1. Presentation by North Carolina Department of Transportation Regarding Plans/Options for Possible Reconfiguration of Highway 74

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1 Table of Contents Agenda 2 Presentation by North Carolina Department of Transportation Regarding Plans/Options for Possible Reconfiguration of Highway 74 Staff Report 3 Synchronized Street Flier 5 Senior Center Project Discussion Staff Report 7 Budget Ordinance 9 Reimbursement Resolution Senior Center 10 1

2 CITY OF MONROE CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING 300 WEST CROWELL STREET MONROE, NORTH CAROLINA FEBRUARY 6, :00 PM AGENDA 1. Presentation by North Carolina Department of Transportation Regarding Plans/Options for Possible Reconfiguration of Highway Senior Center Project Discussion Agenda is tentative and is subject to change up to and including the time of the meeting. At the discretion of City Council, Agenda Items listed above that are not discussed at the Strategic Planning Meeting or moved at the request of Council, may be carried forward to the City Council Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. to be considered. Cell Phones/Pagers: As a courtesy, please turn off cell phones and pagers while Meeting is in progress. 2 2/2/2018 6:39 AM

3 STAFF REPORT TO: VIA: City Council E.L. Faison, City Manager DATE: February 6, 2018 FROM: PREPARED BY: James N. Loyd, Jr., P.E., Engineering Director James N. Loyd, Jr., P.E., Engineering Director SUBJECT: Widening of US Highway 74 Project U-5764 SUMMARY STATEMENT The City Council is requested to consider information provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding design alternatives for the U-5764 project to widen US 74 from Rocky River Road to Hanover Drive. REVIEW The North Carolina Department of Transportation requests to present information to City Council regarding design alternatives for the U-5764 Project to widen US Highway 74 from Rocky River Road to Hanover Drive. The project provides for the widening of US Highway 74 from four lanes to six lanes with a five-foot sidewalk along either side of the roadway within the project area. Three design alternatives are being evaluated for the U-5764 project. Alternative 1: six-lane with traditional intersections Alternative 2: four-lane synchronized street Alternative 3: six-lane synchronized street A synchronized street was formerly termed a superstreet. A PDF prepared by the NC Department of Transportation discussing synchronized streets is provided in preparation for tonight s Council meeting. It should be noted that a sidewalk width of eight feet will be desired in keeping with the 3

4 City of Monroe s Standard Specifications and Detail Manual for whichever alternative is selected and the betterment costs for the increased width will be provided by the State at a later date. A public meeting is to be held near the end of February 2018 for the planned improvements. Prior to this meeting, the NC Department of Transportation would like to determine the City of Monroe s preferred alternative. The project is scheduled for construction in FY 2021 (i.e. letting in the summer of 2020.) RECOMMENDATION The NC Department of Transportation desires to determine the preferred alternative of the Monroe City Council for the U Project to widen US Highway 74. Attachment(s): Synchronized Street Flier 4

5 Synchronized Streets What is a Synchronized Street? Formerly called a superstreet, a Synchronized Street provides for reduced delay and simultaneous coordination of both main street travel directions at all times of day. While main street travelers may turn left, right or travel straight through just like at a conventional intersection side-street travelers who want to cross or turn left at a Synchronized Street intersection must first turn right and then make a U-turn to return to their desired route. The North Carolina Department of Transportation evaluates traffic volumes and the number of crashes and collisions at an intersection. This helps to determine if Synchronized Streets are the most effective solution for the area. A Synchronized Street is also referred to in other states and by the Federal Highway Administration as a J-turn or as a restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT). Benefits of Synchronized Streets Synchronized Streets can help alleviate congestion while increasing travel capacity and reducing the number of collisions at intersections. Improved traffic flow is possible by simplifying traffic signal phasing (e.g., eliminating the need for left-turn signals or cutting down on the time spent at a traffic light) and allowing both directions of traffic to move simultaneously. Redirecting traffic to avoid high-risk movements, such as through movements, reduces the number of conflict points places in intersections where collisions might occur. Synchronized Streets are also cost effective because they fit within the existing right of way. Interchanges, by comparison, are more costly because they can require further land acquisition and/or bridges, underpasses or access ramps to fully separate the two roads. Side Street Left-Turn: In a conventional intersection, drivers turning left from a side street create more delay and conflicts. At a Synchronized Street, they first join the main street flow, reducing wait times and conflicts. Side Street Cross-Traffic: In a conventional intersection, drivers crossing the main street create more delay and conflicts. At a Synchronized Street, they first join the main street flow, reducing wait times and conflicts. Conventional Conventional Synchronized Street Synchronized Street At a Synchronized Street intersection, instead of going straight or turning left, side-street drivers first turn right and then make a U-turn (usually 600 to 1,000 feet from the intersection). For more information, contact Transportation 5 Mobility and Safety at (919) , or visit NCDOT.gov.

6 NCDOT SYNCHRONIZED STREETS Safety and Conflict Points A conventional intersection has 32 conflict points compared to a Synchronized Street, which has 14. Since there are significantly fewer conflict points in a Synchronized Street, there are fewer opportunities for collisions. Conventional Intersection 32 points of conflict Diverging Merging Crossing Synchronized Street 14 points of conflict Diverging Merging Crossing For more information, contact Transportation 6 Mobility and Safety at (919) , or visit NCDOT.gov.

