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Home My WebLink About10A - Erie Avenue Rain Garden CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 June 21, 2004 10A Kelly Meyer, Administrative Assistant AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FUNDING FROM THE COLLECTOR STREET FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF AMENITIES FOR THE ERIE AVENUE RAIN GARDEN PROJECT. DISCUSSION: History: Developed in August 2002 and updated in February 2004, the City's 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan clearly defines what our residents envision for their community as we continue to grow and develop over the next 20 years. Part of that vision is to have a Downtown that "has a relationship with the Lake", has a "gateway [between] Downtown and Lakefront Park amenities, that "draws its strength from its uniqueness, size and accessibility to the lake and parks, and "offers something for everyone and is a destination place to spend the day socializing, shopping and dining." In response to the direction provided by the Long-Range Planning Committee and the goals established in the 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan, the City has taken several steps to begin the redevelopment of the Downtown area. Those steps include, among others, the development of a very successful facade improvement program, a partnership with MnDNR and Norex Corporation to initiate the Fishing-in-Neighborhoods program, the street reconstruction of a portion Main Avenue and Dakota Streets which is underway, and implementation of streetscape design themes that will link Downtown to the Lake. Current Circumstances: Continued development in the Downtown area also requires additional ways to manage storm water runoff. One such way is through the use of rainwater gardens. Rainwater gardens include a filtration trench, under piping and storm sewer connections and also provide extensive perennial plantings that add a pleasant aesthetic to areas that can have a lot of hardscape and concrete - such as parking lots, sidewalk boulevards, or commercial areas. The Erie Avenue rainwater garden is the first of four similar projects originally planned for the Downtown area. This garden is unique because its location provides an important link connecting Downtown to Lakefront Park. As such, it became important to make the area an extension of Lakefront Park as well as an area that was more than simply a trail connection. Additional features, such as a fountain and seating area, entry structure, and new trail were proposed to be included in the project. The grading work, under piping, water extension and construction of retaining walls was bid with the Downtown street reconstruction project. This pa.rt of the project is proceeding on schedule. Conclusion Similar to the Downtown streetscape project, the amenities for the Erie Avenue park were proposed subsequent to the budgeting process and not included in the bid for the Downtown street reconstruction project. The amenities include a www.cityofpriorlake.com 1:\CQUNCIL\AGNRPTS\2004\ERIE A~~R"J~~9l.<4 7.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 fountain, entry pavilion, plant material, and signage. Also similar to the Downtown streetscape project, staff felt the City could get better prices for items of these types outside the project contract (i.e. without the prime contractor mark-up). The purpose of this agenda item is to consider authorization of funding from the Collector Street Fund for the purchase of these amenities. If funding is authorized, staff would proceed to purchase these items in connection with the City's purchasing policy. ISSUES: The rain garden amenities include 1 fountain, 1 entry pavilion to be built in-house by the parks maintenance staff, plant material for the gardens, signage, and electrical work. Staff estimates the not to exceed costs to purchase these items as follows: Fountain and Electrical Work $17,700 Ent Structure Materials & Concrete $9,000 Plant Material 1800 erennial lants $10,000 Si na e $1,500 TOTAL $38,200 FISCAL IMPACT: The grading work, tree clearing, under piping, extension of water, boulder retaining walls, and new trail were bid with the Downtown street reconstruction project. The total project costs (including the estimated costs of the amenities) for the development of the rain garden park is approximately $80,000. Earlier this evening, the Council accepted a donation from the Prior Lake Rotary that includes $32,500 in cash, 2 Rotary centennial benches (valued at $2500), and in- kind services in planting the rain gardens (valued at $5000). In April 2003, the City also accepted a $75,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council for the construction of four rain gardens in the Downtown area in order to manage storm water runoff. The cash contribution of the Rotary will be provided in stages. As such, the City will need to provide the funding upfront if it wishes to proceed with the acquisition of these amenities at this time. In order for the majority of these items to be in place when the streetscape project is complete, staff will need to proceed with the purchase of the amenities as soon as possible. If the Council desires to proceed with these purchases at this time, it should authorize funding for the amenities from the Collector Street Fund in the total amount not to exceed $38,200. The staff would proceed to purchase the items in connection with the City's purchasing policy which requires staff to obtain a minimum of two quotes. Each of the amenities is estimated to be under $20,000, which, once the appropriate quotes are obtained and funding is authorized, falls under the City Manager's purchasing authority. Quotes exceeding $20,000 would come back to the Council for approval. ALTERNATIVES: (1) Adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the funding for the Erie rain garden amenities from the Collector Street Fund in an amount not to exceed $38,200, and directing staff to purchase the items in accordance with the purchasing policy. (2) Take no action and provide the staff with further direction. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Alternative (1). Motion and Second to approve Resolution 04-xx authorizing the funding for the Erie rain garden amenities from the Collector Street Fund in an amount not to exceed $38,200 and directing staff to purchase the items in accordance with the purchasing policy. 1:\COUNCIL\AGNRPTS\2004\ERIE AMENITIES.DOC 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 RESOLUTION 04-XX A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FUNDING FROM THE COLLECTOR STREET FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF AMENITIES FOR THE ERIE AVENUE RAIN GARDEN PROJECT. Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, the City's 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan envisions a Downtown that "has a relationship with the Lake", has a "gateway [between] Downtown and Lakefront Park amenities", that "draws its strength from its uniqueness, size and accessibility to the lake and parks", and "offers something for everyone and is a destination place to spend the day socializing, shopping and dining"; and WHEREAS, the City has taken several steps to begin the redevelopment of the Downtown area, including a facade improvement program, street reconstruction, and implementation of streetscape design themes that link Downtown to the Lake; and Whereas, the Erie Avenue rain garden project addresses the need to manage storm water in the Downtown area, and its location provides a key opportunity to meet the goals of the 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan by developing a defined "gateway" between the Downtown and Lakefront Park; and Whereas, the Erie Avenue project is supported conceptually and financially by the Prior Lake Rotary in celebration of the Rotary International centennial; and WHEREAS, the acquisition of amenities for the Erie Avenue rain garden park, including fountain, electrical work, entry structure materials and concrete, plant materials and signage, are necessary to accomplish the goals of 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA that: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. City staff is hereby authorized to proceed with the purchase of the above Erie Avenue rain garden park amenities in accordance with the City's purchasing policy. 3. Funds for these acquisitions shall be drawn from the Collector Street Fund in an amount not to exceed $38,200. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 21sT DAY OF JUNE, 2004. Haugen Haugen Blomberg Blomberg LeMair LeMair Petersen Petersen Zieska Zieska YES NO City Manager, City of Prior Lake www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245