Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2020 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 1 MINUTES 2 3 DATE : January 6, 2020 4 TIME STARTED : 6:00 p.m. 5 TIME ENDED : p.m. 6 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland 7 and Mayor Rafferty 8 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 9 10 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Safety Director John 11 Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; City Engineer Diane 12 Hankee; Finance Director Sarah Cotton; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; 13 Utilities Supervisor Justin Williams; City Clerk Julie Bartell 14 Oath of Office – The Oath of Office was accepted by Rob Rafferty, Chris Lyden and 15 Mike Ruhland 16 1. Public Water System - Manganese Test Results (UCMR4) – Public Service 17 Director DeGardner explained that he is presenting information on recent findings of the 18 level of manganese in City municipal wells. He introduced Greg Johnson of WSB & 19 Associates to present technical information on the subject. 20 Mr. Johnson explained that manganese naturally exists in ground water. It’s never been 21 considered a health issue until recent years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 22 releases new Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rules (UCMR) every five years; 23 manganese appeared in the most recent release. Random wells were tested throughout 24 the state and as it turned out a couple were located in Lino Lakes. The testing showed 25 that some City wells have manganese levels above the Minnesota Department of Health’s 26 recommended health guidelines. As soon as the City received notification, the wells with 27 the highest concentration were not used. As far as addressing the situation long term, 28 several options are listed in the written staff report. 29 30 Director DeGardner noted a letter to all residents of the City that will be mailed the next 31 day, as well as a City website that has been constructed to provide information on the 32 subject. Mr. DeGardner suggested that overall he feels it is a good thing that the City 33 was selected for testing because now we can be proactive in addressing the situation. He 34 noted that an informational meeting will be held in the City in January at which a 35 Minnesota Department of Health Representative will be present to provide information. 36 Staff’s intent also is to provide to the City Council at an upcoming session a feasibility 37 update a municipal water treatment facility. 38 Mayor Rafferty asked staff to speak about the six wells in the City system (as well as a 39 new well that is planned). Why does the City need all the wells? 40 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 2 Mr. Johnson explained that every community has a peaking factor equal to the most water 41 it will use during a year divided by average day consumptions. In Minnesota there is a 42 wide range in those factors, meaning there can a lot more water used in the summer than 43 winter. 44 Mayor Rafferty asked about long range plans for providing water to the current and future 45 population. Community Development Director Grochala said full build out is estimated 46 to require 12 to 13 wells. 47 Council Member Lyden asked about other cities that are facing this situation. Also how 48 can the City be assured that a future well wouldn’t have the same issue? Mr. Johnson 49 noted that typically a test well is drilled in order to pretest water before a final well is 50 done. Other cities have acted in different manner; he’s seen some be proactive 51 (Brooklyn Center recently built a water plant). Council Member Lyden asked if there is 52 any way to improve the “bad” wells and Mr. Johnson spoke to the source of water and 53 explained that in the northern metro there are certain limits to what water is accessible in 54 terms of aquafers. 55 Council Member Stoesz suggested that science has a way of reinterpreting guidelines 56 such as these. Are the Health Department’s recommendations subjective? Mr. Johnson 57 suggested that the recommendations may be different state by state but they are generally 58 based on scientific research done by the EPA. Director DeGardner added that 59 manganese is an unregulated contaminant now and cities aren’t required to test for it. 60 Mr. DeGardner added that there are a lot of factors to consider leading to discussion 61 about the long term approach; a large part of staff’s current approach is to make residents 62 aware. 63 Mayor Rafferty stated that it is appropriate that the City is looking closely at the situation 64 and discussing how to address the situation. 65 Council Member Ruhland asked if there is a technique to utilize all wells but turn down 66 the amount for a balancing effect. Mr. Johnson said the City does have the ability to 67 adjust the flow. 68 Council Member Ruhland asked about the new well planned for Birch Street; how did 69 that test? Mr. Johnson said the test for that well came out with lower numbers but he did 70 suggest that amounts can change in the same vicinity. 71 The council and staff discussed the City’s peak period use and how water use can be 72 restricted. Justin Williams, Utilities Supervisor, explained how the City is currently 73 blending water by monitoring the water tower levels. 74 Director DeGardner remarked that the City is doing what it can and is informing the 75 residents. He added that the City’s water hasn’t changed but again this is a newly 76 identified element that is measured. 77 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 3 Council Member Stoesz asked about water reuse, such as with developments that plan to 78 take irrigation water from surface water sources. Is that monitored? Mr. Johnson 79 confirmed that the State Department of Health monitors that water as well. Council 80 Member Stoesz asked if animal consumption (on farms) is monitored also and Mr. 81 Johnson wasn’t familiar with that. 82 83 Mayor Rafferty said that the Council will continue this discussion after the public 84 meeting at the end of the month. 85 2. Irrigation Controller Grant (Regular Agenda Item) – Community 86 Development Director Grochala and City Engineer Hankee noted their written report. 87 Mr. Grochala remarked that the matter was postponed at the last Council meeting. Last 88 year the City received a grant from the Rice Creek Watershed District to replace irrigation 89 monitors/sensors in City parks. The sensors would work to reduce water consumption by 90 50% annually. This project would assist in reducing consumption of water coming from 91 the ground, serve as a good example of the City being proactive, and provide a modern 92 system of monitoring certain elements of use. The grant provides up to 51% of the cost 93 of a system up to the cost of $41,000. Staff has been working toward implementation 94 since last year. Funding for the City share of the cost (one half of $76,500) would come 95 from the City’s water utility. 96 Council Member Stoesz said he has been following this project and he expected the cost 97 would come in much lower. He has done more review and sees the costs are pretty clear; 98 but he still has sticker shock. He asked if funding this cost would impact funds available 99 for a treatment plant if that were a project in the future. Staff explained that this would 100 be funded from an operating account while the other (a treatment facility) would be trunk 101 funds. 102 Council Member Ruhland asked about the cost of the water saved? Mr. Grochala said the 103 savings would be about $16,000 annually assuming the fifty percent reduction. The 104 payoff considering the cost of the system would be about 4.6 years. 105 Council Member Stoesz said he still questions the need considering the cost. He noted 106 that the City does have staff that could manually turn off irrigation when appropriate. 107 Community Development Director Grochala added that the concept is something that 108 could be a model for the future and the community. 109 The council and staff discussed the status of surface water reuse as part of addressing 110 future water needs. 111 Council Member Lyden noted that staff has pointed out the costs savings that cover the 112 cost in 4.6 years; he wonders if cost savings go past that time? Staff said yes. 113 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 4 Mayor Rafferty noted that the council will be seeing a proposed action on this matter at 114 the regular meeting. Council should contact staff before then with questions as 115 necessary. 116 3. Consideration of Strategic Planning Meeting after Special Election – 117 Administrator Karlson explained that staff is proposing to administer a planning session 118 with the council. This would be somewhat different from the past where an outside 119 facilitator has been brought in. If the council concurs, staff would welcome ideas and 120 suggested areas of discussion. Staff is looking to schedule a special meeting the last 121 week of February and will provide possible dates after the newest council member is 122 elected. 123 4. Advisory Board Update - Administrator Karlson reviewed his written a report, 124 outlining vacancies and applications for the City’s advisory boards. 