HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.a. Maintenance of Drainage and Utility Easements and Ponds4ROSEMOUNT SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
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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
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AGENDA NO..
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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.
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