The City of Watertown held a Public Works Finance & Safety Committee meeting on February 4th, 2019. During the meeting, several agenda items were discussed and approved. One of the key items on the agenda was the approval of a professional services agreement for services related to the development and hosting of the city county geographic information system (GIS) website.
Approval of Consent Agenda
The meeting started with the approval of the consent agenda. The motion for approval was made by Buehler and seconded by Bill Hard. There was no discussion, and the motion was carried unanimously.
Public Input
Following the approval of the consent agenda, a time was set aside for public input. However, no one came forward to speak about any topic not on the agenda.
Approval of the Agenda
The next item on the agenda was the approval of the agenda itself. A motion and second were made to approve the agenda. The motion was made by Albertson and seconded by Damon. During the discussion, one member mentioned their need to recuse themselves from items four and five as they sit on the First District Board of Directors. Apart from that, there were no other discussions, and the motion was carried unanimously.
Council Consideration of Professional Services Agreement for GIS Website
The fourth item on the agenda was the council’s consideration of a professional services agreement for services related to the development and hosting of the city county GIS website. The agreement was with First District and amounted to $4,500. A motion and second were made to approve the agreement. The motion was made by L’olam and seconded by Albertson.
During the discussion, it was explained that the GIS website provided a user-friendly version of the GIS mapping used by the city’s engineering office. The annual fee of $4,500 was the city’s portion of the total cost, which was shared between the city, county, Development Corporation, and municipal utilities. The services provided by First District were compared to having a full-time GIS specialist on staff, making it a cost-effective solution for the city.
The council members agreed that the GIS website was a valuable tool and that the services provided by First District were well worth the cost. The motion was carried unanimously.
Professional Services Agreement for Monthly Updates and Technical Assistance
The fifth item on the agenda was the council’s consideration of a professional services agreement for monthly updates, support, and technical assistance for the GIS. This agreement was also with First District and amounted to $20,070. A motion and second were made to approve the agreement. The motion was made by Mandy and seconded by L’olam.
During the discussion, it was explained that this agreement focused on the data management of the GIS mapping and the expansion of the data as the city continues to grow and map new things. The services provided by First District were described as more in-depth and robust compared to the web-based hosting services. It was mentioned that the price for these services had remained the same since the inception of the contract.
The council members expressed their satisfaction with the services provided by First District and the value they provided to the city. The motion was carried unanimously.
Resolution of Acceptance for Water Quality Capture Volume Pond
The final item on the agenda was the council’s consideration of a resolution of acceptance for the development improvements of the water quality capture volume pond in the East woods 18th edition development, installed on behalf of the developers Peggy Hagen and Joy Nelson. A motion and second were made to approve the resolution. The motion was made by Ville Hauer and seconded by Dam.
During the discussion, it was explained that the pond had been built according to the design and specifications outlined in the development agreement. The city was now accepting the improvements and transferring ownership of the property to the city. It was also mentioned that it is customary for the city to take over residential drainage features like this pond for ownership and maintenance.
The council members agreed that it was important for the city to take on the responsibility of maintaining the drainage facility to ensure its proper functioning and prevent any adverse impacts on neighboring properties. The motion was carried unanimously.
Conclusion
The Public Works Finance & Safety Committee meeting covered several important agenda items related to the city’s GIS website services and the acceptance of a water quality capture volume pond. The agreements with First District for GIS website services were approved, and the council accepted the improvements and ownership of the pond. These decisions highlight the city’s commitment to providing efficient and effective services to its residents.