Minutes - 09/10/1996 Workshop
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COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
September 10, 1996
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0001 DATE. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, CITY OF WOODBURN,
COUNTY OF MARION, STATE OF OREGON, SEPTEMBER 10,1996.
0003 CONVENED. Tbe Council met in a workshop session at 7:20 p.m. regarding Street
Maintenance/Improvement and Pavement Protection.
ROLL CALL.
Mayor
Councilor
Councilor
Councilor
Councilor
Councilor
Councilor
Kirksey
Chadwick
Figley
Hagenauer
Jennings
Pugh
S ifuentez
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present (7: 28 pm)
Absent
Staff Present:
City Administrator Childs, Public Works Director Tiwari, Street Superintendent Van
Valkenberg, CE Tech. III Scott, City Recorder Tennant
0020 Director Tiwari provided the Council with an overview of the City's general
maintenance and capital improvement program which includes bikeways, street lighting,
right-of-way tree maintenance, and drainage.
0258 The Pavement Protection Management program involves both in-house work and work
performed by outside contractors. Allowing a street to deteriorate ultimately results in
higher costs for repairs and/or reconstruction. The City performs a lot of in-house work
(which includes drainage repairs) in order to extend the life of the pavement. Most
recently, the City has used a drag box to put a thin layer of asphalt over the pavement
(seal coat) to protect the life of the pavement for several more years. The drag box
system is not as attractive or as smooth like a total resurfacing project but it serves a
purpose similar to that of a surface patch repair. It was noted that large projects
involving pavement protection are contracted out to private firms.
In the agenda packet, Director Tiwari provided a list of resurfacing projects completed
from 1977 forward. He reviewed the overall street improvement needs which involve a
combination of City and State projects at an estimated cost of $50 million. A majority
of those costs are related to the City rather than the State projects. He briefly reviewed
the policies being followed by staff as it relates to resurfacing projects, unpaved or
roadway reconstruction projects, alley improvements, development related
improvements, and State projects.
0867 He also reviewed a graph which displayed the amount of resources needed to resurface
streets. The estimated cost to resurface city streets that are 20 years or older is $6.5
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COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
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million. It is estimated that another $3.2 million is needed to pave the gravel streets
within the City. It was noted that the costs involved in doing in-house repairs are not
included in the overall estimates since the repairs will not last 20 years like a major
resurfacing project. He also provides statistical information on repair costs that are done
in-house versus contracted out to private firms.
1226 Director Tiwari stated that policy decisions he makes are based on the umbrella policy
decision which has already been adopted by the Council. A change in the umbrella
policy decision needs to be well thought out before it is implemented since it effects
policy decisions that are made on a daily basis. He reviewed general policy issues that
need to be addressed before action is taken to change an existing policy.
Barbara Lucas stated that, over the last few years, the City has used State Gas tax funds
to pay for costs associated with Technical & Environmental Services, street lighting,
Planning, etc. Additionally, the Council has only imposed Traffic Impact Fees at 25%
of the allowable level therefore reducing the amount of funds collected by the City from
new developments. She suggested that the Council consider a change in the budgeting
practice in order to divert more money to street improvement/capital projects.
Discussion was held regarding what type of policy practice should be utilized in
determining if and/or when a street is to be resurfaced. One method is to resurface on
an age basis, therefore, resurfacing the oldest streets first. Another method is to
resurface based on technical need in that poorly constructed streets of lesser age be
resurfaced to protect the street from further deterioration and potential reconstruction. It
was also noted that drainage improvements is an essential component of the total
program since water seeping into and under the pavement will deteriorate pavement at a
much faster rate.
Discussion was also held on the creation of Local Improvement Districts in order to get
property owner participation in paving gravel streets or in major reconstruction projects.
Currently, City standard is for a street to be 34 feet wide and it was suggested that the
City look into allowing a lesser street width, such as 29 feet, in those areas that are not
highly used by motorists.
Lengthy discussion was also held on the current budgetary practice of how State Gas Tax
funds are used. Several Councilors requested that the Street Fund budget be carefully
reviewed to evaluate the effects of shifting funds from the Street Fund to other budgetary
funds. For example, it was suggested that street lighting costs be paid by the General
Fund rather than the Street Fund.
Tape 2
The Councilors also discussed potential implementation of an additional $.02/gallon gas
tax to further our efforts in completing necessary street resurfacing and reconstruction
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projects. It was the consensus of the Council that a plan should be developed as soon as
possible and that implementation of an increase would take place after the November
election but before the Oregon legislature meets in January. Brief discussion was held
regarding the sale of revenue bonds in order to secure a large amount of funding to do
several projects in a year and to use revenue from the city gas tax to payoff those
bonds.
0692 ADJOURNMENT.
The work session concluded at approximately 9:30 p.m..
APPROVED ~
NANCY A. KI
ATTEST fY1~<J: ;;:~._y.p+
Mary Te ant, Recorder
City of Woodburn, Oregon
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