2012-06-13 WS Minutes - Approved

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City Council 2011-06-13 6:48 p.m. Minutes of Work Session Present were Mayor Tom Wilharber, Council members Jeff Paar, Steve King, D Love, and Ben Fehrenbacher. Also present were Mark Statz of Bonestroo & Assoc., City Attorney Kurt Glaser, Public Works Director Paul Palzer and Finance Director Mike Jeziorski. The purpose of the work session was to cover two agenda items, Stormwater Drainage issues, 2013 Budget. Stormwater. Council discussed ditch and wet rear yard issues at Meadow Court, Meadow Circler areas (north of Center Street). Public Works Director, Paul Palzer recommended that the city clean the westerly 100 feet of the ditch along with the ditch along Centerville Road to Center Street. This cleaning would cost about $2700, but would not fully solve the problems in this location. It may reduce the upstream water level, but it was noted that large areas are plugged up with cat tails which have impeded drainage. Some members of the council wondered if city staff could dig a narrow trench to get the water flowing again, but it would likely be a very labor intensive solution and would not likely help for more than a year or two. Consensus was to go ahead with the work recommended by staff and then see what impact that work has, before doing anything further. This will be placed on the next agenda. Budget 2013 . Finance Director, Mike Jeziorski reviewed a draft budget for 2013. The draft would leave General Fund and bond levies at the present level. Minor increases to account for inflation were included along with the cost of the street mill and overlay program. The Council questioned the need for some of the smaller capital items, such as vehicle replacement, and asked staff to justify the numbers before the next meeting. The council discussed whether it was worth the premium of $7,000 per year to insure property in the open,” such as playground equipment, street lights, hockey rinks and the like. Approximately $40,000 in damage claims have been paid from the insurance to the city for damage to these kinds of equipment, over the past ten years. Consensus was that the insurance coverage should be continued, except staff will see what premium savings would be to accept a higher deductible. The budget includes the street mill and overlay program expenditures of approximately $390,000. Four of the streets were withdrawn from the 2009 Street Project. Engineer Mark Statz questioned if these streets would be adequately addressed with a simple mill and overlay. He presented options for consideration which ran in cost from $55 per foot to $340 per foot. Consensus of the council was that the intermediate work of full bituminous removal would be the best option for those streets at an estimated cost of $145 per foot. The capital budget would be fully exhausted with those streets so others planned for 2013 would likely be moved to