2018.01.29 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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various gravels used by the city, and is recommending a spring workshop with the City Council to discuss test results and methods for improving the gravel roads. At that workshop, the staff will likely recommend a significant improvement project to occur on some of the city's gravel roads in 2018. Construction projects in 2018 will focus primarily on new public roads and utilities to be constructed concurrent with private development. Aside from that, we are not anticipating major projects to impact Hugo this year. Work on the Hugo Short Line Railroad will be completed in the spring. Completion of fiber-optic lines in eastern Hugo in 2017 will allow high speed internet service to much of rural Hugo. Conversion of City street lights to LED is underway, which will lower energy and maintenance costs. Discussion on a collaborative effort with Lino Lakes in underway concerning paving of Elmcrest Avenue in Southern Hugo and Cedar Street in Lino Lakes. South Water Tower. Staff is preparing plans for a new water tower on 125th street to replace the existing tower on 130th Street. Plans, specs and construction timelines will be presented to Council in 2018. Bridges. City consulting staff has completed inspections of several city bridges that will need maintenance work. Staff will present this information to the Council in 2018. Included will be a continuing discussion about whether to close the Forest Road Bridge. Water: White Bear Lake Lawsuit. Judge Marrinan's ruling has significant impacts on the City. The DNR has amended the city's water appropriations permit as a result. Staff anticipates spending significant time and resources dealing with the requirements and consequences of the court order. Unfortunately, it will likely cause us to re -set conservation priorities, and will divert effort away from the normally good work we complete on responsible water management each year. An appeal of the lawsuit is expected to be heard by the Court of Appeals this summer. Staff will continue to provide periodic updates to the Council which will include discussion on requirements for creating a water supply contingency plan, implementing a total residential irrigation ban, amendments to the city's water supply plan, creation of plans to ensure compliance with maximum water consumption levels, reports on required collaboration measures with other jurisdictions, and a myriad of other related tasks. Stormwater re -use. The looming irrigation ban might encourage additional stormwater re -use projects for those who wish to continue to irrigate. Staff is prepared to continue working with developers and homeowners associations to encourage conversion to stormwater-based irrigation systems. The Waters Edge re -use project will be operational in the spring. We continue to seek outside funds for these purposes. Water Conservation. Many of the measures the city has implemented for water conservation, may no longer be relevant as a result of the court ruling. These programs will need to be re-evaluated before they are continued. Council has approved a new water rate structure that is now being implemented. The rates will need to be changed again in 2018 if the court ruling still stands at the end of the year.