1995.05.02 CC Minutes - Special Council meeting

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MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 2, 1995 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Fran Miron at 7:30 PM. PRESENT: Goiffon, LaValle, Leroux, Miron City Administrator, Robert Museus OSM engineer, Pete Willenbring MNDNR, Moll/ Shodeen RCWD, Kate Drewry ABSENT: Debra Barnes The purpose of the meeting was to hear public comments regarding future City improvements and management of the water level of the Homestead Avenue pond located north of C.R. SA and east of Homestead Avenue. Molly Shodeen, area hydrologist for MNDNR, provided an introduction to the meeting, and stated that the DNR had established an ordinary high water level for the pond. Pete Willenbring gave a description of the area, and stated that the purpose of the project was to establish a final management plan for the pond, taking into account the concerns of area residents, the DNR, and the RCWD. Ms. Shodeen then opened the meeting for discussion. Ed Waller stated that he believed that there had already been an agreement made to bounce the pond's water elevation by 2' in order to avoid excessive discharges of storm water downstream during the growing season, and that he believed the pond should be drained in the spring and allowed to fill up during the remainder of the year. Doug Blanchard stated that there should be a designated water elevation maintained by the City, and that he was concerned for the runoff impact on the Waller fields. Ted Jacobson preferred to keep the pond at the current elevation, as when it dries up, it smells and becomes a mosquito haven. He also stated there was some potential for dredging out the pond to create more capacity for water storage. Mike Anderson stated he was representing Lorraine Wolf, a property owner just downstream from the pond's outlet, and explained that they had filled in a portion of the front yard of Ms. Wolf's property approximately two years ago, and installed a 40' culvert. Discharge water from the pond collects on Ms. Wolf's property degrading its use by the family, and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Jim Brevig stated that an elevation had been agreed upon during litigation in the 70's, and that the culvert had been placed at a lower elevation by the City. He stated that he wished to have the pond at a high enough elevation to maintain water frontage on his property, and that evaporation in summer brings the level down naturally. He also indicated concern regarding the septic systems on the Blanchard and Atkinson property. Pete Willenbring asked the audience whether the current elevation of the pond was acceptable, and the residents indicated that the pond level is about where they would like it to be. Pete then summarised issues raised during the meeting, which included aesthetics, wildlife, impact on septic systems, and downstream drainage. Molly Shodeen thanked the residents for coming to the meeting, and Pete stated that a management plan for the pond would be developed in the next two -to -three months.