Minutes - Public Works Committee - 05/20/2003

Home

Councilmember Zimmerman stated that a lot of the dirt roads in Ramsey are not maintained. And what residents along dirt roads want is more gravel and a little more maintenance. Principal City Engineer Olson replied that they could add gravel to the roads and assess 100 percent of the cost to the property owners. He noted that in the study completed last year it indicated that is about a wash for what the City pays for sealcoating a road to what the grader costs. The City currently grades dirt roads twice a month. Counci hnember Elvig inquired if it would make sense to provide the option of upgrading the dirt road in the feasibility study. Principal City Engineer Olson replied that it is already included. Motion by Councilmember Cook, seconded by Councilmember Elvig, to recommend to the City Council t o schedule a public hearing for the proposed improvements, send out a copy of the updated feasibility studies for the three projects to the respective residents and initiate negotiations with the appropriate homeowners to acquire the easements necessary to complete the projects. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Councilmembers Cook, and Elvig. Voting No: Chairperson Zimmerman. Case #4: Authorization to Update the Comprehensive Water Supply Plan Principal City Engineer O lson stated that Bolten & Menk conducted a water system study in 1999 to help the City of Ramsey to plan for future improvements to help ensure a continuous and fresh water supply. T he City has talked seriously about the creation of a Town Center area, industrial development has increased, townhouse projects are appearing more often, and single- family residential developments are being approved. All of these things can and willhave an impact to the existing utility infrastructure. Since the projections of water supply and demand as well as requirements for storage for fire suppression are based on per capita and industrial uses, there seems to be a need to re-evaluate the projections and update the water supply plan. During the process of the AUAR for the Town Center, there were also a number of items that were noted as items of concern that should be studied. Staff feels that there are enough Citywide changes since 1999 to warrant an update of the water system study. Staff has actively engaged in pursuing grant opportunities with the Metropolitan Council and was unsuccessful in acquiring grant moneys to pay for this update. Since the grant opportunities were unsuccessful, Staff included $10,000 in the water utility fund to finance the update and feel that there will definitely be additional benefits to the entire City. Staff feels that there are issues, such as the amendment to the Water Appropriations permit, that are included in the AUAR that will make it necessary to complete certain sections of the Comprehensive Water Supply Plan. We are therefore requesting the authorization to hire Bolten and Menk to start working on the update to the Comprehensive Water Supply Plan with the scope of services. Staff recommended that the Public Works Committee recommend to the City Council to authorize Staff to hire Bolten and Menk at a cost Public Works Committee/May 20, 2003 Page 16 of 20