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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.08.25 CC Minutes - Water Summit MINUTES FOR THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL NORTHEAST METRO WATER SUMMIT THURSDAY,AUGUST 25,2016 HUGO CITY HALL PRESENT: Hugo Mayor Tom Weidt Hugo Council Chuck Haas Hugo Council Phil Klein Hugo Council Mike Miron Hugo Council Becky Petryk Hugo City Administrator Bryan Bear Hugo City Clerk Michele Lindau WSB Hugo City Engineer Jay Kennedy Washington County Commission Fran Miron Forest Lake Administrator Aaron Parrish Bolton&Menk Engineer Tim Olson Bolton&Menk Engineer Katie Warner City of Blaine Storm Water Manager Jim Hafner Centerville Administrator Mike Ericson Centerville Council Member Steve King Scandia Council Chris Ness Lino Lakes Mayor Jeff Reinhart Council Member Michael Manthey Lino Lakes Administrator Jeff Karlson Met Council Environmental Services Leisa Thompson Met Council District Representative Sandy Rummel Met Council Assistant General Manager Sam Paske Met Council Senior Engineer David Brown RCWD Administrator Phil Belfiori RCWD Board Manager Mike Bradley RCWD Board Manager Steve Wagamon RCWD Board Manager Barb Haake RCWD Board Manager Pat Preiner RCWD Board Manager John Waller MN Senator Roger Chamberlain DNR Conservation Assistance and Regulations Julie Ekman MN House Rep Peter Fischer Circle Pines Council Member Richard Runbeck MN House Rep Linda Runbeck Columbus Mayor Dave Povolny Mary(guest) Columbus Council Bill Krebs Columbus Planning Commission Jody Krebs MN Legislative Water Commission Barb Huberty The Citizen Writer Debra Neutkens i Minutes for the NE Water Summit on August 25,2016 Page 2 of 6 Call to Order and Introductions Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Attendees of the meeting introduced themselves. City Administrator Bryan Bear provided a recap of the last Water Summit on February 18,2016, stating the purpose of this group was to discuss water related issues that have substantial impacts on our communities. DNR Update Julie Ekman updated the group on the White Bear Lake settlement agreement saying they had sought legislative funding,but that did not happen by August 1'. and the stay is lifted. They are unsure of the ramifications. They will be meeting with the judge on September 8 and will know more then. She spoke about appropriations permits stating they are working on developing a protective elevation. It is a lengthy process and there are questions on how to implement it. They are setting up meetings with communities closest to the lake to talk to them about potential changes in permitting. There will be discussions about the possibility of suspending non-essential uses and the impacts. The DNR is working on conservation and conservation tracking and developing the 2016 Water Supply Plan and a statewide conservation program.They have been directed to do this by law. This will be done regardless what happens with the WBL agreement. They are unsure what will happen to the requirement for communities to conserve 17%,but they believe it remains to be a good idea. They are also working on how to track water conservation successes. She talked about some software that was developed for power companies,and they are looking at using it for water conservation. There was a question on the current level of White Bear Lake. It was noted that the water level has increased. The outlet is at 924.4 feet,and the water is now at 922.36 feet,within two feet of its average. Council Member Haas asked about Stormwater appropriations permits. Hugo is asking developers to use Stormwater for irrigation, and the DNR permitting needed to be streamlined. Julie responded that the DNR is working towards creating a general permit that evaluates the whole process. They are working on streamlining it,but still want to be able to maintain the data. Representative Peter Fischer asked if it could be made easier if it was taken out of State Statute, and Julie responded that their goal is to make the DNR permitting the easiest process. Minutes for the NE Water Summit on August 25,2016 Page 3 of 6 Metropolitan Council Update David Brown talked about stormwater grants. They received 23 proposals equaling$2.9 million, all competing for$1 million in Met Council funding. Several of the projects were for non- potable water uses(irrigation). So far,the Met Council has approved$900,000 for six projects. It was unsure funding would be available in future years. Sam Paske spoke about the USGS study on northeast groundwater stating that the USGS was the key researcher, and analysis is being done the key stakeholders. Part one was to be released on September 30,2016,and part two is planned to be released by December 31'in its final version. Centerville Council Member Steve King questioned whether there was enough time and money to do all the study. He felt the study should be complete. Forest Lake City Administrator Aaron Parrish pointed out that it hasn't yet been determined that the aquifer was fundamentally the issue and whether there is a link to White Bear Lake or not. He wants them to have confidence there is a connection and not just speculation. City Administrator Bryan Bear asked how the study would be shared. Sam replied that the dates have not been set yet,but he will make sure the Water Summit group stays informed. MN Legislative Water Commission Barb Huberty stated that Mindy Erickson from USGA will be making a presentation to the Water Commission on October 18`x'or 191'. David Brown talked about the Technical Advisory Committee(TAC)and that Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee(MAWSAC)had solicited appointments to it. The TAC acts as a technical resource for MAWSAC. Their next meeting will be held at the Met Council on September 61h from 1-3 p.m. i Sam updated the group on water supply planning activities. The Washington County Water Coalition is looking at long term alternatives to reusing water,and there will be a report out for review at the end of October. The Met Council would like to see water resue and treatment of water in industrial plants. It was asked if studies were being on the use of river water,and Brown talked about the difference between the cost of using ground water and river water stating there was no push to increase costs,just focusing on being more efficient with the water we have. There was talk about the unfairness in cost for some to to convert to river water while others were still using well water. i I I Minutes for the NE Water Summit on August 25,2016 Page 4 of 6 I i i Rice Creek Watershed District Update Phil Belfiori provided an update on the actions and proposed actions of the Board. He spoke about the Waters Edge reuse project saying they were fortunate to get