconstruction.
The engineer reported that since the bridge was build circa 1930, that reconstruction is warranted. The bridge road width will be narrowed from 48’ to 36” as a traffic calming technique. The difference in road width will be made up in increased sidewalk width.

Open public hearing @ 7:42 p.m.

Street Architect, Bruce Woods, reviewed several bridge styles and railing options. Everyone agreed that option #4, historical bridge design option was the best design.

Closed public hearing @ 7:48 p.m.

Allen Creek Bridge design using option #4 with modification presented by Bruce Woods unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.

Discussion and possible motion to approve Main Street amenities (trees, benches, etc.).
Bench & Trash Receptacles

Open public hearing @ 8:24 p.m.

Discussed several historical bench designs. Discussed approaching Baker manufacturing about making historically accurate metal benches & trash receptacles.

Discussed the following bench locations in front of the following businesses: State Farm Insurance, Grange building, Old Ace Hardware, near Real Coffee, Library (2x) & on bridge (2x). Total of 8 benches/trash receptacles. Discussion on Library bench design & locations.

Closed public hearing @ 8:31 p.m.

Placing 8 benches/trash receptacles as the following locations: State Farm Insurance, Grange building, Old Ace Hardware, near Real Coffee, Library (2x) & on bridge (2x) unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Trees

Discussed tree grate designs. Evansville currently uses 3’ x 3’ or 4’ x 4’ grates. City Street Architect Bruce Woods, suggests we used 4’ x 6’ grates and replace all the trees. There are currently 8 trees on Main St.. Discussed reusing the existing 8 grates if they are 4’ x 4’, and purchase 4’ x 6’ for additional trees.

Open public hearing @ 8:34 p.m.

Discussed number of trees and locations. Current plan has 22 trees ($450) & grates ($800). Decided that 10 – 15 trees would be appropriate for Main Street. The exact tree locations will be done after final street design is complete.

Closed public hearing @ 8:47 p.m.

Plant 10 – 15 trees where appropriate on Main Street unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Bike Rack
Discussed several historical & modern bike rack & hitching post designs: rolling racks ($450), bike hitch ($150), and a Bruce Woods Tree bike rack design, building on the grove.

Open public hearing @ 8:53 p.m.

The tree bike rack theme spark ideas such as windmills bike rack & hitching posts with a grove logo placed inside of the “hitch”.

Discussed the following bike rack locations:

Madison Street: 5 on the north & 5 on the south.
Library: 10 additional bike hitches at 2 locations (5 near 1st street entrance & near Grange Mall entrance on Main street).
Maple Street: 5 bike hitches.
Real Coffee: 2 - 4 bike hitches.
Allen Creek: 1 bike hitch.
Place hitches at intervals along Main St. & side streets.
Closed public hearing @ 9:20 p.m.

Bike hitch locations unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Other Main Street amenities

Lowest cost drinking fountains are $2,135 (installation not included).


Bike Path design considerations

Bike Trails are a critical part of the DOT grant application. Presently, there are no bike trail routes through the City. Local trails are needed to complement the sidewalk system and provide additional choices for pedestrians, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. Ideally, trails would traverse the City to link together residential areas, parks and recreation facilities, schools, and the downtown.

Park Board reviewed the current City Street Bicycle plan and made recommendations to Public Works. We fine tuned the plan and next month approve the final version.

West Side Storage Water Drainage
A couple of residents voiced their concerns regarding storm water drainage in the 6th street & Vision drive area.

The city engineer discussed the following action plan with the contractor:

Regrade ditch on West Side of 6th street.
Cut & replace 65’ of pavement to increase road crown.
These items should be completed within a couple of weeks.

The city engineer plans to check the entrance to drainage swales to retention ponds.

The city engineer expressed frustration that storm water drainage systems are not being constructed according to design. All construction errors to the storm water drainage will be repaired at the developer expense.

2006 Public Works Smart Growth Plan Action Items
Transportation #1.2 – Review Transportation Network Map
Reviewed each City Street and recommend the following changes to the Transportation Network Map:

Cemetery Road: future minor collector from Main Street to city limits.
J. Lindemann: major collector
Brown School road: Minor collector
Water Street: truck route
Exchange Street: truck route
Porter road: minor collector from 5th St. to city limits
Main Street: minor collector from 4th St. to city limits
Communications from City Engineer
Discussion and possible motion to approve Madison Street & Main Street storm water sewer & sanitary sewer installation and design.
Bids are due on June 22. Contract awards at next public works meeting.

