Minutes: Public Works: April 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 24, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, WI

1. Call the meeting to order @ 6:00 PM.
2. Roll Call: Ald. Hammann (Chair) & Ald. Sornson , Ald. Juergens. Staff: Dave Wartenweiler, Public Works Director & Dave Sauer, City Engineer. Absent: Bruce Woods. Quorum attained.
3. Minutes of March meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
4. Citizen appearances - NA
5. Lake Leota Restoration
Sole reviewed Lake Leota drawdown goals:
1. Compact the Sediment. SOLE indicate that the sediment drying has lowered the lake bottom by 6 inches.
2. Removed rough fish that roil the sediment when the lake is full.
3. Remove, or cause to die, undesirable water-plant growth.
4. Assess the Structural Integrity of the dam. City engineer found only a small cosmetic crack in the dam structure.
5. Assess the quality of the water.
6. Repair the dam’s sluice gate.
7. Assessment of sediment.
The only action item not complete was drying of the lake and test dredging. The warm winter and unexpected springs made it impossible to dry.
Additional Opportunities:
• Test Excavations
• Private Excavations
• Dry Season Compacting
• Public Awareness

Open Public Hearing @ 6:10 p.m.

Ald. Juergens reviewed last weeks Park Board public hearing.

Gil Wiedenhoeft requested support from public works committee to assist in dewatering of the lake.

City Engineer, Dave Sauer indicated as Allen creek’s flow reduces, the water table would also reduce. He suggests we let nature take its course this summer to dry out the lake. He suggested potentially cutting in a stand pipe.
Closed Public Hearing @ 6:19 p.m.
Ald. Hammann reviewed the June 2004, The Lake Leota Dredging Plan by Strand Engineers & Associated. We are currently doing the drawdown, mechanical dredging followed by limited hydraulic dredging approach outlined in the report. Since we have not completed the Lake Dredging Environmental Impact Study, the maximum amount of soil to be removed at this time is 3,000 cyds , about 1% of what is required to completely dredge the lake. The city has money allocated in 2009 to dredge Lake Leota. That is 3 years for now.
Hammann suggested the best we could achieve by not refilling the lake is removing 1% of its sediment. Then we would refill the lake again in 2007 and draw it down again in 2008 in anticipation of a serious mechanical followed by limited hydraulic dredging in 2009.
If this is the game plan, we need to complete several action items outline in the Strand Report:
1) Fill out the test-dredging permit – now!
2) Begin Environmental Impact Study (8 – 12 months required to complete)
3) Determine and finalize spoil site location
4) Complete dredging design
5) Final Dredging Permit
Items 2 to 5 need to be completed by 2008, that’s 18 months away.
• Lake Leota allowed to continue to dry out during the summer of 2006 unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.

6. Main Street Reconstruction Public Hearing
• Discussion and possible motion to approve concrete pavement for Madison-Main St. intersection.

The city engineer provided the costs & timing involved in using concrete pavement versus asphalt pavement at the intersection. Concrete costs 50% more then asphalt pavement and take up to 2 weeks to construct, but can last twice longer thereby reducing maintenance cost. The state DOT will pay a portion of the cost. The main reason to use concrete at intersection is to prevent damage by compression and shear force by heavy vehicles.
Open public hearing @ 6:47 p.m.
Betsy Ahner (20 S. 1st St.) mentioned that a concrete pavement for Madison-Main St. intersection would match the Main St. & Union St. intersection.
Open public hearing @ 6:50 p.m.
• Concrete pavement for Madison-Main St. intersection unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.

• Discussion and possible motion to approve removal of light fixtures to match east Main St.

The city engineer provided background information comparing the light fixture along East & West Main Street. The new lights fixtures installed on east Main St. directs the light onto the pavement, while the existing lights fixtures installed on west Main St. scatters the light. The engineer requests that we change the globe and relocate the existing lights fixtures installed on west Main St. to the historic district.
Open public hearing @ 6:59 p.m.
Jim McGoey (224 W. Church) believes the existing lights fixtures installed on west Main Street are too tall for a downtown environment. Suggests relocating the old lights to the historic district, but we need a plan for replacing these lights.

John Decker (143 W. Main St.) suggests we relocate donation plaques on existing lights.
Close public hearing @ 7:08 p.m.
• Request city engineer to investigate the cost for installing new light fixtures from the bridge over Allen Creek to 1st St., a plan and cost to relocate the existing lights fixtures installed on west Main St. to the historic district by July’s public works meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Jurgens motion.

• Place new donation plaques on new west Main St. light fixtures unanimously approved on a Sornson-Jurgens motion.

