08-24-2016 Additions Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 of 3 Changes in the Area As stated in the previous memo, the City completed the installation of an 8-foot bituminous bike trail within the St. Paul Regional Water corridor that is directly west of the Industrial Park. There was no storm sewer ponding or treatment created with the project as the impacts were below any threshold for requiring such measures. There was also minimal filling of a portion of the low area just south of the tracks. Both of these factors would have had an effect on the stormwater conveyance and volume of runoff, but as stated previously these impacts would have been very minor. The south ditch system was partially surveyed in 2006 as part of a cursory review of a possible public works shop site. This information was compared to a current survey of the ditch and a site review was completed. The surveys did indicate there have been changes to the ditch bottom elevations that would have decreased the capacity to convey water. These changes could be related to natural sediment deposition and vegetation growth along the ditch, but may also be the result of other changes. During the field review it was noted that a large pile of dirt has been placed in the northwest corner of 3101 Spruce Street that may be impeding the functionality of the ditch. In general, the full extent of changes to the private properties within the industrial park is largely unknown, but the occupants of several of these properties have changed and there does not appear to be an original plan for the ditch or drainage system in this area. Summary and Recommendations While the City trail work did have a slight impact on the drainage in the area, the drainage or lack of a good conveyance system for the drainage has existed since the park was first developed. Over time, the area for water to pond along the west side of the park has been restricted and limited by further development, filling, and use of the properties in the area and private ditch systems have been constructed to improve conveyance. We would recommend two courses of action. The first is to work with the property owners along the south ditch to facilitate cleaning of the ditch to improve its functionality. Public water from Woodlyn Avenue is conveyed through this ditch system so the City may have a prescriptive use over the ditch area, but no recorded public easement appears to exist. A single individual owns three of these properties and we ask that council allow staff to share the information we have collected with the property owners to coordinate cleaning of the ditch privately or through a joint arrangement. The north ditch outlet is currently the 4-inch pipe discharge onto Spruce Street. The conveyance of this water in the street is adding to the deterioration of the pavement and the life of the roadway will be extended by eliminating this surface water. We would recommend a storm sewer line be extended from the existing storm sewer system on Spruce Street up to the existing culvert location. Catch basins would be added in the street to improve drainage of the street. Under the current conditions the existing private culvert does not have sufficient capacity to prevent flooding of the building at 3173 Spruce Street. We would recommend that this culvert be replaced with a larger one. While the recommended improvement methods have been determined staff is still reviewing the methods for funding. The City could pay for all these storm improvements as some public water is conveyed through the systems and the trail work did have a slight impact. Under a normal upgrade of a street to an urban section the City’s 14