Title
Resolution No. 1 - Prepare Plans and Specifications for the Proposed Jackson Avenue Sidewalk Gap Elimination Project - Westover Avenue to Parklake Avenue - Special Assessment (District #61) and Appropriate $56,000.00 from the General Fund Balance for the Design of the Project (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Approval of the attached resolution directs staff to prepare plans, specifications, and cost estimates to fill the sidewalk gap along the south side of Jackson Avenue from Westover Avenue to Parklake Avenue as a special assessment project.
Jackson Avenue has six privately owned parcels with sidewalk gaps within the aforementioned project limits. The Dolph Nature Area also exists within the project limits.
In accordance with the City’s Non-Motorized Plan (south side of Jackson Avenue from Westover Avenue to Parklake Avenue, “Near-term Opportunity”) and Complete Streets approach, it is proposed to install a new sidewalk to fill this gap and provide a continuous pedestrian connection in this area. The construction of the sidewalk will also likely require the removal of trees, the possible installation of storm sewer to facilitate filling in a ditch, and re-grading of the area south of Jackson Avenue within the public right-of-way. The extent of any of these requirements to install sidewalk is not fully determined at this time and will be further explored during the engineering design and public engagement phase of the project.
City Code provides that the cost for first time sidewalk construction be borne by the parcels that benefit from it. City Code also requires city-owned parcels to pay their pro-rata share of the cost of the planned improvements. The Dolph Nature area constitutes a large share of the assessable frontage along Jackson Road within the project limits.
A preliminary, planning-level, cost estimate performed by City staff estimates the cost of the sidewalk portion of this project to be approximately $500,000.00. The attached resolution directs staff to provide and share detailed cost estimates for this work, and establish the composition of the special assessment district as the engineering design is nearing completion.
If authorized to undertake this work, staff will reach out to affected residents and stakeholders to conduct a thorough public engagement effort. Following those meetings and further development of the engineering design, staff will return to Council with Resolutions 2 and 3, which define the individual costs to each parcel and establish a Public Hearing Date.
Below is a tentative schedule for the project:
December 16, 2019: Council Meeting - Resolution 1
January 2019: Public Meeting/Workshop about Project
February 2019: Administrative Hearing Meeting for sidewalk assessments
February 18, 2020: Council Meeting - Resolution 2
February 21, 2020: Bid Opening (tentative date)
March 16, 2020: Council Meeting - Resolution 3
April 6, 2020: Public Hearing & Resolution 4
April/May 2020: Begin construction
Budget Impact: The project is included in the current Capital Improvements Plan as project number TR-AT-18-03.
While the sidewalk elements of this project will ultimately be paid partially through special assessment, the City must fund the cost of designing and constructing the project until the assessed amounts are recovered. The attached resolution appropriates $56,000.00 from the fund balance of the General Fund in order to perform the design and public engagement for the project. Should the project advance to the construction phase, the non-assessable portions of this work would be paid by the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage, and the appropriate Community Services - Parks Department funds as they are a benefitting property owner.
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, Council deems it appropriate to construct new sidewalks in order to fill in existing sidewalk gaps as part of its approved Non-motorized Transportation Plan and Complete Streets design objectives, which will consist of:
The installation of new sidewalk in places where it does not currently exist, on the south side of Jackson Avenue from Westover Avenue to Parklake Avenue;
RESOLVED, The City Administrator be directed to prepare plans and specifications for said improvement project, and an estimate of the cost thereof;
RESOLVED, City Council appropriates $56,000.00 from the balance of the General Fund to be transferred into the existing Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage 2019 Sidewalk Gap Elimination Project budget; thereby increasing the project revenue and expenditure budget, in order to fund the design and public engagement portion of the project;
RESOLED, The funding shall remain available without regard to fiscal year;
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.