City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  August 2, 2004

Item No.:         10

Recommendation:  Consider a motion to authorize the City Engineer to remove E. Fitzsimmons Road (N/S) from S.  Howell Avenue to 350 E. Fitzsimmons Road from the 2004 Paving Program and to add the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility’s yard to the 2004 paving program.

Background:  While the dollar impact of these changes falls within the authority of the City Engineer (15%), they represent significant changes in scope that I feel should be approved by the Council.

The reach of Fitzsimmons Road in question evolved from two separate developments a long time ago.  The south side is concrete with curb and sidewalk.  The north side is asphalt with ditches.  The combination is approximately 15’ wider than the standard road.  At one point in time, a grass strip separated the two sections.  To improve access to driveways, pavement was placed in the grass strip forming a series of small islands.  The small islands with no curb present a maintenance issue for the City.  The Engineering Department was approached by a significant number of residents to look at the feasibility of reconstructing the road to match the road section east of 350 E. Fitzsimmons Road.  I informed the residents that the addition of curb, sidewalk, and storm sewer would most likely result in assessments.  Some residents did not want sidewalk, some did not want to pay for any work, however, they wanted to look at their options.  This position is supported by the alderperson in the area. 

It is proposed that some preliminary design could be performed this winter with a neighborhood meeting being held February/March.

The Utility has approached the Engineering Department as to the feasibility of adding their site to the 2004 paving contract.  The City added a portion of the old Police Station parking lot and the City Hall parking lot to past contracts.  Since the contract is a unit price, the contractor only gets paid for the units of work he performs; this is not a contractual problem.  The Utility will pay for all costs related to this effort.  If the Council concurs, the Utility will begin an expedited design process.     

Fiscal Impact: 

Prepared by: Wayne St. John, P.E. City Engineer	Respectfully submitted, Barbara S. Blumenfield City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk

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