12-19-07 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 19, 2007 The Administrator indicated that the City has made good progress on street reconstruction. However, there are still many streets left to be done. He noted that Thunder Bay Road is failing somewhat prematurely, part of the reason is the poor soils and drainage in this area. The Administrator indicated that the City has had one other urban street reconstruction a number of years ago, Payne Avenue. The cost of that reconstruction project was assessed at approximately 30% of construction costs. The Administrator felt that in additional to having to assess at over 20% of improvement costs and given the Payne Avenue precedent, it was felt a change in the assessment policy was warranted. The Administrator stated that he realizes the overwhelming desires of the Thunder Bay Road and Lakeside Court property owners to not move forward with these improvements. He noted, however, that given the current real estate market, contractors are hungry and the City and property owners may benefit from this market in the form of a low bid. He also noted that the Lakeside Court project involves watermain in addition to sheet reconstruction. The Administrator pointed out that this is one of the few areas of the City without watermain. The City has a large pipe project scheduled for 2008, and it was felt that an economy of scale could be realized by adding in the Lakeside Court watermain project. With regard to the Condit project, the Administrator reported that a second neighborhood meeting was held the other evening with the residential property owners along Condit. The property owners asked for a temporary fix on the street, delaying the reconstruction project. However, after reviewing the street, the City Engineer and Public Works Superintendent did not feel a temporary fix was workable. There was also discussion about a minimal street width. The Administrator noted that 28 feet is the City's minimum, and the property owners are willing to forego on-street parking if the width could be kept at 24 to 28 feet. The main concern is with tree impact, and there were also discussions about retaining walls and tree replacement. The Administrator reported that it is staff s recommendation to move forward with the improvement hearings. At that time, more definitive information will be available and able to be presented to property owners. Blesener agreed, noting that calling for the improvement hearings did not indicate any commitment on the part of the Council to move forward with the improvements. Chris Pew, Thunder Bay Road, asked why the assessment policy was changed one week before the neighborhood meeting was held on Thunder Bay Road. She also noted that the improvement project was brought up 14