Public Works & Infrastructure Committee

Remote

• The committee forwarded without recommendation updates to the Parking and Mobility Services Fee and Rate Schedule. Several council members expressed concerns about how these fees could be detrimental to lower-income residents.
• Part of the issue is that the current dedicated fund which covers towing expenses cannot run deficits - that is, the funds raised through towing fees must be able to cover the towing expenses. This ultimately limits the city’s ability to provide reduced fees for residents. There have been ongoing conversations about transferring towing expenses to the general fund.
• The committee adopted an ordinance related to parkway paving, repair, and reconstruction, which clarifies coordination between the City and Park Board on parkway maintenance.
• The committee adopted an ordinance related to special events, the goal of which is to maintain and attract more public events.
• The ordinance includes language helping event planners keep traffic closure costs low, indicates where events can happen in the city, includes a goal for all events to be zero waste, and proposes a simplified fee schedule.
• The city received a presentation regarding a potential new program to provide grants for water and sewer line failures. Annika Bankston of Distribution Services presented conclusions of the study including a prediction that funding a $5 thousand grant program for private sewer line replacement would require an average property tax increase of 11% or $93 per year per household.