• Discussion on off-site & municipal lot parking

Evansville Chamber of Commerce formed a task force to examine this issue. Public Works Director,
Dave Wartenweiler has been assigned to this task force.

• Discussion of preliminary Main St. Street & Sidewalk design.

Last meeting we assigned Foth & Van Dyke to survey the property line on both sides of Main Street east of Maple Street to the Allen Creek Bridge.

The city engineer found that Evansville's Bowl storefront encroaches onto city property. The current design has 4’ wide sidewalk in front of Evansville bowl. ADA requires a 5’ wide sidewalk. The city engineer suggests we design the sidewalk within the right-of-way to meet the ADA requirement.
Open public hearing @ 7:21 p.m.
Discussion on how to resolve Evansville Bowl store front encroaching onto city property. We have two options:
1. change the road design by adding a bump out in front of Evansville Bowl.
2. change Evansville Bowl storefront façade from encroaching onto city property.
Close public hearing @ 7:30 p.m.
Request the city clerk to invite Evansville Bowl owner to next public works meeting.

• Discussion on Paving Bricks Grant Application

Thanks to John Decker, Jeff Farnsworth, Chris Eager, Bruce Woods & everyone at ECP for all their efforts in successfully applying to the DOT enhancement program. The grant application is for $500,000.

The key elements in the grant applications are:
1. bicycle & pedestrian facilities
2. historic downtown features: paving bricks, lighting plan, etc.
3. landscaping & streetscaping plans

Included with the grant application were endorsements by State Senator Jon Erpenbach, Assemblymen Brett Davis, Evansville Chamber of Commerce, Historic Preservation Commission, Grove Society, ECP & Redevelopment Authority.

• Discussion on Bike Trails
Bike Trails are a critical part of the DOT grant application. Identifying Evansville Trailways was a project Ald. Hammann started when he was park board chair. The most recent focus has been incorporating the “circle the city” portion as part of new residential subdivision development in planning commission. Now we are going to turn our attention to linking the downtown and historic district to other areas around the community.
Presently, there are no bike trail routes through the City. This situation presents some challenges to Cyclists. Cyclists either have to share the sidewalks with pedestrians or share the roadways with vehicles. Sidewalk width is not adequate in all areas to simultaneously accommodate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. Similarly, it is not advisable for cyclists to share the roadways with motor vehicles, particularly along the highway corridors that traverse the City given high traffic volumes and speeds. Local trails are needed to complement the sidewalk system and provide additional choices for pedestrians, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. Ideally, trails would traverse the City to link together residential areas, parks and recreation facilities, schools, and the downtown. Potential trail routes are illustrated on the Transportation Network Map.

To address this issue, the City of Evansville developed a Trailways Plan. This plan seeks to provide a combination of trails, sidewalks, and bicycle routes to:
• Connect school facilities to City parks;
• Link City parks to shopping areas; and
• Create a ring trail around the current perimeter of the City.
The location of these planned trails is illustrated on the Transportation Network Map as well as the Future Land Use Maps.

Discussed the following action plan:
1. Park Board reviews the current Intra City Street Bicycle plan and make a recommendations to Public Works. The plan focus on the following:
• Connect school facilities to City parks;
• Link City parks to shopping areas; and
• Follow the Historic district as closely as possible (Historic building bike/walk)
2. The city engineers to review what is needed to make a safe bike path on city streets.
Our goal is to have an intra city street bicycle plan by July.
Open Public Hearing @ 7:47 p.m.
John Decker (143 W. Main St.) stated that implementing an intra city street bicycle plan is critical even if Evansville does not receive the DOT street enhancement grant.
Open Public Hearing @ 7:50 p.m.

Next month we plan to explore the following topic pertaining to Downtown Streetscaping:

• Main St. & Sidewalk design
• Bridge over Allen creek design
• Street amenities such as, benches, bike racks, trash receptacle & trees.
• Bike Path design considerations

