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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/2010 Street Rehab Zone 6 OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 6, 2010 - 6:45 P.M, The following are the minutes of the Public Improvement Hearing Special Meeting agenda for the of the City Council held at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, December 6, 2010 in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 590 40 Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, MN. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Peterson, Council member Williams, Council member Nawrocki, Council member Diehm, Council member Kelzenberg PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING: 2011 STREET REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR ZONE 6 A) Street Rehabilitation Projects 1) Presentation of Information on Street Rehabilitation Projects by Staff Kevin Hansen, Public Work Director, referred to the information packet Council members received which describes the project area. He indicated the purpose of this meeting is to hear public testimony and for the Council to decide to whether to proceed with the project. This is an annual street rehabilitation program. He indicated the actual cost to redo a city block and described the process to analyze each block to find what repairs are needed, by staff and by a consultant. He described the difference between mill and overlay and full street reconstruction. He stated that any area scheduled for full reconstruction includes utility repairs paid for with utility funds. He indicated that, at this time, we do not know if any of the water services need to be replaced. The total estimate cost is $650,000 for street work and $250,000 for utility work. The utility work is not assessed. The policy for assessment is mill and overlay - 85 percent resident and 15 percent city and street reconstruction - 50 percent resident and 50 percent city. The city only assesses based on final construction costs. Mill and overlay assessments are assessed over a 10 year period and full construction is assessed over 15 years. Hansen explained the Unit Rate Assessment. Kelzenberg commended Hansen on his in -depth presentation. Nawrocki stated he attended the hearing and one person stated that her water was dirty. After the meeting, two people stated that the project should not go ahead. Nawrocki referred to a call he received that he was unable to respond to. Nawrocki asked what the maximum assessment would be. Hansen stated $2,955 per lot plus $1,750 if there is a lead water line. There were 39 properties noticed at the $3,500, if they were built prior to a certain date. There are 105 properties in this area. Fehst indicated that last year's cost was 12 percent less than anticipated. Hansen stated that road work costs have decreased about 20 percent. 2) Questions and Comments on Street Rehabilitation Projects Ross Johnson, 4226 4 Street, asked the difference of the cost between 4 Street and 6 Street. Hansen stated that the price on 4 Street is $1,650. He stated that his building is being charged at $2,700. It is a homesteaded apartment building. Hansen stated that the city does not subsidize non - residential property. Bill Antzarus, 4158 6 Street, questioned the 1914 date of the utilities on this street and if it had ever been dug up. Hansen stated the original grading was in 1916 and blacktopped in 1941. Sanitary sewer was installed in 1927 and the water main in 1914. Antzarus questioned where the valve is for this street. Hansen stated that can be hard to determine because of the old records. Antzarus stated he has not seen this street dug up in his 35 years here. There are other streets worse than this and with the economy this is not a good year to do this. Williams stated that prices are lower at this point and can be paid over 15 years. Diehm asked for an explanation of the deferment program. Hansen explained that one half of the assessment can be deferred until the sale of the home, if they meet the income eligibility. Fehst stated that the time for repayment is 15 years. Nawrocki stated the deferment policy is to spread the payment out over time, but has not turned out to be very helpful. Only one person has used that policy. Nawrocki indicated that Anoka borrowed funds at two to three percent interest. Interest rates this year were dropped to six percent. JoAnne Hodgman, 4047 6th Street, asked if any other streets are this old. Hansen stated that 1914 refers to the water main date. She asked if the doctor /dentist office is being assessed also. Diehm stated they will be assessed and will pay the full amount. Hodgman requested that the Council look at other alternatives to give homeowners in the area a break. Hansen stated that the Council has done that with the 50 percent cost share. Ross