HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04-04-2000 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Joint Meeting
City Council and Environmental Quality Commission
April 4, 2000
A Joint Meeting of the City Council and Environmental Quality Commission was called
to order by Mayor Tierney at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Center, 3400
Plymouth Boulevard, on April 11, 2000.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney, Councilmembers Harstad, Black, Johnson,
Slavik, and Bildsoe.
COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Brown.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Osborne (arrived at 7:10 p.m), Commissioners
Bruce Larson, Karen Haht, Connie Fortin, Goodfellow -Heyer, and Kjelland.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Jaffoni.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Community Development Director Hurlburt,
Assistant City Engineer Quanbeck, and City Clerk Paulson.
Mayor Tierney explained the Bassett Creek Water Management Commission (BCWMC)
has completed a water quality investigation of Medicine Lake and developed a final draft
report of a Medicine Lake Watershed and Lake Management Plan. She stated
representatives of Barr Engineering would be making the presentation this evening, and
no action would be taken by the Council and/or the Environmental Quality Committee at
this meeting.
Assistant City Engineer Quanbeck explained the BCWMC is a joint powers organization
composed of the cities of Plymouth, Medicine Lake, Golden Valley, New Hope, Crystal,
Robbinsdale, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, and Minneapolis. Over 50% of Plymouth is
within this watershed management organization.
Len Kremer, from Barr Engineering, explained the history of the BCWMC as well as the
previous flood control project.
He stated the BCWMC has been working with the cities to identify their goals for
waterbodies. He explained a Level I water quality which is the highest water quality has
been recommended for Medicine Lake. He stated a Level II could include all
recreational activities except full body contact in the lake. A Level III would be
acceptable for fishing activities, while a Level IV would be just for runoff management
purposes only.
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Joint Meeting of April 4, 2000
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Standards to achieve the different level qualities were identified methods to meet the
standards and have been enforced by the BCWMC resulting in many water quality ponds
in the watershed, which could include ponding as well as infiltration and chemical
treatment.
Mark Riedel, from Barr Engineering, stated currently, the water quality of Medicine Lake
would be between a Level I and a Level II as there is a very high level of phosphorous
and algae. He stated the amount of algae in the water needs to decrease in order to
improve the clarity. In addition, methods need to be undertaken to reduce the amount of
phosphorus entering the lake. He stated in studying Medicine Lake, the amount of
phosphorus has not shown a trend of increasing or decreasing but has remained relatively
steady.
He stated there are a number of BMP options to improve the water quality of Medicine
Lake. Some of those options include constructing new wet detention basins, excavating
and/or retro -fitting existing basins, flow diversions, wet detention basins in series, in -lake
alum treatment, and removal of aquatic vegetation. For each BMP option, they designed
a cost benefit analysis in addition to reviewing investment and maintenance costs. In
addition, they reviewed the phosphorus removal efficiency and percentage of phosphorus
loading reduction.
He illustrated the recommended BMPs for Medicine Lake based on average year
conditions. He highlighted Option 14, construction of a Plymouth Creek stormwater
alum treatment plant, which would assist in reducing the loadings of phosphorus in
Medicine Lake. He also mentioned reducing current goose loadings as this is a source
that also contributes phosphorus to the lakes as well.
Mr. Kremer illustrated an alum treatment facility which is located in St. Paul that has
been very successful for Tanners Lake. He stated the City could also encourage
vegetative buffer strips as well as re -excavating the basins on a scheduled basis.
He stated BCWMC has performed water quality studies on all the major waterbodies in
the watershed. The total cost of the improvements identified by the studies is
approximately $20 million. Medicine Lake and Parkers Lake have been identified as the
two top priorities for capital improvements for water resources within Bassett Creek
Watershed in the BCWMC draft prioritization.
He stated the BCWMC has identified the total cost of implementing all items contained
in the Medicine Lake plan to be approximately $3.5 million. The majority of that cost
would be the alum treatment facility. The BCWMC would be discussing in the next
couple of months how to raise funds for this project.
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Joint Meeting of April 4, 2000
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He explained the BCWMC raised about $10 million dollars for a flood control project
that is now very near completion. There are some funds remaining from the flood control
project and some grant monies that could be utilized. The BCWMC has applied to the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) for funding a portion of the
Medicine Lake project. Eventually, the Council would be approached on the allocation
process that would be used.
Councilmember Harstad asked in terms of alum treatments, they produce the most
immediate improvement to water quality. He asked if Medicine Lake has ever had an
alum treatment. Mr. Kremer replied no.
Councilmember Harstad stated options 14 (Plymouth Creek stormwater alum treatment
plant) and 16 (in -lake alum treatment) seem to produce the biggest improvement to the
water quality of the lake, and he questioned why these two items wouldn't be the first
priority. Mr. Kremer stated that may be true, but some of the other recommended
changes are just as important i.e. address high suspended solids for clarity.
Councilmember Bildsoe asked if there are any other problems with the quality of the
water other than algae and phosphorus. Mr. Kremer stated there are high coaliform
counts due the geese, and there have been fish advisory warnings because of lead and
mercury.
Councilmember Bildsoe asked how long it would take before there would be an impact
on the lake due to the City's ban on phosphorus.
