Minutes: Public Works: February 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
1. Call the meeting to order @ 6:00 PM.
2. Roll Call: Ald. Hammann (Chair), Ald. Juergens & Ald. Sornson. Staff: Dave Wartenweiler, Public Works Director, Bruce Woods & Dave Sauer, City Engineer. Quorum attained.
3. Minutes of January meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
4. Citizen appearances – NA
5. Lake Leota Restoration
SOLE has completed Allen Creek Watershed Study. SOLE updated their road map to Lake Leota Restoration. SOLE asked for 60 days before the decision is made on refilling the Lake Leota.
SOLE will be forming an Allen Creek watershed committee. They will hold an Allen Creek watershed open house in the spring.
SOLE requested placing a Lake Leota learning center kiosk in Leota Park.
Gil Wiedenhoeft is now chairman of SOLE.
6. Main Street Reconstruction Public Hearing
• Discussion and possible motion to approve Traffic Island in the intersection of Main St. & Madison St.

Open Public Hearing @ 6:19 p.m.
• Dave Sauer of Foth & Van Dyke reported that Wisconsin DOT rejected Evansville’s proposal for a traffic island due to insufficient left-hand turn radius.
• DOT recommends Evansville create a truck traffic route away from downtown and enforce it.
• Madison St. – Water St. – Exchange St. – Union St. is Evansville’s truck traffic route.

Greg Ardisson (217 N. 6th St.) glad DOT rejected the traffic island.
Closed Public Hearing @ 6:21 p.m.

• Discussion and possible motion to approve Main St. Street & Sidewalk design.

• Bruce Woods discussed the two street design options. There is a trade-off between sidewalk width & parking stalls.
1. Increase street width & parking, but reduced sidewalk width.
2. Street & sidewalk widths are the same, but only a slight increase in parking.
Both options cost about the same.
Option #1
Driving lane width – The road width will be a consistent 57 feet. The troublesome driving lane width between Madison & Maple Streets would increase from 18½ ft. to 20 ft.
Parking – This design adds about 28 additional angle-parking stalls. Maximum parking option.
Sidewalk – width would be 8’ to 10’ except in front of the bowling alley (4.5’) and roller rink (7’). A standard sidewalk is 5’ wide. Narrow sidewalk areas force removal of streetlights.
Crosswalks – red stamped & colored concrete crosswalk to be located at Main & Madison St., Maple St. and First Street. On Maple & 1st St. this would be limited to one side of the street. The stamped and color concrete signifies the downtown area and adds additional safety for pedestrians. The crosswalk style would change if we install paver bricks.
Option #2
Driving lane width – The road width would narrow and change in width (between 50.5’ – 54.75’), with a slight jog in the road.
Parking – This design adds about 8 additional angle-parking stalls.
Sidewalk – would accommodate extra trees and no change in streetlights.
Crosswalks – red stamped & colored concrete crosswalk to be located at Main & Madison St., Maple St. and First Street. On Maple & 1st St. this would be limited to one side of the street. The stamped and color concrete signifies the downtown area and adds additional safety for pedestrians. The crosswalk style would change if we install paver bricks.

Open Public Hearing @ 6:27 p.m.

All intersections in both designs will have curb cuts for handicap accessibility.

Dean Arnold (124 N 3rd St.) asked how many more handicap parking stalls are available in the new Main street designs. Answer - there will be a few more handicap parking stalls.

Greg Ardisson (217 N. 6th St.) like the more parking friendly option #1.

Joyce Brown (18 S. Maple) is concerned about potentially turning Maple St. into a one-way street.

Steve Haugen (421 W. Main St.) discussed ADA access issues for Main St. businesses. Answer – both designs lend themselves to ADA accessibility.

Ald. Hammann asked what is the definition of a zero curb line. Answer – The entire street is handicap accessible, but requires a 12” ballad or curb stop at each parking stall.

John Decker (143 W. Main St.) prefers option #1, but concerned about sidewalk width in eastern end of Main St.

Jeff Farnsworth (125 Garfield) asked if the sidewalk can be designed vertically to reduce steps. Answer – All effort will be made to reduce the step at Main St. business entrances. Next month the engineers will bring an example sidewalk cross-section illustration this type of sidewalk design.

Betsy Ahner (20 S. 1st St.) is concerned about narrowing the sidewalk when we want to encourage a walkable downtown.

Discussion regarding the sidewalk width in front of Evansville bowl list at 4’ (currently 7’ 9”). It’s possible to remove a couple of parking stalls and creating a small bumpout in that area to expand the sidewalk width.

Greg Ardisson called for a poll of the public. About 90% favored option #1.

Nancy Hamby (1 N. Madison) asked about the parking capacity on side streets and municipal lots.

Ald. Juergens suggested combining the two options: Option #1 west of Maple & Option #2 to the east.

John Decker pointed out that the bowling alley requires a low of parking.

Sandy Decker suggests we look at the property line and examine if the front entrance is actually located on city property.

Joyce Brown quested whether it’s prudent to make a decision on the street design without an understanding of the off-site parking, municipal lot parking & side street parking.

Ald. Hammann agreed with Joyce Brown, off-site parking, municipal lot parking, side street parking, and one way streets will be the focus of the next meeting’s discussion. Also requested the engineers change Option 2 by combining the two options: Option #1 west of Maple & Option #2 to the east.

Closed Public Hearing @ 7:18 p.m.





• Discussion on heavy traffic route on Main St.
Main St. currently is identified as a heavy traffic route, including the part where we are talking about putting paving bricks. If we go forward with the paving bricks, Public Works director David Wartenweiler thinks Main St. from Madison St. to Union St. should not be a heavy traffic route to reduce the pounding the bricks take.
Open Public Hearing @ 6:19 p.m.

Bob Dickert (26 W. Main St.) asked about delivery truck access. Answer – The ordinance will include a reference for allowing delivery trucks versus not allowing through traffic.

Greg Ardisson suggests we use concrete pavement for Madison-Main St. intersection to reduce wear due to heavy truck braking. Answer – concrete intersection will solve truck-braking damage.

Steve Haugen (420 W. Main St.) asked what is the definition of heavy traffic route. Heavy trucks are defined by city ordinance, but basically it allows semi-truck traffic.

Greg Ardisson – What about truck traffic heading to Hwy. C? Answer – must allow truck access to Hwy. C.

Betsy Ahner asked if there is a lot of truck traffic on Main St.? Yes

Roger Roth (1 W. Main St.) asked what would be the alternative truck route? Answer: Madison St. to Water St. to Exchange St. to Union St. is Evansville’s truck traffic route.

Closed Public Hearing @ 7:27 p.m.

Ald. Hammann suggests we encourage truck to use the designated truck route and possibly use concrete pavement for Madison-Main St. intersection.

7. Update of Paving Bricks in Main Street Reconstruction in 2007

John Decker in providing project background explained this project would use paving bricks on Main St. between 1st Street & the bridge over Allen creek. They have done some investigating and found that Federal grants are available design, planning & streetscaping downtown business districts. City of Delavan recently completed their downtown district using a $800,000 Federal grant. The federal grant is an 80/20 matching, where 20% would come from the city.
The cost of reclaiming bricks, paving asphalt, installing the bricks is estimated at $13.07/sqft. Main St. from the bridge to 1st Street is 72,500 sqft for a total cost of $947,575. This would be an additional cost to the Main Street reconstruction project. If Evansville were to receive this grant, the city would be responsible for $189,500 for installing paver bricks on Main Street. ECP is currently raising money through a paver brick fund.
John Decker discussed progress on the DOT grant application. The city can not apply for a Historic Preservation grant because Main St. has asphalt pavement over the bricks. The focus of the grant application is as a landscaping enhancement.

Nancy Hamby asked if the bricks could be used as an accent rather then paving the whole street. Discussion on using paving bricks for crosswalks and intersections.

Discussed using concrete pavement for Madison-Main St. intersection and bricks everywhere else.

Marty Johnson (3 W. Main) suggested we use paver bricks under parking stalls and asphalt as the driving lane.

Joyce Brown asked how long would it take to lay the paving bricks? Jeff Farnsworth explained paver brick installation time.

Discussions on snow plowing a street with paving bricks. Public Works director Dave Wartenweiler explained Delavan’s road maintenance practices.

Roger Roth asked kind of road base does Delavan use under their paving bricks? The city engineer explained why a concrete base is critical.

Roger Roth how much truck traffic does Delavan experience. Delavan diverts truck traffic away from downtown.

8. 2006 Public Works Smart Growth Plan Action Plan
• Transportation #1.1 - PASER rating for road quality will be reported in December.
• Transportation #1.2 – Review Transportation Network Map every 5 years – Review in 2006
Request changing Smart Growth Plan to review transportation network map every 2 years
Evansville’s Transportation Network Map will be combined with Union’s Transportation Network Map after Union Township Smart Growth Plan is completed. Target Date: June
• Transportation #3 – Sidewalk Plan – partially completed in 2005.
Pick up where we left off starting in April.
• Transportation #5.1 – Design road network according to traffic patterns – continuous
Incorporate road network plans as part of reviewing transportation network map in June
• Transportation #5.2 – Adopt a Class B Highway Ordinance – 2006 Project
Request clarification from city administrator on what is required for this action item?
• Transportation #6.1 – Reduced speed on USH 14 between Elmer Road & city limits
Requested the city engineer to write a letter to DOT requesting reducing speed on USH 14 between Elmer Road & city limits in March.
• Transportation #9.1 – Downtown parking – part of Main St. reconstruction in 2007
• Transportation #9.2 – Replace downtown sidewalks & curbing – Main St. reconstruction in 2007
Began both these projects last month, with an expected completion date of fall 2006.
• Utilities & Community Facilities #4.1 – Develop a regional storm water management plan with Union township – 2006 Project
Include as part of the Evansville-Union Boundary & Extraterritorial agreements
• Agricultural, Natural & Resources #1 – Require analysis for soils with engineering limitations –Requested the city engineer to include this as part of review checklists?
• Agricultural, Natural & Resources #4.1 - Complete wellhead protection program – 2006 Project
Wellhead Protection ordinance enacted in January.
• Economic Development #3.1 – Downtown streetscape plan - part of Main St. reconstruction in 2007
• Economic Development #3.2 – Support the historic design/character by investing in needed lighting, signage, pedestrian amenities, plantings and other improvements identified in the streetscape plan part of Main St. reconstruction in 2007
Began both these projects last month, with an expected completion date of fall 2006.
• Economic Development #3.3 - Complete an evaluation of parking availability and consider opportunities to establish parking on vacant lots, as well as shared parking areas along Union Street - part of Main St. reconstruction in 2006
Expand our downtown parking focus to include municipal lots and adjacent side streets. Begin this action item in March.
• Land Use #3.1 – Expand identification, directional, and historic street signage
Pick up where we left off starting in May.
9. Communications from City Engineer
• Discussion and Recommendation to amend Stop Sign Locations at 5th St. & Badger Dr. and 5th St. & Main St.
The city engineer reviewed the traffic for the 5th Ave. area. The engineer recommends adding stop signs installed at 5th Ave. and Badger & Main St. intersections. This will divert traffic to 6th St. (new West Side collector road expected completion in 2006.)
Discussed installing stop signs before school starts next fall.
Discussed putting a traffic island in the Badger-Higgins intersection as a passive traffic-calming device.
• Recommend amending Stop Sign Locations at 5th St. & Badger Dr. and 5th St. & Main St. to Public Safety for review unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
10. Communications of Public Works Director
• Discussion and possible motion to approve Veterans Memorial Pool’s Solar Panels Construction Design
Public Works director met with two contractors to review proposals.
1. Aquarian – 672 sqft of solar panel on the roof of main building and changing areas - $15,000.
2. Light Energy (Burke O’Neil) - 1,012 sqft of solar panel on the roof of main building and changing areas - $14,478.
3. Light Energy (Burke O’Neil) - 462 sqft of solar panel on the roof of main building - $7,222.
All projects will be completed before mid May.
City Engineer expressed structural concerns with solar panel supports on the changing areas on both designs. Suggests scaling back project to place panels on the roof, energy savings payback will be greater using this design.
• Light Energy’s 462 sqft of solar panel on the roof of main building at Veterans memorial pool bid of $7,222 unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
• New Community Center Renovation Update
The city recently purchased the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop. Public Works department is renovating the ceramic shop, so the youth program and AWARE Agency can move this spring. If this occurs, employees working on the second floor of City Hall will move into the Dean Center Building during the demolition and construction of the second floor of City Hall.
Current Public Works projects include:
• Snow plowing
• Repairing the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop
• Pot Hole Replacing
• Sign Replacing
• Assembling Park Bleachers
• Sidewalk snow removal policy:
• Each citizen has 24 hours to remove snow on sidewalk. City charges $25/hr to remove sidewalk snow.
• Any citizen can report an unacceptable snow covered sidewalk at city hall.
11. New Business
• Preliminary land divisions
Reviewed using Smart Growth land division checklists.
• Application #2006-4 John Morning two-lot division on Brown School Road
• Sanitary Sewer – Connection onto Brown School road. No capacity issues. Check on any deferred assessment.
• Storm Sewer – water drainage looks good. Discussed possibility of drainage way located within Hwy. 14 right-a-way.
• Water Main - Connection onto Brown School road.
• Street & Sidewalks – No sidewalk. Entrances require curbs.
• Transportation – Local Road
• Housing – Zoned Commercial
• Environmental – city engineer to check on sizing of storm water pond.
• Recommend Application #2006-4 John Morning two-lot division on Brown School Road to Planning Commission unanimously approved on a Hammann- Juergens motion.
• Application #2006-7 Tom Gibbs two-lot division off of Water Street
• Sanitary Sewer – Connection on Water St. No capacity issues.
• Storm Water – Very wet soil. Require grading to drain storm water to the south.
• Water Main - Connection onto Brown School road.
• Street & Sidewalks – No sidewalk.
• Transportation – Truck Route
• Housing – Zone Industrial
• Environmental – Very wet soil. Possibly located within the Wellhead protection area. Must demonstrate soil-bearing capability before construction.
• Recommend Application #2006-7 Tom Gibbs two-lot division off of Water Street to Planning Commission on the condition that both parcels are grading to drain storm water to the south unanimously approved on a Hammann- Juergens motion.
• Discussion on Amending Onyx contract to include a residential “Spring Cleaning”
A few residents have asked if it would be possible to add onto the city's Onyx contract that one week each spring people would be allowed to put out as much trash as they want to be hauled away by Onyx without having to use $1 tags. Onyx would need to charge the city an extra fee for this service, and the city would need to pass that along to residents through the fee on the property tax bills.
Not in favor of non-participants in the spring-clean to pay the extra cost for the spring-cleaning.
12. Meeting adjourned @ 9:25 p.m. on a Hammann-Sornson motion
Next Meeting: Monday, March 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee