HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - September 22, 2020 - Special Park Street LID Meeting
Mayor Jerry Merrill
Council Members:
Christopher Mann Jordan Busby
Mikel Walker Tisha Flora
Brad Wolfe Bryanna Johnson
5:30 P.M. at Park Street Park - South 5th West and Park St (in case of inclement weather at City Hall Council Chambers - 35 N 1st E)
Council Members Present: All Council Members present.
Mayor Merrill discussed why the City does Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) – to help stretch the street maintenance budget, and property owners help pay for those improvements/maintenance
on their own property as they have the biggest benefit from the work done.
The public present at the meeting (mostly Park St residents) voiced their concerns and questions about the project and the need for LIDs altogether. They wondered if property tax could
be raised so the City wouldn’t have to depend on resident participation in the form of LIDs to repair and maintain the streets, curb & gutter, and sidewalks. The Park St residents
were very concerned about the cost that each property was assessed for the project, and that they have many neighbors who are elderly and on a fixed income as well as others who would
struggle paying for the assessments on their property. There was discussion about different options that they could take from not doing the project at all to trying to decide what
reconstruction would be the best benefit for traffic speed concerns (safety), parking, and the cost for the residents. Also different options for mail boxes – a community box in one
location, or in the grass strips between the sidewalk and curb.
Discussion Regarding Street Re-Construction of Park St as Pertains to Local Improvement District 50 – Keith Davidson
Pubic Works Director Davidson presented the 2 options for the Park Street Reconstruction.
First Proposed Option is to leave the road width as is and have 30% participations from the City for curb, gutter, and sidewalk replacement.
Second Proposed Option is to narrow the roadway and have increased participation (approximately 50%) from the City for the replacement of curb, gutter, and sidewalk. This savings comes
from the decreased cost the City gets from narrowing the road, it would then be passed on to the property owner.
Public and city officials/staff discussed the pros and cons of each option. Questions on street parking near the homes and around the Park Street Park, pedestrian safety, and the speed
of traffic down Park St were discussed.
Some of the Park St Residents wanted to put together an adivsory group for their neighborhood to look at different funding options for street maintenance and to be part of the solution
for the street reconstruct.
The city planned on sending out a survey to the Park St Residents so they could choose the option they were in favor of for their street.
Adjournment 6:50 P.M.