Council receives Isanti Hills preliminary engineering report, authorizes plans and public hearing

The Isanti City Council on Tuesday received a preliminary engineering report for the Isanti Hills rehabilitation study and voted to authorize preparation of detailed plans and specifications and to call a public hearing that would begin the assessment process.

The report, presented by Jason (city staff), summarized a pavement-reclamation approach for Birch, Cedar, Dogwood, Naina and Marion streets and identified a segment of trail between Page and Birch that may require full reconstruction if the council chooses to realign it to meet MnDOT bicycle facility standards. Jason said the work would be “very identical” to the recently completed South Brookview project and described the proposed method: reclaim the pavement, replace failed curb segments and fix noncompliant pedestrian ramps before repaving.

The report estimated total project costs in the engineer’s summary and showed a breakdown for assessable versus city-funded elements. The engineer presented an assessment estimate of $266,000 (25% of the surface work under the city’s assessment policy), roughly $23 per foot of frontage and an average assessment of about $2,000 per parcel for the 29 fronting parcels. Staff said the trail full-reconstruct alternative was estimated at about $75,000 and sidewalk infill (including tree removals and ped ramps) at roughly $60,000. Jason told council the assessment figures would be finalized after bids and that final assessments are typically set in November following construction.

Council discussion focused on options for the trail (mill-and-overlay vs. full reconstruct and straightening), whether to include the trail and sidewalk in the assessable scope, and the timing of an optional open house before the public hearing. Several council members asked staff to delay or move the proposed open-house date so residents would have more time to review materials. Jason recommended holding an open house before the April public hearing if possible so any substantive public input could be incorporated into final plans and bid documents.

Councilmember Lundin moved to adopt two resolutions: (1) receive the Isanti Hills preliminary engineering report and call the first public hearing and (2) authorize preparation of the plans and specifications. Councilmember Peterson seconded. The motion carried 5-0.

What happens next: staff said the project would proceed to a public hearing (staff referenced April 1 as an option in the schedule) and then to advertisement for bids, with award expected in early May and construction during the summer; final assessments would be set after project completion. Council and staff also discussed options for the rain-garden/bioretention features recommended by the Enoka Conservation District and noted prior bids for similar stormwater measures had been significantly higher than expected.

The council’s action receives the report and authorizes staff to prepare final plans; no final construction contract or assessment amounts were adopted at Tuesday’s meeting.