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4. Staff Report-Log House Landing Cmte Staff Report Date of Meeting: December 3, 2014 To: City Council From: Kristina Handt, City Administrator Re: Log House Landing Committee Request Background: The City Council last heard an update from Chair Maefsky at the November work session. Since that time the committee has met twice and held a site visit. Copies of the November 13 and 19 meetings are included in your packet. The consensus seemed to be for a one way road at the November 13th meeting. At the November 19th meeting, the committee wanted additional figures showing the existing conditions. The committee also requested life cycle costs for gravel and paved roads. Following the meeting, City Engineer Ryan Goodman emailed me asking for authorization to complete these tasks. Cost estimates he provided were up to $1,000 for the additional figures and $950 for the life cycle costs. Given the comments from the Council when the committee was created to keep costs down, I denied the request. Proposal Details: Committee members were requesting figures showing the EXISTING trees, lot lines, and roadway. All of these items were shown on the preliminary layout provided in this summer. The cost for that preliminary work has already exceeded $14,000. Staff would offer the additional GIS aerial if the committee needs it but would also question why a figure is needed to see what exists when the committee just completed a site visit on November 16th. Furthermore, some of the Friends of the Log House Landing were involved in a video showing the existing conditions this summer. That video is available at the end of the article at http://www.stcroix360.com/2014/11/seeking-a-solution-for-log-house-landing/ I would encourage you to watch the video and pause it at 25 seconds to see that in fact more than 12-14 feet of road width is currently being utilized. Both the City Engineer and the County Engineer have made comments relating to the fact that a paved road with such a significant slope will control erosion better than a gravel surface. Why are life cycle costs needed if everyone agreed controlling erosion was a primary concern? A paved road would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan as Chap. 3, Section 13 of the Development Code provides for paved streets. The first point listed under the Purpose and Intent of Chapter 3 is “To implement the Scandia Comprehensive Plan.” Rather than relying solely on general statements in the Comp Plan, the committee should consider the specific codes related to roads that the Planning Commission recommended and the Council adopted in 2011. This Chapter also calls for curb and gutter on both sides when the road centerline grade exceeds 4%. Lastly, as you know I’ve suggested the Chair update the Council on where the committee is at. In addition to deciding on a one way road at the November 13th meeting, the committee has added another meeting date of December 17th. This means the recommendation will not reach the Council until January unless the Planning Commission and Council are willing to have a special meeting the week of Christmas or New Year’s. This has effectively pushed back the timeline previously discussed in October by two months. The Council should consider giving the committee a deadline to report back so that the meetings do not go any further into 2015 and jeopardize the City’s ability to obtain the best bid prices. Options: On Funding Requests: 1) Approve up to $2,000 for requested items 2) Do not approve funding for additional requests On Timeline: 1) Set Deadline for Committee to report recommendation. Staff suggests recommendation be made at December 17th meeting so it can go to the Planning Commission and Council in January and then the watershed district in February. 2) Do not set any parameters for committee. Staff Recommendations: Do not approve additional funding and require a recommendation be made at December 17th meeting.