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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998.06.30 CC Minutes - Special Council meetingMMUTES FOR THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 30.1998 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Fran Miron at 7:30PM. PRESENT: Arcand, Barnes, Goiffon, Leroux, Miron City Administrator, Robert Museus City Engineer, Tom Angus This special meeting was called to consider adoption of an ordinance levying connection charges for a proposed sanitary sewer lift station and related facilities to be located on 130th Street, east of Forest Boulevard. This ordinance is based on a policy adopted by the City Council to reimburse private developers for certain costs associated with the construction of public facilities designed to serve property outside of their development. In this case, J&,R Land Development Company, is being required to locate and oversize a sanitary sewer lift station and watermains being built as a part of Beaver Ponds subdivision to serve future development of nearby property. The Mayor opened the meeting by requesting the City Engineer explain the proposed improvements. Mr. Angus stated that a sanitary lift station is required to serve the Beaver Ponds development, and that the City's Comprehensive Sewer and Water Supply Plan calls for a lift station to be located at 130th Street to serve the A2 sanitary sewer district. Based on two units per buildable acre, approximately 810 homes may be developed in the area, including 170 units in the Beaver Ponds subdivision. Staff recommends that the connection fees be established to reimburse the developer 56% of the cost of constructing the sanitary sewer lift station, in accordance with the Council's May 8, 1998 policy on reimbursing private developers. This will result in a hookup charge of approximately $280 per unit. The hearing was opened for public comment. Dean Atkinson, 13452 Goodview Avenue, questioned whether the lift station would be of use to his property given the distance between his property and the lift station, and the limited difference in elevation. The City Administrator explained the ordinance established a hookup charge, not an assessment, and that property owners would only be charged for actual connections made to the lift station. If it was not feasible to construct such a connection, then the property would not be charged a connection fee. Kevin Peltier asked about the capability of the lift station to serve his property south of 130th Street, along Goodview Avenue. Mr. Angus explained that it is expected that the northern portion of Mr. Peltier's property will be serviced by the lift station to be constructed as a part of Beaver Ponds, and that the southern part of his property would eventually be serviced by a lift station located on 120th Street. Theodora Peltier asked if interest was to be charged on the hookup fee. The City Administrator explained that the ordinance did allow for the hookup charge to be increased on an annual basis, by a percentage to be determined by the City Council. Mr. Tom Jackson, 5939 Egg Lake, questioned how this hookup charge related to the City's REC charge made against homes as they are permitted in the City. Staff explained that the REC charge was used for fund capital improvements to the City's sanitary sewer City Council meeting of June 30, 1998 Page 2 utility to cover those costs that do not are covered by assessments or development. It is the City's policy to charge 100% of the cost of utility expansion to a developer, and the purpose of the hookup charge for the lift station was to insure that development did pay for the extension of utilities, while allowing reasonable distribution of the cost to benefited properties. Mr. Peltier asked if the hookup charge proposed for the lift station would be in lieu of the REC charge, and the answer was "no", and that both charges would be made as appropriate. Tom Angus recommended that the City table action on the ordinance until such time as final construction costs were known, and to base the hookup fee on actual cost, rather than estimated cost. Miron made motion, Barnes seconded, to split the cost of the lift station 44% for the developer and 56% to be reimbursed to the developer by hookup charges made by adjacent properties. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Goiffon, Leroux, Miron ABSTAINED: Arcand Motion Carried. Leroux made motion, Goiffon seconded, to table action on adoption of the ordinance until the final cost for the project has been identified. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Goiffon, Leroux, Miron ABSTAINED: Arcand Motion Carried. Council member Barnes left the Council meeting following the motion to table action on the ordinance. The Mayor asked the Council to consider a request of Kathy Marier for construction of a children's playground in the park by City Hall. Mrs. Marier made a presentation providing the Council options for the development of the playground, to cost between $25,000 and $50,000, based on estimates she had received from St. Croix Valley Recreation. Miron made motion, Leroux seconded, to direct staff to obtain a cost estimate to have a landscape architect work with the City's Park Committee in preparing plans and bid specifications for a new playground by the City Hall. All aye. Motion Carried. City Council meeting of June 30, 1998 Page 3 The Mayor asked the City Administrator to prepare a letter for Council approval on July 6, 1998, informing the Hugo Lions of the proposed expansion of the children's in the City Hall Park, since they have their facility adjacent to the playground area. Goiffon made motion, Leroux seconded, to adjourn at approximately 8:50PM. All aye. Motion Carried. o e4AJulse�ns City Administrator