01-04-2021 Council Work Session Minutes

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i CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED t CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : January 4, 2021 5 TIME STARTED : 6 : 00 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 6 : 45 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland, 8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None to Staff members present: Community Development Director Michael Grochala; Director of t 1 Public Safety John Swenson; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner, City Engineer 'r 12 Diane Hankee; City Cleric Julie Bartell 13 r 14 1 . Storm Water Utility Proposal — Community Development Director Grochala 15 recalled the council' s direction to seek a proposal to establish a storm water utility for the 16 City. He noted that WSB & Associates has submitted a proposal to prepare a report on 17 the feasibility of a project. He introduced Bob Barth, WSB & Associates, who was 18 present to answer questions. f' 19 20 Mayor Rafferty asked for general information on storm water utility and its use by other 21 jurisdictions in the area. He is aware that the Vadnais Lakes Area Water Management 22 Organization (VLAWMO) does have a storm water utility. 23 24 Community Development Director Grochala said, if the council approves the completion 25 of a study, more specific information will be provided to the City. He noted other cities 26 in the area that have the utility. The study will look at the budgetary cost for the City' s 27 storm water system and converting that cost so it is charged based on impervious surfaces. 28 A fee would be established and would have different levels, i. e . single family would be 29 different fi•om industrial use. 30 31 The mayor asked for more information on costs that will and could be identified, i.e. the 32 cost of a street sweeper. Mr. Grochala replied that the utility would have a budget for 33 capital costs . Mr. Barth pointed out that the cost of pond dredging is something that 34 could be covered ; that is not currently being done and it is something that he expects will 35 soon be mandated by the State. Mr. Grochala noted the high number of storm water 36 ponds present in the City and associated costs; adding dredging will be an expensive 37 addition. Mr. Barth remarked that establishment of a utility allows the City to charge for 38 use/impact on the system. Further Mr. Barth noted that the utility is generally funded in a 39 transparent manner that is clear because it is a separate fund . 40 41 Councilmember Ruhland asked about maintenance of ponds when they go quite dry. 42 Some elements of pond maintenance are storm water maintenance. 43 1