John Barten, Water Quality Manager of Hennepin Parks, stated they are unsure how long
it would take for the effects on the phosphorus ban.
Mr. Kremer stated the BCWMC is unsure if they would adopt the whole plan or just
portions of it. The funding sources to implement the plan need to be identified.
Councilmember Johnson asked if there are any side effects of the alum. Mr. Kremer
stated the use of alum has been a fairly common practice throughout the state for lake
treatment, and there are very little side effects.
Councilmember Johnson asked how long the phosphorus would remain in the lake. Mr.
Kremer stated it would always be there as long as there is a source and there is algae
feeding off it.
Mayor Tierney stated all holding ponds are designed to be cleaned out every 10 years,
and by removing some of the sediments, that could be a viable alternative. Mr. Kremer
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Joint Meeting of April 4, 2000
Page 4 of 6
stated that has been considered for some smaller bodies of water. However, that is very
costly especially for the size of Medicine Lake.
Mr. Kremer stated the $40 million dollar project was completed in 1997. The second
project is the water quality project which is a $20 million dollar project. The BCWCM
would be asking the cities if they could utilize the funds remaining from the flood control
project for the water quality project.
Councilmember Harstad asked about the funds contained in the Capital Improvements
Program. Assistant City Engineer Quanbeck stated the funds designated in the Capital
Improvements Program are for 2002 which would be for certain aspects of this plan.
Commissioner Fortin stated she is concerned about long term alum treatment.
Mr. Barten stated alum has been used in lakes for many years. The only negative impact
is a short term impact on acquatic invertebrates. The treatments do not seem to work as
long with the shallower lake systems (12'-15' depth).
Commissioner Goodfellow -Heyer stated she is concerned about the phosphorus runoff
into the lake.
Commissioner Kjelland stated she has a concern of adding additional chemicals to a lake
to address a natural cause. She asked how this alum could affect humans swimming in
the lake.
Mr. Kremer reiterated the use of alum has been a common practice in Minnesota lakes to
improve water clarity and has been endorsed by regulatory agencies.
Commissioner Larson asked if there are other similar sized lakes that have been treated
with alum. Mr. Kremer stated Long Lake has been treated; however, it does not have a
treatment plant treating the runoff into the lake.
Commissioner Fortin asked if there are any components for education in grants that the
BCWMC could be applying for as education is very important. Mr. Kremer stated yes,
there would be a component in one of the processes. The BCWMC is also very
interested in participating with Hennepin Conservation District and MPCA on water
quality education. In addition, the BCWMC is beginning the process of updating its
Water Management Plan. This process would also provide opportunities for public input.
Commissioner Haht stated she would support the Environmental Quality Committee
being involved in the education component.
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Joint Meeting of April 4, 2000
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Mr. Kremer stated in addition to the measures they are recommending, they are asking
the cities to go beyond that — perhaps adopting ordinances.
Don Maxwell, 2630 Medicine Lake Boulevard, stated he is a chemical engineer, but no
expert on water quality. However, he is concerned on using alum as a quick chemical fix
for this problem. He worries above the affect of alum in the natural environment. One
thing that he hasn't seen addressed is the generation of hydrogen sulfides from a lake.
Last summer there was an episode of high levels. A majority of this could be attributed
to road salt from the roadways.
Mr. Kremer stated his concerns would be addressed with their chemists.
Terrie Christian, 9910 South Shore Drive, speaking on behalf of AMLAC Association,
illustrated to the Council their photo records of Medicine Lake. They are very pleased
that the City is considering options to improve the water quality of the lake.
Jonathan Ecklin, 10320 27h Avenue North, asked if other consultants have reviewed this
watershed. He stated even though the City has a ban on phosphorous, many Plymouth
businesses are selling phosphorous.
Assistant City Engineer Quanbeck provided a brief history on this project. He mentioned
that the City of New Hope also has a phosphorous ordinance.
Bridget Jodell, 10100 South Shore Drive, thanked commissioners and council for
considering options to improve the water quality of Medicine Lake. However, she
requested the use of chemicals such as alum be studied. She stated their lake association
would like to work with the City in promoting phosphorous free fertilizer as well as the
providing their input on improving the quality of Medicine Lake.
Councilmember Johnson suggested the lake associations and the homeowners
associations be involved with this process.
Councilmember Black echoed Councilmember Johnson's comment. She stated she was
disappointed to see there were no "citizen fixes" as part of the executive summary from
Barr Engineering. She stressed the residents are part of the solution, and the City needs
to facilitate that.
Carolyn Dindorf, with Hennepin Conservation District, discussed upcoming conservation
workshops and best management practices for yards seminars.
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Joint Meeting of April 4, 2000
Page 6 of 6
Councilmember Harstad stated as the quality of the lake is improved, so many groups
would benefit from it i.e. swimmers, lake owners, and fishermen. He feels it's time to
execute the plan.
Motion was made by Councilmember Bildsoe, and seconded by Councilmember
Johnson, to accept the report and the citizens comments. With all members voting in
favor, the motion carried.
Adjournment
Motion was made by Councilmember Bildsoe, and seconded by Councilmember Harstad
to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
r,v'T!ndra R. Paulson, City Clerk