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244 <br /> <br />the City would not be responsible for the majority.of these <br />situations, but Mr. Gouldman recommended that each project be <br />reviewed individua!ly~from a legal and engineering standpoint <br />as has been done in the past. <br /> <br /> Mr. Satyendra Huja, Director of Community Development,' <br />gave a history of drainage projects and policies in the City. <br />Seven years ago a policy of zero runoff was adopted as part <br />of the site plan review which has significantly reduced the <br />drainage problems in the City. A study was conducted of the <br />Meadowcreek drainage basin which led to a new set of criteria <br />for approving drainage projects. Projects were prioritized <br />as high, medium, and low. Projects for whiCh the City was <br />legally liable and which had health and safety concerns for <br />the community were rated as high and were funded 100% with <br />City funds. Projects rated medium priority were to be funded <br />75% with City funds and 25% with private funds and~low <br />priority projects were to be funded with 50% City funds and <br />50% private funds. Mr. Huja stated that in addition to the <br />high, medium, and low priority projects, a neighborhood <br />drainage improvement program was begun whereby citizens can <br />approach the City for 50% funding of drainage projects such <br />as curb and gutter~ with the remaining 50% funded by the <br />property owner. <br /> <br /> Ms. ~Judith Mueller, Director of Public Works, stated <br />that all high priority projects have either been completed or <br />will soon be out to bid. Ms. Mueller stated that no positive <br />responses have been received from property owner for shared <br />funding for the medium and low priority projects. Ms. <br />Mueller stated that owners of property where there was any <br />record of a drainage complaint have been notified regarding <br />the neighborhood drainage improvement program and a few <br />projects have been completed. Ms. Mueller stated that in <br />some cases projects have not been completed because in order <br />to solve the problem repairs would have been necessary to <br />several properties and not all those affected were willing to <br />pay for 50% of the cost of repairs. Ms. Mueller stated that <br />several drainage problems are being investigated following <br />the large storm in September of 1987. Ms. Mueller stated <br />that there is currently $206,620 available for drainage <br />projects, with ~1.2 available in the Five Year Capital <br />Budget. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters questioned whether the Council should reduce <br />the amount of funding required of private citizens in order <br />to increase the participation in the program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that when the drainage policy was <br />adopted, it was thought that if it was important for the <br />City to put money into a project, then the property owner <br />should also be willing to spend money. Mr. Buck indicated <br />that he would be willing to reduce the funding required of <br />property owners. Mr. Buck recommended that the City allow <br />special assessments to force property owners to share the <br />cost of drainage repairs when a majority of property owners <br />are willing to participate. Mr. Buck noted that the idea of <br />special assessments had been objected to in the past by <br />property owners, but added that Council ~may want to <br />reconsider the matter. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller explained that property owners are given <br />five years to pay their cost of participating in the program, <br />without interest. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja stated that scholarships are available through <br />the CDBG program for property owners' share of the funding <br />if they meet the criteria. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe requested that the staff approach the <br />University regarding sharing the cost of drainage projects in <br />the University area. <br /> <br /> <br />