Laserfiche WebLink
Councilmember Riley stated that during the franchise fee meetings, one of the biggest factors for <br />him was the cost savings the City would receive because the assessment process would be <br />eliminated and asked for additional details. <br /> <br />City Engineer Westby confirmed that the requirements for assessments would be eliminated <br />including the cost for staff to prepare and publish notifications for public hearings, pay an appraiser <br />to prepare a special benefit consultation report, etc. He confirmed that there would be MSA funds <br />available for reconstructing Variolite Street. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heinrich asked the number of MSA roads in Ramsey. She asked the number of <br />MSA projects that have been completed. <br /> <br />City Engineer Westby replied that about 20 percent of roads are MSA roads in Ramsey. He <br />explained that the City has been working under the five-year Street Reconstruction and Overlay <br />Program, which expires in 2019, and utilized the assessment and bonding process for MSA <br />reconstruction projects. He provided an example of an MSA road, Andrie Street, which was <br />reconstructed in 2016. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley stated that the Andrie Street project did not use MSA funds because the <br />funds had been allocated to repay bonds for other MSA projects previously completed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heinrich stated that she would prefer to use the MSA funds for reconstructing <br />Variolite Street. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley agreed. He referenced the unexpended sealcoating budgeted funds for <br />2019, noting that he considers those as maintenance funds that were budgeted to spend this year. <br />He stated that he would not want to see those funds used for reconstruction projects, as it does not <br />appear the City is keeping up on maintenance and wants to see those funds used in 2019. <br /> <br />City Engineer Westby stated that the crackseal project is currently out for bids. He explained that <br />there is a lengthy process to develop, bid, and construct a new project so there may not be sufficient <br />time to prepare another crackseal project for completion in 2019. <br /> <br />Public Works Superintendent Riemer stated that perhaps another $50,000 could be spent on spray <br />patching but noted that is a slow process and therefore would not want to commit to more than <br />that. <br /> <br />City Engineer Westby noted that the excess budgeted funds for 2019 is due to the decision not to <br />sealcoat this year. He stated that perhaps additional cracksealing could completed in 2019 but was <br />unsure if another $200,000 could be spent this year. He stated the City is hitting the targeted <br />maintenance schedule for cracksealing in 2019, but noted Engineering would explore this and <br />present options to spend some or all of the excess budgeted funds to Council on July 9, 2019. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heinrich asked for additional details on why additional cracksealing projects <br />could not be completed in 2019. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee / June 18, 2019 <br />Page 3 of 7 <br /> <br />