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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10A - Bridge at the Jeffers Pond Park MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REQUEST FROM ISD 719 TO CONSTRUCT A BRIDGE AT JEFFERS POND PARK AND FUND IT THROUGH A SECURITY PROVIDED BY JEFFERS FOUNDATION. Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to request City Council consideration of a Jeffers Foundation proposal to finance and construct a bridge at the Jeffers Pond property located adjacent to the Jeffers Pond Elementary School. Historv The City entered into a development agreement with Wensmann Realty for the development of Jeffers Waterfront on the 325-acre Bob Jeffers Parcel. As part of the proposal for this subdivision, a site was sold by Jeffers Foundation to ISD 719 as the location for a new elementary school. Within that agreement are provisions which call for Jeffers Foundation to set aside $500,000 security for the City to construct a nature center on land dedicated to the City for park purposes next to the elementary school. The security could only be used for a nature center or other work authorized by Jeffers Foundation and the work had to be completed by January 2011 or the remaining security would revert back to Jeffers Foundation. The nature center was never built as it became clear that the school district was unable to make a long-term commitment to staff, operate and maintain the building. The $500,000 security was drawn down to $430,000 to reimburse the City for professional service costs incurred for architectural services, test borings, professional service and materials costs for a floating bridge which had been installed by the City with the Jeffers Foundation blessing. Current Circumstances On November 23, 2009, a letter was submitted from Cindy Solberg, Principal of Jeffers Pond Elementary School (attached) requesting that the City build a bridge across the stream which lies between the elementary school property and the Jeffers Pond property deeded to the City. The bridge would allow for the continuation of the trail from the school site to access the trails constructed by the City on the deeded properties. According to Solberg, the bridge would: 1) address safety concerns by encouraging students to observe water flow and bank conditions from the bridge rather than negotiating the embankments, and 2) reduce erosion of the banks created by the student use thereof for street access. The bridge to be installed would be a free span and pre-fabricated, and approximately 56 feet long. The bridge could be either open or covered. The open bridge would be placed on floating footings. The covered bridge would have to be placed on poured footings and would have to be engineered to assure proper structural support and wind loads. The extension of trails to the www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 ISSUES: FINANCIAL IMPACT: ALTERNATIVES: bridge on both sides is included in the quotes. The total cost of the open bridge, is $38,000. The estimated total cost of the covered bridge is $72,000. The bridge costs were to be included as part of the nature center building project. Accordingly, the City does not have funding to construct the bridge through any other source. On December 9, 2009, Mr. Oberg submitted the attached letter proposing to allocate up to $40,000 of the remaining $430,000 originally earmarked for the nature center project to pay for the bridge installation. Conclusion The Council should determine whether funds should be allocated from the nature center security as suggested by Jeffers Foundation CEO Paul Oberg to construct a bridge. The staff concurs with the need for a bridge and had included it in the plans for the nature center building. The cost estimates we have received are what was originally expected for this structure. Originally, Jeffers Pond CEO Paul Oberg believed the bridge should have a roof. After discussing the pros and cons, he concurred that the open bridge should be installed. In addition to approving the open bridge, staff requests City Council authorization to use additional funds from this source to construct a shelter building within the Jeffers Pond Park. There is little initial financial impact to the City to install the bridge since all funding is supplied by Jeffers Foundation. Ongoing City costs would include periodic staining and other maintenance of the bridge and ultimately replacement of the decking. Whether the City supports a bridge or not, we cannot access the financial security except for construction approved by Jeffers Foundation and only if such work is completed by January 2011. 1. Determine if the council supports a bridge. 2. Authorize the staff to secure quotes pursuant to the City's purchasing policy to purchase and install the bridge with the understanding that the Jeffers Pond Nature Center security is reduced a commensurate amount. 3. Authorize the staff to proceed to explore the possibility of constructing a shelter type of building on this property using all or a portion of the remaining secu rity. 4. Take no action and direct the staff to provide additional information. RECOMMENDED Alternatives #1, #2 and #3. MOTION: 2 UtC.O~ PRIO~~l'1'j_;;r:: :::: . '..... 