5.0. SR 01-18-2000'ity of
iVeF
MEMORANDUM
Item #5.
TO:
Mayor & City Council
FROM:
DATE:
Pat Klaers, City Admi l~or
January 18, 2000
SUBJECT: Open Mike - Townhome Association Request for
Assistance with Private Streets and Drainage Issues
Attached for your information is a letter and map from the Country Crossing
Homeowner's Association regarding a number of issues that they would like to
discuss with the City Council. The location of these townhomes is just
southwest of the county fairgrounds in the southwest corner of the intersection
of Joplin Street and Orono Parkway. Councilmember Dietz briefly discussed
these concerns and issues with the City Council at a meeting last fall.
The pros and cons of private streets, which generally are not built to city
specifications and are typically narrower, and townhome associations have
been debated by the City Council over the past ten years or so. Most recently,
with the Meadowvale Townhome request last fall, the benefits of more narrow
streets, private roads, and a townhome association was praised by the
developer and the City Council concurred and approved the proposal.
City staff will be prepared to discuss the pros and cons of townhome
associations and private roads and drainage agreements as deemed
appropriate by the City Council. The city either has to accept private roads
and townhome associations as part of development proposals, or, if not, then
change city policy and no longer allow these type of proposals. If, over time, the
city ends up owning and maintaining substandard streets, we are only
creating problems for ourselves and future taxpayers and homeowners.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
DEC 12, 1999 REVISED SINCE DEC 4TM ME. RTING
TO'
FROM:
RE:
ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
COUNTRY CROSSINGS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
ITEMS TO DISCUSS WITH THE COUNCIL LISTED BELOW.
PLEASE PUT US ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW
THESE ITEMS.
A. SNOWPLOWING ON KENT ST.NW AND 182~-D LANE NW. THERE ARE STILL
MANY RESIDENTS WORKING EACH DAY WHO REQUIRE GETTING OUT
OF THEIR DRIVEWAY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. (REFER TO MAP).'
B. OBTAIN CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING PREVENTrVE
MAINTENANCE ON THESE SAME STREETS SUCH AS, OILING AND
SANDING, OR ANY OTHER TYPE REPAIR.
THE SEDIMENTATION POND/DITCH MAINTENANCE (REFER TO MAP)
THERE ARE MANY HOMES IN THE AREA BESIDES THE COUNTRY
CROSSINGS' TOWNHOMES THAT THIS DITCH SERVES. THE CITY SHOULD
PROVIDE SOME TAX CREDIT OR OTHER SERVICES TO THE ASSOCIATION TO DEFRAY
SOME OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED. THIS PAST SUMMER, WE SPENT $6000.00 TO
PLANT CROWN VEG AS WELL AS DOING PERIODIC CUTTING TO BEAUTIFY AN
OTHERWISE UNATTRACTIVE DITCH/DRAIN POOL. THIS BENEITS THE PRIVATE HOMES
IN THE AREA AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATION, AND WILL BE CONTINUING EXPENSE TO
US.
THE CITY SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING THE ACCESS TO THIS DITCH.
THE CURRENT ACCESS USED GOES BETWEEN THE HOMES WHERE THERE
IS A RISK OF DAMAGING THE UNDERGROUND WATERING SYSTEM WHICH
IS LOCATED NEAR THIS PATH. ALTHOUGH NOT AS FREQUENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN
SOME ACCESS ON THE EAST SInE OF THIS DITCH WHERE THIS SAME PROBLEM
COULD OCCUR THERE ARE OTHER PLACES ON 182~ AVE THAT ADJOIN THE DITCH
WHERE THE CITY COULD ALSO GAIN ACCESS WHERE THE PATH WOULD BE MUCH
SHORTER. (SEE MAP).
BECAUSE PERIODIC ACCESS IS NECESSARY, A SAFE "MARKED" PATH SHOULD BE
MADE BY THE CITY TO PREVENT DAMAGE. COSTLY REPAIRS TO THESE UNDER-
GROUND PUMPS, PIPES AND SPRINLKER HEADS IN THE AREA COULD BE AVOIDED.
NOTE: A. THE KENT ST. NW STRF. gT DIMENSIONS ARE APPROX 26X1072'
B. THE 182~rt) LANE NW STREET DIMENSIONS ARE APPROX 26X640'
TOTAL OF 1,712 FT IN LENGTH BY 26' WIDE.
C.THERE ARE 62 HOMES IN THE ASSN PAYING APROXIMATLY
$100,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES.
BOARD MEMBER COMMITTEE
FRANK WECKAUFF
DICK NELSON
RUSS PETERSEN
II
II
II
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Councilmember John Dietz
Phil Hals, Street/Park Superintendent
March 11, 1999
Staff Recommendation Regarding the City Plowing
Private Roads
The following are the concerns expressed by Staffat th~ Staff meeting of March 2, 1999
in regards to the question of the City plowing private roads:
· The private roads would have to be plowed after all public streets were done
and would paying customers be satisfied with this type of service,
· Would the City be approached in the future to "take over" street maintenance
of these private roads.
· In winters of large volumes of snow, would there be adequate snow storage or
would the City be expected or required to haul the snow away.
· Is it good policy to place the City in direct competition with private industry.
The decision to plow private roads is for the City Council to make, but the Staff
recommendation is not to plow on private property.
On a positive note, I would be willing to work with private parties to draft a bid
specification so that they can secure reliable service for a reasonable cost,