11-14-2007 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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• The Asphalt Roller is scheduled for replacement in 2008 at an estimated cost of $26,000. We are currently using a 1986 Beuthling Roller that we purchased used from the City of Edina. Roller technology has come a long way since we acquired our current roller and the new rollers are smaller, easier to maneuver, faster, and provide a better line of sight for the operator. Additionally the roller we currently have is probably bigger than what we need for the types of street maintenance we perform in- house. • The Wood Chipper is scheduled for replacement in 2008 at an estimated cost of $35,000. We purchased our current used chipper, a 1993 model, in February 2004. Since then we have put over 350 hours of use on it. We have had trouble running it on hot summer days and on cold winter days because it uses unleaded gas. It also has a smaller than desired opening for feeding brush so it tends to jam up a lot and slow the operation down. The proposed chipper is a diesel that stands up better under extreme weather conditions and provides over 50 more horsepower. The extra horsepower will allow us to chip larger diameter wood rather than hauling it away. The chute is also larger to make feeding brush easier. We do a lot of trimming in the winter in both Parks and Public Works and a new diesel chipper should allow us to be more efficient and get more trimming done while we have the time to do it. Overall the Capital Improvement Fund balance is being sustained as reasonable levels to allow for scheduled capital replacement needs and new acquisitions. However, we would like to note that the Fire Department's next truck replacement, while approximatelyl0 years down the road, will be a significant outlay. The cost of replacing the ladder truck is somewhere in the 1.0 -1.4 million range, as an early ballpark guess. Given the significance of the expenditure Staff would recommend that the Council consider establishing a program that will start building finds now to meet this future expenditure and thus avoiding a dramatic levy impact down the line. We could establish a reverse within the General Capital Improvement fund that would build to an adequate level by replacement date. More specifically a portion of the projected 2008 surplus could be used to establish an initial funding of this reserve. An annual funding requirement could then be then be determined and budgeted for within the GCIP Fund. We would also discuss with the Fire Department their interest in participating in the funding program. 10% Fund: • The electrostatic painting of the playground structures at Pioneer was completed in 2007 and Spooner was deferred to 2008. Infrastructure Fund: The streets being considered for improvement in 2008 are as follows: