View Agenda Item

5.15.

CC Regular Session

Meeting Date:: 09/27/2022
By:: Diana Lund, Finance

Information

Title

Adopt Resolution 22-228 Calling for a Public Hearing on the Intention to Issue General Obligation Street Reconstruction Plan Bonds and the Proposal to Adopt a Street Reconstruction Plan.

Purpose/Background:

Purpose: To provide funding for road reconstruction and bituminous overlays via the issuance of Road Reconstruction Plan Bonds.

Background: Over the past several years, much discussion has taken place over the financing of road improvements. These needed improvements: Overlays and Reconstructions are based on the 60-year Long-Term Street Maintenance Program that the engineering department had compiled on all of the city's streets based on a PASER rating (the lower the PASER rating, the worse the road).

Street Reconstruction Bubble (From Public works Committee Meetings June 21, 2022 & July 19, 2022)
Between 1975 and 1985 approximately 40-percent of all City streets were constructed. At the time these streets were constructed their anticipated useful design life was 40-years, after which reconstruction would be required. These streets have all now either reached, or are nearing, the end of their useful lives. This means approximately 40-percent of City streets need to be reconstructed now or in the immediate future. And while it has generally been known for a decade or more that this “street reconstruction bubble” was approaching, it has become even more apparent this year that current Pavement Management Program funding levels need to be increased to acceptably maintain the condition of City streets. Based on the Engineer's estimate, these projects totaled approximately $12.8M.

Included in the draft document of the City's 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Plan is over $37 million of Pavement Management Improvement Projects including the $12.8M projects noted above.

During the 2023 budget city council worksessions, it was the consensus of council to "front-load" funding these projects due to the large amount of streets that are in need of repair. The agreement was to not only levy the annual pavement management levy that is approximately $1.7 million but also to issue debt so that there would be funding available to get ahead on improving a major section of these roads over the next three to four years. The average debt needed was determined to be approximately $12M. The annual debt service levy on the property tax would be approximately $1.145M for 15 years. The $1.145M debt levy for payable 2023 has been included in the proposed 2023 Property tax levy that is to be adopted by City Council at this same meeting of September 27.

The city is looking to issue General Obligation Street Reconstruction Bonds.

There are requirements that need to be followed when issuing Street Reconstruction Plan Bonds. The requirements are: 1. A Five-Year Street Reconstruction and Overlay Plan (SROP) must be prepared. The City's five year as presented, is based on the highest priority street projects that Engineering has outlined in the City's draft 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). 2. City Council must hold a public hearing on the issuance of the bonds and Street Reconstruction and Overlay Plan.

The public hearing request (for October 11, 2022) is the first step of the bonding process that needs to be undertaken for financing the road improvements which is what is being requested at tonight's meeting. The major requirement to allow the city to issue this debt, is that the City Council must approve the sale of the street reconstruction bonds by unanimous vote of its membership present.

Like a Capital Improvement bond, the Street Reconstruction bond is not required to have a referendum, but a reverse referendum is allowable. If a petition bearing the signatures of at least 5 percent of the votes cast in the last general election is filed with the City Clerk within 30 days after the public hearing regarding the bonds (November 11, 2022), the bonds may not be issued unless approved by voters.

Notification:

A schedule of events outlining the timeframe of the bonding process is attached.

Observations/Alternatives:

#1. Motion to Adopt Resolution #22-228 Calling for Public Hearing on Street Reconstruction Plan Bonds and Proposal to Adopt a Street Reconstruction Plan

#2. Motion to not Adopt Resolution #22-228 at this time

Recommendation:

Staff recommends Alternative #1 as this is only a request for a public hearing on the debt issuance and street plan. Preliminary approval of any debt issuance is not until October 11, 2022.

Action:

Motion to Adopt Resolution #22-228 Calling for a Public Hearing on the Intention to Issue General Obligation Street Reconstruction Plan Bonds and the Proposal to Adopt a Street Reconstruction Plan

Attachments

Form Review

Inbox	Reviewed By	Date
Brian Hagen	Brian Hagen	09/22/2022 12:00 PM

Form Started By:: Diana Lund
Started On:: 08/30/2022 01:18 PM
Final Approval Date:: 09/22/2022