Minutes - Public Works Committee - 05/20/2003

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Counciimember Kurak suggested charging the property owners if and when they use the pipe. Councilmember Pearson inquired if the pipe was needed. Councilmember Kurak replied that staff feels that it is. Councihnember Cook noted that the reason it is a special taxing district is because the City could not show benefit. Principal City Engineer Olson replied that any storm sewer project is difficult to show benefit, which is why they allow for the special taxing district. Councihnember Cook stated that it is very difficult to prove benefit when over half of the pipe is used to drain Business Park 95, which the City built. Councilmember Strommen inquired as to how the costs of who would pay for what were determined. Principal City Engineer Olson explained that if the City were to have constructed a minimal pipe along the alignment to solely drain Business Park 95 the estimated cost would have been $110,000. The thought behind the project was that increasing the size of the pipe would provide an avenue for storm water to get from the Highway #10 properties to the Business Park 95 pond to utilize the water treatment. Councilmember Strommen inquired if they should be reconsidering the project since the situation has changed since the project was first initiated. Principal City Engineer Olson replied that he did not know that the plans had necessarily changed other than if the City is saying the area may never develop so the pipe sizes would be decreased. Consensus of the Public Works Committee was to discuss the issue further at a Council work session. Case #2: Request for Feasibility Study for Extension of Sanitary Sewer and Water Through County Ditch 66 City Administrator Norman stated that on December 18, 2002, the City of Ramsey received a letter requesting that the City of Ramsey prepare a feasibility study for extending urban services. On January 21, 2003, the Public Works Committee met and discussed the request and offered the following motion: Motion by Councilmember Cook, seconded by Councilmember Kurak, to recommend that the City Council authorize staff to hire Bolten and Menk at a cost not to exceed $8,500 for completing a feasibility study for extending urban services to the property identified contingent upon an escrow being set up to cover all expenses including staff time, the City not Public Works Committee/May 20, 2003 Page 9 of 20