R2015-03 APPROPRIATE MOTOR FUEL TAX FUNDS

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PUBLIC WORKS MEMORANDUM NO. 2015-03 DATE: January 9, 2015 TO: Honorable Mayor McElroy and City Council Members FROM: Gregg D. Zientara, Interim City Manager Richard G. Marley, P.E., Public Works Director SUBJECT: Allocation of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Municipal Maintenance Costs SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by staff that the City Council approve the attached resolution appropriating $760,000 in Motor Fuel Tax(MFT) funds dedicated to general street maintenance, and that the Mayor be authorized to sign said resolution, and the City Clerk to attest. Items covered by this allocation specifically include: • Reimbursing the General fund for annual traffic signal maintenance costs, • Providing concrete for street maintenance work performed by City forces, • Purchasing road salt to support the City's winter maintenance operations. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: Each year the City Council appropriates Motor Fuel Tax(MFT) funds for general street maintenance operations. In 2014,the City included road salt as part of the MFT expenditure estimate. This allocation is identified each fiscal year in the City's Capital Improvement plan. BACKGROUND: Traffic Signal Maintenance For many years the City has allocated MFT funds to reimburse the General Fund for the traffic signal maintenance operations performed by City staff with the Public Works Department. The funds cover the salary and benefits of two City Electricians, the costs for their vehicles, materials used, traffic signal electricity costs, and contracted services. The Illinois Department of Transportation(IDOT) reimburses the City for a portion of the maintenance work,materials, and electricity costs incurred for maintaining traffic signals located on State highways in the City. These reimbursements are deposited into the MFT fund. Concrete for Street Maintenance In 2013, the City expanded the MFT street maintenance allocation to include funds to provide concrete for street maintenance work performed by City staff with the Public Works Department. City crews are able to perform concrete repairs at a lower cost than can be obtained by contracting out similar work. Increasing the materials available for concrete repair work improves the ability of the City to maintain its street system and stretch limited funds further. Page I 1