2014.03.17 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2014 Page 3 of 5 Update on Joint Water Feasibility Study Meeting A joint meeting was held on Thursday, March 13, 2013 at the Lino Lakes Community Center to consider a proposal by Barr Engineering for a Joint Water Utility Feasibility Study. City Administrator Bryan Bear explained that the purpose of the study was to consider the feasibility of combining different aspects of municipal water system infrastructure between the Cities of Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbus, Hugo, Lexington, and Lino Lakes. He further explained that the cities have also been working collaboratively on sharing services within the building departments and the public works departments, and in salt brine usage, which the cities received an environmental leadership award. The Joint Water Utility Feasibility Study is only one of many things the six cities collaborate on. Update on Water Resource Committee At its December 16, 2014 meeting, Council appointed Council Member Haas, Mayor Weidt, City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Engineer Jay Kennedy, Finance Director Ron Otkin, and Public Works Director Scott Anderson to serve on a Water Resource Committee to work on several water conservation issues. City Administrator Bryan Bear explained that the committee has been working on the two issues that have the biggest impact. The Committee has reviewed the City's Stormwater Plan and recommended changes. Revisions were reviewed by the Planning Commission at their meeting on March 13, 2014, and they agreed with the changes. It will be presented to the Council at their next meeting. The Committee has also been discussing stormwater reuse projects. The reuse project at the Oneka Ridge Golf Course was nearly complete and would be operational in the spring. Staff has been working with State Legislators on a bonding bill in the MN House of Representatives and in the State Senate for funding for three other water reuse projects. Bryan recognized the cooperation the City has received from Representative Matt Dean, Representative Linda Runbeck and Senator Roger Chamberlain. The Washington County Commissionesr will consider supporting the bonding bill publically at their next board meeting. No formal action was taken. Update on Bald Eagle Lake Outlet At its September 3, 2013 meeting, Council authorized staff to apply for a DNR grant for repairs to the Bald Eagle Lake outlet structure under 129th Street North, at the north end of the lake. There have also been discussions with the Rice Creek Watershed District for funding for this project. Jay Kennedy explained that the ownership of the structure is still unclear. Over the past years, the City had prepared plans for replacing the structure. The plans were approved by MnDOT and some funding was received. The DNR also considers the structure to be a dam, and an application has been submitted to the DNR for funding through their Dam Safety Program. Rice Creek Watershed District does not consider it to be a part of the ditch system. It is not included in their CIP; therefore no direct funding is available, but there may be water quality funding if the project is expanded. Staff also met with the Bald Eagle Lake Homeowners Association, who is interested in seeing the structure fixed.