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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 01.30.2001 MINUTES PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2001 COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Gay Easton Mark Mace Ed Steffans Dan Mears Marvin Carter Gary Temple Lorraine Craig John Oakes OTHERS PRESENT: Larry McCann Duke Nieskens Mary Embleton Ken Olson Dan Dart (5:35) Lauren Van Roekel (5:35) Steve Klotz Jeanette Koch Matt Erekson Bud Johnson (5:20) Chuck Rodgers (5:35) Thomae Lumber Chairman Easton stated that insurance concerns regarding the loading zone on Washington and Wyoming Avenues needed to be addressed. Matt Erekson received the insurance information and is authorized to speak directly with Thomae Lumber's insurance providers to get additional information. The two attorneys have not yet met to negotiate an agreement. There is a concern that cones and barricades have not been used consistently during unloading since Thomae was directed to do so. Matt will address several issues and concerns with Thomae Lumber's attorney. Dan Mears distributed a drawing of the measurements of the property at Thomae Lumber. The actual pavement of the street is 40 by 130 feet to the alley. The measurement inside the lot is 132 by 90 feet. If Thomae would use the ten feet of sidewalk, Dan stated that he would still have enough room on his property. There was further discussion on the matter. Matt will call and write a letter to inform Mr. Thomae and his attorney that an agreement must be reached before the next Public Works Committee meeting on February 12th. Matt will also address the need to follow the agreement regarding the use of cones and barricades while unloading. One of the proposals involves investigating the costs involved in building a standard commercial street as opposed to a commercial street that met the requirements needed to run this business. Thomae Lumber could pay the difference between the two cost figures in order to have the streets built properly to withstand the use of forklifts. Public Works Committee minutes of Januaxy 30, 2001 Gary stated that the problem of enforcement would remain regardless of any decision or agreement reached in this matter. Both the police department and the judge would need to enforce the agreement. Matt stated that Thomae's attorney suggested that an agreement/contract be implemented. Enforcement would be-difficult and would require the city to sue in district court under breach of contract for any violation. Ifa case went to court, the process could take at least a year and a half to resolve. Under the present conditions, the state violation could be enforced by ticketing the driver of a forklift for operating an illegal vehicle on a city street. As the city prosecutor, Matt would make sure that the tickets went before the judge. The semi-truck driver could be ticketed for city violations that included a parking violation for parking in the middle of the street and a delivery violation for driving a full truck on a street that is not a truck route. Fines for violations of state ordinances are greater than for violations of city ordinances. Matt explained the problems involved with leasing the street, as it would be difficult to reach a consensus on how to proportion the dollar amounts for maintenance and repair. Gay emphasized that public safety is the first concern in this issue. Sidewalk replacement Steve Klotz presented information regarding a proposed sidewalk, curb and gutter improvement program for the City of Laurel. The plan would provide needed improvements to the public right of ways, a majority of which are in a state of needed repair and which present a liability factor to the city. Project funding and the initial project location are the main obstacles encountered when attempting to address the situation. The program funding would be generated by the sale of bonds, which would be sold in advance of the project. Improvement costs would be assessed to the property owner over a 12-year period, and the interest charged would defray the cost of engineering, bond costs and interest, and administration. The project location would be selected yearly by this criteria: use load of the public right of way, the continuity of the improvements, positive impacts to the community, and the relation to other city projects. Implementation of the proposed sidewalk, curb and gutter improvement program would provide improvements that address the needs of the community to provide a safer walk path in the public right of way, improve the overall aesthetics of the city and instill community pride, encourage an alternative means of travel which decreases traffic and pollution, increase private property values within the community, and decrease the liability of the city. The proposed initial rehabilitation area would be the three blocks on First Avenue between the swimming pool and the Masonic Temple. This area is in a central location that ties into the community. Since the street is in good shape, it would be a good area in which to begin the sidewalk, curb and gutter program. The committee had further discussion. 2 l~blic Works Committee minutes of January 30, 2001 Mark Mace stated that the program needed to be in place in order for the city to apply for additional funds for the project. MMIA is concerned about the city's liability and the repair program is needed. Motion by Gary_ Temple to recommend to council to adopt the Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Improvement Program, seconded by John Oakes. After a brief discussion, a vote was taken on the motion. Motion carried. There will be discussion on the funding program at a future date. Sewer rate increase i ustification Larry McCann presented additional information regarding the need for the proposed sewer rate increase. With an overhead projector, Larry showed the Water Reserve Balances from 1984- 2000 and the History of Rate Increases 1983-2000. The sewer plant has been under the table since it was built, and it needs to change in order to maintain it. Duke Nieskens presented information regarding a schedule and the expenses for maintenance at the sewer plant. He gave a breakdown of needs, costs, and necessary projects at the sewer plant. Preventative maintenance has been done regularly, but the plant needs major maintenance done. The costs to do that maintenance are high and were cut from the budget.. The present $87,000 reserve fund would not be enough to cover the expense of a major problem in the sewer plant. Larry explained several major problems that currently exist in the collection system. The bottom has rusted out of the steel line at 1~t Avenue South and the estimated repair cost would be $175,000. The homemade manholes at Lindy Lane have caused a major infiltration problem for the WWTP and present a major liability to the city. The estimated repair cost for the manholes would be $35,000. About 1,200 feet of the residential sewer line from Yellowstone to Woodland are beginning to collapse. The estimated repair cost would be $60,000, not including the $350 per connection. It would cost $216,000 to replace the sewer and water lines in the 8th Avenue Project. If it is determined that the water and sewer lines are in conflict with the street, the state would pay the costs to replace them. If not, the city would have to pay the costs. Inflow and infikration is over the capability and is still an issue at the plant. A service boundary needs to be set for the sewer plant. The city needs a full hydraulic design for the sewer system. An additional employee is needed in order to jet rod the collection system and maintain the system on a regular basis. Mary Embleton presented the following sewer rate options over a four-year period: the proposed 67% sewer rate increase with 10% thereafter; a flat rate increase of $5.04 per year for average usage; and an even percentage increase of 22.10%. With the proposed rate increase, it would take more than a year to realize all of the additional revenue. The flat rate increase would produce a moderate increase the first year and proportionate increases the following year. However, it would not catch up to the proposed rate option until the fourth year. An even percentage increase would be very moderate each year and never catches up. Timing is a huge factor in any rate increase, and expenses will continue to outrun revenue if there is not an Public Works Committee minutes of January 30, 2001 infusion of revenue into the fund now. The large increase is needed in order to address the known and potential problems throughout the city. The committee continued the discussion on the sewer rate increase. It was agreed that action needed to be taken. If the city raised its rates consistently, there would be opportunities to receive grants to provide additional funding. Gay stated that the auditor recently stressed that the city needed to operate like a business and reserve funds need to be available. Motion by Gary Temple to recommend to council to approve the proposed 67% first-year sewer rate increase with a 10% annual increase for three years, as proposed by Larry McCann, seconded by Lorraine Craig. Mary Carter mentioned the need to keep the future annual rate increase figure open in order to address needs at that time. Gary Temple changed the motion and Lorraine Craig seconded the motion to recommend to council to approve the proposed 67% first-year sewer rate increase with an annual increase for three years. The committee voted on the change to the motion. Motion carried. A vote was taken on the motion as amended. Motion carried. Ricci's Thriftway store Work is scheduled to begin on the Ricci's store soon, and the excess dirt from the construction work will be used for the soccer fields. Mayor Rodgers Mayor Rodgers thanked the stafffor the information that was presented at this meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen Council Secretary 4