HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-16 Council Minutes - Work SessionCOUNCIL WORK SESSION
AUGUSTi6, 2005
6:00 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MAYOR PAT PORTER, PRESIDING
NOTES
Council present: P. Porter, L. Swarner, B. Gilman, J. Moore, R. Ross, J. Butler, C.
Massie
Staff present: C. Freas, C. Kopp, K. Kornelis, B. Frates, C. Graves, R. Feltman
Mayor Porter called the work session to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. Porter
noted, capital grants had been received; road and sewer improvements ($790,000) and
for improvements ($290,000). City administration provided a list of items to consider
funding.
Acting City Manager Kopp referred to information included in the packet and noted:
• Memorandum to organize the Capital Improvement Project Plan
(developing a five/six-year plan to be formalized as a policy document).
• The memorandum tries to establish criteria as to what is urgent,
necessary, essential, nice to have, and what can be deferred.
• The packet included two items which would fit into the legislative grants:
public improvements ($290,000) and water/sewer ($790,000).
• A KK memorandum referred to several priorities related to public
improvements.
a. Kenai Municipal Park -- if so desired, council could continue to
pursue the process in developing the park as a recreational/scenic gathering point in
the city. A professional design had been developed and the funds could be used in
pursuing the project.
b. Leif Hansen Park Improvements -- a underground watering
program.
C. Cunningham Park Improvements -- bank stabilization and some
beautification.
d. Skateboard Park Improvements -- painting just completed and
ramps to be painted.
e. Water Wells -- priority public safety issue/water treatment for all
wellhouses; testing of contaminant levels found to be too high; other grants are
available for applying (mentioned for review).
f. City Hall -- HVAC system upgrades (ventilation, heating/cooling
concerns) ($150,000 cost).
g. Restrooms -- Replacement on South Spruce.
h. Water Tanks -- Need for relining the interior linings of holding
tank.
i. Road/ Sewer -- Land trade completed with The Conservation Fund
for the dock exit road. With $300,000 of the $790,000, the exit road could be built.
j . City Building Parking Lot Improvements -- Pictures of Public
Safety Building, Library, etc. were distributed for review. Approximately $100,000
could be needed for these repairs and with those funds, as much repair would be done
with the amount provided by council.
KENAI COUNCIL WORK SESSION
AUGUST 16, 2005
PAGE 2
k. Local Improvement Districts --
• Set Net Drive has submitted a petition.
Approximately $117,000 currently in the Street Improvement Fund and
the project cost had been estimated at $120,000.
• Also McCollum/Aliak, South Ames, and Thompson
Park are in various stages of developing their paperwork.
Council Member Moore questioned the $117,000 and asked where those funds were
accumulated and if there were funds to pave Set Net Drive, why it was not done.
Kornelis noted, Aliak/McCollum would have cost $350,000 to $400,000 and there
would not have been enough to do that project.
1. Street Improvements (Chip and Seal) -- Last one completed was in
1993. The roads in need of improvement were identified and prioritized.
• Mommsen Subdivision -- Florida Avenue to California
Avenue.
• Wildwood Drive -- The road is mostly heavily used due to
transportation of prisoners and visitors of prisoners. Because Wildwood
is a state facility, it should be on the legislative request yearly.
• Other streets were listed as well.
Parks & Recreation Director Frates reviewed the improvements planned for Municipal
Park and noted:
• The Park consists of about 43 Acres.
• Upgrades and new play equipment added in 1992.
• The Park receives a lot of use, including the shelter in the back,
especially during dip net season.
• The interior area of the park is underdeveloped and would not take a lot
of effort to add a trail system using the existing road system; include signage in regard
to the identified barabaras in the Park; an estimated cost would be $250,000.
Kopp suggested the following:
• He believed the improvement plan for Municipal Park would be good to
follow; it's a heavily used park; used by the school students; it's a downtown 'play'
park; suggested use of volunteer groups to assist in the development of the
improvements; and, he recommended using $125,000 for the improvements.
• Leif Hansen Park -- $40,000 estimate received for the watering system.
• Skateboard Park Improvements -- $10,000.
• Water Well Treatment and Tank relining -- Funds for these
improvements should not be taken from this pool of funds (water tank relining
estimated at $480,000 and water treatment estimated at $1.6 Million -- DEC grants
should be pursued and/or general obligation bond) .
• Street Lights -- $50,000 (placement identified in materials included in
the packet) .
KENAI COUNCIL WORK SESSION
AUGUST 16, 2005
PAGE 3
Council Member Ross asked if the funds could be used as the city's local match and
Kornelis stated he believed they could be, as long as it was not the Municipal
Matching Grant Program. Kornelis noted, Item 5 listed at $72,000 would be used for
small wells at the ballfields, multipurpose facility, parks and would be untreated water
to be used for watering lawns at parks, cemetery, cooling at the multipurpose facility,
etc.
Also noted, because of growth in the VIP Subdivision area, a great need existed for a
non -potable water storage tank by the Fire Department. Cost was estimated at
$25,000 and would benefit many Kenai residents.
Discussion followed:
• Chip and seal program and priority needs.
