City moves ahead with multiple street and utility engineering task orders, including $475,000 Union Avenue proposal

City engineering staff presented a package of task orders and project approvals for 2026–27 work, explaining the intent is to complete design and allow for public input and special-assessment work in the fall. The package includes a Union Avenue task order (Gustavus to Vernon) estimated at $475,000, a West 7th Ave reconstruction engineering task order (~$385,000), several complete reconstruction projects (utilities, curb/gutter, sidewalks), a water-main replacement on Channing tied to a federally funded overlay, and Dairy Trail project administration and railroad crossing contracts.

Staff and council debated adding two blocks to the Union Avenue project and discussed staging to limit traffic disruption. "We can approve this, you can go through all the engineering and end up breaking it into any number of phases," a council member said, and staff confirmed preliminary engineering will refine scope and costs before bidding. For the Dairy Trail project staff offered two options for construction administration—use Interstate Engineering at $42,208 or perform work in-house / hire more engineering at about $27,424—and outlined a plan to split railroad crossing contracts to reflect available funding sources (state-appropriated funds and MnDOT TAP grants).

The committee approved moving the block of projects to the consent agenda; staff said final contract values will be adjusted after design and bidding, and noted projects that include utility replacement may change assessments accordingly.