Board repeals three old public-works policies and approves three updated policies

The Board of Public Works voted July 6 to repeal three dated public-works policies and to approve three revised policies intended to align city practice with current municipal code and state statute.

Acting Public Works Director Josh Morris recommended repealing policy 5.070 (terms of repayment for assessments not under the housing incentive program), policy 5.320 (excavation in city streets, originally drafted in 1983), and policy 5.340 (sewer and water lateral depth). Morris said those topics are now covered by municipal code, annual standard specifications for public works construction, or the plumbing code (chapter 16), so the policies are no longer needed.

The board approved three revised policies: 5.200 (street construction and reconstruction), 5.330 (sanitary sewer, water mains and lateral installation with street construction or reconstruction), and 5.350 (sewer lateral repair, replacement and abandonment). Morris said the revisions clarify when and where mains and laterals are to be installed, who bears the cost (for new construction typically the developer; for reconstruction the property owner, possibly via special assessment or direct billing), and align procedures with state statute and current practices. He also said a small number of additional edits were handed out at the meeting and included in the approved versions.

A board member praised the policy cleanup and asked whether the city should adopt a regular review schedule to avoid out-of-date or conflicting policies; Morris said there is no current rotation but agreed a review schedule is a reasonable idea. The board approved repeals and revisions by voice vote.

The approved revisions specify that new development projects will have mains and laterals installed at the developer's cost unless other arrangements are agreed with the city. For reconstruction projects, lateral installation locations and cost responsibility were clarified; where costs fall to property owners, the policy contemplates special assessments or direct billing. The sewer lateral replacement incentive program was described in broad terms during the presentation; the board approved the clarified policy language but did not modify program funding or dollar amounts at this meeting.

The motion to repeal and to adopt the revised policies carried by voice vote; staff will implement the policy changes and remove the repealed policies from the city's policy manual.