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Discussion and Action Items for Council <br />As we prepare for the spring flooding season, there are a few items for Council to consider, specifically <br />with respect to providing guidance to staff as to the level of service staff should offer for preparatory <br />measures. <br />Sand Bad <br />As previously mentioned, the city has approximately 20,000 sandbags in inventory. In an effort to be <br />proactive to potential flooding, emergency management staff would like some direction from Council on <br />how bags should be distributed if/when they are needed/requested. The average price for a sandbag <br />(with no sand) is $0.29/each. One (1) ton of sand is approximately $5. <br />Below are some suggestions on how to best distribute these items: <br />Local Site Distribution of Bags and Sand: When flooding is imminent, staff will deliver loads of <br />sand and bags to threatened areas in town. The sand and bags would be left at various residential <br />locations in the city. Residents would be responsible for filling the bags and placing them. This <br />has been the past practice in the city. <br />a. Pro: On-site delivery of materials; positive customer relations; no cost to <br />homeowners /residents. <br />b. Cons: Staff and resource allocation (cost); timing of delivery; greater costs incurred to city <br />(no means to pass along costs of bags/sand to customer); does not encourage <br />homeowner planning; potential for non-city residents to take advantage of service; finite <br />resources. <br />2. Pre-Determined Pickup Times and Locations ~no resident cost): Residents may pick up sandbags <br />(and sand) at (a) pre-determined location(s). Service would be limited to city residents and proof <br />of residency would be required. <br />a. Pro: Proactive approach; more responsibility placed with homeowners (preparation); <br />b. Con: Staff allocation (monitoring address compliance); no cost recovery; less convenient <br />to residents; no limitations on bags per household (resource allocation). <br />3. Pre-Determined Pickup Times and Locations (partial cost recoverv): Similar to the above, but <br />limit the number of free bags (and sand) to household. Additional bags (and sand) would be at an <br />additional fee. <br />a. Pro: Proactive approach, more responsibility placed with homeowners (preparation); <br />limited cost recovery in place for the city; greater control over finite resources. <br />b. Con: Staff allocation (monitoring address compliance and handling sales); less convenient <br />to residents. <br />4. Pre-Determined Pickup Times and Locations (full cost recoverv): Following the model of <br />Sherburne County, bags would be available at a cost to residents (Sherburne County charges <br />$0.29/bag). Sherburne County does not provide sand but gives residents a list of local sand <br />suppliers (including Barton and Plaisted). The city could follow this model or adopt a hybrid <br />version of it (cost per bag but free sand). <br />a. Pro: Proactive approach, more responsibility place with homeowners (preparation); full <br />cost recovery in place for the city; greater control over finite resources; could be extended <br />to non-residents. <br />b. Con: Staff allocation (handling sales); less convenient to residents. <br />N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\03-07-2011\2011-03-07%20Spring%20Flooding%20Update[1].docY <br />