Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.a. Maintenance of Drainage and Utility Easements and Ponds4ROSEMOUNT SUMMARY CITY COUNCIL S City Council Work Session: June 15, 2011 AGENDA ITEM: Maintenance of Drainage and Utility GE DA SECTIO Easements and Ponds I -( I VAIgn PREPARED BY: Andrew J. Brotzler, P.E., Director of ffix, AGENDA NO.. ' Public Works /City Engineer ATTACHMENTS: May 28, 2011 Property Owner Letter; APPROVED BY: BMP Summary Sheet RECOMMENDED ACTION: Council discussion BACKGROUND In response to the attached May 28, 2011 letter received by Council, this item is for discussion and information on city practices for the maintenance of drainage and utility easements and storm water, ponds. With regards to the maintenance of drainage systems, the city generally assumes responsibility for maintaining drainage ways.that are necessary to accommodate the drainage of public property and rights -, of -way. This will include ditches, swales, storm sewer pipes and storm water pond areas. We typically will complete work that is necessary to maintain the function of these systems to convey and retain storm water, but not aesthetic type improvements or maintenance. Consistent with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit, Rosemount inspects ponds and pipe outfalls once every five years to evaluate their condition and determine the need for Maintenance. All pipe outfalls were inspected about 4 years ago, and we were planning on undertaking pond inspections next year, but only after we receive the new MS4 permit that is coming out the end of this. year., The permit dictates how to inspect ponds and when maintenance is required. We have been advised this updated permit will likely have some enhanced requirements in this area so no inspection work has been started. Currently, pond inspections generally require measuring the size of and depth of water /sediment in' the pond, along with other _basin characteristics, and compare it to its original design. Based on past MS4 requirements, if the pond is filled in to the extent it'no longer can perform its intended functions (typically storm water storage or treatment) it should be identified as needing maintenance. Although this is not always the case, this would typically require the loss of at least 50% of the ,original sediment storage capacity. Ponds needing maintenance would then be ranked in priority and scheduled for maintenance based on a variety of factors including funds that were budgeted or available for maintenance in a given year, proximity to downstream lakes, wetlands or sensitive water resources, cost to complete work, benefits associated with maintenance, impact of delaying work, ability to combine work with other work in area. The pond referenced in Mr. Sample's letter was inspected. Based on the inspections completed for all City ponds, there were no maintenance actions required at that time. G:AUtihties \Storm Sewer \20110615 CWS Drainage - Utility Easement Policy.doex James A Sample Elizabeth M Sample 4450 938 Court West P-osemount, MN 55068 May 28, Mayor Bill Droste Council Member Mark deBettignies Council Member Matt Kearney Council Member Kim Shoe - Corrigan Council Member Jeff Weisensel Rosemount City Hall 2875 145' Street West Rosemount MN 55068 -4997 RE: ROW adjacent to 138" Court W and Storm Water Catch Basin Dear Honorable City Council Members: Part of the foregoing has been discussed with Phil Olson, PE Project Engineer We are currently terrified that our septic system will back up inside our house due to excessive street water running across the back of our property. The source of this water, according to Mr. Olson, appears to be street runoff from the eastern part of Le Foret that empties from a culvert on Darnell Court and 138' Court into a Rights of Way ditch along 138' Court W. Over the past 15+ years, this ROW ditch has become overgrown with vegetation and the water has been slowly diverted at a southwesterly angle across the Nelson property and onto my property, Presently,, with so much runoff from winter snows and spring rains, we have a river of water and a marshy pool of standing water within a few feet of our septic field. We are scared to death to wash clothes, take showers or evbn flush the toilet! This situation has not happened all at once. It has happened over a number of years. Mr, Olson has noted that the existing ROW along 138 Court is heavily overgrown with trees, brush and other vegetation. It has not been maintained as outlined in the Public Works Quality Standards; I can safely testify that in the 27 years that I have lived at 4450 there has never been any visible maintenance of this ROW. Be that as it may, this deluge of water must be checked. The pooling of water an'my property is causing my trees to die and has rendered the area useless. It is impossible to "walk in the woods" because your shoes will sink in the ground up to your ankles. This ituation is out of hand and we request immediate relief_ The existing water prohibits us to