HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2009-03-12
CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO
CITY COUNCIL
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor
City Council
Alex D. McIntyre, City Manager
FROM: Jordan Wheeler, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: FAN Alleys Restoration Project
DATE: March 12, 2009
This memorandum is to update you on the progress of the First Addition Alley cleanup project.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Last fall, City Council directed staff to pursue a First Addition Neighborhood (FAN) alley cleanup
project where the City partners with the neighborhood and shares in the responsibilities for
clearing the alleys. After the City helps rehabilitate the alleys, the residents will be responsible
for keeping the alleyways clear and using the alleys for recycling and garbage collection.
During the supplemental budget process in December, $100,000 was allocated to the City
Manager’s Office to implement the project. These funds will cover project costs that will
include engineering surveys, contracting with a vegetation and yard debris removal company,
conducting outreach to the neighborhood residents, and performing gravel/resurfacing work.
The project is led through a collaboration of City staff and neighbors of First Addition and we
are also working closely with the City’s refuse and recycling hauler, Allied Waste, to make the
transition to alley garbage and recycling service as smooth as possible.
In January, Council received a memo with information about the latest developments of the
project and our plans for working with the neighborhood and communicating project
information and updates to the residents and property owners. Also in January, an initial
informational letter was sent to the residents and property owners of the FAN apprising them
of the project. A project website was created to provide up-to-date information as well as
background on the project. The website is located at
http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/citymgr/FANAlley.htm. Updates have also been provided at the
First Addition Neighborhood Association meetings.
PROJECT UPDATE
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On April 4, the City will be hosting, along with the neighborhood and Allied Waste, a
neighborhood cleanup day. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. residents will have the opportunity to drop
off yard debris, free of charge, at two locations in the FAN. The objective is to motivate and
encourage residents to perform their own trimming and pruning on their trees, bushes, and
hedges that may be extending into the alleys. We are also hoping to acquire the assistance of
the local Boy Scouts who can accomplish a community service project while helping the
residents during this event. A postcard to announce this event was mailed this week as well as
an email sent to individuals who have signed up for an alley information distribution list.
Following that event, the City will be contracting with a professional vegetation
removal/landscaping company to perform the substantial clearing work. This work is planned
to occur within the next few months and updates and notices will be sent in advance.
PROJECT COST AND SCHEDULE UPDATE
Project expenses to-date include the printing and mailing costs and staff time for the City
Surveyor and the project manager. A request for quotes and a contract for services are being
prepared for the next phase of the project which will be the clearing of the alleys by a
contractor. We estimate the contract to cost around $50,000.
The project is very near its original timeline for completion. Due to the weather and the
unfortunate slide event on Green Bluff, the surveying of the alleys took a few weeks longer
than expected. However, the target of moving all garbage and recycling containers to the alleys
is still planned to occur at the end of the summer.