02-11-2002 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Minutes Page 5 February 11, 2002 6.2. Consider Final Plat Request by Dynamic's Design and Land Company for Park Pointe 6.3. Consider Petition for Public Improvements 6.4. Consider Future Sewer/Water Assessments on 175th Avenue Michele McPherson indicated that the petitioner has requested to table items 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4. COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER MOVED TO CONTINUE ITEMS 6.2, 6.3, AND 6.4 TO MARCH 11, 2002. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The City Administrator discussed the City's past practices and policy for funding public improvement projects over the past few years. He noted that it has always been the policy for the developer to either wait for the utilities to come to their area or for developers to pay for the utilities to get to their site if they want them earlier than planned. The Council discussed the issue of how the City's policy pertains the Park Pointe Addition. CouncilmemberDietz stated that the issue is that the developers are seeing the sewer and water extension down 175th as a trunk line and the City considers Tyler Street as a trunk line and anything that goes off of Tyler Street a lateral Line. The City is requesting approximately $6,500 an acre for the trunk assessment and in addidon the developer must pay to bring the line down 175th to his property in order to develop. The developer sees this as double charging him. Councilmember Dietz indicated that the developer claims he was never told he would be responsible for both payments. Councilmember Dietz further stated that the people north of 175th should be assessed at sometime for the utility benefits. The City Administrator indicated that the city would not define the sewer utility as a trunk line based on the size of the sewer pipes and the development project being in the very outer edge of the urban district. It was further noted that part of the confusion with this proposal is that the developers volunteered to pay for the utilities under 175m Avenue. Terry Maurer stated that the sanitary sewer is clearly a lateral, but the water has changed from a lateral to a trunk water main because of the location of the water tower. In these cases, the city pays the difference in cost for the lateral line increasing to trunk size with the developer paying the typical lateral cost. Councilmember Motin indicated that he represents the Mitchell's, however, does not feel it is a conflict to discuss the issue but will not vote on the issue. Councilmember Motin stated that the developer should have been informed of his responsibility to pay for the trunk assessment and lateral lines prior to approval of the preliminary plat. Councilmember Tveite indicated the importance of communicating to the developer all costs. Finance Director Lori Johnson discussed the request by the developer for the city to finance the improvements. She also discussed the issue regarding the City not being able to finance the improvements in 2002 and retain the "bank qualified" status on the City's 2002 bond issues. She suggested that the developer pay additional interest costs incurred by the city due to financing the Park Pointe improvements. Councilmember Tveite felt the developer should f'mance the improvements. Councilmember Dietz concurred.