Resolution 7307 Approving Design Issues for the 2008 2009 Street Utility Project

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Streets and utilities Committee Recommendations July 7, 2008 Page 9 9. Draft Raingarden Policy At the June 30, 2008 Streets and Utilities Committee meeting, the parameters of a Draft Raingarden Policy were discussed and voted on. The Draft Policy, which will be presented at the Raingarden Neighborhood Meeting on July 15, 2008, consists of the construction of turf grass raingardens (a.k.a. turf infiltration swales) at all locations suitable for raingardens as shown on Figures 6 and 7 of the Report for the 2007-2008 Street and Utility Improvement Project, dated December 2006. Maintenance of the turf raingarden would be the homeowner’s responsibility. In lieu of a turf raingarden, a planted raingarden could be installed by a homeowner; however, all costs for materials, installation, and maintenance of a planted raingarden would be the homeowner’s responsibility. The Committee feels this draft policy provides the most cost effective way to meet the Rice Creek Watershed District’s regulations, without adding unnecessary costs to the project. The Committee is also concerned about the maintenance/enforcement issues related to planted raingardens. They do not wish for the raingardens to become eyesores in the community. Reference Materials It is the understanding of Staff that the City Council has received copies of all meeting packets of the Streets and Utilities Committee. All background materials for the above issues have been included in those packets, and therefore, have only been summarized in this Staff Report. Please refer to those documents from the Committee meetings as necessary. The following two documents are included with this Report: • A copy of the presentation given during the Public Meeting on June 14, 2008. • A copy of the Feedback Form Summary Table The presentation was not included in the materials for any of the Committee meetings; however, the Committee Members did receive a copy of the presentation at the Public Meeting. The presentation materials will help the Council to view the materials from the perspective of the public who attended the June 14, 2008 meeting.