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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP February 13, 2001 íUì~ 3/"'/0\ CITY of ANDOVER ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - FEBRUARY 13,1001 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Ken Orttel on February 13, 2001, 7:00, at the Andover Public Works Building, 1785 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Julie Trude Councilmember absent: Mayor Mike Gamache (arrived at 8:37 p.m.) Also present: Public Works Superintendent, Frank Stone City Engineer, Scott Erickson Acting Administrator, Dave Carlberg Others REVIEW WATER REPORT/PROJECT IPOO-15 Jon Peterson and Bob Brown, Bolton and Menk, Inc., reviewed the Comprehensive Water Plan they prepared for the City of Andover, Project 00-15. Mr. Peterson explained the drinking water regulatory requirements are set by the federal government. On January 22, 2001, they established a new requirement for arsenic, though the President put a 60-day moratorium on meeting that standard. Radium and gross alpha radiation levels in drinking water were also reduced in December, 2000. In addition, there are secondary drinking water standards for iron and manganese. Andover's water supply does not rneet the following standards: Wells 6 and 7 have tested above standard for arsenic; Wells 1,2 and 3 have tested above standard for radium and gross alpha radiation; all seven existing wells have tested above standards for either iron, manganese or both. Mr. Peterson stated the Andover water system needs treatment and well replacement to deal with both the primary and secondary water quality issues at Wells 1,2,3,6 and 7. Well supply capacity must be increased by 5,527 gpm to rneet the growing demand, plus an additional 1.5 million gallons of storage is needed. That would meet the federal drinking water quality requirements, maximize the use of existing facilities, provide for future supply and storage of water and provide flexibility to meet future water quality standards as they are set or changed. It was noted that the homeowners may possibly be able to treat their water for these items with a reverse osmosis system, but charcoal filters do not address them. Neither do water softeners treat the primary water quality issues of arsenic, radium and gross alpha radiation. Mr. Peterson reviewed the proposed improvements to Andover's water system, which includes constructing a new Well No, 8, constructing a 6200 gpm water treatment facility to treat Wells 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, construct a new well at Well No.3 and blend with Well 3 to meet water quality standards, construct new wells at well sites I and 2 and abandon Wells 1 and 2, construct two new drift wells with on-site treatment, plus construct a 2-million-gallon elevated water storage tank and Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - February 13, 2001 Page2 (Review Water Report/Project IPOO-15, Continued) remove the existing west water tower. By doing those improvements, the primary drinking water standards will be met, the secondary drinking water standards for 90 percent or more of all the water used in the City will be met, the use of the existing water supply system investment is maximized, and the projected future supply and storage requirements will be met. The softening of the water is not being considered because of the cost issue. Council discussion was also on the depth of wells, the use and protection of the various aquifers as well as the quantity and quality of water from those aquifers. A concern was raised that a 2-million gallon tower on the west end of town would overshadow the residential area. Mr. Peterson explained the two towers provide more flexibility in the operation of the system. Mr. Erickson noted the long-range concept plan is to replace the current two-zone system to just one zone. He also noted that test wells would be done first before drilling any new wells. Also, treating 90 percent of the water to the secondary drinking standards may mean some discoloration or taste issues during the peek water usage weeks in the summer. There was some Council discussion on establishing incentives to encourage conservation of water during the summer. Discussion was then on the proposed rate system to pay for the costs of the improvements to the water system. The proposal is that over the next 10 years, the base rate, user rate, connection charges and area charges would increase by approximately 5 percent per year. That increase would cover the cost of all the improvements suggested plus operational costs. Mr. Erickson stated in Staff's calculation of the cost to the users that was done a year or two ago, the factors of growth, other available funds or increasing connection and area charges were not considered. Mr. Peterson also suggested a funding alternate would be to obtain a Public Facility Authority low- interest loan where no interim financing would be needed, or the City could issue bonds to finance the project. The amount of money available for the PFA loans, which are overseen by the State Health Department, varies. That loan cannot be used to buy land for the treatment facility or for service lines. The rate of growth assumed 25 fewer housing starts per year than the new Comprehensive Plan calls for. Mr. Peterson also summarized the type of water treatment system being proposed which will filter the water with it being discharged into the metro waste system. About three to five acres is needed for the water treatment plant. He estimated about nine months to design a treatment plant plan plus a two-year time period from the bid to completion. It is expected the treatment plant has a life expectancy of60 to 80 years. About two acres is needed for each of the drift well sites. Mr. Brown also noted that with the PF A loan, the City has 24 months before it has to make a payment, during which time