VII.1. CR2024-108 - Order Feasibility Central Avenues Improvements CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2024-108
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Eric Klingbeil, PE, City Engineer
Date: September 10, 2024
Subject: Order Feasibility Report – Central Avenues Improvements, City Project
2024-10
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt Resolution 2024-056 ordering the preparation of a feasibility report
for the Central Avenues Improvements and authorizing Mayor and City Manager to
enter into an agreement with Bolton and Menk, Inc. to prepare the report.
OVERVIEW
At the September 3, 2024 City Council meeting the Central Avenues Phase 2 Scoping
Study Report, ordered by Council at the April 16, 2024 City Council Meeting, was
presented. At that meeting, staff was directed to prepare to begin to prepare to order a
feasibility report in accordance with Option A in the report.
To complete the Feasibility Report, staff has selected a qualified consultant. Much of
the work required for the Feasibility Report was completed for the Scoping Study
Report. The cost of Feasibility Report is $79,639.
Final design and construction observation and administration services will be negotiated
separately after the feasibility report phase and the councils ordering of the
improvement project.
By moving forward with feasibility, no commitment to additional project phases is made.
Ordering feasibility does not authorize the project. Conducting a public improvement
hearing and ordering final plans will be Council action items at a future meeting.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Consultant Proposal
Resolution 2024-056
Public Works Dept.
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2024-056
RESOLUTION ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF A FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR
CENTRAL AVENUES IMPROVEMENTS
CITY PROJECT 2024-10
WHEREAS, the following streets are in need of reconstruction: 9th Avenue N from 1st
Street N to 3rd Street N, 10th Avenue N from 1st Street N to 4th Street N, 11th Avenue N
from 1st Street N to Minnetonka Mills Road, 12th Avenue N from 1st Street N to
Minnetonka Mills Road, 13th Avenue N from the regional trail N to Minnetonka Mills
Road, 2nd Street N from 8th Avenue N to 12th Avenue N, 3rd Street N from 9th Avenue N
to 15th Avenue N, and 4th Street N from 9th Avenue N to 10th Avenue N and 11th Avenue
N to 12th Avenue N; and
WHEREAS,City Staff is requesting that these streets be upgraded under the City’s
assessment policy even though no petition for the upgrade has been submitted; and
WHEREAS, The first step in the assessment procedure is the order of a feasibility
report,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins
hereby refers the proposed improvements to the firm Bolton and Menk, Inc. for study
and that they be instructed to report to the Council with all convenient speed advising
the Council in a primary way as to whether the proposed improvement is necessary,
cost-effective, and feasible and as to whether is should best be made as proposed or in
connection with some other improvement, and the estimated cost of the improvement
as recommended.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 10th day of September, 2024.
By:___________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk
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August 30, 2024
Mr. Eric Klingbeil, P.E., City Engineer
City of Hopkins
RE: Proposal for Professional Engineering Services
Central Avenues Improvements Phase 2: Feasibility Study & Preliminary Engineering
City of Hopkins, Minnesota
Dear Mr. Klingbeil:
We are pleased to offer you our proposal for professional engineering services for the feasibility and
preliminary engineering phase of the City of Hopkins’ Central Avenues Improvements Phase 2, following
our completion of the Project Scoping Study. We understand the City’s continued desire to reduce
capital spending and focus its limited resources on necessary, cost-effective improvements. Like the
Project Scoping Study achieved, our proposed scope of work has been laid out to target cost efficiencies
for the Central Avenues Phase 2 Improvements.
Our proposed fee for the feasibility and preliminary engineering phase of this project is $79,639 for 398
proposed hours of labor and efforts by specialized subconsultants. In addition to our feasibility study,
geotechnical work will be performed by Braun Intertec to collect additional data on the underlying soil
conditions for potential stormwater management efforts, and benefit appraisals will be provided by
BRKW for one commercial property and one unique duplex property within the project area.
As a part of this proposal, we have described our project understanding, work scope details, and a
summary of our estimated fees below.
PROJECT UNDERSTANDING
We understand City Staff will be recommending to Council that a feasibility report is ordered for two-
year street and utility improvements project to start construction in 2025. The following streets and
respective underlying utilities in the Central Avenues neighborhood are anticipated to be included in the
feasibility report:
Street and Utility Reconstruction:
• 9th Avenue N, 1St Street N to 3rd Street N
• 10th Avenue N, 1st Street N to 4th Street N
• 11th Avenue N, 1st Street N to Minnetonka Mills Rd
• 12th Avenue N, 1st Street N to Trunk Highway 7
• 13th Avenue N, southern dead end by Maetzold Field to South Service Dr
• 3rd Street N, 9th Avenue N to 11th Avenue N
• 4th Street N, 9th Avenue N to 10th Avenue N
• 4th Street N, 11th Avenue N to 12th Avenue N
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Pavement Resurfacing:
• 2nd Street N, 8th Avenue N to 12th Avenue N
• 3rd Street N, 11th Avenue N to 15th Avenue N
A map of the project area is attached showing streets proposed for full reconstruction and streets
proposed for pavement resurfacing, along with existing and proposed street widths. Bolton & Menk will
complete a feasibility report and preliminary design efforts for these streets within the Central Avenues
neighborhood.