4646 Dakota Street S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 ~l~~ A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A BRIDGE AT JEFFERS POND PARK FUNDED THROUGH A JEFFERS POND NATURE CENTER SECURITY RESOLUTION 10-xxx Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, Jeffers Foundation provided a security to assure the development of a nature center building and certain other amenities at the Jeffers Pond Park; and WHEREAS, The Principal of Jeffers Pond Elementary School has requested that the City purchase and construct a bridge for this property to serve students and area citizens; and WHEREAS, The City has no funding for such a bridge but supports the concept; and WHEREAS, Paul Oberg, CEO of the Jeffers Foundation has offered to pay up to $40,000 from the $430,000 Jeffers Pond Nature Center Security for the purchase and installation of an open bridge. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The staff is hereby directed to secure bids for an open bridge and ancillary work required for Jeffers Pond Park. 3. The staff is authorized to acquire the bridge and ancillary amenities at a cost of up to $38,000 to be drawn from the Jeffers Pond Nature Center Building Security currently available in the amount of $430,000. 4. The staff is hereby directed to work with Paul Oberg, CEO of Jeffers Foundation, toward the purchase and construction of a shelter type building to be drawn from the Jeffers Pond Nature Center Building Security. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 19th DAY OF JANUARY 2010. YES NO Myser Erickson I Hedberg I Keeney I Millar Myser Erickson Hedberg Keeney Millar Frank Boyles, City Manager www.sityofprio;lake.com Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 ()J PRIOR LAKE-SAVAGE AREA SCHOOLS A community of lifelong learners November 23, 2009 Frank Boyles Prior Lake City Hall 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E. Prior lake, MN 55372. Dear Frank, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the Prior Lake City crew members who tilled up the soil behind Jeffers Pond Elementary School. Your willingness to assist us when District #719 did not have machinery capable of accomplishing this job was greatly appreciated I Our school body will now be pursuing efforts to develop this area into a natural prairie. I also wish to inquire about the possibility of building a bridge across the stream behind Jeffers Pond Elementary School. Right now, there is an asphalt path that leads to the east side of the stream, but then abruptly stops. On the west side of the stream, there is an area which many community members use when walking. These areas can be seen in the enclosed photograph. A bridge is very important to us for two reasons. The first reason is for safety concerns. When students engage in stream studies, they need to observe the flow of the water, the condition of the banks, etc. Without a bridge for observation, this requires that students and staff venture down the sides of the bank which is cause for safety concerns. In addition, students, staff as well as community members have been utilizing these areas, causing the second problem which is increased erosion ofthe stream banks. For both these reasons and to increase the overall utility of the area, a bridge would be most beneficial. Your consideration of such a project is greatly appreciated I Sincerely, ~~- Cindy Solberg, Principal ( Jeffers Pond Elementary School Cc: AI Friedges, Mike Kinney, Paul Oberg Jeffers Pond Elementary Sehool 14800 Jeffers Pass NW Prior Lake, MN 55372 Independent School Distriet 7 I 9 P.O. Box 539 Prior Lake, MN 55372 Cindy Solberg Princip~l phone 952.226.0600 fax 952.226.0649 web priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us Prior Lake . Savage. Spring Lake Twp . Cedar Lake Twp . Credit River Twp . Sand Creek !.wp ~ 'j(~ Jeffers Foundation l)irecfors: Mike Fairbourne Oar Fosse James \IV. Krause Paul W Oberg - CEO Fergus R. Woolley - Secretary . P.O. Box 408 . Wayzata, Minnesota 55391 . 952.475.9914 . 952.476.7439 (facsimile) www.jeffersioundation.org . inio@jeiiersiuunclatioll.org (e-mail) December 9, 2009 e;><(Jforin.!} horizons Frank Boyles, City Manager City of Prior Lake 4646 Dakota Street Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 Dear Frank: This letter will confirm our telephone conversation of this afternoon concerning the construction of the bridge from Jeffers Pond Elementary School across Eagle Creek to the protected area west of the creek. As stated to you, the directors of Jeffers Foundation believe that the construction of the bridge described in the letter to you dated November 23,2009 from Cindy Solberg will complement the use of the protected area by the school children as well as their safety in reaching the area for study. It is our understanding that your Engineering Department has in its files a design for the proposed bridge, as well as bids or estimates of construction cost obtained at some undefined date. We further understand that the bridge can be constructed for less than $40,000, with possible further cost savings in the current economy. Jeffers has a pending commitment of some $430,000 allocated for the construction of a nature center in the area where the proposed bridge would be constructed. If the City Council is willing to construct the requested bridge in the immediate future, Jeffers would be willing to undertake the payment of the cost of the proposed bridge in an amount not exceeding the sum of $40,000 provided that the Council agrees that this payment would be applied in reduction of the commitment of Jeffers Foundation to assist in the construction of the proposed nature center. We would appreciate an early response to this offer so that we can plan our budget accordingly. Yours very truly, ~ \ 0.....,. Paul W. Oberg ccl Cindy Solberg; Dr. Sue Ann Gruver; Jeffers Foundation Board of Directors ~.......... -~~- -. , ~-~~~-~ ~ ~~-:::;.-~~:-:...~::.::::~- " '~.. . - - - ....- ~~-~..;..~------~ ....-....... . .::::.~~~~-;;.;:c=-_ ':_",' ....~. . ~~""'~~"~:.2<- . "! -