CITY OF HOMER

 

PUBLIC WORKS                                                                 TELEPHONE (907)235-3170

3575 HEATH STREET, HOMER, AK 99603                                                FACSIMILE   (907)235-3145

                                                                               


 


MEMORANDU06-04

To:                   Walt Wrede, City Manager

From:               Carey Meyer, Public Works Director

Date:                December 29, 2005

Subject:           Partial Funding of Quiet Creek and Adams Drive Water Improvements

                        Through the Use of HAWSP and Deferred Assessments

 

The City has had two projects on its capital improvement project list for many years. One is a water main extension from East Hill over to the Mountain View neighborhood.  The other is the Jack Gist Park softball fields.  Private residential development projects have been proposed in these areas. They provide an opportunity to accomplish significant portions of the City’s projects as part of the developer’s subdivision agreement water main extension responsibilities.  But in each case, portions of the water mains benefit property owners other than the developer.

 

This memo provides background information about each project and makes the recommendation that:

 

·        the Developer should pay for that portion of the main extensions that benefit them,

·        the City should fund that portion of the project that benefits the entire community, and

·        other property benefited should pay their fair share through the creation of deferred assessments.

 

Working with developers, the City can complete these important water main extensions quicker and cheaper than if they were completed separately.  By creating deferred assessments, other benefited area property owners will not have to pay for the water main fronting their property until they request a connection.

 

Quiet Creek Subdivision

 

Attached is a map that shows the master planned alignment of the East Hill to Mountain View Water Main Extension.  The map also shows a new alignment and how Public Works proposes to take advantage of the new residential development planned for this area. 

 

The new alignment takes advantage of the water main being installed in Quiet Creek Subdivision (as part of the subdivision improvements planned for this subdivision).  Some additional main will be required

 

 

 

that benefits other property. The City’s cost of the needed connection between East Hill and Mountain View is less than if we had to construct the main our selves.

 

In the past the City has used ADEC grants to make major improvements to the distribution system. This project has not scored sufficiently well to earn funding through the ADEC grant program.  Construction of the Hillside Acres Water LID and other current and planned residential development in western portion of the City has now made this water main extension (identified as an important improvement twenty years ago) critically important.

 

To take advantage of the fact that construction the Quiet Creek subdivision improvements would substantially reduce the City’s cost to construct the transmission main between East Hill Road and Mountain View Drive, the City could:

 

 

Adams Drive (Scenic View Subdivision)

 

Attached is a map showing the relationship of this proposed subdivision with the Jack Gist softball field project.  ADOT has constructed a narrow access road (Adams Drive) from East End Road to Jack Gist Park.  The City will (by the end of next summer) have constructed three fields and a parking lot at the park.  Future improvements include extending water and sewer service (for field watering and restrooms).

 

The developer of the proposed Scenic View Subdivision is normally required to extend a water main along Adams Drive, south from East End Road, to provide water service to the subdivision.  The dilemma for the developer is that this improvement benefits others and he cannot shoulder the entire cost of extending water main that benefits properties on the other side of the road.  The dilemma for the City is that if the proposed Adams Drive water improvements are not constructed by the developer, the water main will not be extended closer to the Park, and the cost of providing water to the Park may fall entirely on the City’s park project.

 

In addition, the developer (if he proceeds with the subdivision) will be responsible for improving that portion of Adams Drive that fronts the subdivision.  Currently, the road is less than 24 feet wide in several areas.  Again the dilemma for the developer is that he cannot bear all the cost of the road improvement.  The dilemma for the City is that if the developer does not proceed with the subdivision, the Park project may have to bear the entire burden of improving that portion of the road to City standards.

 

To take advantage of the fact that construction the Scenic View Subdivision improvements would substantially reduce the City’s cost to extend water to the park and improve road access, the City could:

 

 

 

 

Recommendation:  The City Council consider passing an ordinance (early 2006) that would authorize the expenditure of HAWSP funds to:

 

In the Quiet Creek Subdivision project-

 

 

The HAWSP funds that would be expended (until reimbursed from deferred assessments) are as follows:

 

            Oversizing (1700 lf x $11/lf)                                                        $18,700

            Design & Const. of addn. main (1500lf x $135/lf)                      $202,500

            Contingency (10%)                                                                     $22,100

 

                                                            Total Cost =                             $243,320

 

In the Scenic View Subdivision (ADAMS DRIVE) project-

 

 

and authorize the expenditure of HARP funds to-

 

 

 

The HAWSP funds that would be expended (until reimbursed from deferred assessments) are as follows:

 

            Cost of project benefiting adjacent lots (800 lf x $68/lf) $54,400

            Contingency (10%)                                                                     $5,440

 

                                                            Total Cost =                             $59,840

 

The HARP funds that would be expended are as follow:

 

            Cost of Gravel (1500 CY x $9.00/CY)                         $13,500