HomeMy WebLinkAbout13. 12-49
FEBRUARY 14, 2012 12-49 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED___7-0_____LOST________LAID OVER________WITHDRAWN________)
PURPOSE: AMEND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT POLICY RELATIVE TO STORM
SEWER LATERAL INSTALLATION
INITIATED BY: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the
Section V. B. 1 of the Policy for Special Assessments relating to the calculation of the
assessment rate for storm sewer lateral installation be amended to read as follows:
1. The assessment rate for the special purpose storm sewers shall be $750 per
assessable connection, not to exceed 100% of the cost for the installation of
the special storm sewer.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these changes shall be effective for all
projects beginning on or after the date of passage and publication of this resolution.
OJHKOIH
ON THE WATER
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Steven M. Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works
DATE: February 9, 2012
RE: Amend Special Assessment Policy Relative to Storm Sewer Lateral Installation Assessment
Rate
BACKGROUND
The City of Oshkosh assessment policy for the installation of storm sewer laterals established a fixed fee of
$300 per lateral installation. This rate was adopted in 2000. The cost was subsidized by Storm Water Utility
fees to encourage people to request storm sewer laterals. To better serve the residents, the storm sewer
laterals are currently being extended to the back of sidewalk vs. terminating in the terrace. Based on 2011
contracts, the cost to install the storm laterals varied between $32 and $45 per foot. The length of lateral
averages 30 feet. This results in an average cost to install the storm sewer lateral of$960 to$1350. This cost
does not include any pavement restoration when the lateral installation is not part of a street reconstruction
project. The intent of the storm sewer lateral is to allow a sump pump connection to the storm sewer system to
prevent draining the water over the sidewalk, by sheet flow or through a hose, and into the street where icing
and/or algae problems can occur.
ANALYSIS
Beginning in 2012,the installation of storm sewer laterals is proposed to include an 8"diameter storm drain
approximately one foot behind the sidewalk on each lot. The intent of the drain is to allow residents to direct
sump pump discharges to a location where it can be collected by the storm sewer system without the need to
hire a licensed plumber to connect to the buried lateral. The cost of the drain is estimated to be approximately
$375. The resulting cost to install a storm sewer lateral is estimated to increase to between $1,350 and $1,725.
It is proposed to increase the assessment rate per lateral to$750, or approximately one-half the actual cost of
the lateral installation.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City currently installs approximately 300 storm sewer laterals annually. Using the average cost of a storm
sewer lateral, the Storm Water Utility expends approximately $460,000 annually to install the laterals and can
only assess $90,000. The proposed rate would allow the Storm Water Utility to recoup a greater portion of the
cost. The proposed drain will allow residents to remove sump pump discharge from their property into the storm
sewer system without the need to hire a licensed plumber, saving the property owner this additional expense.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend approval of increasing the assessment rate of a storm sewer lateral to $750.
Re pectfully Submitted, Approved:
y,91
Steven M. Gohde, P.E. M k A. Rohloff
Assistant Director of Public Works City Manager
SMG/tlt
H:\tracyt\Trac\/s Files\Memos to Mayor&Common Counci1120121Amend Special Assessment Policy-Storm Swr Lateral Install Assessment Fees_2-9-12.doc