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HomeMy WebLinkAbout120417 LAC MinutesMINUTES OF THE LAKES ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 17, 2012 The Lake Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting was called to order at 4:30 P.M. Members present: Donna Mankowski (Chair), Char Jasan, James Streefland and Liz Weninger Members Absent: J.Allen Nemecek, Tom Voll, Theresa Feldman Others present: Ross Bintner (Water Resources Engineer), Rick Keeney, Council Liaison, Nat Kale, Prior Lake /Spring Lake Watershed District CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Jasan made a motion to approve the June 21, 2011 and October 18, 2011 minutes. Weninger seconded the motion. All ayes to approve the June 21, 2011 and October 18, 2011 minutes. III. OLD BUSINESS — There was no old business. IV. OTHER BUSINESS —There was no other business. V. STAFF UPDATE a. Council Update — Bintner stated that a major amendment to the Surface Water Management Plan was passed by the Council in January. Other projects relevant to Water Resources are the CR21 /Arcadia Intersection Improvement Project which is currently being constructed and the Boudin's Neighborhood Improvement Project which is out for bid and construction will likely begin in May. Bintner added that the flood management strategy for the Markley Lake /Welcome Avenue /Industrial Park area is currently being studied to see how any improvements (eg. new streets), etc. could affect the Industrial Park area and whether flood protection will be required. Maple Glen IV, Hickory Shores 3 and Eagle Creek Estates are currently being reviewed and will be going for preliminary plat and final plats. He added that Scott County will be making improvements to Spring Lake Regional Park soon. Mankowski asked if the Eagle Creek Estates development would contain both residential and commercial properties and if the development would impact Markley Lake. Bintner answered that the Council passed a zoning amendment and that the development contains both residential and commercial lots. Bintner said that the flood management strategy plan will deal with how this development will affect Markley Lake. b. Watershed District Update — Nat Kale, Prior Lake /Spring Lake Watershed Planner gave an overview of the projects that the watershed is currently 1 working on. Kale stated that the main focus of the Watershed District is water quality and water quantity. He said that one of their biggest projects has been the Iron Chloride Filter System which involves the County Ditch 13 since the ditch is a direct contributory to Spring Lake. The watershed is also doing maintenance and improvements to upgrade the distillation pond. The watershed is working in conjunction with the MPCA to redesign the pond to current standards to make it more efficient. Kale noted that the watershed recently finished the Comprehensive Wetland Plan which was started in 2010 and he said that the board recently approved the plan. The watershed is conducting four management classes which include hydrology for storing /managing water. They are also active in citizen education and outreach through the Watershed's website, Twitter and Facebook plus in March and April they have been conducting rain garden classes with Blue Thumb. Kale also mentioned the upcoming watershed tour which is scheduled for July, 2012. Kale announced that the Watershed recently hired Shawn Tracy. Shawn has worked with the watershed in the past and he will be working on the Boudin's Neighborhood, Phase II and implementation of the Best Management Practices and Retrofit. Kale stated that the watershed is monitoring stream and lake flow, lake elevation, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, etc. One of the projects that Shawn will be working on will be the Upper Prior Storm Water Best Management Practices and Retrofit to help improve the water quality in Upper Prior. Kale added that the watershed will be involved with a proposed wetland complex at the County Road 12/17 intersection when the west half of County Road 12 is reconstructed next year. Kale stated that the watershed received a grant from the MPCA for the Lower Prior Lake Diagnostic Study. On April 26th, there will be a presentation of the implementation plan and diagnostic study results. Weninger asked if he knew about the channel between CR 17 and CR 12. Kale answered that he was aware of the channel and that the watershed is treating the water before it hits the lake. Mankowski talked about the outlet channel's elevation. Kale answered that the elevation at the weir is 902.5 and the top of the gate is actually lower and once the water reaches that elevation, water automatically flows out of the pipe. Mankowski said that currently water should not be flowing out of Prior Lake because the water elevation is so low. Weninger noted that there is very little water flowing from the creek between Spring Lake and Prior Lake because of current low water elevation.. 2 c. Communications / Website Update — Bintner said that the LAC Committee had requested him to update the Water Resources page of the City's website in order to educate citizens /homeowners and make it more "user friendly'. He said that he hasn't had time but hopes to get updating the webpage within the next month. Mankowski stated that she has received dock placement calls because of the low water and shore land changes that are occurring because of it. She stated that since there is no ordinance regarding the placement of personal docks, she felt that dock information along with lakeshore landscaping /permitting processes should be placed on the Water Resources webpage as soon as possible. Bintner asked if there were any other requests. Weninger said that she has noticed many homeowners are mowing due to the early spring. She felt that an article regarding picking up grass clippings so they don't get into the storm sewer and ultimately into the lake would also be very beneficial. Mankowski mentioned that if a homeowner does not put in their own dock that the DNR is requiring a licensed provider to place a dock /lift so that zebra mussels are not spread. Streefland said that the DNR has a list of licensed individuals on their website. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. 