Minutes: Public Works: September 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting

Monday, September 25, 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. Juergens. Staff: Dave Wartenweiler, Public Works Director, Dave Sauer, City Engineer & Bruce Woods, Street Architect. Quorum attained.
Minutes of August meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Citizen appearances –
Roger Neil, 345 S. Madison street, along with several other neighbors and concerned citizens formally complained about the upkeep and condition of the residence located at 337 S. Madison Street. Photo provided showed junk cars, trash, used needles, and garbage piled up in the yard. The city building inspector has reviewed this residence and stated it’s the “worst property he has ever seen in Evansville”. The building is currently vacant and owned by Well-Fargo bank. Prior to selling the property, bank plans to clean it up and repair the building.
Diana Neunenschwander, 525 S. 5th street, showed pictures of the storm water problem on her property. The resident at 535 S. 5th street build a garage and now storm water is backing up under a shed located at 525 S. 5th street. Both buildings were built in accordance to city code. The city building inspector and engineer recommends a storm water gutter system on the garage roof diverting the water away from the shed should eliminate the storm water problem.
Directed the city engineer to write a letter to the resident at 535 S. 5th street to redirect the storm water away from 525 S. 5th street unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Diana Neunenschwander, 525 S. 5th street, showed pictures of the fence located along the property line with 535 S. 5th street. Diana Neunenschwander complained about the general appearance of the fence and the height of the fence. The fence is 6’ high, but raised 2’ off the ground. According to city ordinance maximum fence height is 6’. The city building inspector has given verbal notice to the property owner at 525 S. 5th street.
Directed the city attorney to provide written notice to the resident at 535 S. 5th street to that it is the city’s opinion the fence height is measured from the ground and the fence must comply with the 6 foot height restriction unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Lake Leota Reclamation Plan
A. Discussion and possible motion to approve $35,000 for cutting a V-notch and constructing a cofferdam.

The city engineer showed his calculation and preliminary design for cutting a large V-notch into the existing sluice gate and a cofferdam down stream. This design allows for temporary lowering the elevation to facilitate dewatering of the lake. City Engineer received DNR for approval for his plan.

The city engineer requests a budget amendment of $35,000 for cutting a V-notch and constructing a cofferdam.

Request from finance a budget amendment of $35,000 for cutting a V-notch and constructing a cofferdam in Lake Leota dam unanimously approved on a Sornson-Hammann motion.

Downtown Streetscape Plan
Review preliminary street design itemized budget
The WiDOT awarded Evansville $398,800 out of the $498,500 requested for downtown street enhancement project. Now we can complete the budget for the downtown renovation plan. We reviewed preliminary street design itemized budget.

Main Street Reconstruction Budget
Since last year the energy costs, steel, asphalt & copper have increased significantly. Therefore, the budgets for the basic improvements have been revised.

Original Budget Current Budget

Street & sidewalk reconstruction & pavement $ 950,000 $1,000,000

Sanitary & Storm Sewers $ 250,000 $ 300,000

Water Mains $ 350,000 $ 400,000

Total $1,550,000 $1,700,000

Street amenities such as paving bricks, lights, trees & bike racks costs:

The cost for Paver Bricks on Main St. from Maple to 1st - $487,000.

Replace light fixtures to match east Main St. - $63,000.

Provide 5 new Benches & Trash receptacles - $9,000

Add 11 additional Trees - $14,000

Bike lane striping, directional signs & hitching posts - $37,000

Total costs for street enhancements - $610,000

Source of revenue for street enhancements:

WiDOT Enhancement Grant- $398,000

Private Donations - $12,000

City of Evansville Match - $200,000

Total revenue for street enhancements - $610,000

Main Street Reconstruction Budget
Street & sidewalk reconstruction & pavement $1,000,000

Sanitary & Storm Sewers $ 300,000

Water Mains $ 400,000

WiDOT Enhancement Grant $ 398,000

City of Evansville Match $ 200,000

Total $2,298,000

Directed the city finance director to include $2,298,000 for the 2007 Main Street reconstruction Capitol Budget unanimously approved on a Hammann- Juergens motion.
Other Main Street Reconstruction Issues

Discussed cross walk design. Cross walks will be constructed with standard concrete, not paver bricks, to improve ADA accessibility.
Discussed using asphalt or concrete in handicap parking spaces, not paver bricks, to improve ADA accessibility.
Main Street Reconstruction Implementation Timeline
Sept. - Review preliminary street design itemized budget.

Oct. - Review preliminary street design

Nov. - Final Main Street renovation budget & design approval.

Dec. - City Engineer present final Main Street engineering drawings and rendering (Public Comment)

Jan. - Main Street Streetscape plan open house

Communications from City Engineer
Updated construction of monitoring wells at WWTP.
Updated construction on Madison Street. Soil boring samples significantly different then WiDOT anticipated.
Communications of Public Works Director
A. Volunteer Mowers for City Parks - Discussion regarding using volunteers to mow in city parks.

Current Public Works projects include:

Turning the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop into a youth community center. Focus on Aware section of the building.
Sign Replacing
Constructing new bathrooms in Countryside Park.
Mowing at cemetery & city parks.
Cutting down & removing storm damaged trees.
Street sweeping.
Painting traffic signage
Sewer cleaning
Brush pickup 1st week of each month.
Begin leaf pickup in October.

New Business
Establishing Sidewalk Construction Procedures
Discussed establishing procedures for City Clerk to (1) notify property owners prior to sidewalk construction and (2) notifying property owners of sidewalk assessments.

Discussion on Cemetery Policies
Several Cemetery issues occurred recently and no one was able to manage the situation with the Public Works director on vacation and city administrator position vacant.

Meeting adjourned @ 9:06 p.m. on a Hammann-Juergens motion
Next Meeting: Monday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m.

Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee