2009-02-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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To: Honorable Mayor Adams and Council From: Julie Feier, City Manager Date: February 27, 2009 Subject: Weekly Update the next steps for Last night City staff, MSD and the Corp of Engineers presented on the flood victims. Presenters reviewed the history of the work and funding related to the river to the over 200 citizens in attendance. We reviewed with the group as well as individuals the process that will take place if the grant application to purchase 26 homes on the riverside of Wilson Avenue is awarded. Those residents who consent to the buyout will receive pre-flood, pre-economic downturn prices for their homes. The only new information was that the Corp provided a three-year time line for approval of the draft study calling for the buyout of 148 homes in the 5-year flood plain. In addition, when the Corp plan is approved MSD discussed how their channel improvements over the past years should be considered a part of the local match required for the Corp buyout of the 5-year flood plain homes creating a local match pool of up to $6 million dollars for future buyouts. Everyone had the opportunity to submit comments and questions, which will be compiled for response and shared publicly as soon as possible. A copy of the power point presentation from last night’s meeting is attached. trash/recycling carts The removal began for delinquent refuse accounts in Area 5 this week. Residents that come in to pay the delinquent account, will be informed that trash/recycling carts are scheduled to be returned within five business days, or by Thursday, March 5, 2009, which should accommodate solid waste collection schedules throughout the City. The program is being managed by the same staff picking up trash, yard waste, recycling and responds to previously scheduled dumpster and cart deliveries throughout the week, which prohibits us from being able to provide a particular day for cart returns. The City will be pursuing funding for energy efficiency projects through the American Energy Efficiency and Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Conservation Block Grant (EECBG ) program. Because University City has more than 35,000 residents, it is eligible for direct aid from the $40 billion local government pool. The DOE informs us that priority will be given to cities that look at energy efficiency over the long term. For example, monies for revolving funds that are paid back through dollars saved through increased energy efficiency are highly recommended as projects. Staff will be looking at retrofitting Ameren streetlights to reduce our significant electric bills (and reduce energy usage), greening the fleet (reduce carbon emissions), and resurfacing the municipal parking lots with permeable surfaces, which will reduce storm