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Council agrees to advance Third Street redesign plans; staff to seek block-by-block cost estimates
Summary
City staff and engineers presented a Third Street redesign that would narrow travel lanes, add green strips, and retain certain historic sidewalks; council asked engineers to provide block-level costs and directed staff to seek prices from contractor Lindbergh.
City staff and outside engineers presented proposed design options for Third Street reconstruction and related sewer work and the council agreed to advance the design package to the engineering firm Lindbergh for block-by-block cost estimates.
Key design choices presented
The engineering presentation described a plan to reduce travel-way width to about 28 feet in many sections (14 feet from centerline each direction), add curb and a green strip on both sides, and retain existing sidewalks in places where historic retaining walls or other constraints exist. Engineers said they would not alter a particular block's sidewalk near significant retaining walls to avoid damaging historic walls.
Sewer and stormwater notes
Engineers and staff discussed a planned sewer river crossing that may require cofferdamming and bypass pumping to dewater a work area; the presenters said permits (described in the discussion as MP51/MP53 minor permits) would be sought rather than requiring public hearings. Staff emphasized coordination with Payne & Dolan (sewer contractor) and that some work would likely be scheduled for drier summer months.
Council direction and next steps
Councilors expressed broad consensus to forward the Third Street plans to Lindbergh for pricing, block by block, so council can later select how much to include in a construction package. No final construction contract was approved at the meeting; a follow-up presentation with costed options was requested.
Related sewer purchase approved
Separately, the council approved purchase of four portable sanitary flow meters for $30,313.34 from the sewer fund to help isolate areas of inflow and infiltration (I&I). DPW staff had said one-month contract flow monitoring for a single manhole would cost roughly the same as buying multiple portable meters; the council approved owning meters to support ongoing diagnostics.
Ending
Staff will provide block-specific cost estimates to the council after Lindbergh prices the plan; the sewer river crossing will proceed after permits and further scheduling decisions.
