Public Works Cte Minutes 05-25-2988 •
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Roger J. G�fswitz. Chair
PUBLIC WOR COMMITTEE MEETIN
May 25. 1988 - Room 707
PRESENT: Roger Goswitz, Chair
Councilmember Tom Dimond
ABSENT: Councilmember Rettman (excused-ill)
OTHERS PRESENT: Patricia Mergens, Reed L. Denzer, Bob 5imon, Bruce
Hoheisel, Chris Nicosia, Tom Veesenmeyer, Alice Bijjani, John
Saumweber, James P. Quinn, Laurie DeMaio, Peter White, John "
McCormick. Ronnie Brooks, Donald Rutman.
A� .:.
1. The minutes of May ll, 1988 were approved as submitted.
Because Alice Bijjani. who w111 be speaking on Item #13 had to be at
another meeting shortly this item was heard first on the agenda.
13. RESOLUTION: Authorizing execution of agreement between City of St.
Paul, N.S.P., and Neighborhood Energy Consortium for the ST. PAUL
• RENTAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENFORCEMENT (SPREEE) PROGRAM
Alice Bijjani, Division of Health, explained this matter relates to
the enforcement of state minimum standards for energy conservation
in rental housing. NSP was ordered by PUC to spend �22,900 of its
Conservation Improvement Program funds to pay for the audits
necessary for the operation of this program. This particular
agreement transfers the auditing from NSP to the Neighborhood Energy
Consortium. It is necessary for the City to enter into an agreement
with NSP for the disbursement of those funds and to enter into an
agreement with the Neighborhood Energy Consortium to provide the
necessary audits. There has been a change in the fee schedule and a
minor language ct�ange relating to who holds copies of the audits but
this does not effect the city's relationship, she added. Funding
is through September of this year.
In answer to Councilmember Dimond's question, Ms. Bijjani said there
is no commitment beyond the current funding and future financing
will have to come from somwhere else. No one else appeared on this
matter.
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to recommend approval was
unanimously carried.
2. VACATION: Petition of Lake Phalen Limited Partnership for the
vacation of an encroachment of a utility and drainage easement over,
• under and across part of Lot 2, Block 1, Phalen Shores (bounded by
Forest, lvy and Wheelock Parkway). Purpose is to correct a building
encroachment.
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Peter White, Valuations Division, said Dick McCann, who was to speak •
on this matter, had not arrived yet at the meeting, but he believes
this is a case where someone built their house on top of an easement
and in order to clear the title of the property this action is
needed by the owner for financing purposes. He further added this
type vacation is in effect as long as the building is there, but if
it is torn down, the property reverts back to the city. No one
v� appeared on th i s i tem.
MOT10N: by Councilmember Dimond to recortmend approval was
unani�usly carried.
3. RATtFICATION OF ASSESSMENT5: For installation of Fire Protection
System for COSSETTA'S MARKET AND DELI at 209-211 W. Seventh Street.
In answer to Councilmember Dimond's question, Ed Warn, Valuations �
Division, said the project is ,just being finished and everything is ���
in order but they have not received ali the final paper work. All
of the city cost's will be covered and papers finalized by the time
this matter is before the City Council for approval. No one appeared
on this item.
MOTION: by Counciimember Dimond to recommend approval was
unanimously carried.
4. RATIFICATION OF ASSESSMENTS: For the installation of a sanitary •
sewer in FORESTER STREET from Canton Street to Bav 5treet
Pat Mergens. 762 Forester. spoke on this matter and said the City
promised to make some funding available for this pro,ject because
they are on solid rock and because only six homeowners were
involved. We do not feel the assessment is necessarily out of line,
she said, because we were quoted a price of $52.00 per ft. and told
it could go 10� over that, but we definitely are dissatisfied with
the rate of interest being charged. We were told a plan was being
looked at to give us 2 or 3r., or at no interest because of the
rock problem.
Now three years later, she continued, we do have the sewer but we
are not even able to hire a contractor to hook us up. We have
exhausted the list of contractors received from the city and can't
even get any to come out and look at it. Apparently they have all .
heard of the problems with Forester Street and are not willing to
work in the rock. She mentioned that when blasting was being done
for some gaslines a water main broke and they were flooded. The
property owners wanted the sewer because according to the code we
cannot sell our homes without it� she added.
