11. Traffic Light Modification for Hwy 93 and MeridianTO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Al Thelen, Interim City Manage
DATE: March 18, 1996
RE.: Meridian Road Extension/Signal Modification
William Astle, representing Northwest Health Care (NWHC), has
contacted City Attorney Glen Neier with a proposal whereby his
clients would enter into a private contract with a qualified
contractor to implement this road improvement according to the
plans and specifications that have been developed by the City
Public Works Department. Mr. Astle requested that the city fund
the traffic control modifications and provide the construction
inspection and administration of the road contract. Mr. Babb
advises that the city has spent $5,400 for the plan to modify the
traffic control system, and has developed the plans and
specifications for the street improvements at a cost of $5,400.
Our procedure has been to administer improvement contracts, whether
they are accomplished through an S.I.D. or a private contract. The
city required the developers of The Summit (NWHC) to sign a waiver
of their right to protest a S.I.D. for this improvement as a
condition of approving their development. At that time, the city
agreed to have the design work completed in-house and to contract
for the design of the signal.
In summary, the city has agreed to fund and complete the design
work at a cost of $10,800 and agreed to do the contract inspection
and administration of the contracts estimated at $2,000, for a
total of $12,800.
1
The developers have agreed to privately contract for the work to
avoid financing costs estimated to be approximately $20,000 and
hope to cut another $20,000 from the construction costs by use of
a private rather than a public contract. The city's current
estimate of the road project is $103,225.
The estimated costs of the traffic control signal is $15,000 and I
recommend that we agree to pay half of this cost if the developer
would do the same. Funds are available in the current budget to
cover the city's share. It would result in the city providing a
total contribution of $22,800 to this project. These monies come
from the general fund and are equivalent to approximately one mill.
If the Council's policy is to keep the "mill levy" as low as
possible, in the future the Council may want to fund projects like
this entirely from a Special Improvement District, avoiding the use
of general fund property taxes.
At this time, I need your direction in order to respond to Mr.
Astle's request.
E