Council authorizes plans for $2.18M reconstruction of 12th Avenue; some costs to be specially assessed

The Shakopee City Council on Dec. 16 held a public hearing and then voted to authorize preparation of plans and specifications for the 2026 full‑depth pavement reconstruction of 12th Avenue, a project staff estimated at $2,181,000.

Staff told the council the work would include full‑depth pavement reclamation, targeted curb and gutter replacement, sanitary sewer repairs in an 80‑foot section, and storm sewer upgrades. A traffic study completed in 2019 underpins staff’s recommendation to convert the corridor from four lanes to a three‑lane cross section with a continuous center left‑turn lane to reduce conflicts caused by offset commercial driveways and to improve safety at the Valley Park Drive intersection.

Under the city’s special assessment policy and Minnesota Statutes chapter 429, staff proposed that about 30% of street improvement costs (approximately $600,000) be specially assessed to benefiting property owners; the remainder would be paid from general property tax revenues. The preliminary assessment rate shown in the feasibility report was $7,167.43 per acre. Staff said property owners who were specially assessed were invited to a neighborhood meeting; eight property owners attended and most questions concerned staging and business access during construction.

Because the project is a local improvement that would use special assessments, proceeding requires a four‑fifths council vote to order work and begin design; the council authorized the preparation of plans, with staff to return in January with final plans and estimated bids, and a second public hearing and assessment certification would follow later in 2026.

What happens next: staff will prepare plans and specifications, bid the project in early spring, and return to council with final cost and assessment calculations ahead of construction planned for May–August 2026.