125 126 Mayor Rafferty remarked that it may be wise to hold off on interviews until the new 127 council member is in place. 128 129 Council Member Ruhland remarked that could leave Planning and Zoning with just four 130 or five members until appointments occur. Community Development Director Grochala 131 remarked that he doesn’t see any huge projects coming forward in that time period. 132 133 The council concurred that they would wait until the new member is in place. The 134 council members will then decide if they will interview all applicants (including 135 incumbents). 136 5. Council Updates on Boards/Commissions – There were no updates. 137 6. Review Regular Agenda – The agenda was reviewed with staff providing an 138 explanation of the items included on the agenda. 139 140 Item 3A – Annual Appointments - The following designations were made in regard to the 141 Annual Appointments 142 1. Acting Mayor Rob Rafferty Dale Stoesz 2. Legal Newspaper Quad Community Press Quad Community Press 3. Legal Services Barna, Guzy & Steffen Kennedy & Graven Rupp, Anderson, Squires, & Waldspurger Geck, Duea & Olson Barna, Guzy & Steffen Kennedy & Graven Rupp, Anderson, Squires, & Waldspurger Geck, Duea & Olson 4. Labor Services Barna, Guzy & Steffen Riley, Dettman & Kelsy Barna, Guzy & Steffen Riley, Dettman & Kelsy CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 5 Springsted, Inc. Baker Tilly 5. Fiscal Agent Springsted, Inc. Baker Tilly 6. Assessor Anoka County Anoka County 7. North Metro Telecommunications Committee Dale Stoesz Melissa Maher (Alternate) Dale Stoesz 8. Vadnais Lake Watershed District Rob Rafferty Rob Rafferty 9. County Corrections Program Michael Manthey John Swenson Chris Lyden John Swenson 10. Joint Law Enforcement Council Michael Manthey John Swenson New council member John Swenson 11. Anoka County Fire Protection New council member Dale Stoesz (alternate) 12. City Depositories First Resource Bank LMC 4M Fund Wells Fargo Securities Wells Fargo Advisors US Bank RBC Capital Markets Morgan Stanley F&M Bank Others as needed First Resource Bank LMC 4M Fund Wells Fargo Securities Wells Fargo Advisors US Bank RBC Capital Markets Moreton Capital Markets F&M Bank Others as needed 13. City Treasurer1 Sarah Cotton Sarah Cotton 14. City Engineer WSB & Associates WSB & Associates 15. Data Practices Officer Julie Bartell Julie Bartell 16. City Auditor Redpath & Company Redpath & Company 17. Twin Cities Gateway Jeff Karlson Jeff Karlson Dale Stoesz (alternate) 18. Anoka Co./Blaine Airport Advisory Council Dean Quimby Dean Quimby 19. Hearing Officer John Swenson Rick DeGardner (alternate) John Swenson Rick DeGardner (alternate) 20. Local Board of Appeal & Equalization Training Melissa Maher Rob Rafferty Mike Ruhland 21. Secretarial Services TimeSaver, Inc. TimeSaver, Inc. Regarding Item 4A, Donation of Police and Fire Plaques – After Public Safety Director 143 Swenson described his request for authorization to accept wooden plaques recognizing 144 the Police and Fire divisions and donated by a city resident, Council Member Lyden 145 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 6 suggested that the council consider giving special recognition to those members of the 146 community who have made contributions. Mayor Rafferty concurred and added that 147 staff should be recognized also; he thinks that should be discussed as part of the future 148 planning session. 149 Regarding Item 6B, Sale of Wetland Credits, Community Development Director 150 Grochala reviewed the City’s involvement in wetland banking and specifics on the 151 Wollan Park property and the status of selling credits associated with that project. 152 153 Council Member Stoesz asked if the credits can be reused and Mr. Grochala said once 154 they are sold they cannot be sold again. Director Grochala explained the availability of 155 banks in the area and added that the City also considers its future needs for wetland 156 credits. 157 NOT ON PRINTED AGENDA - Developer Jamie Jensen noted his development in the 158 city and that the project has faced some issues that he would like to discuss with the 159 council. He’d be willing to discuss the matter first with the City Administrator. 160 Mayor Rafferty suggested that since the matter wasn’t on the agenda, he’d prefer to 161 discuss it first himself with the City Administrator and they will communicate with Mr. 162 Jensen afterward. 163 164 The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. 165 166 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on 167 January 27, 2020. 168 169 170 171 172 Julianne Bartell, City Clerk Rob Rafferty, Mayor 173 174