Minutes - Public Works Committee - 05/21/2002

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Councilmember Kurak inquired even in cases where health, safety and welfare are at risk. Councilmember Zimmerman replied that if the roads are that bad then the City has not done their job. Principal City Engineer Olson noted that if the City wants to pave the entire street without assessing the homeowners they can do that. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that if the dirt roads are not functioning then they need to prepare the feasibility study to bring it up to acceptable standards and they might discover that the incremental cost to bring the road up to those standards in comparison to a paved street is not significant. He requested that an analysis be done as to whether a road might need a major rebuild or a minor upgrade and then proceed with feasibility studies. He stated that when the homeowner finds out the difference is not significant they may choose to pave the streets. Not disputing that there is a problem with the dirt roads, but they are not handling the situation appropriately. He noted that he did not think that the City should be offering to build roads at the public expense. Principal City Engineer Olson inquired if Mr. Hendriksen felt it was reasonable to assess 50 percent to pave the street and the City pay the other 50 percent since it is an existing street. Councilmember Hendriksen replied that he did not see why they should not be treated the same as people who live on paved roads. Motion by Mayor Gamec, seconded by Councilmember Hendriksen, to recommend that the City Council direct the Engineering Department to prepare feasibility studies to rebuild the dirt roads with Class V and address drainage issues including a separate cost for black top for Council review. Further discussion: Councilmember Zimmerman noted that the complaint in his area is that their dirt road serves as a through street and not a lot of money has been spent in the area. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that when they assess a paved street they take into the consideration if it is an MSA street. If any of the streets are performing the function of a collector street they need to look at that aspect and be able to support or oppose that claim. City Engineer Jankowski replied that they will address those issues in the feasibility study. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if the motion indicated that the City would cover any of the costs. Mayor Gamec replied that the feasibility studies would have to be reviewed by the Council before any decision would be made. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec and Councilmembers Hendriksen, Anderson, and Kurak. VotingNo: None. Case/ti: Update to Highlands at River Park Public Works CommitteefMay 21, 2002 Page 8 of 12