Agenda - Council - 03/27/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Works Director Olson explained that Andrie Street was originally proposed as an overlay in 2005. However, the neighborhood requested postponement for a year and then requested a total reconstruct with curb and gutter. Councilmember Wise noted his road was built in 1991 and overlaid several years ago but 163rd Avenue, north of Central Park, was never overlaid. Public Works Director Olson explained the decision on road projects is based on the pavement rating and available funding. Councilmember Elvig asked whether staff considers the number of people for road services, noting west of Highway 47 there are few people but a wonderful area for development so those property owners may want to extend the road. Public Works Director Olson answered that anticipated development is taken into consideration and is part of the equation. He extended his appreciation to Civil Engineer Linton for his work to input data into the Pacer rating software because it will help staff determine year-to-year programming. Public Works Director Olson noted a reconstruction program does encourage redevelopment and property improvement. He reviewed the pros and cons of having a road maintenance program, noting 73% of surveyed residents felt the City should develop a new policy to address aging roads and 11 % felt strongly. Public Works Director Olson presented details of the three options to fund roadway improvements: do nothing; increase property taxes; or, charge all utility customers a consistent monthly franchise fee. It had been staff's conservative estimate that reconstruction efforts would cost $3.3-$3.4 million. The Council directed staff to tighten the numbers in an effort to reduce the franchise fee. He explained staff analyzed using a franchise fee of $14/month/utility customer, which would generate $1.53 million or one-half of the total combined projects of maintenance and reconstruction. He reviewed construction costs and explained that 100% financing for three activities is $3.06 million. Public Works Director Olson acknowledged this is a difficult issue and suggested the Council also talk about the construction standards, whether to include curb and gutter, and potential savings to change from a 9-ton design and not include sidewalks. Public Works Director Olson stated the direction given tonight is critical. He indicated that combining sealcoat and overlays with reconstruction activities and assessing for 50% of the reconstruction activities would fully fund the argument about what to do with aging infrastructure, as well as decrease the demand for reconstruction. It would also allow the City to eliminate the procedure for assessing sealcoats and overlays. He indicated there are just over 16 miles of roadways that are in bad shape. Mayor Ramsey asked whether $7 of the franchise fee would go towards maintenance and $7 towards reconstruction. Public Works Director Olson stated the City could also use funding from 2012 for maintenance work to address worse roads in 2013, noting the practice to tailor funding to do the worst roads would not change. He noted since there is not a project that would be able to move forward in 2012 without an assessment, the City may want to keep roads as well maintained as possible and City Council Work Session / January 24, 2012 Page 2 of 9