Minutes - Public Works Committee - 07/16/2002

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Principal City Engineer Olson responded it would not. That was put in for two reasons, to unencumber two lots and they also felt if they are going to do all this other work they would upgrade it to new development standards. Councilmember Hendriksen stated there seems to be a misconception that when you install sewer and water you must tear up the street, however, there are options when storm water is installed in the right-of-way as opposed to tearing up the street. The second perception is that when you sell off lots a windfall occurs to you. They have had instances, such as on 151st Street, where the individual w ho s tarred t his process d id not w ant t o b e forced t o hook u p t o sewer and water because there was little or nothing left after all the fees. People need to make up their.own mind based on facts, and he does not think it is fair to set expectations that huge amounts of money will follow if people bring in sewer and water and subdivide. He stated if the City picks up the $33,000 in the interim that sets an expectation that he does not think they should set. Also, he does not know if they can give staff what they are asking for, as they cannot make a final decision here, that would need to be done at the Council meeting. Mayor Gamec asked if the three projects would be tied together. Principal City Engineer Olson responded that if all of the projects were approved they would tie them together s o t hey c outd b e completed a s o ne major project, a s opposed to three separate projects. He reviewed pictures of the streets in this area which show substantial disrepair. Mayor Gamec stated this whole area is a problem and sometimes it is best to do things the proper way first and have it done even if the cost is higher. Councilmember Hendriksen stated he does not think they would let one of their blacktop streets deteriorate to this point and they have been remiss in keeping it from deteriorating to that point. He suggested this road be kept up consistent with the policy on blacktopped roads and the City should pay 50 percent of the cost of maintenance of that street, which should be assessed. He stated they.are jumping from a gravel road with puddles and grading that needs to be done, to a justification for what could perhaps be one million dollars in total costs and setting significant precedence for the entire City. He stated he would not like to live on that road, however,~ he does not know if that is the right justification for what they are talking about here. There is a policy in this City, if the residents want the road paved they can get it paved; there has to be more that want it than do not. Mayor Gamec stated he thinks the decision in this area with maintenance and upkeep is to go ahead and correct ii. They should hold the public hearing with better costs, as people will have questions. Through the public hearing process they can determine an outcome, at a meeting like this they can only speculate. There is an assessment for Class Five, although they have put in 10- 12 loads of Class Five in this comer already to build it up and the amount of work and dollars to pay for the dirt would wash away in a short time. Councilmember Hendriksen stated he would strongly urge that they do not send these feasibility studies out. This is not a policy they can replicate across other neighborhoods in the City. Public Works Committee/July 16, 2002 Page 10 of 28