February 27, 2010

What has the city council been up to?

February 3: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading

Ordinance 10-04: Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program implementation at the intersection of Mitchell, Southdowns, and Circle Drive. The SoMax Neighborhood Association petitioned the city to make alterations to the intersection due to safety concerns. It is currently a very wide intersection, with a lot of pavement for pedestrians to cross while cars are moving pretty fast. A blind curve of Mitchell St. south of the intersection makes it difficult for both cars and pedestrians to see oncoming traffic.

The proposal is to bump-out the land between Mitchell running south and Circle Dr. running east to narrow the intersection, and to add two stop signs. The ordinance was approved unanimously.

February 10: Committee of the Whole

Resolution 10-01: Allocating Community Development Block Grant funds for 2010. Lisa Abbott, head of the Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) department, presented the recommendations from the two citizens advisory committees for CDBG allocations this year. These funds come from the Housing and Urban Development department at the federal level. The city expects to receive $886,670 this year.

Social Service programs: A maximum of 15% of the total funding ($133,000) may go to social service programs, and the advisory committee recommended disbursing this amount to 9 local non-profit agencies in amounts ranging from $17,750 (Community Kitchen) to $13,000 (Middle Way House).

Physical Improvement programs: According to federal guidelines, the bulk of the funding went to programs to improve the physical infrastructure serving the low-income community. The advisory committee disbursed $576,336 to 8 programs run by local non-profits or by HAND itself. The awards ranged from $187,836 (for the Community Kitchen’s new facility further south on Rogers) to $15,000 (for HAND’s rehab program for residential rental units).

Administrative costs: A maximum of 20% of the total funding ($177,334) may go toward the costs of administering the CDBG funding program. This amount is used to pay part of the salaries of HAND personnel, as well as overhead costs of the HAND department.

February 17: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading

Resolution 10-01: The Council voted unanimously to approve the recommendations for CDBG funding allocations.

Legislation for First Reading

Appropriation Ordinance 10-01: To appropriate money from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund to pay for the intersection improvements at the corner of Atwater and Henderson.

February 24: Committee of the Whole

App. Ord. 10-01: City Controller Mike Trexler explained that the Cumulative Capital Development Fund derives its income from financial institution taxes, commercial vehicle taxes, airplane taxes, and property taxes. It has a current balance of $887,000. The appropriation requested is $149,512.

Susie Johnson, Director of Public Works, explained that the city had already invested $115,500 for the design of the intersection improvements and $40,025 for the acquisition of Right of Way from adjacent property owners. The project is now at the phase where construction can begin, so the current appropriation seeks costs for construction. The construction is paid for 90% by the state and 10% by the city. However, the city has to lay out the full cost of construction inspection and be reimbursed at a rate of 90% for that portion by the state. So of the $149,512 appropriation, the state would pay us back $74,756.

Engineering and design consultant Brock Ridgeway reviewed the major changes planned for the intersection:

• Addition of a stop light at Atwater and Henderson

• Regarding the left turn lane from Atwater onto Indiana Ave: The plans call for moving this lane so that it is adjacent to the other two eastbound traffic lanes on Atwater (currently it is separated)

• Widening Henderson a bit south of Atwater to make the car travel lanes and the sidewalks wider

• Narrowing Atwater at the curve to reduce speeds

• Narrowing the turn-off from Atwater onto Dunn St. and moving it further south

• Narrowing the turn-off from Indiana Ave. onto the Henderson St. stub

There were a lot of questions from council members, focusing on the CCD Fund and whether it may be needed for other projects, and on whether or not the intersection changes will be an improvement for pedestrians and bicyclists.