Memo- Changes to Legislative Poilcy #8-B, Roadway Improvements
Public Works Department
Memorandum
To:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Through:
From:
Steve Mielke, City Manager
Steve Stadler, Public Works Director COa7
Date:
April 3, 1997
Subject:
Changes to Legislative Policy #8-8, Roadway Improvements
This item was presented for City Council consideration at the March 18th Council
Meeting. City Council disagreed with portions of the proposed policy language
changes, were unclear to the meaning of other portions, and felt more detail was
needed. The decision was to table the item and refer it to a future Council Work
Session.
Staff understands that it is City Council's desire to change the existing legislative policy
such that a neighborhood may elect to have its streets reconstructed without concrete
curb and gutter. Staff has revised the policy language to read that concrete curb and
gutter would continue to be the preferred street design, but an exception could be
made if the majority of the "affected residents' petitioned against it. (There will be more
on "affected residents' later in the memo). Staff has added words to clarify that if a
valid petition is received, the street would be reconstructed in such a way that the
current appearance of the street (prior to reconstruction) would be maintained. This
also means that the policy would allow the City to replace raised asphalt edging on
streets that currently have a raised asphalt edge. There is existing raised asphalt
edges on very few streets - see attached map showing streets with no curb and with
raised asphalt edges. The policy also states that concrete curb and gutter will be
installed on a local street when it is reconstructed if the predominance of streets in the
same defined area have existing concrete curb and gutter. Looking at the map, an
example of this might be the section of Oxford Street and Murphy Avenue where there
is currently no concrete curb and gutter. Staff is proposing that if a reconstruction
project were warranted in this area, that these streets should have curb & gutter to
match the prevailing street design of the area.
Now, regarding "affected residents': The proposed policy revision allows street
reconstruction matching current conditions if a petition of 55% or more of the affected
residents is presented stating opposition to concrete curb & gutter. Staff feels that the
definition of "affected residents' is subjective and would prefer that City Council
consider staff recommendation of the boundaries on an individual project basis. Staff
believes it is clear that Interlachen and Belgrove neighborhoods should be considered
as two distinct "affected areas'. It would be preferred to have a consistent street
design throughout these neighborhoods.
Example 1: If we were to reconstruct just Loring Road, the street design would include
installing concrete curb & gutter unless a neighborhood-wide petition requesting no
curbs was signed by at least 55% of the Belgrove residents. The results of that petition
would determine the street design for all of the Belgrove neighborhood, Le., curbs or no
curbs. There would be no need for another petition on the next reconstruction project.
The next design would be consistent with the Loring Road design.
Example 2: Consider 20th Avenue South. Staff may contend that curb and gutter
should be installed under the proposed policy as the predominance of central Hopkins
area has curb and gutter. If City Council disagreed, should the affected residents be
only those along 20th Avenue? Or, should it also include residents on 18th and 19th
Avenues South? In any case, staff doesn't feel the decision needs to be included in the
legislative policy.
Staff has removed the originally proposed policy language calling for 100% assessment
of costs for construction necessary to maintain pavement edges and drainage if curb
and gutter is not installed.
Staff believes that the proposed policy allows neighborhood majority decision
regarding curb and gutter while maintaining curb and gutter as the standard where it
makes sense to do so.
7. MAJOR STREETS
7.01 Major streets are considered by the City of Hopkins to be collector and thoroughfare
streets. Streets of this variety generally service local traffic as well as traffic from other
. areas and therefore are designed in accordance with standards of a higher road capacity.
Major streets within the City of Hopkins are constructed with a minimum capacity of9 ton
per axle. The primary source of funding for major roadways is special assessments and
MSA funds.
7.02 Major new and reconstructed streets shall be constructed with curb and gutter. Street
width shall be determined by existing conditions, traffic counts and patterns, and, if
applicable, MSA standards.
