Title
Resolution to Decertify and Remove Briarcliff Drive (East of Prairie Street), and Thaler Avenue (East of Garden Circle) from the Act 51 Street System
Memorandum
Approval of this resolution will remove Briarcliff Drive (east of Prairie Street), and Thaler Avenue (east of Garden Circle) from the Act 51 Street System Map.
In order to receive Act 51 funding (gas tax funds that are collected by the state and then redistributed to respective municipalities based on a set formulas for the sole use of maintenance and repair of major and local streets), it is crucial that the City Street Administrator (Homayoon Pirooz) maintain up-to-date, accurate Street System Maps. To amend an Act 51 Street System Map, the state requires that administrators submit specific, detailed information and forms. One of the requisite amendment documents is a resolution adopted by the municipal governing body outlining and approving the requested changes/amendments.
Briarcliff Drive - The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) received a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to reduce runoff/stormwater volume in the Thurston School subwatershed, of the Millers Creek watershed. The project will result in a community rain garden on the east side of Prairie Street in place of the current Briarcliff Drive. HRWC is working with the City of Ann Arbor and JFNew to plan the removal of 150-foot length of pavement that currently exists at the site and prepare it for planting. The street removal will occur under the City's annual street resurfacing contract. Several storm drain inlets will be modified and a fire hydrant will be moved. A sidewalk will be installed where the stub fronted onto Prairie Street with an opening in it to allow water to flow from the street to the raingarden. Since the soil on that site is clay, under drains will be installed prior to planting. The HRWC will facilitate the planning, educational signage, and have been working with the neighborhood to help with plantings and long-term maintenance. JFNew will provide the site design and plant materials. Work on the site is tentatively scheduled for April 2009 with planting soon after.
Thaler Avenue - 335 feet of Thaler Avenue has been removed and replaced with a 5 foot wide pedestrian path and lawn. The street stub removal and restoration was a site plan condition for the Liberty Height Condominiums project adjacent to this street.
The City of Ann Arbor is not vacating these right-of-ways and reserves the right of ways for appropriate future uses.
Legal descriptions of the 2 street sections, covered in this memorandum, are attached.
Staff
Prepared by: Jerry Hancock, Stormwater and Floodplain Programs Coordinator, Brad Kluczynski, Operations Specialist
Reviewed by: Homayoon Pirooz, Project Management Manager, Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Huron River Watershed Council is working with the City of Ann Arbor to remove Briarcliff Drive (east of Prairie Street) and replace it with a rain garden, in an effort to reduce runoff/stormwater volume in the Thurston School subwatershed, of the Millers Creek watershed;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor does wish to decertify this portion of Briarcliff Drive. This decertification of Briarcliff Drive is located between Prairie Street and the east end of Briarcliff Drive for a total decertification length of 150 Feet;
Whereas, The developer of the Liberty Height Condominiums project removed Thaler Avenue (east of Garden Circle) and replaced it with a 5 foot wide pedestrian path and lawn as required by the site plan for the development; and
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor does wish to decertify this portion of Thaler Avenue. This decertification of Thaler Avenue is located between Garden Circle and the east end of Thaler Avenue for a total decertification length of 335 Feet;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the decertification of Briarcliff Drive (east of Prairie Street);
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the decertification of Thaler Avenue (east of Garden Circle); and
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the City Administrator to take any necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.