09.e2 Staff Report Culvert and Drainage Draft Ordinance
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: April 15, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Re: Staff Report Culvert and Drainage Draft Ordinance
Background: In 1999, the Scandia Town Board may or may not have requested a driveway culvert
template design be established. As this document can be found in retained records it is assumed
there was such a request and accredited by the board. The template has been used a baseplate
for driveway access installations and permit drafting. The template is quite standard other than
the rule within which states the township will retain ownership of the driveway culvert upon an
approved final installation.
Moving forward 14 years to 2013 there was a driveway installation revision but was not approved
by Council decision. The new revision stated the same language as the design template from 1999
except stating the City, not township, would retain ownership of the driveway culvert upon final
installation. We still use this language in our permit today but in online electronic form with other
revisions linked to other permits.
In 2016, a discussion took place in a City Council meeting related to driveway culverts installation
and ownership. In the minutes from that meeting specific details were not recorded other than
suggestions how the City should proceed with changes to the p ermit and ownership. The
Administrator at the time is noted as stating a revision would be drafted and brought back to
Council for further discussion. No revised draft or further discussion has taken place since that
meeting in 2016.
City Staff believe it is important to revisit the history and future of driveway access and drainage
ditch responsibility. Due to the limited recorded historic decisions, on ownership and a continued
requests from prior staff and current staff to have a clear and defined ordinance, we should
discuss for clarity to residents and staff.
Draft Review: The culvert and drainage ditch ordinance draft presented to you is a combination
of thoughts and perspectives from multiple City staff meetings on the subject written out in
ordinance form. As this has been a much talked about subject but never formally introduced, the
general consensus from discussion is that the property owner should retain responsibility for the
installation, maintenance and replacement of the driveway culvert, which as part of the driveway
allows the property owner private access in and out of the property. Since 2018, hundreds of
thousands of dollars have been spent replacing private driveway culverts during road
construction projects. If those funds could have been used for road construction and not private
access reconstruction, more public roadway could or may have been completed.
One concern over transitioning to private ownership of the driveway culvert is how the City
controls the replacement of an existing culvert, if owned by the property owner. Within the draft
ordinance there is a clause which states any alteration of the culvert or drainage ditch by property
owner shall require a permit from the City. Such permit would allow City staff to inspect and
approve appropriate materials and installation according to City specifications.
The majority of the fiscal burden would be taken off of the City with the ownership change, but
budgeting for culvert inspection at a comparatively much lower cost would remain. Notification
of failed culverts would be generated and sent to the property owners if a culvert has failed or is
in need of replacement. Options for the property owner would include installation by owner or
contractor hired by the owner with an approved permit. If there is failure to complete a culvert
replacement in a specified time the City would coordinate replacement and the cost of
replacement would be billed to the owner or assessed to the property.
Fiscal Impact: A reduction in fiscal impact to the City would be not only in the Capital Improvement Fund
for road reconstruction, but also the Public Works general fund dedicated to culvert repair and
maintenance.
Options: City staff would like to continue pursuing the change in ownership of driveway access culverts
at the Councils discretion. Future discussions with other committees are an option or draft changes
discussed in this meeting can be address and revisited at a future meeting for approval.
City of Scandia
Typical Residential Driveway & Culvert Installation
June 18, 2013
Notes:
1. Driveway width (W): 12’ minimum, 24’ maximum
2. Culvert under driveway: Minimum 15” diameter, 16 gauge CMP
3. Culvert flared ends sections are mandatory
4. Driveway slopes greater than 6% shall be paved to prevent erosion
5. Radius at connection to street (R): 5’ minimum, 15’ maximum
6. Maintain 75’ minimum clearance from edge of driveway to right of way line of adjacent street intersection or
obtain pre-approval from the City
7. Minimum 2% grade on culvert
8. Two driveways per lot or obtain pre-approval from the City
9. Homeowner is responsible for culvert installation and establishment of vegetation along driveway. Once final
approval, City will maintain.