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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.a. May 18, 2015 Minutes UTILITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES May 18, 2015 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the regular Utility Commission meeting of the City of Rosemount was called to order on May 18, 2015, at 5:42 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Hall, 2875 145th Street West, Rosemount. President Speich called the meeting to order with Commissioners Harmsen and Connolly, Public Works Director Brotzler, Public Works Coordinator Watson and Recording Secretary Kladar attending. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA None AUDIENCE INPUT None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Harmsen. Second by Connolly. Motion to approve the minutes of the April 20, 2015 Utility Commission meeting. Ayes: 3. Nays: 0. Absent: 0. Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS 5.a. Vermillion River Watershed Update Director Brotzler provided a brief summary of Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) cost sharing request regarding an Intercommunity Flow Stormwater Model. Last year the VRWJPO started an update to the watershed and the City submitted a request to facilitate outlets from the City of Rosemount south toward the Vermillion River. Specifically, the City wants to review areas near Shannon Pond, Biscayne Avenue and across the southern border, and also Rich Valley to the east. The identified outlets refer back to the City's previous watershed plan. The VRWJPO has obtained an estimate from Barr Engineering for the model update work to evaluate the City's request. The cost estimate is $44,900 with a participation request of 50%. Staff recommends entering into the agreement with the VRWJPO. The modeling will provide more detailed information regarding at what rate the City can discharge water and if it will work with the City's stormwater plan. The City may need to do an overflow to the river and more ponding and infiltration in addition to outlets. Currently it is unclear how and when the water could be discharged into the Vermillion River. Brotzler anticipates that it would take coordination with Empire Township. Brotzler advised that the modeling information would be useful for the City's 1 Comp Plan Update. Commissioners agreed that the City should proceed with the participation agreement with the VRWJPO. Motion by Speich. Second by Harmsen. Motion to recommend entering into an agreement with VRWJPO to fund an intercommunity flow stormwater model. Ayes: 3. Nays: 0. Absent: 0. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS 6.a. First Amendment to AT&T Tower Lease Agreement Public Works Coordinator Watson summarized the Amendment to the Tower Lease Agreement with AT&T on the Chippendale Tower as outlined in the executive summary. AT&T's lease is scheduled to expire in December 2015 and the amendment would extend the lease into December 2035. Watson advised that AT&T has already agreed to the changes in the Lease Agreement and it is consistent with previous leases signed by the City. Motion by Connolly. Second by Speich. Motion to approve the First Amendment to AT&T Tower Lease Agreement. Ayes: 3. Nays: 0. Absent: 0. Motion carried. 7. PRESIDENT'S REPORT President Speich did not have anything new to report. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT 8.a. City Projects Update Brotzler distributed updated information regarding abandoned wells 4 and 5. The City has obtained grant money to proceed with sealing the abandoned wells. There has been discussion about keeping well 5 open as an observation well but the Department of Health has determined that Well 5 is unacceptable as there are multiple casing sites that are not grouted. The City plans to proceed with the sealing of well 4 and nothing will be done with well 5 at this time. The City will apply additional funding toward a new observation well in Chippendale park that will meet DNR appropriation permit requirements. The City will be soliciting quotes for this work. The attached project report was reviewed and Brotzler provided a quick summary. It was noted that the Well 16 contract has been awarded and construction will begin shortly. He advised that the DNR may require inventory and monitoring of private wells that are within a certain radius of the new well. If this is required, the project wouldn't be completed until fall. The wellhouse will be completed in 2016. 2 Brotzler noted that the Bacardi project is substantially complete with the pedestrian bridge overpass currently under construction. The Danbury Way feasibility report will go to Council in June with a public hearing in July. This is a 2016 construction project as it requires 2 years of the street's annual pavement budgeting. 8.b. 2014 Well Pumping Report The attached report was reviewed and it was noted that April had a large increase in pumping as compared to last year. Harmsen inquired about the East Side Water Tower repairs. Brotzler noted the repairs will begin this summer. Brotzler also advised that a week ago the Bacardi Tower started leaking. The tower was drained and inspected by KLM and a failed gasket was found to be the problem. Brotzler advised that he anticipates in the future the Utility Commission will be asked to delve into water conservation issues facing the City. The City submitted an application for funding to Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) regarding the development of an Integrated Water Management Plan for Rosemount. Originally this plan focused on UMore but it could be expanded to other areas. A final decision on this application won't be made until the end of the year. Discussion was held about a recent newspaper article about Dakota County water use. Brotzler discussed the ongoing MetCouncil study and feasibility report. The capital cost was over a billion dollars for the multi community water treatment. Rosemount's share would be about 9% of that cost plus an additional$3-4 million operating and maintenance cost. This would result in over a 200%increase in operating cost and therefore water rates. The process has been helpful to show the varying alternatives. The groundwater group requested MetCouncil model taking the major water users off the grid (i.e.,Kramer and Flint Hills) and also reducing demand by 15-20%. In doing those types of things the model shows the aquifer rebounding. Harmsen advised that he was resigning as a Utilities Commissioner effective July 17 as he was moving from Rosemount. Brotzler advised the Commissioners that the City was currently in the process of hiring a Public Works Director and a recommendation would be made to City Council in June and Brotzler would be transitioning out of the role at that time. 8c. Set Next Meeting Agenda for June 16, 2015 3 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned by President Speich at 6:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Karin Kladar Recording Secretary 4