Review Gravel Road Elimination Policy

Purpose:
Review the existing Gravel Road Elimination Policy (GREP) and receive Committee input on whether Staff should continue to follow the existing policy or whether revisions should be explored.

Background:
The City of Ramsey owns and maintains 2.41 miles of gravel roads on our street system. A summary and map of the existing gravel roads is attached.
 
Maintaining gravel roads requires the use of a road grader. In non-winter months, the grader is used to grade the surface to remove potholes and “washboards” and to restore the crown on the roads so they drain properly. During winter months, the grader is used to plow the gravel roads.
 
The City currently owns a 1999 John Deere grader. The 2021 – 2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) identifies replacing this grader in 2026 at an estimated cost of $280,000. See attached CIP sheets.
 
The City discussed a Gravel Road Elimination Policy in 2011 but a formal policy was never adopted. However, when the City adopted a Special Assessment Policy in 2014, a statement was included in this policy that requires benefiting property owners to pay for 50-percent of the costs to convert a gravel road to a paved street. A copy of the Special Assessment Policy is attached.
 
Staff is requesting input from the Public Works Committee on whether any policy revisions should be explored. If so, Staff can explore anticipated impacts to the budget, staff, etc., and then present their findings to the Committee at a future meeting.
 
Potential revision requests could include modifying funding percentages between the City and all benefiting property owners, removing the new road grader from the CIP and redirecting those funds to pay for a portion of paving the remaining gravel roads, adding one or more gravel road paving projects to the CIP, etc.    

Staff anticipates 15 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case. 

In 2004, when the Gravel Road Elimination Policy was first discussed, Ramsey had about 12 miles of gravel roads. Roughly 9.6 miles of gravel roads have since been paved. Staff will continue to promote the elimination of gravel roads as development occur, such as is being proposed with the development of the Hunt and Makowsky properties. 
 

Funding amounts and sources to be determined based on discussions.  

Staff recommends continuing to eliminate gravel roads as development opportunities occur, as funds become available, and when residents petition to pave gravel roads and contribute to the costs.  

Based on discussion.