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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />April 27, 1999 <br /> <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />Public Hearing. continued <br /> <br />Jeanne Kratzer, 668 8th Ave., asked how would utility lines be serviced if the alley was <br />abandoned. Benke said utility companies would access their lines through the easement <br />area. Kratzer noted drainage problems, vandalism, and suspicious behavior occurring in <br />the alley. Olson said grade adjustments would be made to alleviate drainage problems. <br />If Council and residents support the abandomnent, then a decision is needed to determine <br />the type of materials to cover the alley. Kratzer said there is strong support among <br />neighbors to abandon the alley. <br /> <br />One resident asked why the alleys are being reconstructed. Olson said the alleys are <br />almost 40 years old and in disrepair, and staff received many phone calls regarding their <br />condition. This resident does not want to pay for repairing an alley used only for <br />garbage pickup. <br /> <br />Dennis Morley, 676 9th Ave., asked if the alley could be widened to provide a concrete <br />transition into the alley from unimproved driveways. Benke said the City would need to <br />acquire that portion of private property to provide a concrete transition into the alley. <br />Olson said the project involves replacing driveway portions with in-kind materials. <br /> <br />Jeff Nelson asked if there are special funding programs to provide landscaping if the <br />alley was abandoned. Benke verified there are no funding programs available. <br /> <br />Jeanne Kratzer is currently paying an assessment for the 8th Ave. project, and this <br />project would be a financial burden for her. <br /> <br />John McKenzie, 478 10th Ave., asked if garbage pickup will be permitted in the alley <br />after reconstruction. Olson confirmed that the alley will be constructed at a thickness <br />which allows for garbage pickup. <br /> <br />Motion by Samuelson, seconded by Hoffman, to CONTINUE THE PUBLIC <br />HEARING FOR PROJECT 99-3, HANSEN PARK AREA ALLEY <br />RECONSTRUCTION, TO THE MAY 11,1999, COUNCIL MEETING. <br /> <br />5 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />Finance Director Margaret Egan presented the 1999 Utility Rate Study. The City <br />operates three utility enterprise services: Water, Sewer, and Stormwater. The annual <br />operating costs for the utility services total nearly $3.7 million and are divided as <br />follows: water - $1,400,000 or 38%; stormwater - $232,000 or 6%; and sewer- <br />$2,065,000 or 56 %. Revenues are received from customer charges - 81 %, reserves - <br />11 %; and other income (late fees and Army funding) - 8 %. Customer charges will pay <br />for operations, but a water service rate increase is expected due to lack of revenue <br />growth when expenses are increasing. <br /> <br />The two principles guiding the management of utilities state all costs associated with <br />providing services are charged to the utilities, and benefitting customers pay service <br />costs based on metered usage. In 1993, the City upgraded customer meters to provide <br />for usage readings thorough remote box technology. <br /> <br />Public Hearing <br /> <br />Hansen Park Alley <br />Reconstruction <br />Report 99-097 <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />1999 Utility Rates <br />Report 99-098 <br />Resolution 99-036 <br />