Minutes - Public Works Committee - 04/15/2003

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Councilmember Elvig inquired if they were talking about adding funds to the street improvement program to assist with paving the dirt roads or adding to the general fund. City Engineer Jankowski replied that the funds would have to come from the general fund. Councilmember Cook suggested that a policy be drafted that would require property owners along dirt roads to be assessed for the grading of the dirt roads, which might then encourage them to pave the road City Engineer Jankowski replied that that is something the Council could do. He noted that one of the reasons the issue is being discussed is staff does receive a lot of complaints on dirt roads. Councilmember Elvig stated that he would like to understand the financial structure better and identify what they cun'ently have in the budget. He wanted to look at what was budgeted this year for street improvement projects and if there are any funds remaining that those funds be held for a period of time until they determine what is happening with the budget. City Engineer Jankowski noted that typically there are not a lot of funds remaining in the street improvement project fund after the projects are completed. Councilmember Elvig the only two options before them is to assess the project cost 100 percent to the benefited property owners or the City come up with additional funding from the general fired to assist with the project, which they simply cannot do this year. Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler recommended that the Committee table action until the Council has the opportunity discuss the budget issues, which the Council is scheduled to do on April 29th. Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember Cook, to table action until after the City Council has opportunity to address the necessary budget cuts. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Zimmerman, and Councilmembers Elvig, and Cook. Voting No: None. COMMITTEE INPUT 1) Road Patching Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler stated that there is a hot mix plant available in St. Paul for thc City to get asphalt to do some minor road repairs, but it is a lot of trucking back and forth. Staff is planning on using the St. Paul plant to fix some of the smaller projects, but any of the larger project will have to wait until the local asphalt plants open, which is around Mayl5th. Mr. Kapler stated that he just wanted to make the Committee aware of how staff was handling the issue in case they received any call from residents. Public Works Committee/April 15, 2003 Page 10 of 12