Construction work on Lake Street as a part of Panoway Phase I is underway.
The initial phase includes Lake Street, Lake Street Plaza, and the Dakota Rail Regional Trail.
The Wayzata City Council decided to continue moving forward with the Panoway Lake Street construction project at a special emergency workshop meeting on Thursday, March 26.
At last week’s meeting, the council received an update on the Panoway on Wayzata Bay Phase I reconstruction project from city staff and Stahl Construction President Jessie Houlihan.
Members of the City Council participated by conference call. Due to the COVID-19 emergency and the closure of city facilities, City Hall was closed to public and media access.The city council weighed a number of options with the project considering the current health and economic concerns:
1. Start construction now assuming public health concerns can be addressed.
2. Delay project until fall or spring of 2021. .
3. Indefinitely cancel project.
City staff addressed the feedback of Lake Street businesses.
“All but one (Lake Street business) supported moving forward (now),” said Wayzata Community Development Director Emily Goellner. “They were very concerned about a Fall project or a summer 2021 project.”
Goellner added that the businesses were interested in a waiver of city fees during construction.
Houlihan said that overall, at other Stahl construction sites, crews have increased hand washing, social distancing, and increased the cleaning of construction trailers.
Mayor Ken Willcox expressed concerns about moving forward with a $9 million dollar project during very uncertain economic times with citizens facing job layoffs, etc.
The Panoway Project is a part of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as its own fund (officially named the Lakefront Improvement Fund).
Overall construction cost is projected at $9,049,790.
At the Nov. 19 city council meeting (Nov. 19), a professional services agreement with Stahl Construction for construction management services for Lake Effect’s first phase was approved.
The agreement includes $25,200 pre-construction services, approximately $100,000 for construction management, $50,000/month for construction services and $4,260/month for reimbursable expenses.
The expectation is that the Stahl expenses will decrease the overall project costs.
Lake Effect’s first phase essentially consists of Lake Street, Lake Street Plaza and the Dakota Rail Regional Trail Extension.
Stahl was brought in after bids for the first phase came in double the estimated costs earlier this year. The city council rejected those bids in July.
Stahl has been gathering feedback from Lake Street businesses and other stakeholders that will be impacted by the construction which is expected to last from March until September.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recommended a $10 million for a grant to the City of Wayzata for a boardwalk and for ecological restoration along the shoreline of Lake Minnetonka as a part of the Panoway Project’s Phase 2.
The money is a part of a $300 million proposed investment in water quality and infrastructure projects.
The new Minnesota legislative session is scheduled to go through mid-May.
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