• What is needed for a match on the development of the Section 36 soccer
field? Answer given was $62,000 would not require a match; in -kind approximated at
$48,000; and approximately $150,000 would be an estimated match required.
• The city had applied for $2.4 million in DEC grants.; a city match would
be $1.2 million; DEC determines the award of grants by priority points; $1.2 million
was currently in the unfunded balance in water/ sewer, however there would be
nothing in reserve; if the grants are received, it would be at 11/2-2 years.
Recommendations of council on public improvements projects to be funded:
Item 1, Municipal Park Improvements -- $125,000
Item 2, Leif Hansen Memorial Park Watering System -- 502000
*Item 4, Skateboard Park Improvements -- 10,000
Item 5, Well Development -- 72,000
*Set Net Water Storage -- 25,000
$272)000
Recommendations of council for water/sewer improvements:
Street Lights -- $ 50,000
**Local Improvement Districts -- 600,000
*If cannot be done through these funds, replace skateboard park improvements.
**It was noted, McCollum/Aliak Drive LID petition was approximately two years old;
Set Net Drive, Ames Road, and Thompson Park petitions had not been returned.)
Discussion followed related to the Local Improvement Districts (LID)
Eric Wilcox -- Submitted the petition for McCollum/Aliak in October, 2002; his
understanding from Kornelis was that when funds were available, the work would be
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done; referred to letter of June 4 2003 stating the project was "put on hold until funds
are available"; and, requested clarification.
KENAI COUNCIL WORK SESSION
AUGUST 16, 2005
PAGE 4
Kopp stated funds were are not available; property owners change hands; because the
project is at least six months old, without rechecking if the owners who signed the
petition still wanted the project to go forward, it could be problematic for the city; a
new petition would be needed to verify the property owners of record had not changed,
etc.
Wilcox noted, when the petition was signed, it was for a 75/25 split of costs, was the
last petition at that cost, and, had been agreed to by council in October, 2002. In his
discussions with Mayor Porter, it was noted the city ordinance regarding LIDS did not
address holding a project until funds were available. Wilcox stated his desire to
proceed with the project if funds were available.
Porter confirmed the ordinance did not address the 'putting on hold' of a project and
would be council's decision as to what to do. She noted, administration recommended
a new petition be submitted.
Carol Padgett -- Stated Ames Road submitted a petition as well.
Attorney Graves noted, the petition (McCollum/Aliak) had been submitted three years
prior; he recalled a discussion that if a significant time period elapsed, a new petition
would be needed due to change in owners, etc. He added, there had been discussion
that if a new petition was submitted, would the council require them to pay 50% or
25% of the cost because council recognized at the time, the McCollum/Aliak project
would be the last one at 25% and there had been some concern they would have been
grandfathered in at the 25%.
Because there were only 51 % of the property owners signing the petition and the
petition was three years old, Council Member Ross stated he believed a new petition
should be submitted. Porter suggested a written policy be developed for when there's
funding or if there is no funding and perhaps include it on the petition. It was also
noted, the cost of asphalt had increased and would have an effect on cost of the
project, fund availability, etc.
Porter stated she believed council agreed new petitions would be required because of
the time elapsed, however a petition should not lose a place (McCollum/ Aliak) in line
as far as fund availability.
Council Member Butler suggested creating an incentive to participate in an LID,
setting all the $790,000 aside (except for $50,000 for street lights) and have the
neighborhoods come back and find out what options are available and if there is
interest in paving their neighborhood at 50% and the city should do whatever possible
to match it. If they don't, whatever funds are then not used, see if a project can be
done for less.
KENAI COUNCIL WORK SESSION
AUGUST 16, 2005
PAGE 5
Kornelis was requested to supply estimated costs for paving projects, including cost
increases for asphalt.
Porter suggested placing a bond issue on the October, 2006 ballot to repair streets,
chip/seal, etc. It was explained, even with a bond, a petition would be required for
forming an LID.
Kopp noted other issues needing attention were the City Shop water remediation
($800,000); water treatment system ($1.6 million); noted 11/2% interest loan money is
available which could be used to address those issues. Graves noted, a vote of the
people would be required for general obligation bonds. Consensus of council was to
bring the issue of an obligation bond forward as an agenda discussion item.
Kopp clarified council's desire was to place $50,000 for street lights; the remainder of
the $790,000 to use for LIDs (McCollum/Aliak go back out with a petition and at a
75 / 2 5 match and any other LIDs at a 50% match) .
Consensus also included to pave the Public Safety and Library parking lots.
Discussion followed whether an advertisement should be placed to encourage
residents to submit petitions for LIDs. Ross suggested waiting until after bond issue
information is provided by administration and then place an advertisement, which
could give an indication of interest by neighborhoods for paving streets.
It was also suggested, that if a bond issue is approved, the split of cost should be
75/25, however it was noted, fewer roads would be able to be paved, as well as most
other communities split the cost at 50 / 50.
Kornelis noted, because of a limited amount of money, he believed the LIDs should not
be a first -come, first -served basis; council or a committee should grade them and
decide which are more important or take more maintenance, serve more people, etc.
Administration was requested to forward a Capital Improvement Project Plan for
council's consideration and the general obligation bond discussion should include
paving and the wellhouse water system.
Work session ended at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Notes prepared by:
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk