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Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction and PetitionMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction DATE: June 1, 2010 Dubuque inttl All-Amedca City 1 1 ' 2007 A 1997 review of the public steps by the Community Development Advisory Commission recommended closing and removal of the Montrose to Loras steps upon the completion of the 15 Street Steps. The 15 Street Steps were reconstructed in 1998. Subsequently in 2004, the Montrose Terrace Stairs were closed for safety concerns due to continuing deterioration. This closure caused lack of alternate sidewalk routes for pedestrian access to Loras Boulevard. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Montrose Terrace Stairs were approved for reconstruction. In April 2010, Max Smith Construction, Inc. was awarded the Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction Project in the amount of $43,871. A petition has been received from neighbors on Montrose Terrace objecting to replacement of the steps. City Engineer Gus Psihoyos recommends proceeding with reconstruction of the steps. This reconstruction will allow pedestrian traffic access to Loras Boulevard via the stairs. Without this access, a dangerous condition prevails since pedestrians will be forced to walk in the street that has restricted street width, limited sight visibility and no clear zones adjacent to the single traffic lane. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. MCVM:jh Mic ael C. Van Millige Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Man r FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer , DATE: May 25, 2010 SUBJECT: Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction Dubuque AI-America qty 1 2007 INTRODUCTION This memorandum is to seek direction on how to proceed with the Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction Project. BACKGROUND A 1997 review of the public steps by the Community Development Advisory Commission recommended closing and remove the Montrose to Loras steps upon the completion of the 15th Street Steps. The 1 5 th Street Steps were reconstructed in 1998. Subsequently, in 2004, the Montrose Terrace Stairs was closed for safety concerns due continuing deterioration. This closure caused lack of alternate sidewalk routes for pedestrian access to Loras Boulevard. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Montrose Terrace Stairs was approved for reconstruction. In April, 2010, Max Smith Construction, Inc. (Dubuque, Iowa) was awarded the Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction Project in the amount of $43,871. DISCUSSION Within the past two weeks, Engineering staff has been contacted by property owners in the Montrose Terrace area requesting that the project award be rescinded. The attached petition indicates the property owners wish to have the stairs removed versus reconstructed for the following reasons: 1. Foot traffic volumes have been dramatically reduced. 2. Removal will provide a more aesthetically pleasing neighborhood. Also, during recent telephone discussions, the residents have indicated that the removal of the stairs will provide greater parking availability for those who live along Montrose Terrace. RECOMMENDATION It is the recommendation of the Engineering Department that the Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction Project be awarded to Max Smith Construction, Inc. in the amount of $43,871. This project is to be funded with the Montrose Steps Reconstruction CIP and the Steps, Railing, Fencing CIP. This reconstruction will allow pedestrian traffic access to Loras Boulevard via the stairs. Without this access, a dangerous condition prevails since pedestrians will be forced to walk in the street that has restricted street width, limited sight visibility, and no clear zones adjacent to the single traffic lane. ACTION TO BE TAKEN Direction is requested on how the Engineering Department should proceed with the Montrose Terrace Stairs Reconstruction Project. cc: Don Vogt, Public Works Director John Klostermann, Street & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer Jon Dienst, PE Attachs. MV Kn APPR2ov E 0 THE CITY OF DUB E TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director FROM: Robert Schiesl, Civil Engineer RDS MEMORANDU 7/°(/ August 25, 2004 SUBJECT: 1433 Montrose Terrace /Montrose & Loras Boulevard Steps (August 10, 2004 and August 17, 2004 Memos) /U � � • ) t i014k- Based on the review of the steps in this area, it was observed that there are no public steps at 1433 Montrose Terrace; however, as a clarification there are City steps that go from Montrose Terrace to Loras Boulevard, which I believe are the steps /sidewalk the citizen was referring to. In working with the Operations & Maintenance Department, Engineering has determined that the steps from Montrose to Loras are in a deteriorated condition and present a safety concern. To limit City liability, Operations & Maintenance has permanently closed the steps as of August 13, 2004. The sidewalk from Loras to the steps remain open so adjoining property owners have access to their property. Based on a 1997 review of public steps by the Community Development Advisory Commission, the recommendation was to close and remove the Montrose to Loras steps upon completion of the 15th Street Steps. For your reference, I have attached a copy of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission. However, both John Klostermann and I have concerns with the recommendation to remove the steps. Should the steps be eliminated, pedestrian traffic from Montrose Terrace wanting access to Loras, would be forced to walk in the street due to no alternate pedestrian sidewalk routes directly to Loras. This could present a dangerous condition because of the restricted street width, limited sight visibility and no clear zones for pedestrian access adjacent to the single traffic lane. Based on the site conditions outlined above, I believe that the Advisory Commission's recommendation to remove the Montrose to Loras steps should be re- evaluated and reconsidered. The options for the Montrose to Loras steps are as follows: • Completely remove the steps and walk. Ni 0 • Reconstruct the steps, walk and handrail. cc: Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Don Vogt, Operations & Maintenance John Klostermann, Operations & Maintenance Should the decision be made to eliminate the steps, we should have sufficient funds available in the current Steps, Handrail and Wall -top Railing CIP to complete the removal work this fall. Should the decision be made for the steps to remain, additional funds would need to be budgeted for the step reconstruction project and the steps would remain closed until the steps are replaced. Upon your review of the information presented, I request direction on the next course of action regarding the future status of the Montrose to Loras steps. If I can provide additional information or should you have further questions, please let me know. 5. Catherine to Wcst Locust open/poor To be considered for reconstruction In FY '99 • 6. I-Iogdon to Wcst Locust To be considered for reconstruction In FY 2000 Location COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PUBLIC STEPS 1. West 8th Street - North Side open/poor 2. Prospect Street - Wcst 8th to West 5th open/poor 3. Montrose /Pickett to Loras steps open/poor .Steps to be considered for reconstruction In Fr 99 4. Catherine to West 17th open/fair Condition Recommendation Close and Remove Close and consult with engineering to determine whether to remove or cover Close alter the 15th St. steps are completed and open. Keep open, maintained and repair handrail . Keep open, repair, maintain and trim trees. open/poor Kcep open, repair, improve and light 7. Kaufmann to Napier very poor Close and consult with engineering to determine Closed in late 70's whether to remove or cover 8. Madison I -Iill - Madison to Dorgan very poor Close and consult with engineering to determine whether to remove or cover May 11, 2010 To Whom It May Concern: My name is Mike Kilcoyne, and I own the property at 1441 Montrose Terrace. I am writing this letter on behalf of a group of neighbors that are concerned about the set of steps that is being replaced between the 400 block of Loras Boulevard and Montrose Terrace. The neighborhood consensus is that the steps should not be replaced for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the steps do not benefit anyone living on Montrose Terrace; in fact, they are more of a hindrance, which is really an understatement. As I'm sure you're aware, the neighborhood has a finite amount of parking available. It's usually bad enough that garbage trucks and especially snow plows have a hard time getting through. In the wintertime, Montrose Terrace is often reduced to a one way road. The point I'm trying to make is that many of the spots that are filled on the street are not filled by people residing on Montrose Terrace, they are filled by people living on Loras Boulevard, especially during "party season" Aug -May. I, personally, have had to walk from as far away as 16 St. or Fairview to my house on Montrose Terrace due to the lack of parking. On most Friday and Saturday nights after school begins, the street is hardly navigational due to the abundance of cars on the street. In essence, the sidewalk would only serve a few properties on Loras Boulevard allowing them easier access to park on Montrose Terrace which is already overburdened with too many cars and not enough parking. As I'm sure you are also very aware, most of the single family homes that once dominated our neighborhood now have either been split into apartments, or, given their proximity to Loras College, are now filled with college students who own cars. In other words, it's not a long shot at all to say that a four or five bedroom house could have 4 -5 parked on the street at any given time considering most landlords do not, or cannot provide off street parking. While we all understand that the street we live on is public property that everyone can use, it would be nice if some of the problem could be averted. We've discussed having our neighborhood added to a nearby parking district or creating our own, but we hope doing that can be avoided. We feel removing the steps would make a big difference. Though the parking situation is by far the largest concern in the neighborhood, there are others. Most of the people that park on the south side of the street aren't permanent residents, and almost certainly aren't property owners. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, they also don't have ownership in the neighborhood and feel free to throw out trash. There is definitely a lack of respect for the rest of the neighborhood. Many of the cars don't move for days and in some cases weeks at a time. Lastly, it is my understanding that the steps are costing the city roughly forty thousand dollars. Forty thousand dollars could go a long way in Dubuque and especially in our neighborhood. In fact, the retaining wall above the corner of West Locust and Bluff Streets has been slowly dropping every year since I've been on the bluff. It needs attention, as does the retaining wall @W. 15 St. and Fairview that has been "closed off' for the past year. To conclude, we would all appreciate it if our voices could be heard on this matter. The neighborhood, as well as the rest of downtown Dubuque, has changed drastically over the years, and its original plan, although great, doesn't really serve its current residents the way it was intended to in the past. The foot traffic that once used many of the stairways and sidewalks in town just isn't there anymore, and the steps in question will quite frankly be a waste of money and likely be harmful to the neighborhood they once served. We have tried, and will keep trying to make Montrose Terrace a better, cleaner neighborhood, and we think that removing the steps would help us to do this. We really appreciate your time and consideration, and if there is anything we can help with or anything else we need to do with this matter, please don't hesitate to let us know. I, personally, have called about the steps as well as the retaining wall a few times in the past. The steps, partially covered in blaze orange snow fence, have been an eyesore for the better part of five years now and should be removed. 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