Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/17/2011

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Public Information Proposal for City of Ramsey Long -Term Road Maintenance Program Submitted by Himle Horner Inc. — November 19, 2010 Background Roughly 45 percent of Ramsey's 174 miles of roads were constructed between 1976 and 1985. With routine maintenance, the average expected life of these roads is 40 years, which means that between 2016 and 2025, the City expects an estimated $90 million or more in road reconstruction to be necessary to repair its aging streets. While approximately 20 percent of Ramsey's roadways would qualify for state aid, 80 percent will be the responsibility of local taxpayers. Currently, the City does not have a street reconstruction policy or a reliable funding source apart from costly individual property assessments. Recently, the Ramsey City Council agreed to take a more proactive approach to street maintenance. It directed staff to develop a street reconstruction policy and a more balanced funding approach to this long -term issue. Specifically, the City hopes to establish a policy that: • Spreads the cost over time so individual property owners are not surprised by burdensome multi -year assessments • More fairly distributes the cost to all property owners who benefit from well- maintained roads • Removes roadblocks to maintenance such as insufficient funds or property owner petitions against street repairs, which delay projects and ultimately increase costs • Better positions Ramsey for the future by maintaining the high - quality streets necessary for motorist safety and to attract housing, commercial and other economic growth The City has requested a proposal from Himle Horner, Inc. (HHI) for communications assistance with developing a plan to inform the public about the need for a policy; engage residents and property owners in a dialogue about funding options; and ultimately propose a new policy for City Council approval in late summer /early fall 2011. However, several issues and environmental conditions should be considered, including: • A challenging economic environment in which homeowners and business owners will find it difficult to support higher taxes, fees or other property costs • Currently well- maintained roads that have not shown visible wear. This will make it difficult to communicate the need and urgency for a road maintenance policy. • A lack of public awareness about the history and anticipated expense of maintaining the city's road system • Public sensitivity to any increase in taxes or fees — as well as increased government spending. 1 HIMI_E HORNER nwm r MAMMA • rIRA f%S 4nrvrrt - nw it rrrawr