Agenda Packets - 2008/08/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachment #3 Raingarden Program as Recommended by the Streets and Utilities Committee City Standard Program - City Responsibility ¾The City will pay for the materials to construct and install turf grass infiltration swales at all locations designated by the City, including the following improvements: o Provide a curb cut. o Grade an infiltration swale within City right-of-way. o Restore the infiltration swale with wet tolerant turf seed mix and erosion control blanket. ¾The City will provide inspection and maintenance of these features at a minimum of every 5 years to maintain feature infiltration effectiveness. ¾The City will provide property owners with educational materials and a list of technical resources regarding the maintenance of these features. City Standard Program - Property Owner Responsibility ¾The property owner will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the turf grass on the surface of the feature. o This is consistent with the City’s current policy of property owners maintaining City right- of-way adjacent to their yard. ¾Maintenance activities for turf grass infiltration swales could be no more involved than standard yard maintenance. Optional Property Owner Improvements ¾At any time property owners can replace the turf with raingarden plants, or add retaining walls, borders, etc., which would be considered Optional Improvements. ¾Property owners would be financially responsible for the initial and ongoing costs of all Optional Improvements. ¾Property owners would be responsible for installing Optional Improvements. ¾Property owners would be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of plantings to retain the aesthetics of the raingarden. The maintenance effort for a raingarden would be considerably more than a turf grass infiltration swale. ¾City will establish standard templates for raingardens. ¾The City will have the authority to prevent planted raingardens from turning into eye-sores. ¾If the property owner knows they want to replace the turf at the time of the project, they can notify the City to improve project efficiency and cost. ¾Cost considerations – estimated cost for raingarden plants (plugs), mulch, and edging = $1.50 - $2.00 per square foot. ¾A 50/50 cost share for raingarden materials is currently available through the watershed district.