Public Works outlines R3C, shared‑use paths and transportation investments; council asks study for Welch Avenue aesthetics
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Summary
Public Works presented a broad CIP covering stormwater, water distribution, the $22 million R3C resource recovery campus, shared‑use path expansion and a $15 million intelligent transportation investment; council voted to ask staff for options to improve Welch Avenue aesthetics (tree trenches) and to return with proposals.
Justin, presenting the Public Works portion of the CIP, reviewed water distribution, sanitary sewer, stormwater programs, transportation projects and the new resource recovery campus (R3C). He described first‑year priorities, coordination with street reconstruction, and investments in data and intelligent systems to manage pavement and signals.
Justin highlighted the Reach Resource Recovery Campus (R3C) as a roughly $22,000,000 investment to change how the city processes waste and noted staff plan to present plans and specifications and set bid dates soon. He said the fleet purchase to move processed material would total about $2,300,000 and that the electric utility will contribute capital because of cross‑departmental benefits. Justin also described transportation projects including Lincoln Way reconstruction (Campustown block between Hayward and Beach), a planned two‑year phased approach, arterial and collector projects for the next fiscal year and a shared‑use path program budgeted at about $1,890,000 per year over the five‑year CIP (exceeding council’s stated minimum).
The presentation covered intelligent transportation investments (roughly $15,000,000 total spend to date, with nearly $10,000,000 funded by state grants) and new pavement‑condition sensing sensors on city vehicles to better target pavement restoration dollars.
During questions, student government representatives and council members asked about pedestrian crossing timing, campus camera concerns and whether city video systems store personally identifiable data; staff explained city detection cameras record object presence and counts and said city‑installed systems do not store personal data locally. Council also asked operational questions on stormwater, lead service line counts (staff said roughly 251 active lead services and 97 active galvanized services remain identified), and the potential to resume recycling from Carroll County after R3C operations (no agreement yet).
Council Member (Speaker 4) moved that staff return with options for improving the aesthetics of Welch Avenue, specifically looking at tree trenches/water retention trenches; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff emphasized the motion requested a study/options and did not add an immediate CIP dollar amount.
Staff said several projects are in design and will return for formal approvals as plans and specifications are completed.