2012 WATER QUALITY BUDGET— Bintner started out by saying that Prior Lake has gone through significant changes within the past 20 years and that the city will be taking on more land through annexation and that the LAC should plan accordingly. Bintner reviewed the citizens' goals that are written in the 2030 Vision Statement and the Wellhead Plan and Surface Management Plan. He said that water quality fundamentally affects the health of the public and regional flood management makes sense. Bintner mentioned that the City is mandated to apply for NPDES /MS4 permits and follow the standards of those permit requirements anyway. Bintner explained the funding sources for various services (eg. street sweeping, jetting, vactor sump cleaning, labor, fuel, educational partnerships, planning fees, permit fees, training, etc.) within the 2012 Water Quality Budget. Bintner talked about future trends and strategies to meet clean water goals. Bintner presented a draft operating budget and noted that the operating plan is updated each year reflecting future trends. Bintner asked for feedback from the LAC. Mankowski commented that the revenue source - $54.00 per household /per year is a bargain for good water quality and even if the amount doubled to clean up the lakes, it would still be a bargain. She added that this amount will stay constant until 2014. Weninger questioned why maintenance costs for a specific item stops after a few years. Bintner says that those funds are associated with a specific prairie or buffer restoration practice and there was a planned 5 year establishment period that is contracted. After the 5 year maintenance contract expires, the City takes on the minor maintenance. Weninger asked if parks are closed to residents in those areas. Bintner said that those parks are still open but these examples do not have active play areas. Bintner said it was about 1/3 the cost to maintain parks where natural grasses are used, opposed to mowed turf. B. 2013 — 2017 WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN — Bintner said that the 2013 — 2017 Water Quality Plan will see an increased role on the source control side and funding increases. The 319h Research and Demonstration grant will mean a revised policy for street sweeping in the next year. Street Sweeping Policy will be redone. In 2014 — 2019, there will be a transfer to the equipment fund for a new street sweeper and he is hoping the watershed district may help with part of the payment for the new equipment. Future topics will include other levels of service in the natural resources and parks side for urban forestry, natural buffer systems, and drainage systems, to get a better product once we leave a storm water pond. The pre- conveyance system, and sump structures, there is a potential of the transference of funds from the street side to the water resources side. In the trunk /structural maintenance area, Bintner saw a decrease as they finish working through a backlog of deferred maintenance. In capital improvements, Bintner saw a slight decrease in the funding level but dependent on opportunities in those project areas and new regulations. In the Planning, Reviewing, Training, Permitting, Overhead area there will not be a big change. Bintner asked for feedback. Mankowski asked if any additional grants would be available for future unfunded projects and what type of projects would be eligible. Bintner answered that when projects come in under balance, grant funds are usually available. He said that CIP items such as Water Quality Maintenance Systems are usually eligible. Bintner added that County /State highway intersection improvements are usually grant eligible as well. Mankowski inquired if Iron Sand Filtration Systems may be eligible if ponds are running directly into the lake. Bintner answered yes possibly after the three year study period. Mankowski asked if the University is tracking the information from the Iron Sand Filtration Study and Bintner answered that the information was being tracked by the City and the University and the funding came from the a federal 319 Research and Demonstration Grant. Jasan questioned why the expenses were greater than the revenue on the summary for 2012. Bintner answered that the end of year fund balance. The fund has $500,000 that was collected for these purposes. The plan is to spend down the reserve over the next four years and keep 3 — 6 months reserve which is approximately $200,000. Hopefully, the project comes in under value. Jasan noticed that there will be big expenses in 2013. Bintner explained that bigger projects are done every other year and the year when there isn't a big expenditure, it is a "planning phase" year. Councilman Keeney commented on the 2% growth on the units and was concerned that the forecast might be too aggressive. Bintner answered that he assumed more /less growth and the amount is flexible over a five to ten year plan and that unit growth is correlated to the expenses. 11 Keeney asked about the Sunset /CR 12 project. Keeney said that the project is referenced in the 2017 CIP plan but the project was moved up because of failing septic systems and water quality reasons. Weninger questioned if County Road 12 would get sewer and water when Sunset Avenue is improved. Keeney said that the plans have not been completely finalized but includes the water quality funding and how to annex it into the city. Annexation will probably happen in 2013. Bintner added that project will have improvements on the sanitary side and water quality but not paid out of the water quality fund. Keeney added that there will be road improvements and a pond constructed for better water quality. Bintner asked for feedback from the LAC on the Joint Stormwater Education Program which will be ending and what type of public education will replace it. professional services for Water Quality Program and monitoring BMP's, Local Surface Water Management Plan and wrapping the two documents into one. Jason said that she was for continuing education and the LAC has been making strides. Mankowski announced the upcoming Lake Water Quality Meeting sponsored by the Watershed District and MPCA will be Thursday, April 26, 2012. She also mentioned that there were two Boat Safety Training Classes and were well attended and how important education is. Jasan said the Joint Meeting with the Watershed /MPCA is scheduled for April 26, 2012 at City Hall starting at 6:30 p.m. VII. ADJOURNMENT — Jasan made a motion to adjourn the April 17, 2012 LAC Meeting. Weninger seconded. All ayes to adjourn the meeting. Respectfully submitted, Ross Bintner Water Resources Engineer