Memorandum 15-028 Fireweed Avenue and Cottonwood Lane Road Conditions

Memorandum 15-028

TO:                       Marvin Yoder - City Manager

FROM:                 Carey Meyer – Public Works Director

DATE:                  February 27, 2015

SUBJECT:         Fireweed Avenue and Cottonwood Lane Road Conditions

The City currently has two sections of gravel roads that are in desperate need of road improvements.  Property owners annually complain that the City needs to fix the problem. One section is 1000 lineal feet of Fireweed Avenue, and the other is 1000 lineal feet of Cottonwood Lane (see attached map).  There are many miles of gravel roadways that are sub-standard and break up in areas, most of which can be dealt with in a maintenance fashion.  But, these two sections are extreme, requiring reconstruction, and this department does not currently have the authorization to give these problem areas the immediate attention that they need.

Each spring these portions of roadway break up to a point where they are impassable without a four-wheel-drive vehicle with good ground clearance.  The folks that drive it each day get to a point where they call this department pleading for assistance.  There are times when emergency vehicles would likely get stuck while attempting to travel the roadway.  Public Works cannot put heavy equipment on the road to grade it until it is dried up and the frost is gone, without creating additional damage to the roadway.

The issues on these roads have been going on for many years, and road LID attempts have failed because the folks that drive through these areas have no right-of-way (ROW) frontage along these stretches. Without frontage on the ROW they have no say in the matter.  The property owners that can initiate a road LID (those being immediately adjacent to the ROW where the failing roadway is) have no interest in an LID because they don’t live in the area or the lots are vacant.

Public Works is tasked with maintaining roads and the department does minor repairs.  But, this department is not tasked with, or funded to, build roads.  The folks that are impacted by these failed roadways cannot initiate or affect a road LID.  So, there has been this impasse in resolving the matter for years.

This department is proposing a couple of options for consideration and discussion in an attempt to solve this ongoing problem:

Option 1 - Allow the affected property owners to collectively pay for materials (gravel and fabric) to construct a roadway 18’ wide with 18” of gravel, and the PW department will place the material.  This is a stop-gap scenario at least allows for year round maintenance.  The ultimate city-standard road improvements would take place in the future as lots adjacent to the work area sell or develop and the property owners are motivated to initiate a road LID.

This option would be quick and would allow these two sections of road to be addressed fairly soon were the folks in the area be inclined to fund the materials.  Informal conversations with the folks on Fireweed indicate that they would support the effort.  No conversations have taken place with the Cottonwood folks regarding this type of funding scenario.

Option 2 - Have council consider initiating a road LID in these areas where effected property owners do not have the ability to initiate or vote on a road LID based on public safety. Criteria for such a move and other considerations such as whether to place deferred assessments would need to be discussed. 

This option would provide a better road, and the improvements would be of a permanent nature.   This option would take longer and may be more challenging as this type of LID would basically be imposed rather than initiated.

Option 3 – Do nothing.  If this option is utilized, it would be good to formally communicate the city’s position with the effected property owners that drive these sections of road.

Due to the abnormal winter weather conditions this year, Homer has experienced a couple of break-up periods already, which is why complaints about these roads have already begun.  These areas are going to experience more severe break-up as spring arrives in force.

Recommendation

City Council provide direction as to which option the Public Works Department should initiate.