the project can be constructed and financed. Mr. Peterson stated the total proposed I I -year implementation cost of $20 million includes contingencies, engineering and legal and administrative costs as well as land purchase. He stated that ifthe entire proposal is implemented, the residents would be much happier with the quality of the water, the primary water quality standards would be met and with the exception of the peek usage Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - February 13, 2001 Page3 (Review Water Report/Project IPOO-15, Continued) weeks in the summer, the secondary water quality standards will also be met. The Council asked Staff to look at the cost figures from a worst-case standpoint if the growth is not as high as projected. Because of the changes recently made in the primary water quality standards, Andover's water quality no longer meets the guidelines. It was suggested that statement saying the water does meet the standards be pulled from Cable TV. Mr. Erickson asked the Council to consider the financial option of increasing connection and area charges at this time to include the new plats coming on line. Otherwise those plats will be charged at the existing rates. Under the proposal by Bolton & Menk, the area cost would increase from about $1,200 to $1,500. Another option would be to increase that cost another $500 to pick up more of the costs through connection fees and reduce the cost to users. That might allow the Council to flatten the user rate as the implementation progresses. The Council asked that he bring back two to three different financial schedules for consideration and adoption. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Knight, to receive the Comprehensive Water Plan from Bolton & Menk, Inc. Motion carried on a 4-Yes, I-Absent (Gamache) vote. The Council recessed at 8:25; reconvened at 8:30 p.m. HYDRANT METER DEPOSIT AND RENTAL RATES Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Trude, to move on Item 5, the change in hydrant meter depos.it and rental rates as presented. Motion carried on a 4-Yes, I-Absent (Gamache) vote. £ ~e>ð\.A1OV\ R o~>on DISCUSS PROPERTY ADJACENT TO PUBLIC WORKS/PROJECT IPOO-13 Mr. Stone reviewed a proposed land use layout to the west of the Public Works site for a water treatment area, salt storage, an open area for street sweeps, a paved area for crack sealing material to be stored and the recycling area behind the proposed water treatment area. He has also talked with the existing residents along Crosstown Boulevard about the proposed driveway north of them which would exit onto Nightingale. Those residents are in favor of that driveway. Mr. Erickson stated the parcel on Crosstown Boulevard immediately west of the City's property has not yet been sold, though he understands there was someone wanting to purchase it for a veterinary clinic. That property is zoned transitional commercial in the new Comprehensive Plan. The Council recalled they had promised the school district that they would not allow commercial activities within the vicinity of the new high school. They suggested that the transitional commercial land use designation on that area along Crosstown Boulevard be changed Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - February 13, 2001 Page4 (Discuss Propety Adjacent to Public Works/Project 1POO-13, Continued) Mr. Stone stated his layout would use about 13.5 acres of Ken Slyzuk's property immediately west of the City's property and north of the residential lots. It is slightly more than what was discussed with Mr. Slyzuk previously. He predicted that amount of acreage should be sufficient to meet any of the Public Works' needs in the future. There is a cul-de-sac from the north. Another proposal could be to have the 13.5 acres run westward to allow for some development on the northern portion of the existing parcel. (Mayor Gamache arrived at this time and chaired the remainder of the meeting; 8:37 p.m.) Council discussion was on the purchase of the land needed, recalling Mr. Slyzuk has verbally agreed to give the City the first option to acquire the land. A concern is what can be done with the remaining land. Another concern is the cost of the land and available funding sources. They asked Staff to have a more detailed site plan and to find a funding mechanism for the purchase of the land. Motion by Trude, Seconded by Orttel, to direct Staff to look at the acquisition of the land necessary for the water treatment facility and to begin researching the additional needs for Public Works. Motion carried unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS Legislative proposal on T1F: Motion by Trude, Seconded by Orttel, to direct Staff to prepare a letter to go to our representative and State Senator stating our opposition to the proposed changes on pre-1990 TIF districts. DISCUSSION: Mr. Carlberg suggested the letter address how the bill would impact Andover. The AMM is monitoring this and is lobbying against it. Staffis also looking at other bills relating to TIF. Motion carried unanimously. Other legislative bills: Mr. Carlberg stated the AMM is monitoring the bill relating to the Metropolitan Council but is not supporting it. That bill would remove local land use control from the Met Council. He stated if anyone has concerns with any other bills, they should let him know. Prof..ose {e islatiWrr./lnances or water treatmen!J!.lf},nt - There was some discussion on aSk~. '" +;\ . 15l e... a.....e; (,1/ f-Sú..k·~;-ç -e ðne. c."1f(.sr~-Ktð~ht?c-;,ct..:>nS CÍ\tí)10 CI. . was eCI e t IS IS not et;.X:.~ proper time since the decision to implement the improvements have not been formalized, nor are the ('trnent. residents aware of the proposals. A _ pant-. 1'1\ l:IV t:>ë:,ß 3/...¡DI Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Orttel, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. '1t\:~~ol- Mella A. Peach, Recordmg Secretary I