7. Discussion and possible motion regarding special assessment against property owned by George Howell at northeast corner of Exchange St. and Water St.
The City Engineer described location, work done, deed giving the city an easement for running storm sewer, waiving cost for running new sanitary sewer and water laterals, but special assessment for sidewalk, curb & gutter applied.
George Howell presented a copy of the agreement with the city and stated there was a verbal agreement waiving cost the special assessment for sidewalk, curb & gutter. George Howell stated he was also promised a driveway. Before construction his property did not have a storm water problem, not it contains standing water. George Howell said his vacation lot does not require sanitary sewer and water laterals. George Howell wants the city to either purchase the storm sewer easement or remove the special assessment for sidewalk, curb & gutter ($2,336).
The City Engineer and Public Works director verified that George Howell’s agreement was the same that many other property owners sign throughout the Hwy. 14 construction project. The City Engineer stated that the current storm water problem on George Howell’s property would be fixed.
Since city ordinance requires building to be located 2’ above the curb line, George Howell ask who is going to raise his property up?
• Deny the request to waive the special assessment against property owned by George Howell at northeast corner of Exchange St. and Water St. unanimously approved on a Juergens-Sornson motion.
8. 2006 Public Works Smart Growth Plan Action Plan
• Discussion and possible motion to approve 2006 sidewalk construction plans
Considerations Prioritization of Sidewalk Connections: Safety; Areas Connecting Schools, Parks & Business District; Medical Centers, Collector Streets, Traffic Levels & In Fill.
The 2006 budget for new sidewalk construction is $25,000.


Critical (ASAP) Sidewalk Connections
Priority Sidewalk Connection Estimated Cost Construction Year
1 West Main St. (Prentice St. – Spencer Dr.) $ 9,000 2005
2 West J. Lindemann Dr. $ 3,600 2005
3 Fair St. (2nd - 3rd) & 2nd St. (Highland - Fair St.) $17,500 2006
4 Madison St. - Grove St. (Leota Park entrance) $ 4,400 2006
5 Infill lots on Spencer & Campion drive $ 1,500 2005
6 Garfield Ave. (4th - 5th)
7 Liberty St. (5th – Prentice & Prentice - Crawford)
Leota Park Entrance – Suggest placing the sidewalk on the south side of the street up to the backer building.
Fair St. (2nd - 3rd) & 2nd St. (Highland - Fair St.) - Municipal code requires the sidewalk on the East Side of 2nd Street. The school board & citizens have requested to place the sidewalk on the west side of 2nd St. to improve safety by eliminating the crossing the road at the Fair St. & 2nd St. uncontrolled intersection. The missing sidewalk connection on the West Side of 2nd St. will be filled in according to its priority at a latter date.
• Request Planning Commission to grant a variance in the municipal code request to place the sidewalk on the West Side of 2nd St. unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Important Sidewalk Connections
Priority Sidewalk Connection
1 5th St. (Garfield Ave. – Hwy. C) & North Tip of 4th
2 Church St. (4th - 5th)
3 East County Road M (north of Hwy. 14)
4 Countryside Drive
5 Brown school road
Lower Priority Sidewalk Connections
Water Street (east of Exchange St.); Clifton St. (north of Grove St.); North Edge of Sherman CT.; 3rd St. (North of Garfield Ave.); Park Drive; Higgins Dr.; Prentice St. & Walker St. (Almeron - Cherry)
Sidewalk Connections to be complete as development occurs
Cemetery St.; 6th St. (South of Vision) & 6h St. (North of Abey); and Mill St. & RR St Intersection
Sidewalk Connections to be complete as part of Madison St. resurfacing in 2008
Old 92 (1st – S. Madison St.)
Sidewalk Connections located in Union Township
5th St. (City Limits – High School)
Not Required Sidewalk Connections
Frances St.; 2nd St. – West Side (Highland - Fair St.); Fowler CT.; Liberty Lane; & Kinsey CT.

9. Communications from City Engineer
• Discussion and possible motion to approve Madison Street storm water sewer, sanitary sewer and water main design.
The city engineer has not completed has Madison street design.
• Table approval Madison Street storm water sewer, sanitary sewer and water main design unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
• Discussion and possible motion to approve storm water project on Badger & Higgins Drive
This older intersection requires work to improve storm water removal that is undermining the substructure. Three flumes will be placed to facilitate storm water removal along with repairing curbs and cleaning out the ditch.
The city engineer also recommends squaring off the intersection to reduce the speeding in this area.
The engineer’s proposal is under budget for this project.
• Storm water project on Badger & Higgins Drive unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
10. Communications of Public Works Director
Current Public Works projects include:
• Repairing the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop
• Pot Hole Replacing
• Sign Replacing
• 60% completed building new bathrooms in Leota Park
• Installing solar panels onto Veterans Memorial pool roof.
• Brush pickup 1st week of each month.
• Street sweeping.
The Public Works requested $1,000 for Rock county conservation committee for “clean sweep” hazardous waste disposal program.
• Recommend to finance $1,000 for Rock county conservation committee for “clean sweep” hazardous waste disposal program unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
11. New Business - NA

12. Meeting adjourned @ 9:30 p.m. on a Hammann-Juergens motion
Next Meeting: Monday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m.
Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee