2017.10.16 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for October 16,2017 Page 4 of 5 support water reuse;identify barriers and solutions to the barriers; and develop recommendations for safe and sustainable water reuse practices and policies. Erichson highlighted items in the report including the strong focus on public health that will likely lead to additional permitting requirements. In the report,water reused for irrigation was viewed similarly to drinking water, and it was recommend that similar standards be adopted. Erichson stated that such treatment would add a lot of expense and feels this needs to be studied further. He talked about the review of the report by the MN Cities Stormwater Coalition and their fear that information in the report will become regulatory in absence of other guidance. Erichson recommended that certain language regarding treatment requirements be removed from the report until research is completed and that the workgroup focus on its original purpose of promoting water reuse. City Administrator Bryan Bear explained the concern was that there is a chance stormwater reuse could provide people or animals exposure to something in the water that could be a health danger, and in the report they are providing precautionary recommendations without scientific basis. He expects the workgroup to be reporting back to the legislators in the spring, and he recommended a letter be sent to the interagency working group with copies going to legislators. Haas said they should not be asking regulators for permission; a great conflict of interest exists there. If there is a health concern about water that is being reused, they should be doing something about what is in the water now. In the absence of scientific data,jurisdiction, and imagining problems that don't exist, obstacles will created. Weidt agreed and said rules are made up for everything possible instead of probable and things are being done without any scientific fact. They need to be redirected back to their purpose. Miron also agreed, and he talked about the 25 by 25 workshop last week where Hugo was pointed out as a positive example in water reuses, and this report seemed to be contradictory to the messages from that workshop. Miron fully supported sending the letter, and he suggested broadening the list of recipients. Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to direct staff to draft a letter in response to the working group's report. All Ayes. Motion carried. Yellow Ribbon Network Report Council Member Chuck Haas and Council Member Phil Klein reported to Council on the Yellow Ribbon Network activities held recently. The YRN assisted a woman by connecting her with someone to do daycare. They received toys in response to a request from a soldier. A check was received from Mark Schwope, and the Fry Group had raised $757 from the BBQ Rib Cook-off. Care packages are still being sent, and Ryan Companies wants to assist in packaging. Next week is burger night, and it will be sponsored by Wilson Tool.