Construction will probably occur in fall after completion of WisDOT Madison Street railroad crossing replacement.

Discussion and possible motion to approve Badger Drive Road Reconstruction & storm water sewer contractor bids.
This older intersection requires work to improve storm water removal that is undermining the substructure. Three flumes will be placed to facilitate storm water removal along with repairing curbs and cleaning out the ditch. The city engineer also recommends squaring off the intersection to reduce the speeding in this area. Project budget is $125,000.

We received 1 bid for the project from Rock Road for @ $160,000, who wants to start in Mid July. Higher asphalt & excavation costs cited for the $45,000 over budget for project.

Ald. Sornson suggests the bid is too high.

Ald. Hammann wants to see 3 bids for this project.

Ald. Juergens is concern that the residents will be disappointed due to safety & drainage issues.

Ald. Hammann suggests we place a 4-way stop to address speed concerns.

Badger Drive road reconstruction contractor bid tabled on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Discussion and possible motion to approve CMAR Report
Influent flow meter used the default calibration constant and had not been calibrated since its installation. The flow meter was reading too high for the first 6 months of last year. After recalibrating the flow meter, the influent flow rate reading reflecting the actual rate of incoming flow. The DNR believes the significantly greater incoming flow versus outgoing flow is an indication of leakage in the ponds. To prove pond leakage is not occurring, the DNR is requiring Evansville’s WWTP to install 3 more groundwater monitoring wells.

The WWTP Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) grade is 2.53 (C grade), down significantly from last year’s 3.08 or a B grade. Two items significantly drop the WWTP rating grade, Ponds & Groundwater. Both grades were negatively effected by the faulty influent flow meter readings.

With the replacement of sewer mains around town, we have seen a significantly drop in clear water seepage into the WWTP. Nitrate & chloride concentrations are higher due to the reduction of clear water seepage into the system.

WWTP CMAR report unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Discussion on actions items to address the issues in the CMAR report. Below is a listing of these resolutions:

Install 3 more groundwater monitoring wells.
Submit report on upgrades required for nitrogen reduction in the wastewater. Examine nitrogen treatment technologies for implementation at the existing WWTP
Continue requiring new residential water softeners to be “demand based”.
Continue operator-training program.
Action Items Resolutions report unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
2007 Public Works Capital Budget
Discussion and possible motion to approve Evansville Public Works 5-year Capital Plan
Review of 2005 Projects

C518 - City Hall Roof Replacement and Main Roof Support – Moved to 2006

C520/C616 - City Hall Renovation – Moved to 2007

Review of 2006 Projects

C607 - Plow Salt box replacement- complete

C608 – Missing sidewalk connections - $25,000

Leota Park Entrance
Fair St. (2nd - 3rd) & 2nd St. – Issues with access on church property.
C609 - Equipment Replacement - $25,000 (bobcat upgrade)

C610 - Flatbed 1 ton truck replacement - ordered

C611 - Water street widening and resurfacing (Exchange to East Main) - $75,000

C612 - New Public Works Garage – In process

C613 - Badger Dr. road reconstruction and storm sewer repair – Move project to 2007 and increase budget to $170,000

C606 - Downtown Streetscaping Design – planning is underway

C617 - Manhole Addition & St. Repaving on Maple St. - $20,000

C618 - Manhole Addition & St. Repaving on Church St. - $75,000

C631 – Renovate 209 South 1st St. - complete

C631 – Emergency Generator for WWTP - complete

Proposed 2007 Projects

Plow Salt box replacement - $25,000

Equipment Replacement - $25,000

Field Mower for Westside Park - $60,000

Missing sidewalk connections - $25,000

Repair sidewalk sections - $5,000

Main St. Reconstruction - $900,000 ($300,000 streets, $300,000 W&L; $300,000 WWTP)

Main St. Sanitary Sewer Replacement - $600,000 ($350,000 W&L; $250,000 WWTP)

Street Light Conduit Replacement - $75,000

Main Street Enhancement - $100,000

Allen Creek Bridge - $330,000

Lake Leota Restoration - $25,000

Proposed 2008 Projects

Equipment Replacement - $25,000

Missing sidewalk connections - $25,000

Repair sidewalk sections - $5,000

Downtown Streetscaping - $100,000

Resurfacing of Madison St. - $85,000

Reconstruction of Old 92
Increase turning radius at intersection of Madison & Water St.

