03/27/1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

HiRWLiDo L.Ahtrt Minutes - February 1, 1995 Page 2 OSM Engineer Willenbring responded to several questions and answers from Council and audience members as follows: - It may be possible to construct an additional culvert to handle low -flow conditions, creating additional capacity underneath 35E (5 to 15 years into the future). - The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) has been briefly updated, but it would be appropriate to obtain direction from the City Councils prior to "selling" the project to the RCWD. - The RCWD probably would not support an increase in capacity or peak rate across 35E, but may be more receptive to downstream improvements. - It would be important to assure wetland draw down, versus draining of the wetlands. Of concern is the Wetland Conservation Act. - Increasing the amount of water in wetlands during storms and controlling runoff is the most cost effective way to deal with drainage concerns with the subject area. - The most effective utilization of water storage is within the existing wetlands. - It would be a goal to drain water out of wetlands between storm events to ensure storage. - The proposed Lino Lakes development south of Cedar Street and west of Elm Street will not significantly affect this proposed drainage concept. - Funding will be the most difficult issue. - It would be appropriate to meet with representatives from the City of Centerville if the Councils from Hugo and Lino Lakes would like to promote this drainage concept. - The issues that the RCWD will be considering are ditch laws, wetland issues, development of a regional ponding area and controlled runoff. Hugo Administrator Museus summarized the proposed process to include three issues: 1. Low flow under Interstate 35E 2. Rechannelizing Clearwater Creek 3. Regulating development to improve wetland storage. OSM Engineer Willenbring advised that if the Hugo and Lino Lake City Councils are comfortable with the project, the planning process could completed through the following steps: be 1. Identify the project as high priority. 2. Present to project to the RCWD. 3. Discuss the project with the City of Centerville. 4. Prepare a preliminary draft plan for the Cities of Hugo and Lino Lakes to review. 5. Draft a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). Hugo Administrator Museus noted that Clearwater Creek has not been cleaned since 1958. He suggested that the RCWD help pay for the cost of creek improvements. OSM Engineer Willenbring suggested that possibly the RCWD could abandon the Creek as a judicial ditch and redesignate it as a municipal ditch. He did express concern that other contiguous cities may want to continue the Creek as judicial.