SCOPE OF WORK
In accordance with the City’s request, Bolton & Menk proposes to complete the following scope of work
to accomplish the goals described in the Project Understanding section. The tasks below are a
continuation of Tasks 1 through 3 for the Scoping Study phase of the project, starting with an increased
scope for Task 3.
Task 3: Contracted Services by Others
Up to five (5) additional soil borings will be collected by Braun Intertec for the purposes of evaluating
potential stormwater management options for the project improvements, including along 12th Ave N
and a location yet to be determined by City and Bolton & Menk Staff. The borings will be provided for
Bolton & Menk to evaluate the underlying soil conditions and the feasibility of different stormwater
management applications. Boring logs will be provided with no official report from Braun Intertec.
BRKW will perform two special benefit appraisals for the commercial property at 901 1st St N and the
unique duplex property at 405 10th Ave N. These benefit appraisals will supplement the special
assessment calculations and confirm final special assessment amounts for these non-residential and/or
atypical properties within the project area. The benefit appraisals by BRKW will not be available in time
to include in the feasibility report, but ordering them at this time will make them available prior to the
approval of the final plans, bidding, and adoption of the final assessment roll. Calculated assessments
based on the City policy would be used for these properties on the preliminary assessment roll in the
feasibility report in the meantime.
Task 4: Feasibility Study and Report
In general, the feasibility report will be a continuation of the project scoping study report, with much of
the same content, and include an assembly of existing conditions, discussion of needs for improvement,
preliminary design recommendations and resulting proposed conditions, preliminary estimated costs,
and a preliminary assessment roll. A more detailed description of the development of these items is as
follows.
Preliminary Stormwater & Permitting Analysis
Efforts put forth under Task 4 will also include a pipe capacity analysis of the storm sewer within the
project area, including further development of the City-wide storm sewer network model, to gauge the
need for storm sewer improvements to be completed with the proposed street reconstruction. From
these findings, preliminary design of recommended drainage improvements will be developed for the
roadway corridors. The City’s updated municipal storm water (MS4) permit and Nine Mile Creek
Watershed District (NMCWD) requires that storm water management is implemented when the area of
impervious surface being reconstructed surpasses a certain threshold, which is anticipated to occur for
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this project area. Preliminary sizing and types of permanent storm water management features at
various locations were discussed with City Staff during the scoping study phase, and we would continue
these conversations with City Staff and facilitate a meeting with NMCWD to review options and confirm
expectations for stormwater management in the project area.
Collection and Review of Record Drawings, Preliminary Street/Utility Recommendations
Bolton & Menk, Inc. has reviewed existing conditions and record drawings throughout the project area
and made street and utility improvement recommendations to City Staff as part of the Project Scoping
Study Report. Bolton & Menk will plan to meet with City Staff during preliminary design and production
of the feasibility report to confirm all proposed improvements for the project.
Street Width Evaluation
Bolton & Menk, Inc. has evaluated street widths with City Staff as part of the Project Scoping Study
Report and will confirm these street widths during a meeting with City Staff prior to completion of the
feasibility report.
Field Survey of Site Conditions
Bolton & Menk, Inc. has completed a topographic survey and drone flight for aerial imagery of the
project area to be used for preliminary and, eventually, final design. Bolton & Menk will also capture
street view images with a 360-degree camera for existing pre-construction site conditions including, but
not limited to, driveway and sidewalk pavement, trees, walls, and landscaping.
Preliminary Cost Estimating & Assessment Rolls
Bolton & Menk, Inc. has prepared itemized preliminary cost estimates for the proposed improvements
throughout the project area as part of the Project Scoping Study Report. These preliminary estimates
have been split by individual City funding sources and individual streets. Bolton & Menk will refine the
preliminary cost estimates for any project scope changes and adjustments to the proposed
improvements throughout the preliminary design process.
Preliminary estimates will be used along with any available plat information to prepare preliminary
assessment rolls for the street and utility reconstruction project areas based on the City assessment
policy, including the following methods as applicable per policy:
• Front footage basis with applicable cap amounts for residential properties
• Benefit Appraisals for non-residential properties and unique properties
o 901 1st St N
o 405 10th Ave N
• Unit basis for side street improvements that do not put properties above the front cap amount
Our efforts will include reviewing assessment practices on past projects to apply to some uniquely
positioned properties within the project area or properties that have been assessed for adjacent street
reconstruction improvements in recent years. A preliminary assessment role will be developed and
included in the feasibility report documenting the proposed properties to receive assessments and
estimated assessment amounts.
