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Staff warns of limited drainage capacity; council told a transportation-use fee or drainage utility could fund expanded work
Summary
Officials said the streets and drainage department has six positions plus a superintendent, limiting the city's ability to address ~150 miles of ditches and 75 miles of streets; staff suggested a transportation-use fee or a drainage utility as future funding mechanisms for a larger program.
Staff briefed council on drainage and staffing constraints, saying the streets-and-drainage department is small relative to the city's needs. "Right now, we've got the superintendent and 6 positions… we have almost 150 miles of ditches to work on, 75 miles of streets," the presenter said, describing the mismatch between service needs and capacity.
Staff said a transportation-use fee, if adopted, would provide a dedicated funding source that could finance a much larger street program including associated drainage. Alternatively, a drainage utility could be studied as a separate funding pillar tied to the utilities program. Staff advised that adding an enhanced drainage program would require additional staff or trade-offs elsewhere in city work.
