6.2. SR 05-12-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~oward R. Green Company Item # 6.2. May 5, 2003 File: 818980J-0564 The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 RE: 2003 STREET REHABILITATION PROGRAM ASSESSMENT HEARING Dear Council Members: As you are aware, the assessment hearing for the 2003 Street Rehabilitation project is scheduled for Monday evening, May 12, 2003. Assessment notices have been mailed to all property owners based on the assessment scenario laid out in the feasibility study. The assessment rate is $5,000 per residential unit, with the school property, City library, churches, and commercial establishments proposed to be assessed more residential units. The interest rate is proposed at 5.50 percent, and the term of the assessment is proposed at 7 years for $5,000 assessments and 10 years for those over $5,000. City Finance Director, Lori Johnson, has indicated that any property owner that feels a 7 -year term is too burdensome would be allowed to extend the term to 10 years to lessen the annual payments. Unlike other assessment hearings, there are a couple of technical issues that need to be presented to the City Council for direction. They are as follows: A. Sidewalks In the feasibility study and at the public hearing, it was indicated that it would be the City's intent to put sidewalks on both sides of all streets if they could be fit in. After having completed the final design and having had a walkthrough with the property owners, it is apparent that it will be very difficult to get any sidewalk on Morton Avenue without impacting mature vegetation. It will be impossible to put a sidewalk on the west side Norfolk Avenue because of the Hanke pit, and replacement of the sidewalk on the east side of Norfolk Avenue can not exceed the existing width of 5 feet without affecting mature vegetation. With these as examples, I am suggesting that sidewalks on the project be installed where they can be easily accommodated without removing mature vegetation, or in the case of Norfolk Avenue, have the standard City width of 6 feet narrowed to the existing sidewalk width of 5 feet so the existing sidewalk can be replaced in its current location. It appears that along the entire length of Fourth Street, it will be possible to get sidewalk on both sides at a width of 6 feet. It seems to City staff that this sidewalk on Fourth Street is more important given the location of Hanke School, public library, the three churches, and the commercial establishments at the east end. Ltr-050503-Council 1326 Energy Park Drive' 51. Paul, MN 55108 . 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 >-...-...--^-...---.-. 1 rT