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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2011-011 Sponsored by: Oates ,,. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2011 -011 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE LOWELL POINT ROAD AS A STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECT AND WORKING WITH THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH TO SEEK FUNDING FOR THE REQUIRED 10% LOCAL MATCH WHEREAS, Lowell Point Road is a narrow, one lane gravel road that provides the only terrestrial access the City of Seward has to Seward's wastewater treatment facility which is critical infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the City's sewer lines to the treatment facility, electric and telephone lines all run under this road; and WHEREAS, it is also the only access point for many Seward residents and small businesses; and WHEREAS, high traffic usage and environmental interference have created life /safety issues of increasing concern for the City, Kenai Peninsula Borough and State officials; and WHEREAS, storm surges and tidal surge events have caused erosion problems occasionally making the road impassable; and WHEREAS, the extensive, coastal damage caused by such events has made it necessary for the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough to seek emergency state and federal funding fearing loss and/or damage of critical infrastructure or loss of human life; and WHEREAS, the cost of maintenance, mitigation and repair of the road exceeds the funding available from the City of Seward, Kenai Peninsula Borough and State government; and WHEREAS, in 2010, the City of Seward and Kenai Peninsula Borough nominated Lowell Point Road on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP); and WHEREAS, the required local 10% match is identified in the nomination packet; and WHEREAS, in order to retain the Lowell Point Road project on the STIP list, the City and Borough must seek funding to meet the required 10% match; and WHEREAS, the City and Borough have agreed to partner their efforts and move forward to seek money for the local match. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2011 -011 earl NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA that: Section 1. The Seward City Council Supports the Lowell Point Road as a Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan Project. Section 2. The Seward City Council directs the City Manager to work with the Kenai Peninsula Borough to seek funding for the required 10% local match. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 14 day of February, 2011. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA illard E. Dunham, Mayor sm i AYES: Valdatta, Smith, Shafer, Dunham NOES: None ABSENT: Bardarson, Keil, Casagranda ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: • /_ / - a 4 /� a1<_r1 Johanna Kinney, CMC City Clerk (Cite Mats t ® �Ma eaa..eyva ® t0 • dbd' q .X M e s a e .x ••t HAND vi s' '�+ Council Agenda Statement Meeting Date: February 14, 2011 of set 9 To Phillip Oates, City Manager if u 1= 4o From: William Casey, Public Works Director i P Agenda Item: Support the Lowell Point Road on the STIP list and seek funding for the local match requirement. BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION: Lowell Point Road is a narrow, one lane gravel road that provides the only terrestrial access the City of Seward has to Seward's wastewater treatment facility which is critical infrastructure. It is also the only access point many Seward residents have to their homes and small businesses. High traffic usage and environmental interference have created life /safety issues of increasing concern for the City, Kenai Peninsula Borough and State officials. The City's sewer lines to the treatment facility, electric and telephone lines all run under this road. It is also the only access point many Seward residents have to their homes and small businesses. Lowell Point Road also accesses State and Federal Park sites and the only terrestrial access to Caines Head State Park and Kenai Fjords National Park. The development of the terrestrial access to the State and National Parks has created traffic volume second only to the Seward Highway. The environmental interference such as rock slides, reduced visibility due to shrubs and trees, and debris falling into the roadway cause occasional road closures in the summer. The road is also closed several times each winter because of the prevalence of avalanches. High water events and tidal surges have made the road impassable due to flooding at Lowell Creek Bridge. This has created public health hazards which have the potential for loss of life and loss or damage to critical infrastructure. Storm surges and tidal surge events have caused erosion problems occasionally making the road impassable. The extensive, coastal damage caused by such events has made it necessary for the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough to seek emergency state and federal funding fearing loss and/or damage of critical infrastructure or loss of human life. The cost of maintenance, mitigation and repair of the road exceeds the funding available from the City of Seward, Kenai Peninsula Borough and State government. This project will mitigate several current ongoing life safety issues. The current condition and placement of the road create public health hazards which have the potential for loss of life and loss or damage to critical infastructure. In 2010, the City of Seward and Kenai Peninsula Borough nominated Lowell Point Road on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). The required local 10% match is identified in the nomination packet. The funding match is on a reimbursement basis with each phase being, pay as you go. According to ADOT &PF, this project would not be scheduled to begin until 2014 or 2015, and following federal process, take an average of 7 years to complete. This timeline would enable the City of Seward and Kenai Peninsula Borough to seek the required funding over a 10 year period. Many communities utilize local taxes, sell bonds, assess fees, and request state legislative appropriations to fulfill their match requirements. Very few communities have the L) I total match sum in hand at the time the project is added to the STIP list. This is an important project for both the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The City and Borough have agreed to partner their efforts and move forward to seek money for the local match. This will enable us to keep the project on the STIP list as we work together to seek additional funding for the required match. INTENT: Support the Lowell Point Road as a STIP project and work with the Kenai Peninsula Borough to seek funding for the required local match. CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Where applicable, this resolution is consistent with the Seward City Code, Charter, Comprehensive Plans, Land Use Plans, Strategic Plan and City Council Rules of Procedures or Other Plans or Policies. FISCAL NOTE: The City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough will need to work together to seek funding to meet the required 10% financial match, which at this time, is estimated to be between $1million and $2 million. Approved by Finance Department: �J ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No X RECOMMENDATION: Support the Lowell Point Road as a STIP project and work with the Kenai Peninsula Borough to seek funding for the required local match.