7 STAFF REPORT TO: VIA: City Council Strategic Planning Meeting E.L. Faison, City Manager DATE: February 6, 2018 FROM: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: Brian J. Borne, Assistant City Manager Brian J. Borne, Assistant City Manager Senior Center: Enquirer Journal Building renovations SUMMARY STATEMENT City Council requests review of the SCN recommendation for the renovation of the Enquirer Journal Building as the new Senior Center. REVIEW At the request of City Council, a study on the needs of the Police Department, Fire Administration and Senior Center was conducted by Stewart Cooper Newell. SCN comprehensively studied present and future departmental needs to include renovation and or expansion of existing facilities and new construction options and provide how to best utilize the Enquirer Journal building. Their space needs assessment and recommendations were presented to the General Services Committee on June 15, 2017 and subsequently to City Council on September 5, SCN recommends that the Enquirer Journal Building be renovated for use by the Senior Center. The area of the existing building, 18,800 square feet and the Senior Center Programmed needs of 20,258 square feet are a very close fit. The present building layout lends itself to the spatial configuration of the layout needed in the Senior Center Program. SCN s cost estimate, presented in the recommendations, are based upon the consultant s experience with similar projects in the North Carolina marketplace for Spring of As construction demand in the US, and particularly North Carolina, is cyclical, construction costs will reflect demand and the current economy with an overall trend of rising costs. The costs presented 7

8 will need to be adjusted at the time the project is approved to proceed (bidding) to reflect current cost trends. The bidding process is a requirement of LGC in order to obtain financing. Staff seeks approval of funding in the amount of $310,000 from the general fund unassigned fund balance to cover the Architectural and Engineering Services, to include public input forums in the design process, with Stewart Cooper Newell and reimbursable expenses. It is intended that future funding for this project be provided by debt and it is planned that this $310,000 will be returned to general fund unassigned fund balance once the debt is issued. A reimbursement resolution is also included for your approval outlining this intent to reimburse the general fund for these expenses. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the following: Award contract to Steward Cooper Newell as listed above Authorization for the City Manager to execute necessary documents Approval of Budget Ordinance BO to provide funding for the design services Adoption of Reimbursement Resolution R to authorize the reimbursement of expenses once debt has been issued to fund the senior center project Attachment(s): BO R

9 CITY OF MONROE, NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL PROJECT BUDGET ORDINANCE Monroe Senior Center Building Project BO WHEREAS, City of Monroe, North Carolina (the City ) has purchased the property and roughly 18,472-square foot brick structure located at 500 W. Jefferson Street (formerly known as the Enquirer Journal); and WHEREAS, it has been recommended in a space needs study conducted by Stewart Cooper Newell that the City utilize this building located at 500 W. Jefferson Street as a new senior center; and WHEREAS, Stewart Cooper Newell has presented a proposal to design the renovation project and prepare construction documents to bid the construction services and City Council approves the award of this contract; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that the City Council of the City of Monroe establishes a capital project entitled Senior Center Renovation and approves funding in the amount of $310,000 to cover the design contract with Stewart Cooper Newell and reimbursable expenses. It is intended that future funding for this project be provided by debt and it is planned that this funding will be returned to General Fund Unassigned fund balance once the debt is issued. General Fund: Revenue: Appropriation of Fund Balance $310,000 Expense: Transfer to General Capital Project Fund $310,000 General Capital Project Fund: Revenue: Transfer from General Fund $310,000 Expense: Project Expense $310,000 Adopted this 6th day of February, Attest: Bobby G. Kilgore, Mayor Bridgette H. Robinson, City Clerk 9

10 REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION WITH REGARD TO INSTALLMENT FINANCING R AUTHORIZING CITY OF MONROE, NORTH CAROLINA TO UNDERTAKE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES WITH RESPECT TO DESIGN OF A NEW SENIOR CENTER FACILITY PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION BY THE CITY OF INSTALLMENT PURCHASE CONTRACTS FOR SUCH PURPOSES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $310,000. WHEREAS, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Treasury Department have published regulations that govern when a political subdivision such as the City of Monroe, North Carolina (the City), can issue or execute taxexempt obligations to reimburse itself or any agency or division thereof for expenditures on purchases prior to the issuance of tax-exempt obligations for such projects; and WHEREAS, the regulations require that the governing body of the political subdivision adopt a resolution reciting certain facts and intentions prior to the incurrence of the expenditures; and WHEREAS, the City anticipates incurring certain expenditures in an approximate amount not exceeding $310,000 (the Expenditures ) with respect to design of a new senior center facility prior to the issuance by the City of tax-exempt obligations in the form of installment purchase contracts for such purpose in an amount not to exceed $310,000. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Monroe as follows: Section 1. Section 2. Section 3. Section 4. The City Council hereby declares a reasonable official intent pursuant to Regulation to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to reimburse the City from the proceeds of taxexempt obligations in the form of installment purchase contracts of the City executed under the authority of North Carolina General Statute 160A-20, as amended for such Expenditures. Such Expenditures must be incurred not later than two years from the date hereof in order to be eligible for reimbursement from the proceeds of the installment purchase contracts or such other date as may be applicable in the regulations. The City anticipates incurring Expenditures in an approximate amount of not exceeding $310,000 with respect to the design of a new senior center facility prior to the execution by the City for such purpose in an amount not to exceed $310,000. To be eligible for reimbursement of the Expenditures, the installment purchase contracts will be executed on or before the later of the date one year after the Expenditure was paid or the date one year after the equipment was placed in service, or such later date as may be applicable in the regulations as amended. The Expenditures are incurred solely to acquire, construct or rehabilitate property having a reasonably expected economic life of at least one year. The installment purchase contracts executed to defray the costs of the construction will be paid primarily from general fund revenues. Adopted this 6 th day of February, Attest: Bobby G. Kilgore, Mayor Bridgette H. Robinson, City Clerk 10