HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packets - 2003/11/03
CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION AGENDA
Monday, November 3, 2003
7:00 p.m.
(This meeting may be called to order)
ROLL CALL: Linke, Quick, Marty, Stigney, Gunn
PUBLIC COMMENT
Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight’s agenda. Before speaking, please give your full
name and address for the minutes. Also, please limit your comments to three minutes.
Agenda Items Discussed by Consensus
_______ 1. Discussion with the Rice Creek Watershed District regarding permit
Requirements (no report)
_______ 2. Manufactured Home Park - Second Access Study
_______ 3. Storm Sewer Manhole Cover – 8409 Knollwood Drive
_______ 4. City Hall Rehabilitation Project – Project status report
(Presentation by SEH, no report)
_______ 5. Garbage Collection / Recycling Options
_______ 6. Community Center Contracts
_______ 7. Discuss Possible Meeting with County and School District Regarding
Pedestrian Crossings on County Road H
_______ 8. Review Council Meeting Procedures
Next Council Worksession: Monday, November 17, 2003 (SPECIAL)
Next City Council Meeting: Monday, November 10, 2003
Item No. 3
Type of Business: WK
Administrator Review: _____
WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing;
CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Greg Lee, Director of Public Works
Item Title/Subject: Storm Sewer Manhole Cover –
8409 Knollwood Drive
Meeting Date: November 3, 2003
Background:
Attached is a memorandum outlining this issues and staff’s recommendation.
Recommendation:
Staff is looking for direction from the City Council pertaining to this matter.
Specifically, Staff is looking for Council input as to what policy they wish to
develop pertaining to access to the City’s infrastructure.
Respectfully Submitted,
Greg Lee, Director of Public Works
________________________________________________________________
To: Mounds View City Council
From: Greg Lee
CC: Kurt Ulrich
Tom Field – 8409 Knollwood Drive
Date: 10/03/2003
Re: Storm Sewer Manhole cover at 8409 Knollwood Drive
During the Public Input section of the City Council Meeting on August 25, 2003,
Mr. Tom Field made a request of the City Council. Mr. Field requested that a
storm sewer manhole cover that has been below grade for the last several years
to be re-buried. This manhole cover is located directly behind the curb within the
boulevard in front of Mr. Field’s property at 8409 Knollwood Drive.
At the time of the meeting, the Public Works Director had no knowledge of this
issue. The City Council then directed the Public Works Director to look into this
issue and report back.
The findings of the research are below:
As part of the new storm sewer cleaning, inspection, and maintenance program a
storm sewer manhole was located in the boulevard adjacent to 8409 Knollwood
Drive. This manhole was unburied and access was restored to allow for storm
sewer cleaning and inspection activities. Upon completion of these activities, the
adjacent property owner, Mr. Field, requested that the manhole be reburied. The
Public Works Foreman informed Mr. Field as to the reasons why this manhole
cover needs to be accessible and brought up to grade. Mr. Field informed the
Public Works Foreman that several years ago the City’s Public Works Director
gave direction to bury the manhole cover.
Upon investigation, this manhole is located at the intersection of a 21-inch storm
sewer pipe intersecting with a 30-inch pipe. The 21-inch pipe conveys storm
water for all of northwestern Mounds View. Attached is a map of the City storm
sewer system. This manhole is a critical, high volume, “T” intersection. Storm
sewers are most susceptible to failure during a large storm event or during the
spring snowmelt and possible resulting blockage. For the spring snowmelt, this
blockage typically consists of leaves and debris from the preceding fall. During
the spring snowmelt the melt water will wash debris into the storm sewer system.
When the spring snow melt occurs the ground is typically frozen, making access
to a buried manhole extremely difficult.
The pipes entering and exiting the manhole are at minimal flat grades and create
a “T” intersection where the storm water must make a 90-degree turn. Although
there has not been an incident with this manhole in recent history, this represents
a point where the sewer could likely fail.
The process of locating buried manholes consists of utilizing a metal detector.
Once a metal reading is indicated, a T-rod probe in inserted into the ground
(assuming it is not frozen) to determine that the reading is in fact a manhole
cover and not some other metallic object. The area is then flagged and locations
are called in for utilities to be located before any digging can be done. This takes
a minimum of two days. A crew is then sent out to expose the structure and
determine the repairs and materials needed to perform the job. If this were an
emergency situation (plugged manhole) property would be flooded within this
time. Another scenario is that the employees would start to dig without the
utilities, such as gas and electric, being located and take the risk of putting their
lives and the neighborhood in danger.
As stated, this manhole has not required emergency access in recent history.
However, that does not mean that emergency access will not be needed at a
future date. To clarify this point: there is a fire hydrant across the street front this
property just to the south. This hydrant is much more unsightly and noticeable
than a manhole cover at ground level. It too has never been needed for
emergency purposes in recent history. However, its removal or burial would be
just as detrimental to public safety as burying this manhole cover.
Although public safety and the reduction of damage to property are the overriding
factors in requiring manholes to be accessible, there is also a financial factor of
which the City Council should be aware. There are numerous storm sewer
manholes located in non-paved areas such as boulevards, side and rear yards.
Considering the new federal mandates of the National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit, the City of Mounds View, as a
minimum, must inspect twenty percent (20%) of its storm sewer system each
year. This means that every storm sewer manhole which is buried will need to be
exposed at least once every five years. This could translate in to a cost of several
thousand additional dollars to the City.
Staff recommends that City Council allow Public Works to continue with its policy
to locate, inspect, and make accessible and operation all storm sewer manholes
in the City. Staff also recognizes that the owner of the property adjacent to where
this particular manhole is located desires to maintain the aesthetics and value of
his property. Given this, Staff will work with the property owner to set the slope
and elevation of the storm sewer cover to match the existing boulevard as closely
as possible. In addition, when Knollwood Drive is reconstructed, Staff and its
consultants will try to locate such manholes in the roadway surface – although no
guarantees can be given at this time.
Staff will proceed to raise this manhole discussion during the week of October
13, 2003. If the City Council wishes to take a different course of action, please
contact me.
Thank You.
Item No: 07
Meeting Date: 11/03/03
Type of Business: WS
City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: Discuss Possible Meeting with County and School District
Regarding Pedestrian Crossings on County Road H
At the October 27th Council meeting, the pedestrian crossing issue came up during the
County Road H sidewalk discussion. It was suggested that the City have a meeting, or
make a request, of the County and School District to participate financially in such a
project. Council member Quick, with concurrence of Mayor Linke, have requested that
this item be on the agenda to discuss Council direction to staff in this regard.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________