11/05/2014 - City Council Public Works CommitteeAGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBERS, 2014
Following Regular Council Meeting
CITY HALL
CONFERENCE ROOMS 1A &B
I. ADOPT AGENDA
11. I &I /WATER METER SURCHARGE APPEALS
111. COMPLETE STREETS UPDATE
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda Memo
November 5, 2014 Public Works Committee Meeting
II. Inflow & Infiltration (1 &1) /Water Meter Replacement Programs
Surcharge Appeals
Direction To Be Considered:
Provide recommendations for the City Council regarding various appeals to Inflow & Infiltration
(1 &1) Program surcharges in accordance with City Code 3.40, Subdivision 10, Clear Water
Discharge Prevention and Prohibition and Water Meter Replacement Program surcharges in
accordance with City Code 3.20, Subdivision 10, Water Meters.
Background:
• On September 1, 2009, the City Council adopted an amendment to City Ordinance 3.40
regarding the Rules and Regulations relating to Sanitary Sewer Service that requires
compliance with a mandatory inspection program and any related corrective work orders.
• On December 15, 2009, the City Council implemented the Inflow and Infiltration (1 &1)
Inspection Program /Policy to eliminate clearwater flow from the sanitary sewer system.
• On May 15, 2012, the City Council adopted an amendment to City Ordinance 3.20 regarding
the Rules and Regulations relating to Water Service that requires compliance with a
mandatory inspection program and any related meter replacement.
• Part of the amendments, and accordingly the I &I Inspection and Water Meter Replacement
Programs, incorporated fee schedules that provided for surcharges to be placed against
utility billing accounts for those properties that either didn't schedule an inspection or did
not complete a resulting corrective work order or meter replacement within the prescribed
time frame.
• The Surcharge Fee is $150 per month for Single Family properties and $500 per month for
all others. As of this fall, the City has levied approximately 1600 surcharges (252 of these
being removed) totaling over $200,000. Several of these surcharges represent multiple
months for the same property.
• To date, staff has received 72 surcharge appeals (0.3% of all I &I inspected properties). In
anticipation of such appeals, the Council directed the Public Works Committee to review
any appeals and provide their recommendation back to the Council under the Consent
Agenda. Staff has recently heard from 4 of these properties who want to appeal their
remaining surcharge(s).
• The following surcharge appeals are being presented to the Public Works Committee for the
purpose of corresponding recommendations for future Council action. All of the properties
have been found to be in compliance with City Code regarding the I &I and /or Water Meter
Program. As a result of the individual reviews, the related surcharge appeals should be
recommended to be waived or denied.
• Jerry Pritchett, 3760 Blackhawk Road - $150 surcharge (utility account)
• Tom Bowlin, 1665 Oakbrooke Circle - $300 surcharge (utility account)
• Mohmmid Gaffar, 1593 Raindrop Dr - $150 surcharge (utility account)
Agenda Memo
November 5, 2014 Public Works Committee Meeting
o John Rubesch, 3262 Black Oak Drive - $6,150 surcharge (certified), $1,050 surcharge
(utility account)
• The property at 3262 Black Oak Drive accrued several monthly surcharges resulting in
significant liabilities against said account while the City wasn't able to inspect the property.
Staff tried numerous and various personal contact options in an effort to achieve
compliance. A portion of the surcharges ($6,150) were certified to Dakota County for
collection with property taxes prior to notification of the appeal. The remaining surcharges
($1,050) are within the current utility account.
• $3,300 of the surcharges is actually on the current year's property tax statement. This
amount, or any portion of it, cannot be removed from the property taxes without actual
payment to Dakota County. If any of these surcharges were to be waived, the utility
account could be credited the amount of the waived surcharges. Any surplus within the
utility account could be issued as a payment /check to the property owner with the
expectation that the owner would pay off the related surcharges on the property taxes.
• $2,850 of the surcharges has been levied, but has not been placed on the 2015 tax
statement, yet. If any of these surcharges were to be waived, an adjustment receipt could
be sent to the County to credit the levied amount of the waived surcharges. This amount
would then return to the utility account (City) and could be directly adjusted as directed by
the Council. Such waived surcharges would not appear on the 2015 property tax statement.
• We have been successful in scheduling inspections for all property owners (or their tenants)
who have contacted us. All notices requesting the property owner to contact the City
clearly identify the potential for continuing surcharges to be levied in the event that no
inspection is scheduled.
Attachments: (0)
Agenda Memo
November 5, 2014 Public Works Committee Meeting
III. Complete Streets
Update
Direction To Be Considered:
Receive an update from City staff on the current status of the "Complete Streets" policy within
the State of Minnesota.
Background:
• "Complete streets" is an approach to road planning and design that considers and balances
the needs of all transportation users. It's about improving the transportation system's
safety and functionality for all users. Its main premise is to get people around safely and
efficiently from point A to point B, using whatever mode of travel they choose.
• The complete streets approach helps to maximize the use of public roadways and right -of-
way in order to provide a comprehensive and connected multimodal transportation system.
• City staff have implemented a "Complete Streets" philosophy throughout transportation
improvements completed within the city for more than a decade. Staff will provide an
update on the State's efforts to support a more statewide effort including requirements for
State Aid projects completed within the City.
Attachments: (0)