the grant,and they will be considering additional financial obligations at the next Board meeting. He talked about changes in the storwater rules and regulations. Some changes were the ability to take full credit for implementing their rules,receive stormwater credits immediately and bonuses, changes to the infiltration sequencing, and modifications to road construction standards. Belfiori spoke about the stormwater reuse irrigation assessment tool-use that will be used to determine the"best bank for your buck"in reuse projects. Changes were also made to remove the requirement for infiltration to be able to get funding. Commissioner Miron asked if they were looking for any resolutions or letters of support for the Legacy grant application. Phil explained that the application went in last month and will be reviewed in January. He will check with the Board of Soil and Water to see if they can still be submitted. City Administrator Bryan Bear talked about the importance of the rule changes. The Board is hosting collaborative meetings with engineers to talk about what is working and what is not. Board Manager John Waller encouraged the cities to bring their suggestions for rule changes and funding requests to the Board. Discussion on Joint Powers Agreement The group had been provided a draft if a Joint Powers Agreement for consideration. Bryan Bear explained that the document was not intended to do a whole lot,no spending authority or meaningful action. The primary reason for it was to provide a collective voice. Lino Lakes Mayor Jeff Reinhart said is seemed unnecessary. Each City could discuss items among themselves and perhaps provide resolutions. With the JPA, every city would have to agree with what the Water Summit group does. Centerville Council Member Bill Krebs said it seemed like a lot of fluff. We are targets for the White Bear Lake water level. The City of Columbus will be out of this group once that is over. Columbus is dealing with other issues with the DNR, BWSR, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Senator Roger Chamberlain said the cities will get run over individually, and with an agreement, the group can easily and formally as possible have the ability to push back as a coalition to stand up and oppose. There are strength in numbers by leveraging the collective assets of the cities. Minutes for the NE Water Summit on August 25,2016 Page 5 of 6 Circle Pines Council Member Richard Runbeck(or it was Columbus Mayor Dave Povolny) said he was tired of hearing about conservation,purifying water so New Orleans can get it. He does not want to be told how much water he can use. We need to push back. MN House Rep Peter Fischer spoke about friction between the Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. The study is still ongoing and it indicates there is a bigger problem than in the past. Discussions and cooperation needs to be had with the Tire 1 communities since they share the same concerns. We need to work regionally together to make long range differences. It is better to be proactive than reactive. He said he felt the group needed to continue meeting. Forest Lake Administrator Aaron Parrish agreed they needed to come together. They are on the same aquifer as Columbus but it is important to work together. It is hard to have every city voting on an issue. He believes 95%of the time, all interests are the same. A JPA may not be the right structure,maybe look for another mechanism. Haas agreed with Parrish. We have a greater voice if we act together. Centerville City Administrator Mike Ericson talked about the I-35 WE Coalition. Had the cities not jointed together,it would not have happened. We need to talk about forming group. Jeff said that every council needs a chance to debate Mayor Weidt said things would go finther and faster if everyone works as a group. Things look good now both changes are to come regarding water regulations. Hugo has been proactive in water conservation measures and relationships with the DNR and RCWD have improved. Waller stated that,however it is organized,it's important to have a voice. i Bryan volunteered Hugo to do the administrative part of this group if there is interest,perhaps all the City Administrators working together. City of Blaine Storm Water Manager Jim Hafner stated that most cities are a part of a tri city Stormwater collation. They are a collective voice, and though now may not be the right time,he believes the Water Summit may need to be a collective group in the fixture. Bryan asked for other items the group wants to talk about at the next meeting in early winter. There was interest in inviting the USGA to talk about the study,a desire to see the report on the drawdown of Peltier Lake, status report on the 17%conservation efforts and how it is measured, and discussion on conservation,400 families signed up for watersmart.com. Updates from Participants Washington County recently held the ribbon cutting for their north shop. Part of the renovation project involved replacing their septic system with a three-mile force main,which will improve Minutes for the NE Water Summit on August 25,2016 Page 6 of 6 water quality issues. There is also a septic loan program available through the County State lowered contamination levels and now homes are contaminated. There are 400-500 more private wells that need testing in the County. The County is also working with schools on water conservation efforts. Forest Lake is working on a water reuse project in their school district, and they have applied for a water efficiency grant. Centerville recently celebrated their 26h annual Fete des Lacs Celebration. Scandia has replaced the toilets in their building to low-flow toilets,and they have seen a difference in water usage. Lino lakes is working on a large residential development in the northeast corner of the City. They will be using surface water to irrigate, and are interested to see how well it work. Rice Creek Watershed District is obtaining the DNR permit for the drawdown on Peltier Lake. The three-foot drawdown will take approximately 50 days. Columbus owns three wells, and there is not a whole lot they can do to conserve 17%. Circle Pines has applied for Legacy Funds to put Alum in the lake to control algae. MN House Rep Linda Runbeck had worked with Hugo in the last Legislative session trying to get funding to upgrade the shortline rail. She was glad Hugo found revenue for the Water reuses project. MN House Rep Peter Fischer informed the group that MN Legislative Water Commission Barb Huberty puts out a lot of good information on their website at http://www.Icc.leg.mn/lwc/ . Barb invited everyone to sign up to receive email updates. Adiournment Mayor Weidt adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau City Clerk