Public Engagement & Meetings
As with all public improvement projects of this scale, public engagement is a valuable method for
gathering information and opinions. Soon after a feasibility report is ordered by Council, Bolton & Menk
will prepare and distribute a neighborhood questionnaire form. We will review the results of the
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questionnaires and include the results in the feasibility report. Bolton & Menk will also distribute
invitations to and facilitate two neighborhood meetings for discussion about the project during this
project feasibility phase:
• The public meetings are anticipated to be held in-person at City Hall, and a virtual option could
also be provided to residents for one or both meetings if desired by City Staff. A presentation of
the public meeting will also be posted to the City and/or Bolton & Menk’s website for those that
do not want to attend an in-person meeting.
• At the first neighborhood meeting (prior to distribution of individual preliminary assessment
amounts), the intended focus of discussion will be:
o Communicating the proposed improvements to residents
o Collecting input from residents and business owners to consider as part of the scope of
the project (i.e. drainage issues or other infrastructure deficiencies), including collecting
questionnaires if not already mailed or emailed back to the project team.
o Communicating the assessment policy and how assessments are to be applied. At future
meetings more detail will be provided on example assessment calculations and payment
schedules, however at this meeting focus will more so be on collecting input on items
affecting the scope of the improvements and communicating to attendees what to
expect in terms of the preliminary proposed project scope.
• At the second neighborhood meeting (after distribution of individual preliminary assessment
amounts), the intended focus of discussion will be:
o Revisiting the proposed improvements, including an overview of elements that may
have changed since the first neighborhood meeting based on public input or other
rationale.
o Revisiting the assessment policy and how assessments are to be applied.
o Providing sample calculations of preliminary assessment amounts and communicating
the influences that may impact the assessment amounts before final assessments are
determined (as bid unit prices, benefit appraisals, etc.).
o Fielding resident questions and concerns prior to and in preparation for the public
improvement hearing at the City Council Meeting.
Bolton & Menk will prepare and deliver presentations on the proposed improvements and preliminary
estimated assessments at the neighborhood meetings and at two City Council meetings upon request,
including attendance at the meeting where the public improvement hearing is ordered and at the
meeting where the hearing is conducted.
Feasibility Report Document
The results of the feasibility study including descriptions of the existing infrastructure, proposed
improvements, estimated costs, preliminary assessment roll, preliminary figures illustrating proposed
improvements atop the underlying existing conditions, and proposed project schedule will be detailed in
a written report in form and quality similar to the 2024 Central Avenues Improvements feasibility report.
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SCHEDULE
The schedule presented below illustrates a streamlined schedule to allow City Staff to make
recommendations and order final plans and specifications from Council with enough time to develop
said plans and specifications for bidding a project to start construction in 2025, if that is what is decided
by Council.
Council Orders Feasibility Report ............................................................... September 10, 2024
Mail Questionnaires and Neighborhood Meeting Invites .......................... September 11-13, 2024
Meeting with City Staff – Confirm Proposed Improvements ...................... September 16-20, 2024
Meeting with NMCWD – Stormwater Management Discussion ................ September 16-20, 2024
Neighborhood Meeting 1 ........................................................................................ October 2, 2024
Council Set Public Hearing Date / Present Feasibility Report .......................... October 15, 2024
Neighborhood Meeting 2 .................................................................................... November 6, 2024
Present Feasibility Report / Conduct Public Hearing
Council Orders Final Plans & Specifications ..................................... November 12, 2024
The following is a preliminary schedule for final design and construction in 2025/2026 if ordered by
Council. These tasks are not included in the scope of this proposal and is subject to change based on
outcomes of the feasibility phase:
Meeting with City Staff – Review Draft Plans ........................... Late December 2024/January 2025
Approve Final Plans & Specifications /
Authorize Advertisement for Bids ...................................................... February 4, 2025
Bid Opening ................................................................................................................ March 7, 2025
Council Sets Public Assessment Hearing Date ................................................... March 18, 2025
Neighborhood Meeting 3 .......................................................................................... Early April 2025
Council Accepts Bids / Conduct Public Assessment Hearing /
Adopt Assessment Roll / Award Bid ....................................................... April 15, 2025
Construction ........................................................................................ May 2025 – November 2026
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ESTIMATED FEES
Bolton & Menk proposes to complete the above scope of work for Task 3 and Task 4 on an hourly basis
for a not to exceed hourly fee of $79,639. A breakdown of the estimated fees by task is as follows:
Task 3 Contracted Services by Others $ 14,795
Task 4 Feasibility Study and Report $ 64,844
Total Estimated Fee $ 79,639
If you find this proposal satisfactory, your signature of this proposal will constitute acceptance of the
terms outlined and your authority for us to proceed. Please contact us if you wish to discuss this
proposal. We look forward to providing these professional engineering services to the City of Hopkins
and appreciate your continued consideration of Bolton & Menk, Inc.
Sincerely,
BOLTON & MENK, INC.
Nick Amatuccio, P.E.
Senior Associate Project Manager
Cc: Mike Waltman, P.E., Principal Engineer & Burnsville Office Manager
Accepted By: ____________________________________ Date: _____________