Peter White, Valuations, pointed out the estimate was $52.00 per
assessable ft. and the �otal proJect was estimated at �56,000. The •
cost was split about 50/50 for assessments and public monies going
into that project. Apparently, he said, more probierns were
encountered than anticipated and as a result the actual cost totaled
$220,000, or about 4 times the estimated cost. The assessment rate
was increased to $57.20, which covers only $33,000 of the total
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• $220,000 cost. Our policy is to not assess more than 10� of the
original estimate unless we have another hearing before the Council.
Referring to the interest rate, Mr. White said 9� is the standard
rate on all city proJects.
Chris Nicosia, Public Works Department, said it does bother him,
, coming from that same line of work, that these people are not able
"'�° to get a contractor to come in and bring the connection into their
. � homes. They are being put in a bind to have a sewer line put in at
a g�eat deal of expense to themselves and are still not able to hook
up. The reason the sewer was requested, he satd. was because of
� � problems with their septic tanks, maktng for an unheatthy situation.
Mr. Nicosia suggested laying this matter over for a couple of weeks
to take a good look at the engineering ability to put the ,�
connections into the homes and suggested John Carlson, who lives in
the area might be able to assist them. However, Pat Mergens said ��'
they had contacted Mr. Carlson four or five times during the course
of the years and Mr. Carlson was present in their basement when it
was flooded up to their waists to determine what the problem was. On
numerous occasions he promised to give us an estimate but never
showed up. She said they have one estimate from Nova Frost and she
was told by them the only reason they came was to give them a
ballpark figure to start with so they could begin an application
• process to get city money to help them out. They were not interested
in doing the work. She mentioned that she has taken numerous days
off of work to get a contractor to come out and not one came. None
of them wanted to touch it as soon as they heard Forester Street.
Answering Councilmember Dimond's question on the bid from Nova
Frost, Ms. Mergens said she believed it wes in the neighborhood of
$4600 or $5600 for her property and hers would be the shortest
hookup. 5ome residents would have to go around their home and to the
back in order to hook up.
Peter White said part of the �eason for the city picking up a good
portion of the assessment was because houses were served by sewer
only on south side of street. Property on north side is served by a
sewer on Bayard therefore there was no basis for assessing them for
sewer beyond their property. In circumstances like this, our
policy is that property not served by sewer but has sewer running by
it is covered by what is known as city aid. and that was the basis
for the 50/50 split. Also, an assessment of $56.00 is getting to
the limit of what is reasonable to assess against property. When the
cost overran so much we felt it wouldn't be reasonable to go back
and reassess them, he added. The bigger question, Councilmember
Dimond commented is where sewers and water development should be
done and the cost of that kind of devetopment.
MOTION: by Councilmer�er Dimond to lay this matter over for two
• weeks and to set up a meeting with Roy Bredahl, several contractors,
and 2 or 3 property owners to find out what can be done to resolve
this matter was unanimousiy carried.
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Another neighbor spoke about the street being low in the middle even •
after the sewer was inspected. He also mentioned they have no curbs
and the piows push the snow right up to the front of their house.
5. RATIFiCATION OF ASSESSMENTS: For the installation of a sanitary
sewer in vacated GURNEY STREET and in Gurney Street. Also,
-. cvnstruction of sanitarv sewer service connectfons
� James Quinn, 30 E. Wheelock Parkway, said he was the one that
started the petition which the Council approved and he offered his
thanks for having this done. There are 3 residents and one vacant
lot involved. Ne questioned how the assessments were arrived at
and how many parties it was divided amongst. The Gaughan Company
owns t-t�p vacant lot and his feeling was that they are benefitting a
from th�3t, sewer line just as much as the other properties and that ,
they should bear their share of the assessment. �,,
Peter White said he would have to disagree about being able to
assess that lot. If this property was to connect to the sewer they
would have to get an easement to cross Mr. Quinn's property. There
is a process to collect an assessment from them should they chose to
build on the property. The other thing is we have not notified this
property owner of the potential sewer going in at the time the
original Final Order was passed. We cannot go back now and assess
him because he did not get a chance to speak. Further discussion •
followed. No one else appeared.
