HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04-08-2003 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 8, 2003
Mayor Johnson called a Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in
the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on April 8, 2003.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Johnson, Councilmembers Hewitt, Slavik, Black (arrived at 5:55
p.m.), Bildsoe, Neset, and Stein.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Ahrens, Finance Director
Hahn, Community Development Director Hurlburt, Park and Recreation Director Blank, Public
Works Director Faulkner, Financial Analyst Kohn, and City Clerk Paulson.
Schedule Future Study Session Tonics
Ellie Singer, member of the City's Park and Recreation Advisory Commission, requested that the
Council schedule a future Study Session to discuss a tobacco policy for City park property. She
stated the Council has previously discussed this item, but the Tobacco Free Youth would like to
make a presentation.
A discussion was held on what types of policies the athletic associations have when they are
using park property.
Councilmembers Stein, Hewitt, and Neset requested that this item be added to the pending study
session list.
The Council requested that Ms. Singer contact all the athletic associations to determine their
policies.
Pond Cleaning Options and Policy for Handling Drainage Concerns
Public Works Director Faulkner provided background on the design and maintenance of the
City's storm drainage system. He stated the initial storm drainage program was updated in 1973
with a storm drainage plan that presented an overall layout of major drainage facilities in the
City, including trunk storm sewers, ponding areas, and major drainageways. The main purpose
of the plan was to provide an adequate and economical means of conveying storm water runoff
through the City. This plan was revised and updated in 1980 to reflect platting and development
proposals, storm drainage improvements, and the Land Use Guide Plan. In 1995, the City began
a major update to its storm sewer plan by incorporating water quality management into the City's
first Water Resources Management Plan. The 1980 plan addressed storm water quantity while
the new Water Resources Management Plan largely focused on quality as well as updating City
goals and policies for both quantity and quality.
Adopted Council Minutes
Special Meeting of April 8, 2003
Page 2 of 4
He stated since 1991, the City has tracked all constructed water quality (NURP) ponds and
required an agreement that specifies the property owners are responsible for maintaining the
pond. In addition, the agreements require the property owners to have an engineer annually
certify that the pond does not need maintenance and is operating as it was designed. Prior to
1991, the primary function of ponds constructed was for water quantity with the water quality a
secondary benefit. He noted that as of 2002, there were 135 maintenance agreements covering
190 water quality ponds.
He noted that drainage system maintenance generally consists of repair of system failures or
removal of sediment. System failure may include pipe separation, catch basin or manhole repair
or replacement. He stated that the City has been addressing the sedimentation issue through an
aggressive construction erosion control program, inspections, inventories, Capital Improvements
Program (CIP) flood and drainage projects, drainageway cleaning, and system repair. He noted
the City's storm sewer system maintenance has increased significantly since 2001 due to
additional funds available through the storm water utility fee. However, with ongoing
development coupled with an aging system, the maintenance backlog of the City's drainage
system is accumulating faster than ever before. Under the expanded drainage maintenance
program, the City has been maintaining about eight to 10 sites per year. However, 520 drainage
basin areas and 190 constructed water quality (NURP) ponds have been identified for a total of
710 drainage facilities. An average of 47 basins would need to be inspected, evaluated, or
maintained annually to meet a 15 -year cycle. The ongoing development and aging system has
also led to an increase in the number of system failure incidents which is becoming difficult to
keep up with.
He discussed four options for the Council to consider
1. Continue the existing program. This would involve addressing only top priority or "urgent"
drainage issues as they arise within the current budge constraints.
2. Contract for NURP pond cleaning. In order to maintain the 190 existing ponds on a 15 -year
cycle, it would require working on about 13 ponds per year (estimated cost of $13000 per site or
169,000 per year).
3. Provide incentive for property owners with pond maintenance agreements. The City could
reduce the storm water utility fee for property owners who have pond maintenance agreements.
Property owners would need to show they are inspecting and accumulating funds for the purpose
of pond maintenance.
4. Clean ponds by expanding City capability. The current drainage system maintenance
program could be expanded within the City by hiring an additional crew of four employees and
purchasing capital equipment. An additional supervisor would also be required to avoid
overloading the existing street maintenance supervisor. This option could cost approximately
716,313 for the first year and $431,213 every year thereafter.
Adopted Council Minutes
Special Meeting of April 8, 2003
Page 3 of 4
Councilmember Black noted that there could be an additional cost of $100,000 per year for
option No's. 2 and 3, if the sediment couldn't be disposed at a site within the City.
Councilmember Bildsoe stated not every resident in the City should be paying for the cleaning of
the ponds, only the homeowners associations who have ponds should be assessed. He stated that
he could possibly support option No. 2.
Mayor Johnson and Councilmember Hewitt agreed with Councilmember Bildsoe and stated that
it would be very difficult to increase the storm water utility fee to generate additional funds to
pay for the maintenance.
Councilmember Stein stated that he could support option No.2 with the costs being assessed to
the property owners (homeowners association). Councilmember Hewitt agreed.
Councilmember Bildsoe voiced his concern with option No. 3 as the loss of funds could
jeopardize other projects the City has undertaken. Mayor Johnson agreed. She added that she is
especially concerned about the condition of ponds if they haven't been maintained.
Mayor Johnson excused herself from the meeting.
The Council stated that they would have another Study Session on this topic in the future, and
they requested that the Harrison Place Homeowners Association as well as anyone else who has
voiced a concern to the City on pond maintenance be invited to attend the study session. In the
interim, staff was directed to prepare a report that would contain information on the cost to
dispose of the sediments, staffs approximate cost for inspection and assessments, and what
could occur five to 10 years with the storm water utility fee.
Councilmembers Neset, Slavik, and Black requested that this item be added to the pending Study
Session list.
Schedule Future Study Sessions
City Manager Johnson noted that a report on the catering at the Plymouth Creels Center and
maintenance and hours of outdoor ice rinks would be included in this Friday's Council
Information Memorandum.
Motion was made by Councilmember Slavik, and seconded by Councilmember Black, to
schedule a Study Session on April 29 immediately following the Board of Equalization
Reconvened for the pumose of meeting with CMS on the former Dana Spicer property. With all
members voting in favor, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Councilmember Bildsoe, and seconded by Councilmember Slavik, to
schedule a Study Session on MU 27 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss a Tobacco Policy for City park
property. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
Adopted Council Minutes
Special Meeting of April 8, 2003
Page 4 of 4
Adiournment
Deputy Mayor Hewitt declared the meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
Spindra R. Paulson, City Clerk