Title
Resolution No. 1 - Prepare Plans and Specifications for the Proposed South Main Street Sidewalk Gap Project - Special Assessment District #62, and Appropriate $115,000.00 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 east side of South Main Street from Stadium Boulevard to Ann Arbor-Saline Road as a special assessment project.
This sidewalk gap scored in the top category in the City’s sidewalk gap prioritization system and has also received multiple requests from residents to construct the sidewalk.
A project was created in the City’s Capital Improvements Plan to install a new sidewalk to fill this gap and provide a continuous pedestrian connection along the South Main Street corridor. The project is scheduled for construction in 2021. The construction of the sidewalk will require the removal of some trees and construction of retaining walls; and require temporary grading permits and possible permanent easements from the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Golf & Outing. 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.
A preliminary planning-level cost estimate performed by City staff estimates the cost of this project to be approximately $2,250,000.00. 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. Up to approximately $1,000,000.00 of the construction cost of the sidewalk would be paid by Federal Surface Transportation Program Funds, thus reducing the local share of the project and the special assessment amounts to property owners.
The attached resolution directs staff to provide and share detailed cost estimates for this work, and establish the composition of the special assessment district. If authorized to undertake this work, staff will reach out to affected property owners 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, respectively.
Below is a tentative schedule for the project:
March 16, 2020: Council Meeting - Resolution 1
April/May, 2020: Public Meeting
June/July, 2020 Public Meeting/Administrative Hearing
October 2020: Council Meeting - Resolution 2
November 2020: Resolution 3
December 2020: Public Hearing & Resolution 4
Spring 2021: Begin construction
Budget Impact: The South Main Street Sidewalk Gap Project is included in the 2021-2026 Capital Improvements Plan (Project Number TR-AT-02-13).
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 $115,000.00.00 from the General Fund fund balance to fund the design and public engagement for the project that occurs in FY20. Ongoing work in FY21 is included in the proposed FY21 Capital Budget. Should the project advance to the construction phase, the non-assessable portions of this work would be paid for from the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage.
Because a portion of the project is adjacent to property owned by the University of Michigan, staff will be working with the University to coordinate this work, and will be requesting a contribution from the University towards this portion of the project. There is also a proposed development within the project limits, “Valhalla Ann Arbor”, which if approved, would be expected to construct, or pay the cost of, the sidewalk adjacent to their development.
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 the South Main Street Sidewalk Gap Project, which will consist of:
The installation of new sidewalk, in places where it does not currently exist, on the east side of South Main Street from Stadium Boulevard to Ann Arbor-Saline Road; and
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 $115,000.00.00 from the General Fund fund balance to be transferred to the Proposed South Main Street Sidewalk Gap Project Budget- Special Assessment District #62; thereby increasing the existing project revenue and expenditure budgets, for purposing of funding the design and public engagement for said project;
RESOLVED, That 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.