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Home My WebLink AboutSP November 13, 1997 , , " ' CITY of ANDOVER Special City Council Meeting - Thursday, November 13, 1997 Call to Order - 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 1. Review & Discuss SubstationlTransmission Line Expansion - UPAlAEC 7:00 PM 2. Review & Discuss Master Plan - Andover CommerciallIndustrial Park 3. Other Business Adjournment -.-......'-.,.--~. ... --...- .~-..._.' . ,. ·~ -. , , ", "" CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW. . ANDOVER. MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - NOVEMBER 13, 1997 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jack McKelvey on November 13, 1997, 6: 10 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Bonnie Dehn, Mike Knight, Ken Orttel Councilmember absent: John Kunza Also present: City Engineer, Scott Erickson Planning, John Hinzman Community Development Director, Dave Carlberg City Administrator, Richard Fursman . UPAlEAC PROJECT The following addressed the City Council: Larry Peterson, AEC; Pat Cairns, UPA; Mike Felber, AEC; Dave Kempf, UPA; and Gary Ostrom, UPA. Mr. Ostrom explained the proposed project responds to the needs ofUPA's system, which in turn is responding to the needs of the citizens. He has already discussed the proposal with Staff. UPA is the power supplier to AEC and serves an area north to the Canadian border. They have several large lines plus some smaller lines to bring power terminating at substation sites where AEC then takes the power out of the site and brings it to the consumer. UPA's Elk River to Parkwood 69-kV trammission line serves several UP N AEC substations, including the Bunker Lake Substation in Andover. Now their lines are overloaded. The proposal is to install a 230/69-kV transformer at the Bunker Lake Substation site and to construct a new 69-kV transmission line to connect the Bunker Lake Substation to UPA's EP and ES lines. Mr. Ostrom explained the original proposal was to run the transmission line east along Bunker Lake Boulevard, then north along the railroad tracks; however, Staff asked them to look at other routes that would not go through fully developed residential areas. They are now proposing the route of the EP Line to traverse west out of the Bunker Lake Substation along the westerly edge of the WDE site to Crosstown Boulevard, then either follow Crosstown to Nightingale to the EP line or follow County Ditch No. 57 west to approximately the section line, then north to UP A's EP line. The route to UPA's BA line would use the existing 69-kV circuit rrom the Bunker Lake Substation north to Crosstown, then following Crosstown in a northeasterly direction to the Burlington Northern tracks where the route would continue north along the tracks to UPA's ES line. (J' Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - November 13, 1997 Page 2 (UP AlEDA Project, Continued) The lines will be on single wood pole structures. If the line went through the sod fields, they would design the system to mitigate potential concerns of the landowner, such as the height ofthe poles to accommodate large farm and irrigation equipment. It is less appealing for them to go through the sod fields because the access to the line is not very good. It is a minor project, but it wiU improve the reliability of electrical service in the area. After talking with the Staff and City Council, they will hold public informational meetings with the landowners in the proposed corridors. They wiU then finalize a corridor and work with the landowners to purchase the needed easements and with the City to obtain the necessary permits. Mr. Ostrom explained the preliminary activities of the public meetings and permitting procedures are scheduled to begin in December, 1997, with construction completed prior to the Summer of 1999. Mr. Kempf stated this project would meet the needs of the system in this area for quite some time; predicting it would be many, many years before anything else wo:¡ld need to be done, though it does depend on the growth in Andover. Mayor McKelvey stated there has been some talk about moving the Bunker Lake Substation closer to the WDE site so that comer of Hanson and Bunker Lake Boulevards could be used for commercial development. Mr. Ostrom stated they did study that and estimate it would cost about $6 million to relocate the facility. Mr. Peterson also stated that the substation generates $167,000 in real estate taxes each year, which is probably more than most businesses would generate. There are things they can do with the substation to make it more attractive and conducive to the area, and they would be willing to work with the City on that point in the future. Councilmember Knight asked about the possibility of constructing trails within the power line easements. Mr. Ostrom stated trails are a good use of the transmission line corriders and are being done in many cities. They are working with snowmobile clubs to run trails paraUel to the transmission lines. Mr. Cairns explained many times they have just an easement to construct and maintain their lines, but not fee ownership of the corridors. Permission would have to be received from the land . owners for the trails. Their only concern is that something is not done in the corridors to restrict their use or that the trails are not brought next to the poles. Mr. Ostrom also explained they have found the construction of the transmission lines does not preclude future development. As a matter offact, once they are in place, people have built some very nice houses near them. Councilmember Orttel asked about the effects of the power lines on people living in their vicinity. Mr. Peterson stated the last bonafide medical study found no medical problems. Mr. Ostrom stated that issue is not as much of a concern today as it has been in the past. The last study published in the Star Tribune in 1996 reported a national research council found no evidence that EMFs produced by -- ~....-....-~ . '''---''---''-'-''''.-. "'-" \ I- Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - November 13, 1997 Page 3 (UPA/EDA Project, Continued) power lines have any effect on the health of those living near them. As a matter of fact, it found that appliances in the home are more dangerous. It is a nonissue. In discussing future needs, Mr. Kempf stated every five years they do a 30-year long-range plan for the entire area. With the rapid growth, they are finding their plans are being advanced by five years in the north suburban area. Future corridors are anticipated in the St. Francis area in about five years as well as along the 1494 corridor in Plymouth and Maple Grove. Also, a new substation will need to be sited somewhere some time around the year 2001. Right now the plans indicate it should be along Highway 65 in Ham Lake. AEC would then build feeders from it back to Andover. Another location being considered is in Andover near the railroad tracks and CoRd 20. They are trying to keep ahead of the anticipated need. Mr. Peterson explained they will make modifications to their system as more commercial and industrial businesses come into Andover by increasing the capacity of the substation, Discussion continued on the taxes paid by the utilities and on the existing system, on the relationship between UP A and AEC, and on proposals to meet the anticipated needs in the future. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m, Respectfully submitted, ~~~L Marcella A. Peach Recording Secretary '. ...--.._-_..._.-..-~ ...~- ..-