Johnson asked why his building is not subsidized. Hansen stated that the policy was set up to help single family homes. Johnson indicated that he just paid off over $6,000 in assessments, and with one year off will now be assessed again. Hansen referred to higher usage by multiple homes. Johnson stated he was opposed to this work. Antzarus questioned curb /handicap access replacement on 6 Street and 42 " Avenue. Hansen stated that sidewalks will not be replaced unless damaged. The ADA ramps will be preserved if possible. Nawrocki requested to poll those present if they wanted the project delayed or to go ahead; by show of hands, two for and six against. Diehm asked how many property owners were noticed. Hansen stated 105. Peterson stated this program was started quite a few years ago. The problem was that our roads were let go too long with out improvements and this is the cost to bring them back to a safe level. This is always a burden on someone. Council members also pay for street improvements. Costs are down now and if we stop the process we will go back to the old system where they cost more to repair. Hopefully, costs will come in under the engineer's estimate. We want to stay on top of our infrastructure. Diehm stated that the water box replacement can make a big difference in the cost and is a State mandate. She encouraged staff to look for any lead line grant funding to help residents. Nawrocki stated that staff has made a good presentation on the merits of the project. He asked members to keep in mind that these are tough times and many homes are in foreclosure. He stated he opposed moving ahead with the project at this time. B) Close the Public Hearing Motion by Kelzenberg, second by Williams, to waive the reading of Resolution 2010 -133, there being ample copies available to the public and to close the Public Hearing of the 2011 Street Rehabilitation Project No. 1102. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. C) Consideration of Resolution Motion by Kelzenberg, second by Williams, to adopt Resolution 2010 -133, being a resolution ordering improvements and preparation of plans for Zone 6 Street Rehabilitation, City Project 1102. Williams stated that tough times don't last, tough people do. He will vote for this, to improve our city and keep it strong. Upon vote: Kelzenberg, aye; Williams, aye; Diehm, aye; Nawrocki, nay; Peterson, aye. 4 ayes — 1 nay. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m. ' atricia Musco itz CM GL: ty Clerk RESOLUTION 2010 -133 BEING A RESOLUTION ORDERING IMPROVEMENTS AND PREPARATION OF PLANS FOR ZONE 6 STREET REHABILITIATION - CITY PROJECT 1102 WHEREAS, Resolution 2010 -128 of the Columbia Heights City Council adopted the 22 " day of November, 2010, fixed a date for a Council hearing on the proposed improvement bounded by University Avenue on the west, 40 Avenue on the south, Central Avenue on the east and 44 Avenue on the north, AND WHEREAS, ten days' mailed notice and two published notices of the hearing a week apart were given, and the hearing was held thereon the 6th day of December, 2010, at which all persons desiring to be heard were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. WHEREAS, the Council determines to proceed with this local improvement, a portion of the cost being defrayed by special assessments under Charter provisions. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA: 1. That the location and extent of such improvements is as follows: FULL STREET RECONSTRUCTION 6th Street, 40 Avenue to 44 Avenue Work includes required utility reconstruction /repair, required water service replacement/repair, new granular sub -base if needed, new aggregate base, new concrete curb and gutter with driveway aprons, new bituminous surfacing, required concrete or bituminous driveway and walk/step replacement, sod restoration, miscellaneous construction items, and appurtenances. STREET MILL AND OVERLAY 2. 4th Street, 42 " Avenue to 44 Avenue 3. Work includes required utility reconstruction /repair, spot replacement of curb and gutter with required concrete or bituminous driveway and walk/step replacement, milling of existing street surface, new bituminous surfacing, sod restoration, miscellaneous construction items, and appurtenances. 4. Such improvement is necessary, cost - effective, and feasible as detailed in the feasibility report. 5. Such improvement is hereby ordered as proposed in the Council Resolution adopted 22 " day of November, 2010. 6. These improvements shall also be known as Project 1102 and PIRs: 2011-Z6-02-001 for Full Street Reconstruction, and 201 1 -Z6 -44 -001 for Street Mill and Overlay. 7. The City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, is hereby designated as the engineer for this improvement. The engineer shall prepare plans and specifications for the making of such improvement.