Mr. Quinn asked for help in getting Gaughan Co. (32 or 34 E.
Wheelock Pkwy.) to get the grass and weeds cut on this vacant lot
because it is a f9re hazard and attracts moles, etc. lt was agreed
this request would be passed on to the proper department.
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to recortmend approvai was
unanimously carried.
6. FINAL ORDER: Construction of a sanitary sewer in AGATE STREET from
250 feet south of York Avenue to York Avenue. Also. construction of
san_i_tarv service connections.
Tom Veesenmeyer. 818 Buffalo, said he has been there about 40 years
and has moved in 15 houses in the area and has another house ready
to move in now. His appearance before the Comrnittee today was to
urge ratification of this project so that the sewer can be put in.
Peter White added that the sewer was requested by the petitioner and
there was no one opposed to it. Two out of 3 property owners signed
the petition. He pointed out Mr. Veesenmeyer has a 50 ft. lot and
his assessment is $24.00 per assessable ft.
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to recor►mend approval was •
unanimously carried.
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• 7. FINAL ORDER: lnstallation of the WABASHA STREETSCAPE 1MPROVEMENT
PLAN on Wabasha from Kellogg Blvd. to llth Street and on 5th and 6th
Streets from Wabasha to St. Peter Street. Improvements to include
the following: New decorative lighting to accommodate banners.
flower baskets and other speciai trims; information kiosks
containing lists of stores and events, maps. telephones, news boxes
. and trash receptacles.
� �""� AND
8. F1NAL ORDER: The operation of the Above Standard Street Lighting
System for the WABASHA-5TH-6TH AREA for the year 1988 for the
following streets: Both sides of Wabasha Street from Kellogg Blvd.
to llth Street; Both sides of 5th Street and 6th Street from St.
Peter Street to Wabasha Street.
Donald Rutman, Rogers Jewelers, 423 Wabasha, said this pro,�ect comes , i
out of the Downtown Council's stratgegic plan committee specificaily
for downtown retailing. This committee met through 1987 to develop a �'��
plan to enhance downtown retailing and make it more inviting to come
downtown. One ob3ective is to beautify Wabasha, 4th, 5th and 7th.
The initiai stage will be the streetscape and the next step will be
the signage along the storefronts as weli as new awnings for the
stores and some new storefronts. We hope this project will provide a
link between Carriage Hill and St. Paul Center, he said.
• Councilmember Dimond said although he is very supportive of this
pro,ject and feels a great ,�ob was done, he would like to see this
matter laid over for two weeks in order to work out some kind of
modification on the street lights so that we don't have three
different types in the downtown area. In talking to city staff, he
said, they agree this would be possible. I would like to see us get
an answer to that before we approve this project and I think it can
be done quickly, he added.
Mr. Rutman cortmented, we are trying to create a lighting environment
� so the storefronts standout instead of the lighting. Bob Simon,
PED, pointed out there is a concern by some of the Downtown Councii
people based on timing. He asked Peter Bruce to address that.
Peter Bruce, DCDC said they are working on a tight time line to get
their project irtrt�lemented and if the proJect is delayed a couple of
weeks it may risk getting items installed, but more important to
the business community is to have the streetscape completed by the
end of the construction season. Public Works advised us bent straws
were necessary, he said, however, if tMat is not so, we would like
to see a change recommended and the project approved without delay
so the engineers can start on the lighting almost immediately.
Councilmember Dimond said he would commit to working hard on this
and the design work could be done very quickly so that the pro3ect
• wouldn't be delayed. Peter White, noted that the public hearing is
June 14th and the next Public Works meeting is June 8th, therefore a
layover of two weeks would not delay the project.
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Bob Ryan, C. G. Rein Co. representative, addressed their concern •
about the newspaper stand at 7th and Wabasha and said that location
is not acceptable to them because it blocks the storefront view both
ways, people cannot see out nor can they see in. !t is an eyesore
as weil as a traffic encumbrance and effects our storefront. ln
answer to a question, he said DCDC is aware of their concern.
