Memorandum

City of Lawrence

 

TO:

Tom Markus, City Manager

CC:

Brandon McGuire, Gina Riekhof, Toni Wheeler

FROM:

Charles Soules, P.E., Deputy Director of MSO

DATE:

10/02/18

RE:

Queens Road Water Main

 

Background

Administrative Policy AP-52 (Development Policy), adopted by Resolution No. 5614 provides policy direction to cover situations where a Developer petitions the City to help finance the cost of public improvements through special assessments.  It is not intended to cover situations where the City initiates an improvement District by notice and hearing/resolution of the governing body. 

 

The proposed typical street section includes two 17-foot lanes with curb and gutter. A median separates the two lanes. This is basically a 12-foot driving lane and a 5-foot bike lane.  If one removes the width for the bike lanes, the pavement width is two 12-foot lanes or 24 feet with curb and gutter.  Pavement widths are wider at 6th St. and Fort Benton Drive to accommodate turn lanes for safety. 

 

Section C – pertains to storm sewer.  I do not agree with the correspondence that the policy prohibits financing of the storm sewer using special assessments.  Storm sewer is an integral part of the road design and is eligible to be included in the benefit district cost.

 

Section D – the total cost of all sanitary sewer construction shall be borne by the property benefited in the improvement district.  The sewer work included with the Queens Road benefit district is necessitated by the road construction and is an appropriate cost to be included in the street construction costs.

 

Section E – special assessment financing shall not be provided for the financing of …water distributions mains…..

 

This section pertains to developments as they are developing, and the petitioner/developer requests the City to finance internal water mains.

 

The water main included in the Queens Road benefit district replaces a 2” line that needs to be moved for the construction, will loop the water system to all adjacent properties providing redundancy, and improve flow for fire protection.

 

Section 5.0B, again, this section pertains to the situation when a development petitions the City to finance public improvements for their development. It is intended to have the development participate / commit financially to the improvement requiring the development to pay up front 25% of the estimated cost and the City would not have to finance the entire cost.

 

City Staff and Bond Counsel have previously established the legal basis for the formation of a benefit district (attached memorandum from Gilmore and Bell).  The process followed to establish the Queens Road benefit district has been consistent with the formation of previous benefit districts such as:

 

Attachments: