3.5 Signal Improvements
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Engineering City Engineer Wagner October 11, 2021
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty
City Attorney Kendall
3.5 – Signal Improvements
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative
communication.
X Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and
expectations in a cost-effective manner.
Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommends the City Council approve a Memo of Understanding and accept a proposal for design
of traffic signal modifications.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
Yes No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The City of Otsego was awarded a MnDOT Local Partnership Program (LPP) Grant for modifying signals to
include flashing yellow arrows (FYA) at three interchanges along Trunk Highway 101 (CSAH 36, CSAH 38,
and CSAH 42). The LPP grant is estimated to cover $132,000 of the estimated $330,000 construction cost.
The LPP grant is for MnDOT fiscal year 2024, but the City is allowed to advance design and construct the
project and be reimbursed when funds are allocated by MnDOT in 2024. The MOU with Wright County
outlines each agencies responsibility. In concurrence with Wright County’s cost sharing policy, the MOU
also outlines the estimated construction cost responsibility for each agency, with $33,000 for the City of
Otsego and $165,000 for Wright County. The County will also reimburse the City for some of the design,
contract administration, and inspection. Using their formula and construction estimates, the County would
cover $18,150 of design, contract administration, and inspection.
Staff has obtained a design quote from Stantec to assist in preparing plans and specifications and to collect
necessary traffic volume as well as prepare a traffic data report. Stantec’s proposal for this work is $21,000.
City Attorney Kendall has reviewed the MOU between the City and Wright County and has provided
recommendation of approval.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Memo of Understanding
• Maps of Project Locations
• Proposal for Traffic Signal Modification Design by Stantec
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to approve the Memo of Understanding between the City of Otsego and Wright County; to
authorize the City Administrator/Finance Director to execute the document on the City’s behalf; and to
accept the proposal from Stantec for design of traffic signal modification in the amount of $21,000.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
Fund 414 – Capital Improvement Revolving
The 2022 Capital Improvement Plan will include
the budget for the project expenditures, and the
2024 budget will include grant reimbursement
from MNDOT.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Wright County
Highway Department
3600 Braddock Ave NE
Buffalo, MN 55313
Ph: (763)682-7383
Fax: (763)682-7313
VIRGIL HAWKINS, P.E.
Highway Engineer
CHAD HAUSMANN, P.E.
Assistant Highway Engr.
STEVE MEYER
Maintenance
Superintendent
JEREMY CARLSON, P.L.S.
Right-of-Way Agent
SARA BUERMANN, P.E.
Traffic Engineer
MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR INSTALLATION OF FLASHING YELLOW ARROWS (FYA) AT THE INTERCHANGES OF STATE
HWY 101 AND County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 36, 38 AND 42 IN THE CITIES OF OTSEGO
AND ST. MICHAEL, MN
Between: the City of Otsego, hereafter called the “City”, and
the County of Wright, hereafter called the “County”,
WHEREAS;
The City and County are collaborating on a signal improvement project to upgrade the signals
at the interchanges of State Hwy 101 and CSAH 36, 38, and 42.
The City and County desire to upgrade the signal system to include Flashing Yellow Arrows for
the left turn movements at the above referenced locations.
The City is the recipient of MnDOT Local Partnership Program (LPP) grant. The grant provides
funds to cover a percentage of the signal upgrades and are outlined in Figure 1: Preliminary
Cost Estimate.
Flashing yellow arrow traffic signals feature a flashing yellow arrow in addition to the standard
red, yellow, and green arrows. When illuminated, the flashing yellow arrow allows waiting
motorists to make a left-hand turn after yielding to oncoming traffic.
The flashing yellow arrow provides more opportunities to make a left turn, decreasing delay.
IT IS HEREBY AGREED AND MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT;
1. The City will provide specifications, obtain cost proposals, inspect and observe the
construction of the upgraded signal systems. The City will initiate the coordination &
installation of the system after this signed memo of understanding is executed.
2. In accordance with the County’s Cost Participation Policy, adopted May 6, 2014; the County
will share in the initial cost of the material/installation by County leg of the intersections. A
preliminary construction cost estimate based on the policy is included.
3. The City will provide engineering services for design and construction administration and
inspection. The County will reimburse the City for engineering services for the County’s
portion of the project based upon the following table. The final reimbursement will be
computed using the appropriate % below times the County’s portion only of the contract
construction cost.
From $ 0 thru $50,000 up to 18% of County’s Portion
Over 50,000 thru 100,000 up to 16% of County’s Portion
Over 100,000 thru 250,000 up to 13% of County’s Portion
Over 250,000 thru 500,000 up to 11% of County’s Portion
Over 500,000 thru Indefinite up to 10% of County’s Portion
The City Engineer shall prepare a preliminary estimate of construction cost for the
project. The preliminary cost estimate shall identify both the City’s share and
County’s share of cost for the project based upon this funding agreement. This
preliminary construction cost estimate is shown in Figure 1 of this Agreement.
Page 2 of 2
MOU – FYA, Otsego
Sept. 24, 2021
It is intended that the work outlined above is to be done by a contractor on a unit price basis through a
contract duly let by the City. When the City awards a contract, the City will prepare a new estimate of the
County’s share of the construction cost based on the unit prices bid by the City's contractor. A copy of such
revised cost estimate will be forwarded to the County Highway Engineer.
4. The City wishes to advance the project to year 2022 for construction/installation. The City will cover the
LPP amount in 2022 and will be reimbursed by the LPP grant in 2024.
4. Future maintenance cost will be in accordance with the original signal agreements.
5. No work described herein will begin until this Memo of Understanding has been signed by all parties.
For the City:
__________________________________________ ________________
Adam Flaherty Date
City Administrator
For the County:
__________________________________________ _________________
Virgil Hawkins, P.E. Date
Wright County Highway Engineer
Figure 1: Preliminary Cost EstimateEstimated Estimated Estimated Estimated EstimatedDescriptionUnits Unit Price QuantityCostShare CostCostCostShare CostFYA Hwy 101&CSAH 42 East Each 60,000.00$ 1 60,000.00$ 50% 30,000.00$ ‐$ 50% 30,000.00$ FYA Hwy 101&CSAH 42 West Each 60,000.00$ 1 60,000.00$ 25% 15,000.00$ 15,000.00$ 50% 30,000.00$ FYA Hwy 101&CSAH 38 East Each 30,000.00$ 1 30,000.00$ 40% 12,000.00$ 3,000.00$ 50% 15,000.00$ FYA Hwy 101&CSAH 38 West Each 60,000.00$ 1 60,000.00$ 25% 15,000.00$ 15,000.00$ 50% 30,000.00$ FYA Hwy 101&CSAH 36 East Each 60,000.00$ 1 60,000.00$ 50% 30,000.00$ ‐$ 50% 30,000.00$ FYA Hwy 101&CSAH 36 West Each 60,000.00$ 1 60,000.00$ 50% 30,000.00$ ‐$ 50% 30,000.00$ Construction CostProject Total MnDOTOtsegoSt. Michael132,000.00$ Wright County165,000.00$ 33,000.00$ ‐$ 330,000.00$