2012-02-28_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Schwartz reviewed the City's street infrastructure fund entitled, Pavement Management Fund (PMP); however, he advised that it was becoming necessary to spend from the principal, and if interest rates didn't soon increase, there would continue to be a decline in the principal balance to fund projects, creating the need to find other funding sources and re-evaluate all options. Mr. Schwartz advised that this prompted consideration of whether some level of assessment would be appropriate for commercial properties. In tonight's previous discussion with the Parks Department related to pathways and trails, Mr. Schwartz noted that the current Assessment Policy didn't assess for pathways and sidewalks, based on the Pathway Master Plan; however, he noted that they were really community assets, even though the City couldn't do area-wide assessments. Member Vanderwall noted the exception for area-wide assessments for undergrounding electrical lines. Ms. Bloom suggested that private legs of signalized intersections be addressed in a revised Assessment Policy, since "but for" that intersection wouldn't be located there (e.g. two private intersections on County Road 132). With the exception of the intersection at the Vault Company that the City had paid for given limited options for their driveway, and the golf course intersection, Ms. Bloom advised that there were no other applications with a residential or low-density leg. Chair DeBenedet noted the difficulty in the State of MN in proving benefits to justify assessments, based on citizen concerns raised to-date and potential high costs of those assessments. Chair DeBenedet referenced the comparison table (Attachment A and bench handout) and Roseville's current policy in that comparison specific to residential and commercial assessments. Chair DeBenedet noted the high and low comparables of those cities listed. At the request of Chair DeBenedet, Ms. Bloom advised that current interest rates on assessments were set by the City's Finance Director, based on State Statute, and were currently between 6 — 6.5%. Ms. Bloom noted that the City of Arden Hills assessed for property owners with 40% of mil and overlay projects, and that those costs could be significant for those property owners. Member Vanderwall noted that, in the list of comparable metropolitan communities, Roseville was the only first-ring suburb with the exception of the City of Bloomington that also had a large commercial area. Member Vanderwall suggested the need to look at the City of Richfield and other inner-ring suburbs with a different demographic, rather than the Cities of Woodbury or Lakeville. Member Vanderwall noted the demographic of Roseville residents, some having lived here for fifty (50) plus years, with retirement and income situations different than those newer suburbs. Member Vanderwall questioned where the Commission should focus their discussion: on population demographics in Page 8 of 13