Minutes - Council - 11/10/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Further discussion: Deputy City Administrator Gladhill stated that as motioned the property owners would be responsible for regular maintenance and replacement of the pipe. Councilmember Kuzma asked if the motion could be amended to have the City responsible for pipe failure. Councilmember Musgrove asked if it would be possible to replace the pipe with a larger size if the pipe fails in the future. She stated that she would tend to support the motion as she stated it. Deputy City Administrator Gladhill stated that it was his understanding that the desire was not to have a lift station that the City would have to maintain. He stated that something could be redesigned in the future when the road is reconstructed, if so desired. City Engineer Westby stated that a gravity pipe would not work in that location and therefore the system will have to continue to be a pressurized system and a larger pipe will not make it function any better. He stated that with the grinder pumps the two-inch pipe will function just fine. Councilmember Musgrove stated that she does not accept the proposed amendment and would like to leave the motion as stated. Councilmember Specht commented that he will vote against this as the City should own the pipe under the street as that is a core function of the City. Motion failed. Voting Yes: Councilmembers Menth, Musgrove, and Riley. Voting No: Mayor LeTourneau, Councilmembers Kuzma and Specht. Councilmember Menth commented that everywhere else in the City, the City owns the pipe in the street and believes that should be discussed. Motion by Councilmember Kuzma, seconded by Councilmember Menth, to Adopt Resolution #20-265 Approving Sanitary Sewer and Rain Garden Maintenance Agreement for River Walk Village and identifying that residents/HOA will be responsible for regular maintenance of the force main while the City would be responsible for pipe failure. Further discussion: Councilmember Musgrove asked why the original maintenance agreement identified that the developer and/or homeowners would be responsible for this portion of pipe in the street rather than using sewer fees for that activity. Deputy City Administrator Gladhill stated that the City desired an alternate solution for wastewater and the developer proposed this solution. The City accepted that proposal with the caveat for maintenance. He stated that staff would agree to the motion as proposed, as it would provide a compromise and alleviate the concern for maintenance of blockages. Councilmember Musgrove commented that she is concerned with the level of assistance that this developer has received for the project and with the information that the developer agreed to maintenance. She stated that she would be concerned that the homeowners would be less active with maintenance as pipe failure would be the responsibility of the City. She stated that she will not support this motion and would prefer to follow the original agreement. Deputy City Administrator Gladhill believed that clear direction could spell out the responsibilities of the homeowners including a normal maintenance cycle. Councilmember Riley commented that he would support this as it provides a method to move forward but stated that he would not like to see private sewers approved in a development in the future as that is something residents expect the City to be responsible for. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor LeTourneau, Councilmembers Kuzma, Menth, and Riley. Voting No: Councilmembers Musgrove and Specht. City Council / November 10, 2020 Page 8 of 13