ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the FY2015 BUDGET Reprogramming $90,000.00 from the 2015 SIDEWALK PARTICIPATION PROGRAM to the Proposed Special Assessment Project for SIDEWALK Installation on MOUNT HAWLEY ROAD From High Point Road to Fox Point Drive. [District 3]
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BACKGROUND: Last year, the Hawley Hills Homeowners Association requested a sidewalk to be installed on the east side of Mount Hawley Road, from High Point Road to Fox Point Drive. The four (4) property owners who are adjacent to the proposed installation have signed a Petition requesting the improvement under the Special Assessment Program. This is basically one block of sidewalk "in-fill" in a rural section of roadway on the east side of Mt. Hawley Road which would connect the sidewalk system near Kellar School. There is existing sidewalk along Mt. Hawley Road from Knoxville Avenue, past Kellar School, up to High Point Road. Just north of this block of Mt. Hawley Road is a large neighborhood with existing sidewalks.
The Board of Local Improvements convened on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, and subsequently accepted the Petition for the Mount Hawley Road Sidewalk Installation Project, High Point Road to Fox Point Drive. The Board's acceptance and direction to design the project and provide the legal Assessment Roll cannot move forward unless a budget is established for engineering, construction, and legal fees. The Special Assessment program will receive 20% of the applicable construction cost, along with engineering and legal fees, from the affected property owners over a ten year period.
There is no funding for Special Assessment Projects in the 2015 Budget. Unfortunately, the State of Illinois has significantly delayed Safe Routes to School funds for a period beyond 2016. This sidewalk installation does meet the City policy for sidewalk participation, so Staff recommends utilizing Sidewalk Participation funds to fund the construction of the sidewalk. After $90,000 is reprogrammed for this Special Assessment project, Staff estimates a $300,000 balance left in the Sidewalk Participation Program's Construction fund to reconstruct sidewalks in 2015.
The Special Assessment/Sidewalk Participation Program's consultant, Mohr & Kerr, will provide engineering on the project under their Master Services Agreement. They performed design and construction engineering on the latest Special Assessment project, 2012-2013's Stonegate Road improvement from Sheridan Road to the North Street alignment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $90,000.00 would be reprogrammed for this project from Project PB1505, the 2015 Sidewalk Participation Program. This budget would include construction, design engineering, construction engineering, city staff project administration and legal costs.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Staff has met and spoken with the nearby Homeowners Association and the 4 affected property owners. All parties are currently in agreement to install the sidewalk via use of the Special Assessment process. This sidewalk installation would extend the reach of the sidewalk on the east side of Mount Hawley Road to the expansive neighborhood east of Mount Hawley Road, accessed from Fox Point Drive, and connect the sidewalk system near Kellar School.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Staff could implement the Project using the Special Assessment Process.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Staff will not be able to honor a majority petition and issue a contract to construct the sidewalk with the Special Assessment program.
ALTERNATIVES: Provide further direction to Staff.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
2. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Support sustainability.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works