Laserfiche WebLink
<br />ENGINEERING <br /> <br />Provides for the preparation of plans, specifications and estimates <br />for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of <br />physical facilities including streets, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, <br />watermains and street lights. <br /> <br />Provides for the city engineering consultant to respond to specific <br />questions from the city council and to participate in special long and <br />short range planning and engineering projects. <br /> <br />2000 BUDGET COMPARED WITH 1999 BUDGET <br /> <br />This departmental budget is: <br /> <br />- Proposed in the amount of $42,000; <br />- Identical to the adopted 1999 budget; <br />- Less than 1% of the total general fund expenditures. <br /> <br />This budget is difficult to estimate based on the uncertainty as to when and <br />which issues initiated by the city will require time from the city engineering <br />firm. Examples of city engineering services charged to the general fund <br />include work on the capital improvement program, updating the city maps, <br />review of the city assessment policy, and other work as requested by the city <br />administrator, building and zoning administrator, director of planning, <br />street/park superintendent, and the city council. <br /> <br />The city uses Howard R. Green - MSA Consulting Engineers as its city <br />engineering firm. This full service engineering firm provides the city with <br />the total range of engineering services that are required. As with other city <br />consultants, the city passes through engineering expenses to developers for <br />services provided on projects. Also some engineering services are financed as <br />part of public improvement projects as authorized by the city council, and are <br />therefore outside of the general fund. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Almost annually, the city evaluates its engineering needs in terms of whether <br />or not it is time for the city to create its own engineering department. This <br />would not be just one employee, but would also include support staff such as <br />clerical and engineering techs. The development of a city engineering <br />department would cost more money, but this additional expense may be <br />offset by the benefits of having additional services. Making the issue more . <br />complex, is office space needs and whether or not the current city hall facility <br />can accommodate an addition three to four employees as an engineering <br />department. There are no provisions in this 2000 budget for the <br />establishment for a new city department. <br /> <br />18 <br />