8. LOCAL STREETS
8.01 Local Streets are generally streets which service a small area and do not typically involve a
movement of traffic between areas. Local streets typically connect two collector streets or
county roads. Streets of this type include local streets, cul-de-sacs, and service roads.
Local streets within the City of Hopkins are constructed with a minimum capacity of 7
tons per axle. The primary source of funding of local streets is special assessments.
8.02 New local streets shall be constructed with curb and gutter. When re6enstruetiag streets
oonerete etiFb Bfld gutter shall be iaatallea where elu'featly in use, and in ether areas uBless
the f1eighborhood preseats a petitien of not less that fifty ihe per.eeHt (55%) ef the
affeeted prej3effy e7IRers reqtlesting raised a5flhalt edge.
Raised asphalt edge shall be inatalled \':herever eoner.efe elire lIiid gHtter is f10t Iised.
Desiga fIiodifieaUofls shall be established as apflrepriate te addreas drainage and
mamt6flanee e6aeems.
When reconstructing streets concrete curb and gutter shall be installed in the
following instances:
1. All streets with existing concrete curb and gutter or existin~ vertical asphalt
curb.
2. All Municipal State Aid streets
3. Local streets without curb and gutter in a defined residential area where the
predominance of existing streets have concrete curb and gutter
4. Other local streets without curb and gutter unless the neighborhood presents a
petition of 55% or more of the affected residents against concrete cnrb and
gutter. If a Detition is Dresented. the street shall be reconstructed in snch a way
that the current appearance of the street (prior to reconstruction) is maintained.
8.03 New local street minimum unobstructed street width, (face-face of curb) is 30 feet. The
standard unobstructed street width for reconstructed streets shall be 26 feet. Streets
which do not meet this requirement shall be reconstructed at current width (unless a wider
street is desired by the affected residents) but not less than twenty feet (20') unless the
Council finds that:
A twenty foot (20') width would adversely affect trees or other significant or desirable
physical features; and
A reduced width would not constitute a distinct hazard to life or property.
Factors to be considered shall include, but not be limited to safe access of emergency
vehicles, snow storage requirements, availability of parking and aesthetics.
8.04 Streets which are twenty-six feet (26') or more in width will have parking allowed on both
sides. Streets less than twenty-six feet (26') in width may be subject to parking restrictions
on an "as needed" basis. Parking restrictions could be established at. the time of street
projects or at any future date based upon general City parking requirements. Factors to be
considered shall include, but not be limited to, staff report regarding safety and emergency
vehicles access and neighborhood input.
Where streets are less than twenty-six feet (26') in width, the staff shall assist the
neighborhood in identifYing areas where existing street width can be increased to provide
additional parking.
9. ALLEYS
9.01 Alleys are minor roadways which service parcels of property along the rear property line.
The primary source of funding of alleys is special assessments.
9.02 All alleys shall be concrete construction. Alley width is generally 10 feet in residential
areas and 12 feet in commercial areas.
10. ASSESSMENT POLICIES
10.01 When assessments are levied for roadway improvements, the assessment will be calculated
in accordance with the fonnulas set forth in the section on Assessment Fonnulas, using
either the adjusted front foot method or per lot unit method. The adjusted front foot
method will be used for assessment purposes unless the per lot/unit method is requested
,
by petition by at least 55% of the assessed property owners and/or it is determined that the
aJI:ected lots have received equal benefits. The City Council shall have final authority on
the type of fonnula to be used.
10.02 The total project cost for streets constructed or reconstructed in any given project shall be
equal to the actual construction cost, plus associated costs such as legal, bonds,
administrative and engineering.
10.03 When the city CONSTRUCTS A NEW LOCAL OR MAJOR STREET. 100% of the total
project cost, including all utilities, will be recovered by assessing the benefiting property
for actual benefit received. A new street shall be defined as a roadway including curb and
gutter which had not previously existed.
10.04 When the city RECONSTRUCTS AN EXISTING LOCAL OR MAJOR STREET. 70%
of the total project cost will be recovered by assessing the benefiting property for benefit
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