Minutes; Public Works: January 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 23 at 6:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
1. Call the meeting to order @ 6:01 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 December meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
4. Citizen appearances – NA
5. Lake Leota Restoration
• Lake Leota Watershed Study Report by Strand Engineering
A watershed is the land area or drainage basins from which water flows into a stream or lake. The watershed plan guides us in protecting and managing environmental resources, particularly Lake Leota, acheiving improvements in water quality, lake restoration and providing flood protection. Jon Linhart, Professional Engineer for Strand Associates, focused on Allen Creek Watershed upstream of Lake Leota.
• Lake Leota is severely impaired as a results of sedimentation and other environmental problems.
• City of Evansville & SOLE are working together to preserve the lake for current & future generations.
• Watershed study goal is to identify & address upstream solutions to protect dredging investments.
• Strand estimated 500 tons/yr or 0.12”/yr of sediment into Lake Leota from streambank erosion. Identified severe locations and cost to restore streambank.
• Strand identified sources & modeled of nonpoint source (NPS) pollutants. Estimated polutant loadings (28,000 tons/yr or 1.1”/yr of sediment) into Lake Leota and recommended best management practices (BMP’s) to inprove conditions in watershed.
• The report indentifies total phosphorus (TP) loading in Lake Leota at 0.18 mg/l. Illinois water quality standard is 0.05 mg/l. The largest TP point source is Brooklyn’s WWTP.
• Strand report included Implementation Plan & available grants. Implementation of this plan over the course of several years is a key component in restoring Lake Leota.
Open Public Hearing at 6:04 pm
Tom Sweeeny – Rock County Soil Conservationist commented on stream bank restoration. He also questioned Strand’s aggressive implemetation timeline, commenting looking at improving the watershed as a long term project.
Chris Eager – 120 grove St. – asked if outside bends of Allen creek are the most severve areas for erosion.
Ron Jugens – Asked what’s the “biggest bang for the buck” for reducing sediment into Lake Leota. Since 95% of the erosion is from agriculture runoff. Buffers in the sediment control is the most cost effective method to reduce sediment in Lake Leota.
Victor Johnson – 349 S. 1st St – Asked Strand to cite examples of similar projects.
Dave Roang – 232 N 3rd St – Asked a question regarding soil erosion run-off modeling.
Closed Public Hearing at 6:47 pm
There will be a hearing updating the public on the progress made in restoring Lake Leota this spring.
6. Main Street Reconstruction Public Hearing
• Downtown Streetscape plan, including sidewalk improvements (e.g. pavers), lighting improvements, signage and canopies, street furniture (i.e. waste receptacles and benches), and landscaping.
Main Street Reconstruction Projects
• Replacing the utilities under Madison Street & Main St. as part of the Hwy. 59/213 in 2006.
• Reconstruct Main St. from Allen Creek to First Street in 2007.
• Resurface the pavement on Madison St. from Allen Creek to the south city limits in 2008.
July 2004, we had a Public Hearing Main Street reconstruction. Today we are picking up were we left off and moving forward and we begin to shape the plans for the future of Main St. Bruce Woods and Dave Sauer of Foth & Van Dyke showed their Draft Engineering Drawings for Main Street. This discussed paving bricks, traffic circle sidewalks, bumpouts, lighting, amenities, etc. for Main Street from Allen Creek to 1st St.
Open Public Hearing at 6:59 pm
• Bruce Woods introduced new Main St. designs. Proposed a 6” high traffic island at the intersection of Madison & Main St. for passive traffic control to slow down speeds. The traffic island is like a small round-a-bout.
Main Features:
• Traffic Island at the intersection of Madison & Main St.
• Bump out at intersection of Main St. & Maple St.
• Two street options, both increase parking.
• Zero curb line
• Removal of light fixtures to match east Main St.
• Paving bricks
• Stamp & colored crosswalks
• Narrowing of bridge over Allen creek
• One way streets – Maple St., Mill & Railroad St.
George Howell (11 E. Main), Tony Wyse (112 W. Grove) & Betsy Ahner (20 S. 1st St.) – asked how trucks are going to negotiate traffic island. Mr. Woods illustrated the curb to traffic circle distances are sufficient to allow a Semi-truck to pass.
Tony Wyse asked about WDOT reaction to F&VD traffic island in the middle of HWY 213/59. WDOT has not commented on the traffic island proposal.
Sandy Decker (143 W. Main St.) – Asked what methods are used to make a Traffic Island aesthetically pleasing. Discussion regarding potential items that can be placed in the center of the Traffic Island.
Greg Ardisson (217 N. 6th St.) – Asked paving bricks and a Traffic Island work together to reduce speeds.
Tony Wyse if the Traffic Island negatively effects snow removal.
Ald. Sornson objected to the traffic circle because it’s too complicated for elderly women drivers.
Steve Haugen (420 W. Main St.) – Discussed several issues with Traffic Island.
Public Works director Dave Wartenweiler Chris Eager commented that a Traffic Island would reduce downtown truck traffic congestion protecting investment in paving bricks.
Tony Wyse asked if signs could direct truck traffic away from Main St. The answer was yes.
Sandy Decker – Asked about truck traffic limitations on state highways.
Greg Ardisson – Disappointed that the city is directing truck traffic away of downtown.
Jeff Farnsworth (125 Garfield) – Asked if a fountain can be placed inside the traffic circle.
• Bruce Woods next focused on the bump out on the Main St. & Maple St. intersection. The bump out is required for ADA access for business on the corner.
Jeff Farnsworth (125 Garfield) – Can we improve ADA access all along Main St.? The city engineers explained ways to improve ADA access off Main St.
Jeff Farnsworth – Asked when final sidewalk grades will be known. Need to complete Main St. reconstruction design by fall.
Betsy Ahner (20 S. 1st St.) – Suggested split sidewalks to improve building access.
Greg Ardisson – Very concerned about delivery truck access on Maple St.
• 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.
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.
Louis Farnsworth (14 East Main St. – Likes seeing increase parking.
Tony Wyse - Discussed replacing light fixtures to match asked east Main St.
Can electrical outlets be installed on light poles & near trees?
Need to address right turning lane off Madison St. onto Main St.
Option #2
Driving lane width – The road width would narrow and change in width, 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.
Group discussion switched to use of paver bricks on Main St.
Jeff Farnsworth – questioned the use of asphalt under paver bricks. City engineer explained his reason for requiring asphalt base, citing examples and maintenance issues.
Jeff Farnsworth – Questioned current Main St. plowing practice. Should the city snow blow sidewalks before plowing the Main St.?
Betsy Ahner – Asked why the bridge over Allen Creek was narrowed. To reduce traffic speed, but separates an east & west downtown.
Bob Dickert (131 N. 6th St.) – Can we change Montgomery Ct. one-way status during construction for access to municipal parking lot? Excellent idea!
Closed Public Hearing at 8:15 pm
There will be a public hearing on Downtown Streetscape plan every public works meeting until the design is complete.
Chairman Hammann call a 5 minute recess
7. Update of Paving Bricks in Main Street Reconstruction in 2007
Cost to lay Paver Bricks on a 57’ wide Main St.
• Main St. & Madison St. intersection - $42,000
• Madison St. – Maple St. - $266,000.
• Madison St. – Bridge - $610,000.
• 1st St. – Bridge - $930,000.
This is an incremental cost increase over the $230,000 cost to pave Main St. from 1st St. to Bridge with 4” asphalt & 10” stone.
Discussion on the requirement an asphalt base under paver bricks.
The DOT grant application is due on 4/14. Grant awarded in August or September.
Discussed on DOT grant availability and effect on construction schedule.
Discussed starting at 1st St. and working east to minimize disruption to business district.
Jeff Farnsworth presented information on paver brick installation time: 1 man can lay 100 sqft/day. One 8-man crew will complete Main St. in 89 working days. Three 8 man crews will take 30 days.
Applied for $25,000 Tallman grant.
8. Communications from City Engineer
West Side Traffic Study
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.)
Main St. Bridge
The city received a $210,000 grant from Rock County to replace this bridge over Allen creek.
9. Communications of Public Works Director
• Veterans Memorial Pool: Solar Panels Construction Design Review
Jan 31 is the dead line for a construction design. No detail construction plans available at this meeting. Public Works director met couple of contractors.
• New Community Center Renovation Update
The city recently purchased the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop. Public Works Department plans to renovate the ceramic shop this winter, 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 reconstruction of the second floor of City Hall.
Public Works began repairing the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop. The YMCA is developing a floor plan. Project due to be completed this spring.
Current Public Works projects include:
• Snow plowing
• Repairing the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop
• Pot Hole Replacing
• Tree Trimming
• Sign Replacing
• 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.
• The city’s sidewalk snow blower & sweeper can not be repaired and needs to be replaced.
• Recommend to finance $15,000 for a replacement sidewalk snow blower & sweeper unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
10. New Business
Ald. Aikman requested a left turn lane from Hwy. 14 onto County Road M. The DOT considered a turning lane into the “Pig” but decided against it.
Directed city engineer to make a request to WDOT for a left turn lane from Hwy. 14 onto County Road M.
11. Meeting adjourned @ 9:26 p.m. on a Hammann-Sornson motion
Next Meeting: Monday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee