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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-07 Impact Fee Advisory Committee Minutes.doc** MINUTES ** THE CITY OF BOZEMAN IMPACT FEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007 6:00 P.M. ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE Chair Tim Dean called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m., in the Commission Room, Municipal Building, 411 East Main Street, Bozeman, Montana. Members Present Staff Present Tim Dean, Chair Chris Saunders, Assistant Planning Director City Engineer Hixson Tara Hastie, Recording Secretary Ron Kaiser, Vice Chair Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Service Anna Rosenberry John Alston, Water/Sewer Superintendent Nick Lieb Rick Moroney, Water Treatment Superintendent Bill Simkins Members Absent Debra Becker Randy Carpenter Ken Eiden Visitors Present Sean Becker, City Commission Liaison ITEM 2. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2007 – continued to next meeting. ITEM 3. PUBLIC COMMENT {Limited to any public matter within the jurisdiction of the Impact Fee Advisory Committee and not scheduled on this agenda. (Three-minute time limit per speaker.} There was no public available for comment at this time. ITEM 4. CITY COMMISSION LIAISON {A standing item to be used as needed} Commissioner Becker stated it was a relief to see the spreadsheet for impact fees change. He stated Mayor Krauss and the City Commissioners had been paying attention to the Impact Fee Advisory Committee and the minutes of the meetings. ITEM 5. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION Approval of the 2009 – 2013 fire impact fee Capital Improvements Program. Assistant Director Chris Saunders addressed the Committee. Vice Chair Kaiser stated the least controversial items could be moved for approval. MOTION: Ms. Rosenberry moved, City Engineer Hixson seconded, to approve the 2009 – 2013 fire impact fee Capital Improvements Program as presented. The motion carried 6-0. Chair Dean asked Assistant Director Saunders for clarification on the implementation of the proposal. Assistant Director Saunders responded the funds that were being expended would promote new growth, but a change order could become necessary in the process. He stated if the Committee so chose they could vote for the CIP in general and recognize that the specific dollar amounts are estimates which will be revised with the actual bids for projects. Mr. Simkins stated Assistant Director Saunders comments could be included in the motion. Approval of the 2009 – 2013 street impact fee Capital Improvements Program. Assistant Director Saunders clarified there had been a copy glitch and things were not being funded twice, had just been copied twice. Chair Dean noted there had been a 43% increase in signal costs listed in one year’s time. City Engineer Hixson presented an article from the Chronicle quoting the Montana Contractors Association forecasting significant increased costs and explained the two signals installed recently had increased the dollar amount as they had cost more than originally expected. Assistant Director Saunders added that estimating high was preferable to estimating low and if the bid came in lower that would be great. Chair Dean asked City Engineer Hixson if the estimate was realistic. City Engineer Hixson responded that it was. Vice Chair Kaiser asked for clarification on when the City would make the decision. City Engineer Hixson responded the city could authorize spending more than the $500,000.00 and it could be pulled from another project in a future year as long as certain requirements were met. He added that the listed costs are budget numbers. Assistant Director Saunders responded the City Commission would have to review and authorize issuance of contracts on those types of expenditures. Chair Dean asked if the Durston Road – Fowler Lane to Cottonwood Road had doubled from 2.5 million to 5 million. Director of Public Service Arkell responded those figures were from a year ago. Assistant Director Saunders added that Cottonwood Road was a primary arterial street and there had been several new subdivisions building out in that area so that a signal would be warranted at the intersection of Cottonwood Road and Durston Road; adding it should be included in the current CIP program as it would be less expensive to install with initial street construction. Mr. Lieb asked why 11th Avenue & College Street was only estimated at $350,000. City Engineer Hixson responded they just hadn’t changed that one and all the elements of it were known to them (i.e. right angles, intersection, right-of-way size, etc.) sot here is less uncertainty. Chair Dean noted he had stated the Graf Street proposal incorrectly and the Committee had not yet seen that intersection. Assistant Director Saunders explained how Graf Street would be a connection for fire response, general traffic flow, and capacity for the southern portion of town. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if he was correct in recalling there would be a fourth fire station proposed in the SW corner of that location. Assistant Director Saunders responded there would be and it was in the FY13 Fire CIP. Chair Dean stated he was dumbfounded that the intersection of College Street & 11th Avenue needed to be part of the CIP. City Engineer Hixson responded there had been an increase in traffic at that location and there was no doubt about it. He stated the demand continued to grow in that area and roundabouts had been considered. Assistant Director Saunders added impact fees had been charged to at least five new buildings on campus and listed them; adding there was a lot of square footage of new demand. Mr. Lieb stated he thought enrollment was down. Assistant Director Saunders responded that it was a little bit currently, but more faculty members had become necessary with increased research. Chair Dean asked how the 100% figure had been decided. Assistant Director Saunders responded an administrative decision had been made based on the designation of the street and it was difficult to assign the travel generated to a specific development; impact fees were designed to pick up those specific incremental changes in distribution that increase the amount of demand. City Engineer Hixson added that if you expand an existing two lane to a three lane, you wouldn’t be able to take any credit for the non-capacity expanding portion, but a signal was completely new and all related to capacity expansion. He noted the decision made had been due to the signal being completely related to capacity expansion and all new materials. Assistant Director Saunders stated, as an example, the work that had been done on Main Street was primarily maintenance and a safety component for pedestrians and a lot of the money had come from the state and was not a capacity expanding project. Chair Dean asked why item #9 had been removed. Assistant Director Saunders responded it was prioritization and urban funds that would be used instead on South 19th Avenue; adding the City was not in a position to fund the non-impact fee portion at this point. Chair Dean asked if the committee thought every item on the list was impact fee eligible. Vice Chair Kaiser responded that he thought all were impact fee eligible, but he was uncertain the amounts were correct. He suggested approving all except one or two that might engender more discussion (i.e. 11th Avenue & College Street, 7th Avenue & Kagy Boulevard, College Street - 8th Avenue to 19th Avenue). Mr. Lieb stated he had a hard time voting on items that were estimations. Chair Dean suggested the Committee could agree that each item had some percentage of eligibility. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if it would make sense to exclude those unscheduled items in the motion of approval. MOTION: Vice Chair Kaiser moved, Ms. Rosenberry seconded, to approve the 2009 – 2013 street impact fee Capital Improvements Program with the exception of SIF 05, SIF 15, and SIF 20 for further discussion and deliberation. The motion carried 6-0. Vice Chair Kaiser explained that those items without unanimous support would need to be discussed further. Chair Dean stated the committee would discuss SIF05 and asked where the impact would be other than the Bozeman Gateway. Assistant Director Saunders responded MSU had adopted a new development plan for their properties that would utilize land east of 19th Avenue for further research and teaching facilities with a potential for a great deal of new development in that location. He stated their primary access from the west would be College Street. City Engineer Hixson added that the Tech Park was building out and there were new apartments at 23rd Avenue & College Street. Assistant Director Saunders responded some right of way would be required from the University to widen the street. Chair Dean stated he understood that there would be a future impact. MOTION: City Engineer Hixson moved, Vice Chair Kaiser seconded, to approve SIF05. The motion carried 6-0. Chair Dean directed the committee to discuss SIF15. Mr. Lieb stated there were new buildings in that location. MOTION: City Engineer Hixson moved, Mr. Lieb seconded to approve SIF15 as presented. The motion carried 4-2 with Chair Dean in opposition as he did not agree with the 60% and Mr. Simkins in opposition. Chair Dean directed the Committee to discuss SIF20. Assistant Director Saunders explained the corridor would be utilized by the campus and the museum as well as Kagy Boulevard. Vice Chair Kaiser asked for verification of the location. Assistant Director Saunders explained it was at the intersection of Kagy Boulevard and South 7th Avenue and the old access to the VLC building. Chair Dean asked if it was the Greek Way area. Assistant Director Saunders responded it was the Greek Way area, but Greek Way itself would not be changed. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if the growth of the University and other development (such as the office on the corner of Kagy Boulevard and Willson Avenue) would be one of the arguments used to obtain those impact fees. Assistant Director Saunders responded that it would be as any growth in those locations would cause an impact to that intersection. Chair Dean asked if those projects were being held up. Assistant Director Saunders responded they were as they would be required to have those improvements be made prior to approval of the building permits. Commissioner Becker asked how it was that they were constructing without that approval. Assistant Director Saunders explained that only those items that could be completed without building permit approval were being done at this time. He stated the City had identified safety issues that would need to be dealt with. Commissioner Becker asked if there had been a pattern of decisions by the City Commission that had not required developments to put a light in that location. Assistant Director Saunders explained that the trail easement from points south goes to that crossing point which creates a lot of pedestrian traffic and there were safety issues. Mr. Simkins asked for clarification regarding preliminary plat approval. Assistant Director Saunders explained that the conditions of approval called out a solution was necessary, but the language did not foreclose various options for cooperation in completing the improvements. MOTION: Vice Chair Kaiser moved, Mr. Simkins seconded, to approve SIF 20 as presented. The motion carried 5-1 with Mr. Lieb voting in opposition. Review of the 2009 – 2013 water impact fee Capital Improvements Program. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the W07 water treatment plant was due for replacement as it was put online in May 1984. Water Treatment Superintendent Moroney added that parts of it had been built in 1955 and the 500,000 gallon clearwell had been built in one of the older sections of concrete work; adding his concerns were leakage and cave-ins. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the main structure had been cheaply done and had used up its useful life; adding there was high humidity within the plant. She stated the growth seen in Bozeman so far and the growth expected would need to be addressed. She stated the treatment had been 13 million gallons a day last summer and the proposed 15 million gallons would be pushing their limits. She stated they were doing pilot testing in the FY08 budget and explained what would happen in FY09 and FY10. She stated the construction would be done in FY11 & 12 and would only be 33% impact fee funds. Ms. Rosenberry confirmed the amount and stated it would be constantly monitored. Chair Dean stated the Committee had reviewed the proposal last year and it had been 25% instead of 33%. Director of Public Service Arkell stated she thought the increase was due to construction costs; adding the proportionate shares would come down from that, but they did not want to underbid the project as it was a priority. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the Sourdough Creek Dam has been an unscheduled project since 1985 when it had been removed. She stated the City Of Bozeman held water rights in that location and is doing a feasibility study, but it would be a 20 year process before the lawsuits and environmental issues were resolved and the dam could be rebuilt. She stated the water rights were in place, but would need to be captured. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the 5.3 million gallon water storage container was anticipated to be necessary in 2017 south of the Hyalite Water Treatment Plant as the current water storage would be inadequate. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the water facility plan recommended the redundant transmission main be put in by 2013 to provide the capacity necessary for future growth. Water / Sewer Superintendent Alston added that if the current main were lost, there would be one-three days of water available to the City. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if the redundant main would be paid for with 100% impact fees. Ms. Rosenberry responded that only portions of the 12 inch and 24 inch pipes would be paid for with impact fees at this time; the balance of the project remains unscheduled. City Engineer Hixson added the total cost would be closer to $22 million. He stated some of the 36 inch and 48 inch pipe were not even scheduled as of yet. Director of Public Service Arkell asked if the remaining $9.8 million dollars would be paid for with impact fees. Ms. Rosenberry responded it had not been scheduled to be paid at this time. City Engineer Hixson suggested the Committee should not rule out some of the unscheduled sections of the main. Mr. Lieb asked if it had been scheduled for 2013. Director of Public Service Arkell responded that it had not been scheduled for 2013 in its entirety. Assistant Director Saunders directed the Committee to a map of projected improvements for the redundant main. Director of Public Service Arkell stated her recommendation would be to clarify that the redundant main would not be redundant in the year 2020 when it would become necessary to provide additional water to Bozeman. Assistant Director Saunders suggested the Committee rename the item “system redundancy/transmission expansion”. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the extension of water mains below Graf Street in conjunction with street installation to provide connections to South 19th Avenue were a priority. Assistant Director Saunders stated most or all of the cost would be recovered at the time developments went into the area, rather than having to build the street and rebuild it after the pipe was completely installed. Commissioner Becker asked the cities water output. Water Treatment Superintendent Moroney responded in the winter it was 4 million gallons per day, in the summer it was 12 million gallons per day. Commissioner Becker asked if he could safely assume the City was intending to build a dam to provide the estimated 30 million gallons per day. Water Treatment Superintendent Moroney responded Commissioner Becker was correct but the City doesn’t use its maximum capacity each day and the dam was only one possibility; the City would need to search every option to provide the necessary amount of water. Commissioner Becker asked if one option had been removed, would the City still be able to function. Water Treatment Superintendent Moroney responded City Engineer Hixson would have to pursue every option available to locate the necessary amount of water. City Engineer Hixson noted there would not be enough water to provide for a town the size of Boise due to Bozeman’s location. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if the 22 million gallon water membrane, even hitting the peaks of use, would be able to handle that amount of usage and asked if someone had done the math to prove that. Water Treatment Superintendent Moroney responded Vice Chair Kaiser was correct. Assistant Director Saunders added the 2 million gallon tank on the hill by Kenyon Drive held a six acre feet and it would take 1500 tanks to store the same amount of water that the dam would store for Bozeman. Review of the 2009 – 2013 sewer impact fee Capital Improvements Program. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the wastewater treatment plant was the first priority, was currently under design, and design would be completed in 12 months. She stated the increase was due to the inclusion of a lab and administrative facilities that should have been included in the first proposal. City Engineer Hixson added that due to design & permit considerations, some solids handling improvements scheduled for Phase II needed to be moved into Phase I. Director of Public Service Arkell responded the new DEQ regulations required the removal of nitrates and phosphates from the material and those requirements had not been done previously. She stated the City Of Bozeman might not be allowed to put effluent into the river due to those new regulations. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if the standards were different for Bozeman due to it being at a headwaters. City Engineer Hixson responded there were eco areas and it was due to ambient backgrounds of nutrients within the waters in this area. Commissioner Becker responded there was a higher amount of nitrates in the river than the city was allowed to put into the water. Commissioner Becker stated DEQ had noted septic as major contributor to the amount of nitrates in the water. Director of Public Service Arkell added the seven major cities in Montana were being focused on to reduce the number of nitrates and even the new best available technology might not provide the necessary reduction. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the Haggerty Lane trunk line would be the next item for discussion. She confirmed with Ms. Rosenberry that the dollar amounts had remained the same. Ms. Rosenberry responded they had. Vice Chair Kaiser asked if the residential development to the east would be serviced by this line. Assistant Director Saunders responded that it would serve additional development to the south also. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the existing sewer trunk at Davis Lane and Fowler Avenue south of Huffine Lane would need to be replaced and would be 70% impact fees and 30% developer contribution. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the lower portion of the existing sewer was at capacity along Tamarack Street and Rouse Avenue and this would be needed to serve the hospital and properties to the south. Water / Sewer Superintendent Alston added that ¾ of a full pipe was maximum capacity. City Engineer Hixson concurred that it was important to provide room for peak loads, infiltration and in-flow. Director of Public Service Arkell added the biggest day at the wastewater treatment plant had been the day after Thanksgiving. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the Graf street extension was the same as had been looked at for water and would include developer payback to defer costs. Director of Public Service Arkell stated the WWTP Phase 1 would barely be constructed when phase two would need to be provided to keep the plant at capacity and accommodate the expected growth rate. Chair Dean asked what the opinion of costs by HDR had been specific to. Ms. Rosenberry responded it had been specific to the elements of phase one construction. Chair Dean explained these items would be voted on at the November 8, 2007 meeting. Mr. Saunders responded the consultant, Tindale Oliver & Associates, would be present to discuss the street fees at the November 15, 2007 meeting. Chair Dean noted that Mr. Lieb, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Eiden, and Mr. Simkins terms would expire at the end of the year and they would need to reapply if they so desired. Vice Chair Kaiser and Chair Dean asked the Committee to explain the differences in cost per lane mile of road construction in different cities in Montana. Ms. Rosenberry stated she had read some studies that showed the differences between cost amounts per lane mile of road construction. City Engineer Hixson added it may be an error or a difference of terminology; suggesting Bozeman doesn’t get truly competitive bids and has only one asphalt plant which raises costs. ITEM 6. OLD BUSINESS No issues were raised under this agenda item. ITEM 7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS No issues were raised under this agenda item. ITEM 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee at this time, Chair Tim Dean adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m. _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Tim Dean, Chairperson Chris Saunders, Assistant Planning Director Impact Fee Advisory Committee Dept of Planning & Community Development City of Bozeman City of Bozeman