3. Staff Report-Log House Landing Discussion with Car Mar � c
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SCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: July 2, 2014
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt,Administrator
Re: Log House Landing Discussion with Car Mar
Background:
Last May the Council held a joint work session with the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed
District. One of the topics of discussion was the erosion concerns at Log House Landing. It was
noted that over 50 tons of gravel was spread at the site the previous year,with much of the material
washing away into the river and nearby wetland/stream. Considerable discussion of the Log House
Landing concluded with the following options: close the landing,pave the landing, or change the
landing to a walk-in trail for canoes and kayaks only. Later in May during a road tour,the
Council stopped at the Log House Landing to see the issues and decided that the landing would
not be closed down or limited to canoes/kayaks. In addition to Council and staff, Jim Shaver,
Kristin Tuenge and Lisa Schlingerman were also present on the road tour along with press from
the Forest Lake Times.
At the July 2013 work session,the Council added the improvements to 2014-2018 Capital
Improvements Plan. The ramp replacement was to be completed in the first phase and the paving
and other water quality feature would occur in the second phase. Funding included a 50% cost share
with the Car Mar Watershed District.
Later that summer staff became aware of the State Park Road Account Grant program. The program
provides funds to improve access to state parks, rivers and lakes. The City Administrator asked the
City Engineer to look into the program and prepare a grant application. Engineer Goodman met the
DNR on site in late summer. The DNR, Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District and
Washington County wrote letters of support and the City Council passed a resolution in October
2013 in support of the grant application.
In April 20]4 the City was notified that the grant had been approved. The grant is for 50% of the
project costs or$200,000.
Issue:
How should the City proceed on the Log House Landing Improvement Project?
Proposal Details:
A copy of the grant application (the same one Engineer Goodman provided to the Council last
fall) is included in your packet. Total project costs are estimated to be $400,000. This includes
surface improvements on 205th St N. from Quinell Ave to the river including paving and curb
and gutter. Boat launch area improvements include a concrete ramp,paving the access to the
ramp, and retaining walls to prevent future erosion into the river. Water quality improvements
also include erosions blankets,the planting of native seeds, and two Best Management Practices
(BMPs) - an infiltration basin and bio infiltration basin.
Staff is proposing to complete survey and some design work this fall, bid the project next
winter/spring with construction to be sometime late summer 2015 (after the Fat Cat Triathlon).
The above timeline is subject to Council approval and a funding agreement with Car Mar. The
purpose of this meeting is for the Car mar Board members and City Council members to discuss
how to move forward. The National Park Service has also been invited. They contacted the City
Administrator in May expressing an interest in helping with signage to highlight the historical
significance of the landing. They were encouraged to provide a proposal to first be reviewed by
the Parks and Rec Committee and then the Council. Signage or kiosks would be in addition to
the project description in the grant application.
Fiscal Impact:
Total project costs are estimated at $400,000. Staff is proposing the remaining fund be split
eyually between the City and the Watershed District. The source of City funding would be the
Capital Improvement Fund. It is estimated to have a balance around $250,000 by the end of
20l 4 making it possible for the City to cash flow the watershed district's portion over a two year
funding cycle. The watershed district has inquired about this possibility in order to avoid a sharp
increase in their levy for one year.
The DNR funding is a reimbursement program meaning the City must first pay the contractors
and then get reimbursed for eligible expense from the DNR. Again, given the healthy fund
balance the City carries this should not be a problem.
Options:
1) Move forward with the project as described
2) Make amendments to the project and/or timeline before moving forward
3) Decide not to complete any improvements at the landing and turn back the grant funds.