Manhole Addition & St. Repaving on Maple St. - $80,000

Lake Leota Restoration - $25,000

Westside Park - $200,000 (Shelter/Bathroom $125,000 & playground $75,000).

Proposed 2009 Projects

Equipment Replacement - $25,000

Missing sidewalk connections - $25,000

Repair sidewalk sections - $10,000

Restoration of Lake Leota - $2.5 M

Westside Park - $475,000 (Ball Field $400,000 & Maintenance Shed $75,000).

Endloader Replacement - $120,000

Plow Truck - $150,000

Mower Replacement

Proposed 2010 Projects

Westside Park Completion - $500,000 (Landscaping, Parking Lot Paving, BB courts, etc.)

Cemetery Truck Replacement - $30,000

Street Sweeper - $150,000

Proposed 2011 Projects

Liberty Street Reconstruction - $2,000,000

Park & Recreations Capitol Project List
Proposed 2007 Projects

Increase solar panels surface area at pool - $10,000
Shelter & equipment in Franklin Park - $10,000


Proposed 2008 Projects
Increase solar panels surface area at pool - $10,000
Skate Park Equipment - $10,000
Dog Park - $25,000

The following projects, not in any order of priority, have not been assigned to a budget year:


Restore the creek beds and stone walls in Leonard/Leota Park.
Restoration of the Bell Tower and other stonework in the park.
Add additional playground equipment to Countryside Park.
Plant trees along the "back" side of the pool area.
Replace park entrance signs.
Shingle the Boy Scout House in Leota Park.
Re-pave park roads in Leota Park.
Re-construct the lower diamond, as suggested earlier, in Leota Park.
Upgrade the playground equipment in Brzezinski Park.
Place benches in Seminary Park and Wind Prairie Park.
Allocate money to develop a Dog Park.
Plant trees to enhance other parks.

Recommending Public Works 5-yeat Capital Plan to finance unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Communications of Public Works Director
Park & Recreation Board recommended that Public Works discontinue the practice of stockpiling leaves and brush behind the Seminary Apartments.

The public works director said this location is near the center of the older section of Evansville, expediting the fall leaf pick up process. After completion of leaf pick up in late fall, the leaves are transferred to farm field to use as fertilizer. This practice has been in place for 10 years.

Another option would be transporting the leaves to the city dump. This would option would cost more in both man-hours and gasoline.


Open public hearing @ 7:17 p.m.

Residents who live in the area, complained about the pile for reasons including safety, health, odor, unsightliness, and the area turning into a trash dump for citizens adding to the pile. Pictures were distributed to illustrating some of these problems.


John Anderson, 310 W. Church St. – described health issues associated with the rotting leaf pile. He also pointed out that the parking lot & sidewalks in that area have been significantly damaged.

Lynn Donahue, 100 College Dr. – suggested we replace the leave pile with a memorial garden.

Patty Johnson, 100 College Dr. – asked for the cost analysis for leaf storage.

Jim Turner, 510 S. Madison – leaves should be hauled to the dump.

Closed public hearing @ 7:28 p.m.

Direct Public Works director to investigate alternatives to storing leaves behind the Seminary Apartments unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Unfinished Business
Ordinance #2006-__, amending Municipal Code relative to speed limits
Remove from table Ordinance #2006-__, amending Municipal Code relative to speed limits unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Discussed reducing speed limit on county road M to 35 MPH within city limits.

City’s extending connecting highway limits on CTH M have not been approved by Rock county. We need to extend the city connecting highway limits on CTH M to the city limits before we have the authority to change speed limits on CTH M.

Table Ordinance #2006-__, amending Municipal Code relative to speed limits unanimously approved on a Juergens-Hammann motion.
New Business
A. Discussion and possible motion to approve 3-way stop sign at Fair St. & 2nd St. intersection

Discussed safety of children and traffic calming required at Fair street.

Recommend to Public Safety an Ordinance amending stop sign locations to include 3-way stop sign at Fair St. & 2nd St. intersection unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Meeting adjourned @ 11:30 p.m. on a Hammann-Juergens motion
Next Meeting: Thursday, July 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee