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Home My WebLink About6.i. 2017 Met Council Green Infrastructure Pilot Grant Program Application EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Regular Meeting: July 5, 2017 AGENDA ITEM: 2017 Met Council Green Infrastructure Pilot Grant Program Application AGENDA SECTION: Consent PREPARED BY: John Morast, PE, Interim Public Works Director / City Engineer AGENDA NO. 6.i. ATTACHMENTS: Application; June 20, 2016 Utility Commission Memo (Splash Pad Water Reuse) APPROVED BY: LJM RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to Recommend Council Approval for the Submittal of the 2017 Met Council Green Infrastructure Pilot Grant Program Application ISSUE In response to the region’s water-related programs and the need to find innovative solutions to the drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure issues facing the region today, the Metropolitan Council has implemented a green infrastructure pilot grant program that became effective May 8, 2017. City staff is seeking City Council approval to apply for this grant to receive funding for the Splash Pad Water Reuse project that was discussed with the Utility Commission last year. BACKGROUND Last year, the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Power Organization (VRWJPO) applied for a Met Council grant on our behalf in the amount of $125,000 for the Splash Pad water reuse project, with an additional $40,000 to come from the VRWJPO if the Met Council grant was approved. Unfortunately, the Met Council grant was denied and the water reuse project was put on hold until another funding source was identified. This new Green Infrastructure grant opportunity was discussed at the June 19, 2017 Utility Commission meeting, with a recommendation from the Utility Commission to move forward with the grant application. The Splash Pad Water Reuse project includes the installation of a recirculation system that would save the City approximately 9 million gallons of water annually at the Splash Pad. The total estimated cost for the recirculating system is $432,000, which includes 15% overhead. Because there are no limits to the amount we can request through this grant, staff is recommending we apply for the full amount of the project. The attached memo from the June 20, 2016 Utility Commission meeting shows the estimated annual maintenance and operating costs of the current system vs. a recirculating system. The table suggests that a recirculating system will save approximately $17,593 annually. However, since the City does not charge itself for water, the cost of water should not be reflected as an actual operating cost. Therefore, the actual annual operating cost of the current system is approximately $5,500, while the recirculating system will be approximately $16,500. While the recirculating system will reduce potable water use by approximately 9 million gallons annually, it will likely result in an annual budget increase of approximately $11,000. 2 A draft application is provided for your review and comments. The final application will be submitted to the Met Council by July 17, 2017. Notice of award of grant funding is expected by August 31, 2017. Projects that are awarded the grant money are expected to be completed by December 31, 2019. SUMMARY Staff is requesting City Council approval for the submittal of the 2017 Met Council Green Infrastructure Grant Program Application in the amount of $432,000. 2017 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Water problems such as water quality, water quantity, and wastewater infrastructure issues facing the region today are often addressed as separate individual concerns and are not tied to other urban planning issues associated with land use, transit development, water infrastructure, and parks and green space. In response to the region’s water-related programs and the need to find innovative solutions that provide multiple benefits, the Metropolitan Council (Council) will implement a pilot green infrastructure grant program effective May 8, 2017. The Metropolitan Council is interested in working with communities to implement integrated solutions directed at solving our region’s water-related problems in ways that provide multiple benefits, maximize the extent of positive impacts, and are technically sound. Taking an integrated approach to solving water-related problems will mean thinking about all aspects of water impacting the areas when determining the best solutions for the situation. This approach promotes the concept of a community looking at wastewater issues, storm water issues, water supply issues together to determine the most efficient and cost effective way to address the issues to: • Protect the quality and quantity of the region’s water resources; • Prioritize the need for improving aging infrastructure; • Protect the economic vitality of the region, cities, and neighborhoods; and • Protect natural ecosystems and park systems. