KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH ROAD SERVICE AREA

RESOLUTION 02-____

A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MERRYWOOD AVENUE EXTENSION IN CENTRAL REGION, UNIT 6, TO THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH ASSEMBLY

WHEREAS, the residents of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Road Service Area (RSA) approved construction powers by popular vote at the regular election in October 2000; and

WHEREAS, KPB 16.41.090 provides that the board shall make an annual report and recommendation to the assembly regarding any construction projects to be undertaken considering the criteria set forth in the code; and

WHEREAS, Liberty Lane, a collector road in Central Region, Unit 6, supplies the only access to Commerce Street, a subcollector road certified for maintenance that serves Ashton Park, College Park West Addition, and Brumlow Park Subdivisions; and

WHEREAS, traffic counts for Liberty Lane average 675 vehicles per day; and

WHEREAS, the RSA has serious maintenance problems with Liberty Lane and Commerce Drive; and

WHEREAS, construction and improvement of 900 feet of Merrywood Avenue will provide an improved borough-maintained road and an alternate access for a high traffic volume borough-maintained road; and

WHEREAS, the RSA has acquired an agreement from an adjoining property owner to dedicate property in exchange for construction of borough maintained extension of Merrywood and to provide alternate access to three subdivisions; and

WHEREAS, the RSA board discussed the Merrywood extension at its April 9 and May 14, 2002, meetings and approved the construction process at its May 14, 2002 meeting.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH ROAD SERVICE AREA BOARD:

SECTION 1. Based on the standards set forth in the code, the RSA board makes the following findings in recommending construction of the Merrywood extension to the KPB Assembly:

STANDARD: Whether there is available road service area funding.

FINDING: There is $1,086,000 in the proposed RSA FY03 capital budget over the amount required for the state CIP match program. The project is estimated to cost $15,000. It is a small construction project and worth the cost considering the project will improve a portion of Merrywood certified for maintenance, acquire additional necessary right-of-way for the portion of Merrywood certified for maintenance, provide alternate access for an overburdened borough-maintained road, and provide additional access for residents and businesses.

STANDARD: Whether the road accesses public lands or facilities.

FINDING: No. The code does not require that all five criteria be met before recommending a construction project to the assembly.

STANDARD: Whether the road is a collector road.

FINDING: The road is at least a subcollector category at this time. Merrywood provides alternate access to three residential subdivisions including single and multi-family dwellings, at least two businesses, and also provides access to large unsubdivided parcels. The additional right-of-way gained by proceeding with this project provides full right-of-way width for 1,700 feet of Merrywood from Kalifornsky Beach Road to Herr Street. Since the road fronts a subdivision boundary, it will ultimately serve as a collector road for adjacent parcels.

STANDARD: Whether there are funding sources in addition to RSA funds available for the project.

FINDING: It is anticipated that RSA funding would be used for this project. Land management may absorb the cost of platting and surveying for the right-of-way acquisition, which would be approximately $3,000 of the total project cost.

STANDARD: Whether the construction will provide an improved alternate route to a road currently certified for maintenance.

FINDING: The Merrywood extension will provide an improved constructed alternate access to Commerce Street, which may only be accessed by Liberty Lane currently. The high traffic volume in this fully developed residential area causes serious roadbed deterioration and increased maintenance efforts and expenses. The repair, water pumping during breakup, and high traffic volume cause an approximate additional $3,000 a year in maintenance costs.

SECTION 2. The RSA board recommends construction of the Merrywood extension to the borough assembly based on the above findings and attached report incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

SECTION 3. A copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the mayor and the assembly.

ADOPTED BY THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH ROAD SERVICE AREA BOARD ON THIS 10TH DAY OF JUNE 2002.