HomeMy WebLinkAbout#21 - MPCA Grant Agreement - 31st St.STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 1, 2019
REGULAR
AGENDA ITEM: MPCA Grant for Watermain Extension to 31st St Neighborhood South of
UPRR
TO: Mayor and City Council
SUBMITTED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
BACKGROUND:
In May staff shared with Council project ideas that were submitted for expedited project funding
from the State 3M Grant Fund. One of those projects included the extension of watermain into the
31st St. neighborhood. This neighborhood has submitted a petition for water previously.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL:
Should the Council approve the Grant Agreement with the MPCA for Watermain Extension to the
31st St neighborhood?
PROPOSAL:
This project will extend clean drinking water to six homes located just east of 31st Street North
and south of Stillwater Boulevard in the City of Lake Elmo by extending the municipal water
system to serve each property. The project extends the public water main across Stillwater
Boulevard (County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 14) from the north side, approximately 800 feet
east of the intersection at 31st Street north, to a shared private driveway, then south along the
shared private driveway approximately 780 feet to the intersection with the individual private
driveways. The properties reside in an area where per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
contamination exceeds Health Based Values (HBVs) and well advisories have been issued.
Private wells will be required to be sealed unless identified as a monitoring well by MPCA. Grant
funds will reimburse property owners for the costs associated with connecting to city water and
sealing their well. Staff would propose that the city assess properties (through the normal 429
assessment process) that do not hook up to city water in the allotted time in order to recoup those
project costs that may not be covered by the grant due to non-compliance. At this time, staff
estimates those assessments to be $41,500 (water).
Our request for two years of water bills and smart controllers were not approved. As mentioned
at the last meeting, staff has applied for a Met Council grant to cover 90% of the cost of a smart
controller so this could be an option for those in this neighborhood who choose to purchase one.
The agreement has been reviewed by the city attorney. We will need to make sure the prevailing
wage requirements are met by contractors but there are no other areas of concern.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The grant provides for a reimbursement of up to $449,100.
OPTIONS:
1) Approve the 31st St. Grant Agreement with MPCA
2) Do not approve the 31st St. Grant Agreement with MPCA
RECOMMENDATION:
Motion to approve the 31st St. Grant Agreement #165902 with MPCA
ATTACHMENTS:
• None. Staff will hand out copies of the agreement and work plan at the meeting. Since
they are non-public data the papers will need to be collected at the end of the meeting.