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to metropolitan area communities. The Council has $1,000,000 available for the pilot grant program. Grant(s) will be awarded on a competitive basis to metropolitan area communities. The number of communities receiving the grant will depend on the projects proposed. The Council may divide the $1,000,000 for this grant among multiple projects or it may select a single project to receive the full $1,000,000. THE COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE ALL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO SOLICIT AND INCLUDE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES (MCUB) FIRMS IN GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES THAT MCUB FIRMS CAN PERFORM. THE COUNCIL WILL REQUIRE ALL GRANTEES TO REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THESE EFFORTS. A LIST OF MCUB FIRMS IS AVAILABLE ON THE COUNCIL’S WEBSITE. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JULY 17th, 2017. Application Process • Applicants must be communities located in the seven-county metropolitan area. • Communities with have ten weeks to submit grant applications. • Metropolitan Council will notify applicant(s) of grant award(s) on or before August 31, 2017. • Successful applicants will be required to submit detailed project work plans and budgets which will be included as exhibits in the standard grant agreements. • The Council will encourage all successful applicants to solicit and include Metropolitan Council Underutilized Businesses (MCUB) firms in grant funded activities that MCUB firms 1 can perform. The Council will require grantees to report on the results of these efforts. A list of MCUB firms is available on the Council’s website. • No project expenses incurred before agreement execution will be eligible for reimbursement by the Metropolitan Council. • No payments will be made that would cause total compensation to exceed the total grant amount. Examples of water-related problem solutions eligible for funding include but are not limited to: • Private property mitigation of service lateral replacements and foundation drain and sump pump disconnections that reduce inflow and infiltration to our wastewater infrastructure • Water supply projects such as low flow plumbing fixture installations and irrigation management systems to help stretch water supplies • Installing low impact development projects that reduce the volume of stormwater and/or improve water quality • Utilizing green infrastructure to manage flooding, help to recharge our aquifers, and revitalize neighborhoods • Water reuse or other projects that diversify and stretch our water resources while fostering climate resilience • Deploying advanced technologies and projects that support multiple water benefits (such as fixing a wastewater issue while addressing a surface water issue) while reinforcing and improving decision-making on all levels Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be evaluated based on the extent and degree to which they identify or address the following criteria: • Multiple Benefits: Extent to which the proposed project: o Solves/addresses multiple regional or community water-related problems o Shows the connectedness of all water o Protects, maintains, or restores water quality and quantity • Extent of Impacts: Extent to which the proposed project: o Results in long-term benefits to the community or region o Positively impacts lower income areas • Technical Basis: Extent to which the proposed project: o Reflects technological knowledge, standards, and best practices o Measures impacts of solutions (beyond those required) • Project Timeline: o Readiness of the project to start o All projects need to be completed by December 31, 2019 The Grantee must be able to identify and quantify at a watershed level the water impacts and outcomes expected as a result of project implementation. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Sventek at judy.sventek@metc.state.mn.us or 651- 602-1156. 2 ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Legal Name of Project Sponsor: Designated Project Representative: Mailing Address, E-Mail Address, & Telephone Number of Project Sponsor: Project Title: Total Project Cost: __________________________ Grant Request Amount: ______________________ How do you intend to identify and quantify at a watershed level the water impacts and outcomes expected to result from implementation of this project? What impacts do you expect? Project Summary (Provide a short description of the project, goals, objectives, budget, and project timeline.) (Continue on back, if necessary-please do not exceed four pages) 3 In 2014, the City of Rosemount constructed a recreational splash pad in Central Park to serve the growing needs of this vibrant, active, family-oriented community. Due to existing budget constraints at the time, the decision was made to construct a flow-through system, whereby the water