°'�' Ronnie Brooks, DCDC, explained they have been negotiating for a
better placement for the new box that will serve both the drive up
public as well as take care of C.G. Rein company's concerns. The
Chair asked Ronnie Brooks to keep the Committee and Mr. Rein
informed of their progress.
MOTIO���� by Councilmember Dimond to recommend two week layover of
Item #7 was unanimously carried. , "
5 minute recess taken at this point. �'��
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to recommend two week layover of
ltern #8 was unanimously carried.
9. RATIFICATION OF ASSESSMENTS: For construction of curb and gutter on
the south side of IDAHO AVENUE from Duluth Avenue to Atlantic Street
and the west side of ATLANTIC STREET to approximately 135 feet south
of Idaho Avenue. •
Chris Nicosia, Public Works Department, explained the two
petitioners were in favor of this project and are satisfied with
the cost even though it came in higher than estimated. No one
appeared.
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to reconxnend approval was
unanimousiy carried.
10. FINAL ORDER: Constructing a sanitary sewer in WHEELOCK PARKWAY from
100 feet west of Edgemont Street to 170 feet east of Edgemont
� Street. Also, construct sanitary sewer service connections. Also,
constructing a water main in Wheelock Parkway from Edgemont Street
to 170 feet east of Edgemont St. and construct water service
connections. Also condemning and taking a 20-foot easement for
sewer purposes in part of Lot 13, Block 1, Dawson's 5th Addition.
(Public Works requests this item to be Laid Over Indefinitelv).
Chris Nicosia. Public Works Department, asked that this matter be
laid over indefinitely until the property owners involved can reach
an agreement. No one appeared.
11. RATIFICATION OF AWARD OF DAMAGES: For utility easements in
con,iunction with the MARSHALL/HAMLINE (A) SEWER SEPARATION PROJECT.
Peter White, Valuations Division. said these are easements •
necessary for Marshall/Hamline pro3ect which is a 1989 pro,�ect.
Pro3ect itself was approved earlier this year on the chance it might
be available to do this year, however. it doesn't look like it can
be done this year. Since we do have the information on the
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• easements they are being processed now. No one appeared.
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to recommend approval was
unanimously carried.
12. FINAL ORDER: (Laid over from 5/11/88). lmproving the alley in Block
33, St. Anthony Park by grading and paving from the North line of
`"�'� Lot 8 in said Block 33 to the North line of Lot 12 in said Biock 33.
Also, condemning and taking an easement in the land necessary for
the slopes in the grading and paving of said alley (bounded by
Everett Court, Enerc_ay Park Orive, Tainter Street and Marsh Court).
� Peter White explained this item was laid over from the last meeting
because of a dispute on the assessments between the commercial vs.
residential property owners. They have worked out a solution whereby ,"
residents pay a little more and the commercial pays a little less.
Waivers wiil be sent to the residential property owners before the ���
public hearing which is two weeks from yesterday. Other than that
everything is worked out and everyone is satisfied with the
solution. New rates $10.20 residential, �15.30 commercial.
John McCormick, City Attorney's Office, noted a waiver should go out
to the commercial property as well. Mr. White wiil see that this is
done.
• MOT10N: by Councilmember Dimond to recomrnend approval was
unanimously carried.
14. RESOLUTION-88-735: Authorizing the Director of Public Works to
request variances from MSA standards for projects on parts of
HAMLINE, COMO, FORD PARKWAY, CHESTNUT, THOMAS. CRETIN AND EIGHTH-
N1NTH STREETS.
Chris Nicosia. Pubiic Works Department. explained the information
passed out lists the variances being applied for at the various
locations. He noted he at first thought they were ,just for trees
but upon checking found they are as listed. State requires 2 ft.
clearance from curb for any immovable object, he added. Over the
years the State has not paid too much attention to this, but now
with all the projects going on they are asking us to apply for
variances so their records will be correct. Approval of resolutlon
gives Public Works permission to request these variances. No one
appeared.
MOTION: by Councilmember Dimond to recommend approval was
unanimously carried.
Meeting adjourned: 10:07 A.M.
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