maintain the area. We have stressed the capacity of our septic field to remove effluent, and it is only a matter of time (short time) before effluent will break through the ground and mix ,with the runoff water. Then we will have a cesspool of epic proportions, We would prefer that the EPA not become involved. Mr. Mayor and Council Members, we request immediate action to open up the ROW along 138' Court and rechannel this water off my property. We have an emergens and we your immediate attention to this malt 2. A number of years ago —1988 -1989 — the City of Rosembunt constructed a storm water holding pond with a taking of part of my property. Additionally, the City of Rosemount constructed a storm water drainage ditch along the south side of my property.to drain water from the streets of the Orin Thompson project. At the time, riprap was placed in the ditch to retard the water flow and reduce sediment. The ditch is now filled with sediment to the point that you dan't see the riprap. The area is heavily overgrown with vegetation; A sand delta of sediment now covers the mouth of the ditch and extends well into the holding pond. The pond was shallow when it was constructed and now is so shallow that birds and wildlife essentially walk on water as they scavenge for food. The holding capacity of this pond appears to be less than one- third of the original intention. We are not aware of any inspections by the City of Rosemount as outlined in the Public Works Quality Standards, nor has there been any maintenance activity of the area. Because there is a basin drain on the western edge of the pond, water entering the pond egresses through this drain. However, the holding . capacity of the pond itself has been diminished greatly. It appears to us that the ditch and pond have been overlooked by maintenance personnel for many years. When it was constructed initially, we were promised by the former city engineer that trees tolerant to water would be planted around the perimeter of the pond. That never happened! We were told that the City of Rosemount would keep the pond in good condition so it could collect storm. water. That has never happened. Frankly, unless this storm water pond is placed in good repair this year, we predict that within the next two -to -three years it will revert to what it was in 1984 when I purchased the property — a swamp in the spring and a cattail -filled marsh the rest of the year. We are disgusted by the looks and are concerned that the reduced water drainage capacity of the ditch and pond has started to kill our trees. We know that the City of Rosemount does not want to be a party to this, and we request that you address this situation at your earliest opportunity. Mr. Olson made it painfully clear to us that funds are in short supply, and we appreciate the fact that city employees take these fiduciary responsibilities. Nevertheless, when uncontrolled water, , impinges on quality of life, we expect elected officials to act responsibly and with alacrity. Our septic system is at the breaking point. We believe we are but one flush away from disaster! Sincerely, (� ; amcs A. Sample . 612 -669 -9923 Cell BMP Summary Sheet MS4 Name: City of Rosemount Minimum Control Measure: 5- POST - CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IN NEW DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT Unique BMP Identification Number: 5c -1 *BMP Title: Long -term Operation and Maintenance of BMPs, *BMP Description: City staff will inspect post- construction BMP's then evaluate inspection records for determining the corrective maintenance actions (if necessary) for the long -term operation of all stormwater management' .facilities owned by the City of Rosemount. Corrective actions and routine maintenance of all stormwater management facilities will be guided by the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, City of Rosemount design requirements, and City staff. Location(s) in SWPPP of detailed information relating to this BMP: • BMP ID No. 5b-1 Long -term Operation and Maintenance -of BMPs —Record of Activities Completed *Measurable Goals: The City will annually inspect a minimum of 20% of all its MS4 outfalls, sediment basins, and ponds, then evaluate and record the number of proposed maintenance projects and successful funding of each project (if applicable). The goal of this BMP will be met by inspecting a minimum of 20% of all its MS4 outfalls, sediment basins, and ponds per year. *Timeline/Implementation Schedule: The City of Rosemount will continue to implement the above mentioned measurable goals through the expiration of this permit, May 31, 2011. Specific Components and Notes: Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan *Responsible Party for this BMP: Name: Andrew Brotzler Department: City Engineer Phone: 651- 322 -2025 E -mail: andy .brotzler @ci.rosemount.nm.us *Indicates a R EgUIRED field. Failure to complete any required field will result in rejection of the application due to incompleteness. 0 wq- strm4 -50 3/06 4