used at the splash pad drains into nearby Erickson Pond via the existing storm sewer. After one full season of use, the Rosemount Utility Commission requested a study be conducted to determine the feasibility of a retrofit recirculation system to reduce the water demand, and to reduce the impact on Erickson Pond. The splash pad uses approximately 10.5 million gallons of potable water per year, which accounts for 1% of the city’s overall water usage. The feasibility study identified several options to address water reuse at the splash pad. The most significant water-saving option is the installation of a recirculation system that reuses 97% of the water from the splash pad. The recirculation system utilizes specialized equipment that provides a level of water quality treatment that is in compliance with Minnesota Department of Health requirements. The following three goals are expected to be met with this project: (1) Reduce the demand on the Jordan aquifer by 9 million gallons per year (2) Restore 9 million gallons per year of storage capacity to Erickson Pond (3) Increase water conservation and sustainability awareness at a highly-visible, publicly-accessible recreational facility Because of the significant environmental impacts of this project, the City of Rosemount is requesting grant funding from the Metropolitan Council to cover the entire cost of the project. Without this funding, the City will not be able to fund the project for the foreseeable future. If funded, the project will begin with engineering and design in early 2018, with construction in the fall of 2018. The project will be completed before the grant deadline of December 31, 2019. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Utility Commission Meeting: June 20, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Splash Pad Water Recirculation System AGENDA SECTION: PREPARED BY: Patrick Wrase, PE, Director of Public Works / City Engineer AGENDA NO. ATTACHMENTS: Update to Central Park Splash Pad Reuse Assessment – Recirculation Retrofit Option APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion ISSUE At the January 25, 2016 Utility Commission meeting, staff was directed to explore the feasibility of a recirculation system retrofit for the Central Park Splash Pad (splash pad). Staff wishes to update the Utility Commission on the results of the feasibility study. BACKGROUND Water use at the splash pad exceeded 11 million gallons in 2015. Because of the ongoing concerns with the groundwater supply throughout the metro area, re-use options have been explored for the splash pad. The attached Update to Central Park Splash Pad Reuse Assessment outlines the cost to retrofit the splash pad with a recirculating system that will reduce total City water usage by 1.1% annually, or approximately 9.2 million gallons per year. Per the feasibility study, the estimated cost to construct the recirculation system is $432,000. The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) has applied for a $125,000 Metropolitan Council grant on behalf of the City. If that grant is approved, the VRWJPO will contribute an additional $40,000, reducing the City’s net cost to $267,000. Staff is expecting notification of the approval or denial of the grant money by the end of June 2016. Table 1 shows the estimated maintenance and operating costs for the both the current system and the recirculating system. As illustrated in Table 1, the annual net savings with the recirculating system is estimated to be $17,593. Table 1 – Estimated Annual Maintenance and Operating Costs Current System Recirculating System Water $28,894 $649 Sewer - $49 Maintenance (Labor) $4,240 $10,600 Parts $1,000 $2,000 Chemicals - $395 Electricity $300 $3,149 Total Operating Costs $34,434 $16,841 Net savings $17,593 Assuming an initial cost of $267,000 and annual savings of $17,593 (adjusted 3% annually), the return on investment is 12.5 years, as illustrated in Table 2. Without the additional grant money, the return on investment is 18.5 years. Table 2 $432,000 Initial Cost Without Grants $267,000 Initial Cost With Grants Year Estimated Annual Savings Cumulative Savings 1 $ 17,593 $ 17,593 2 $ 18,121 $ 35,714 3 $ 18,664 $ 54,378 4 $ 19,224 $ 73,603 5 $ 19,801 $ 93,404 6 $ 20,395 $ 113,799 7 $ 21,007 $ 134,806 8 $ 21,637 $ 156,443 9 $ 22,286 $ 178,729 10 $ 22,955 $ 201,684 11 $ 23,644 $ 225,328 12 $ 24,353 $ 249,680 13 $ 25,083 $ 274,764 14 $ 25,836 $ 300,600 15 $ 26,611 $ 327,211 16 $ 27,409 $ 354,620 17 $ 28,232 $ 382,852 18 $ 29,079 $ 411,930 19 $ 29,951 $ 441,881 20 $ 30,849 $ 472,730 21 $ 31,775 $ 504,505 22 $ 32,728 $ 537,234 23 $ 33,710 $ 570,944 24 $ 34,721 $ 605,665 25 $ 35,763 $ 641,428 26 $ 36,836 $ 678,264 27 $ 37,941 $ 716,205 SUMMARY The feasibility of this project is contingent upon the receipt of grant funds from the Met Council and VRWJPO. At this time, staff is seeking Utility Commission feedback regarding the proposed recirculating system for the splash pad. 2