Title
Resolution No. 1 - Prepare Plans and Specifications for the Proposed Northside STEAM Sidewalk Gap Special Assessment Project
Memorandum
Approval of the attached resolution directs staff to prepare plans, specifications, and cost estimates to fill in the sidewalk gaps along Traver St., Barton Dr., Pear St., John A Woods Dr., Brookside Dr., Starwick Dr., and Apple St. as a special assessment project. See the attached maps for information of the location of the sidewalk gaps to be filled as part of this project.
The Ann Arbor STEAM Safe Routes to School (SRTS) committee received a grant from SRTS Michigan to provide technical assistance in the completion of the SRTS process, development of action plans, and ultimately submitting a grant application. The technical team from Michigan State University led the Ann Arbor STEAM committee through the SRTS process, which included a walking audit, a biking audit, and three public meetings.
The Northside STEAM SRTS committee prioritized the infrastructure improvements proposed in the action plans. These priorities led to the list of sidewalk improvements included in the grant application. These improvements consist primarily of filling gaps in the sidewalk system and constructing ADA-compliant ramps in the neighborhood around the school in order to create a better walking environment for students making their way to the school.
SRTS Michigan is requiring a level of engineering that is beyond what is normally required as part of a typical grant application. In order to obtain the SRTS grant, it appears staff will need to begin the engineering design of the project. As called for in Chapter 13 of City Code, the cost for the addition of new sidewalk where none currently exists is borne by the parcels that benefit from the improvements. Thus, the attached resolution is being presented for Council approval to begin design of the project as a special assessment project.
Because this is a federal-aid project, up to $400,000 of the construction cost of the sidewalk would be paid by a SRTS Grant. The remainder of the costs would be local share. The City’s ability to use grant funds for this project will create the opportunity for the private property owners impacted by the special assessment to receive the sidewalk improvements at less than the typical rates.
The project may also require the City to obtain some temporary grading easements from adjacent property owners. As required by MDOT, staff will estimate the value of the grading permits following MDOT’s procedures and offer the property owners reasonable compensation for the grading permits granted to the City. Any property owner that chooses may donate their grading permit to the project at no cost, or ask for the value of the grading permit to be factored into the calculation for the special assessment items as an offset to some of their special assessment cost.
The attached resolution directs staff to provide and share cost estimates for this work once it is designed. Approximately fifty parcels have been identified as potentially being part of the special assessment district.
If authorized to undertake this work as a special assessment project, and assuming the SRTS Grant is obtained, staff will meet with the affected property owners to describe the project and its associated costs. Following that meeting, staff will return to Council with Resolution 2, which will define the estimated individual costs to each parcel.
Below is a tentative schedule:
February 20, 2018: Council Meeting - Resolution 1
May 2018: Administrative Hearing Meeting with residents
November 2018: Council Meeting - Resolution 2
January 2019: Resolution 3
March 2019: Public Hearing & Resolution 4
April 2019: Begin construction
Budget Impact
It is anticipated that the project will receive the Safe Routes to Schools Grant, which will pay for up to $400,000 of the construction cost of the project. In addition to special assessments, the local share of the project will be funded by the Washtenaw County Street Millage.
Staff
Prepared by: Nicholas Hutchinson, P.E., City Engineer
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor, in partnership with Ann Arbor Public Schools, is applying for funds through MDOT from the Safe Routes to School program to construct certain infrastructure projects throughout the Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside School walking area, including new sidewalks and ADA compliant ramps, to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bike to school; and
Whereas, Council deems it necessary to construct the Northside STEAM Sidewalk Gap Project, described as:
Construction of sidewalks fronting parcels along Traver St. between Barton Dr. and John A Woods Dr., along Barton Dr. between Hiawatha Pl. and Starwick Dr., along Pear St. between Traver St. and John A Woods Dr., along John A Woods Dr. between Pontiac St. and Pear St., along Brookside Dr. between Delafield Dr. and Pontiac Trail, along Starwick Dr. from Barton Dr. to 125’ north of Barton Dr., and along Apple St. between Pontiac St. and Pear St.
RESOLVED, The City Administrator be directed to prepare plans and specifications for said improvement project, and an estimate of the cost thereof;
RESOLVED, The City Administrator be directed to file a report of same with the City Clerk, including a recommendation as to what proportion of the cost should be paid by special assessment and what part, if any, should be a general obligation of the City, the number of installments in which the assessments may be paid, and the land which should be included in the special assessment district; and
RESOLVED, The City Clerk shall present said report to the Council and make it available for public examination.