HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-27 CC WS Minutes - Approved
City Council 2011-07-27 6:55 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, and Finance Director Mike Jeziorski.
The purpose of the work session was to cover three agenda items, Stormwater Drainage
issues, Street Maintenance Plan and 2012 Budget.
Stormwater.
Council discussed wet rear yard issues that were reported by residents
Curtis Winter, 7138 Shad Avenue and Meadow Court, Meadow Circler areas (north
of Center Street). The first location would cost about $8000 to correct. The second
would cost $60,000-$80,000 to clean the entire ditch and then place a liner to prevent
regrowth of vegetation. If staff rented a small backhoe and cleaned only the west 400
feet, the cost would be under $10,000, but a reoccurrence is likely within five years.
Staff reported more serious problems at Mallard Way where the pond to the east has
an elevation that is about two feet higher that it should, causing water to be visible in
the catch basins in Mallard Way. The rock base under the roadway is likely saturated
with water as well. This is an urgent problem needing ditch cleaning. Cleaning the
ditch will be expensive as there are some large trees that would have to be removed
first. Staff suggested that a storm pipe might be installed connecting the pond to the
nearest one in Hunters Crossing for less cost, perhaps around $28,000, but that would
require an engineering analysis to determine if it is feasible. Council did not support
this alternative as it may not be possible after investing in the engineering study. Staff
will provide a more detailed analysis of the ditch cleaning option.
Another location that has significant problem is a drainage area between Brian Way
and S. Robin Lane. This area may need a larger culvert and some ditch cleaning to
prevent property flooding. Staff was instructed to provide a better analysis of what is
needed along with the cost.
Consensus of the council was that the wet yard issues would need to be tabled until
more serious issues can be completed, since resources are not available to do all of
the work. Further there seemed consensus that the Stormwater Drainage Utility rates
will need to be increased further to pay for maintenance of the stormater system as
well as to meet the State and Federal stormwater requirements.
Street Maintenance Plan.
Administrator Larson presented an updated street
maintenance plan prepared by Paul Palzer, Public Works Director. The plan calls for
expenditures of around $165,000 per year for the next few years to implement a thin
overlay program on streets when they reach ages of 12-17 years. The decision on
which streets to include each year, would be based on actual condition of the various
streets. Seal coating would be eliminated. The council supported the program and
discussed ways to pay for it. The program would begin in 2012 and will include
special assessments, since those streets were primarily the ones dropped from the
2009 reconstruction project. It is likely that the first year would be paid for from fund
balances with levies to support ongoing program expenses beginning in 2013.
Budget Update
. Council reviewed updated budget estimates for 2012. Mike Jeziorski
reported that the Market Value Homestead Credit program is changed for 2012, in
that it no longer has an aid paid by the state. So the city will not have to make that
adjustment to its budget. Homeowners that qualify will still get a market value
adjustment, but the impact of that is spread to other properties that do not qualify.
Council discussed staffing levels and questioned if it is justified to have the same
number of employees that the city had when building activity was at high levels.
Consensus was that the matter needs further study and discussion before a decision
can be made.
Staff will provide Council with some updated levy projections considering the capital
improvements and other variables that were discussed at the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:55 p.m.
Dallas Larson, Administrator