HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-10 CC WS Minutes - (Approved)
City Council 2012-10-10 p.m.
Minutes of Work Session
Present were Mayor Tom Wilharber, Council members D Love, Jeff Paar, Steve King,
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 a variety of agenda items:
1. Street Program for 2013.
Dallas Larson reviewed the comments received at the project open house held on
October 3, 2012. The majority of those commenting seemed open to the street
reconstruction but are concerned over the construction of watermain and the
mandatory connection policy that is now in effect. Property owners are concerned
that they may have to pay connection charges and hook on to watermain by 2017.
Mark Statz reviewed his draft feasibility report for the 2013 Project. He noted a total
project cost of approximately $1.5 million including the watermain construction on
Center Street. That number does not include the cost of abandoning the lift station on
Center Street nor the costs of connecting homes to the watermain. Those items would
add approximately $250,000 to the total. It was noted that the estimated special
assessments would be between $246,000 and $310,000, or roughly 20%.
Council members discussed the deadline for connection date of 2017 and whether it
should be pushed back to ease the impact of the project and give property owners
more time to prepare. At the same time the consensus was that the city should include
in the bid, connecting homes to water for those that would like to hook up.
Council member Fehrenbacher questioned again the justification for abandoning the
lift station in favor of a new gravity line. He felt the cost is too high, and the potential
impact of digging that deep could create unstable soil conditions under the street.
Council member Fehrenbacher left the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
The Council discussed whether sidewalks would be needed. Consensus was that
sidewalks should not be installed at this time.
The council discussed the benefits of replacing all of the, curb rather than only the
minimum needed to construct the street and utility services. Design of the project
would easier and would allow better handling of stormwater if all of the curb could be
replaced. The comment sheets filled out following the open house indicated that
residents were split on the matter. Consensus seemed to be to follow the original plan
of replacing only the minimum necessary.
Staff was directed to prepare information for the public hearing that would disclose
all of the estimated costs of connecting homes to watermain.
The feasibility report and a decision on scheduling a public hearing will be on the
next agenda.
2.Social Host Ordinance
. City Attorney Glaser reviewed the benefits of a proposed
social host ordinance. He explained that the police department sometimes has
difficulty dealing with “party houses” where it is a rental property and the owner
doesn’t have responsibility to deal with drinking by minors and other drug and
alcohol related problems. The ordinance would make the property owner partially
responsible for activities on property that they own, even if they are not present when
minors are drinking there. The matter was taken under advisement.
3.Fee schedule.
Administrator Larson reviewed the draft fee schedule for 2013. Few
changes have been made. The most substantive change is in the fees for sewer use,
where a unit rate will be applied to water readings to charge for wastewater treatment.
The Ordinance establishing fees will be placed on the next agenda for consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:40 p.m.
Dallas Larson, Administrator