Falcon Heights has identified the Falcon Woods and Northome neighborhoods for rehabilitation as the 2025 Pavement Management Project (Project FH 25-01) which includes:

Falcon Woods Neighborhood (full depth reclamation):

Autumn Street, Prior Avenue N, Summer Street, Moore Street, Howell Street N and Garden Avenue.

Northome Neighborhood (mill and overlay):

California Ave W, Idaho Ave W, and Iowa Ave W.

The project is proposed to include reconstruction and full depth reclamation of the streets in the Falcon Woods neighborhood, mill and overlay of the streets in the Northome neighborhood, paving a new asphalt layer, pathway replacement, storm basin upgrades, spot curb and gutter repair and minor utility work.

The project is scheduled to be bid in the winter of 2025, if approved by council, for construction in the spring/summer of 2025.  The tentative project schedule is shown below. Falcon Heights Council actions are noted with “CC”:

This project has the following funding sources from the State, City and property owners along the streets being considered for improvements:

• Storm and sanitary utility funds for repairs needed to the existing utility system; 
• Municipal State Aid (MSA) funding through the State of Minnesota’s gas tax;
• Street infrastructure funds; and 
• Falcon Heights Special Benefit Assessments levied in accordance with the City’s assessment policy.

Assessments: The estimated assessment roll is not yet available and is pending the completion of the feasibility report. When completed, estimated assessment amounts will be individually mailed to property owners prior to the public Improvement Hearing tentatively scheduled for January 8, 2025. Falcon Heights’ Assessment Policy calls for assessing 40% of the cost of street improvements typically based on the front footage of adjacent properties. Residential lots will only be assessed for the long side of their property. 

Project Documents

2025 PMP Project Map

Overview

Roselawn Avenue had been anticipated for rehabilitation by both Roseville and Falcon Heights in their Capital Improvement Plans. Roseville and Falcon Heights will be jointly constructing a pavement mill and overlay on Roselawn Avenue, meaning 1.5 - 2 inches of pavement will be removed and repaved. This project will also include minor utility work, and spot curb and gutter repairs. The project limits are Roselawn Avenue, from Snelling Avenue to Hamline Avenue.

Schedule

The proposed project schedule is shown below. Roseville Council actions are noted with “RV CC” and Falcon Heights Council actions are noted with “FH CC”:

Funding

This project has the following funding sources from the State, City and property owners along the streets being considered for improvements:

• Storm utility funds for repairs needed to the existing utility system; 
• Municipal State Aid (MSA) funding through the State of Minnesota’s gas tax;
• Street infrastructure funds; and 
• Falcon Heights Special Benefit Assessments levied in accordance with the City’s assessment policy.

Falcon Heights parcels: The estimated assessment roll is available at the Engineering Department. Assessment amounts have been individually mailed to property owners prior to the Project Assessment Hearing scheduled for October 9, 2024. Falcon Heights’ Assessment Policy calls for assessing 40% of the cost of street improvements based on the front footage of adjacent properties. Residential lots will only be assessed for the long side of their property. 

Once the assessment roll is adopted, the City allows for a 30-day pre-payment period. Following the pre-payment period, assessment rolls are certified to Ramsey County for collection. If approved at this meeting, the prepayment period would end on November 8, 2024 and interest would begin to accrue after that date. The City will have the rolls certified by November 15^th in order to allow the County enough time to add the assessments to property taxes.  

Property owners can either pay the assessments in part or in full during the pre-payment period or have them added to their property taxes with an interest rate to be set by the City Council. The first installment of the assessment would be due in Spring 2025.  

The Finance Director recommends the interest rate be set at 2.00% above the true interest rate, which is 3.91%, as has been standard practice on previous assessments. Therefore, the recommended interest rate for the 2024 PMP Special Assessments is 5.91%.

Project Documents

Feasibility Report

Notice of Hearing

Overview

Staff is working with the contractor to address the significant weed growth that started in the high heat of summer. The project includes requirements to establish turf in the disturbed areas. As the establishment has not happened yet, the City is retaining project funds to ensure this work is completed properly.

The special benefit assessments were approved by City Council on October 11, 2023. Property owners may pay assessments without interest to the City by November 10, 2023. After November 10, 2023, the assessments will be sent to Ramsey County and added to property taxes payable in 2024 with interest, in installments over 7 years for the alleyway and mill and overlay streets and 10 years for Garden Avenue.

Project Update

Restorations are ongoing. The City has chosen Q3. Curb and manhole in select areas will be replaced in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.