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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes • February 20, 1996 Page 3 1 Commissioner Gondorchin inquired if the City has two-foot or 18 inch pipe. Mr. Hamer 2 replied that it varies throughout the City. Commissioner Gondorchin inquired if certain 3 sections of the pipe could be used to hold the water for a period of time to ease the flooding. 4 Mr. Hamer replied that it is not cost effective as the rain will stop but the retention areas are 5 cleared within 20 minutes after a heavy rain. He stated that maintenance of the systems is the 6 key. 7 Chair Bergstrom explained that Barr Engineering submitted a report on storm water 8 management in July of 1992 which stated the storm sewer system was designed between 1940 9 and 1950, and is under-designed compared to current standards. He stated that larger pipes 10 should have been used, but the system was appropriate at the time of construction. 11 Commissioner Gondorchin stated that there are natural low land areas and water will still 12 follow in spite of development. 13 Mr. Hamer stated that Silver Point Park was a low, wet area and flooded in the early 1950's. 14 Chair Bergstrom stated that the report showed even if the City doubled the size of pipes from 15 Highway 88 to 35W to the Mississippi River, the tunnel to the Mississippi River is full. He 6 explained that the tunnel was redone in 1970, and the study showed the City could build a. new tunnel, but the cost for 15,000 feet of pipe would be approximately $16 million. 18 Mr. Hamer stated that the Metro Waste Commission passed legislation that states cities cannot 19 combine sanitary sewer with storm sewer systems. He explained that the infrastructure was 20 separate in Minneapolis and goes into the same tunnel St. Anthony uses. He stated that a few 21 years ago it appeared to be adequate, but now it is not. 22 Chair Bergstrom explained that increasing the pipe sizes is not the solution to the problem, 23 because there is no place for the water to go. He continued that one solution outlined in the 24 report is to slow the water by adding ponds by Silver Point Park, Trillium Park, and the 25 trailer park and Town and Country Food Store and Autumn Woods Apartments. He stated 26 the cost is estimated at $5.7 million. Chair Bergstrom stated that the other solution outlined 27 in the report is flood protection for individual dwellings. 28 Chair Bergstrom inquired if the City has been found liable for flood damage. Mr. Hamer 29 stated no; the sewer system was installed before some of the homes. He continued that the 30 City inspects and documents storm sewers and they respond to individuals and make 31 corrections as needed. The City has never paid a claim. 32 Chair Bergstrom inquired what other methods could be used besides flood protection to 33 correct problems. Mr. Hamer replied that sump pumps and additional landscaping can help 4 with some flooding problems. 35 Chair Bergstrom inquired if it would be helpful to develop a code that requires basements to 36 be built over a certain elevation to avoid the ground water table. Mr. Hamer replied that it