01-23-2012 Council Special Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 23, 2012 collection with property taxes. Those assessments would be spread over a 10 year period. Interest would be charged, with the Engineer noting that the interest rate for 2011 assessments was 5.25 %. He noted that once certified to the County, assessments can be paid in full any time in the future, but recommended that payments be made prior to November 15th of the given year, otherwise the full next year's interest is added to the payment balance. The Engineer also pointed out that a property owner on a fixed income can utilize an assessment deferral if certain criteria are met. However, interest does accrue on deferred assessments. The Engineer then reviewed the proposed project schedule as well as construction issues. He reviewed the estimated Assessment Roll for the project as well as reviewed an example of an assessment amortization schedule for an assessment certified to the County. Wayne Woodruff, 2605 Sylvan Street, indicated that there is speeding on Sylvan Street and asked if speed dips could be installed as part of the street project. The City Engineer pointed out that the project does not change the grade of the road, and that speed dips could not be installed. He also noted that the City periodically gets requests for speed bumps, but these interfere with snowplowing and are not installed. The City Administrator suggested that Woodruff obtain the license plate number of any cars speeding. The Sheriff's Department will then send a warning letter to the owner of the car. This has proved effective in other areas of the City. Woodruff asked about lowering the speed limit which is currently 30 mph. The City Administrator noted that the City would have to petition the County which would then request the State do a speed study. He noted that the risk in this is that the State would look at the average speed of vehicles on the street, and there is the chance that the speed limit could be raised. The Administrator pointed out that unless there is a school zone present, the speed limit for average residential streets is 30 mph. The Administrator also indicated that the City could request that the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department place a traffic car on Sylvan for a period of time. Jerry Wester, 2590 Sylvan Street, asked about project specifics. The city Engineer reported that street surface would be milled and overlaid and the crown of the street re- established so that water runs to the curb line and down the gutter. Wester asked how much curbing would be replaced. The Engineer replied that if the project is ordered, he would flood the street to determine where it is holding water. Based on this as well as a visual inspection of the curb and gutter, the amount of replacement will be 11