Agenda - Council - 06/10/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I for storm sewer and water, that will be paid with City expenditures and the residents would not pay until they decide to hook up. Councilmember Hendriksen noted someone termed these funds as City money and stated they do not have any money that did not come from the citizens. Some of the log-ic in the charter amendment relates to one of the concerns he and others shared. This was that the City would concentrate all the costs into curb and gutters and assess for those and then not assess for the artificially low amount it attributed to sewer and water. The amendment says the City may not assess for any part of any project that contains sewer and water. The amendment may not permit assessing a portion of this if it contains sewer and water. Principal City Engineer Olson asked if this meant even the street and curb portion could not be assessed. Councilmember Hendriksen responded in the affirmative. Principal City Engineer Olson asked how many sewer and water extensions have been done since the charter amendment. Councilmember Hendriksen responded they have mostly been in new developments. Principal City Engineer Olson commented there are people that do not want sewer and water and there are people that want to hook up and cannot. Councilmember Hendriksen stated a drain field is a portion of a septic system that needs periodic maintenance and needs to be replaced; it is not a system failure and this term is being used in an alarmist way. Principal City Engineer Olson responded that is what people tell him when the/r septic or well needs work; they want sewer and water and cannot get it unless everyone gets it at the same time. Council_member Hendriksen stated someone will always have just replaced their septic system and may not want to incur that cost. However, Principal City Engineer Olson comes at it from the side sewer and water is good and they should bring to the people, however, not everyone shares that opinion. Mayor Gamec noted the total cost of the project is $319,210, which comes out to about $40;000 per property owner. Principal City Engineer Olson explained that is not the way they proposed it to the residents. They proposed the City install sewer and water and the residents decide if and when .they want to hook up. There is a cost to waiting to hook up, as the schedule of rates and fees will go up. every year by inflation. The report is written that each one of these people would be responsible for a portion of street and curb costs, the assessment for each one of the eight individual lots would be just under $7,000. C'ouncilmember Anderson asked if the individual would not be paying $40,000 because the storm water utility would be paying a portion of the cost: -37,%5