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Home My WebLink About9B - Water Treatment Plant Com. MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1114 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT JANUARY 17, 2006 9B STEVE ALBRECHT, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REPORT ESTABLISHING THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BUILDING COMMITTEE Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is for the City Council to formally establish a building committee for construction of the Water Treatment Plant. History The City of Prior Lake has planned for a Water Treatment Plant since its inclusion in the 1997 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) almost nine years ago. The plant is needed to address several drinking water quality issues within the City. These issues include odor, water stains and taste. The primary cause of the water quality issues are high levels of iron and manganese found in the City's groundwater source. The City does not have the option of using water sources which are lower in these substances. The levels of iron and manganese in the City water supply are not considered harmful according to EPA standards, however these levels can cause a variety of problems from clogging of water heaters, filters, staining of clothes and staining of bathroom fixtures. Areas with low water flow or dead end water lines typically experience the greatest issues. Over time the iron and manganese also build up in watermains and service lines causing reduced capacity. Due to the lakes location in the heart of our community we have numerous dead end water lines that can not be avoided. City staff spends a great deal of time flushing watermains, responding to water quality calls and repairing meters due to the water quality issues. Customers who experience these issues do not believe they are receiving a value for their money. In planning for construction of the Water Treatment Plant the City completed a comprehensive water rate study. Rates have been previously adjusted to fund construction of the plant. No new rate increases are needed to construct the plant. Additionally the City has previously acquired the land for the plant in the Srooksville Hills neighborhood. Currently three of the City's five existing wells are located on this site and nearby Well NO.5 has a raw water line connection to the site. The City has also installed fencing around the perimeter of the site and held preliminary notification meetings with the neighbors as to the future development of a Water Treatment Plant on the site. Current Circumstances The City's CIP identified construction of the Water Treatment Plant and associated water storage facility starting in 2006. A project of this magnitude typically takes 18-24 months to design and construct. The proposed mission WWW:cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.441.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 of the Water Treatment Plant Building Committee to help guide and make recommendations regarding the plant to the City Council throughout the construction process. On January 3rd the City Council appointed Councilmembers Lemair and Dornbush to the Water Treatment Plant Building Committee. Staff is requesting that the Council accept this report and order establishment of the Committee as proposed by staff and direct the committee to begin the Water Treatment Plant development process. Staff recommends that in addition to the Councilmembers Lemair and Dornbush that the Committee includes Director of Finance Ralph Teschner, Utility Supervisor Craig Eldred and Director of Public Works Steve Albrecht. The Public Works and Communications Coordinators will also be very involved with the committee. The Water Treatment Plant development process has several stages which generally breakdown as follows: 1) Selection of construction/design representation 2) Pre-design 3) Design 4) Bidding 5) Construction 6) Post Construction/Start-up 7) Project acceptance A vital component to all of the above tasks is communication to the public. This plant is to be located in a neighborhood area and a detailed one and two- way communication process is needed for all stages of the project. One of the first responsibilities of the committee should be to layout a project process and timeline which includes opportunities for public interaction and dialogue. ISSUES: There are a number of issues the City Council should consider: . Is the size and composition of the committee appropriate? . Is the mission in accordance with the Council's desires? . Are there any specific steps or actions the City Council desires the committee to consider as part of its responsibilities? Once these issues and others as determined by the Council are addressed, it would be appropriate for the City Council to consider action on this agenda item. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City has planned for the Water Treatment Plant construction and has previously increased water rates to fund the project. The project will be paid for through sale of water revenue bonds financed by water rate revenues. The budget for the Water Treatment Plant and related infrastructure in the CIP is $11,000,000. The CIP also includes $2,000,000 for on-site in-ground water storage. No tax levy dollars or increase in water rates is needed to fund the project. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Authorize establishment of the Water Treatment Plant Building ,. -----,.,----'""""""~-~-._"~,.-....."-.----~-.r..~~~--.--'".'"~--.--.....__.k_.~.~..._____.,~~~.~___._..._ .......--...- Committee and direct the Committee to begin reviewing the options available to the City for construction/design representation. 2. Deny this agenda item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction. 3. Table this item to a certain date in the future. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Staff recommends alternative number 1. >>....._~.~_'_,..,_"..".,'"'."~~_k___,_~~_..__~...,._.,__'_~_~..,,+ ,,_._ _0'_'" ".. ""'" '.' ..,.__",~.,,_,>_ '_"'~"'_'_'_'_'~'"""'__'_',"_"",,""~"~."~n'_'"._""""'_~.,,._._.._~_,..._"m. .._._ _._0,. '*~__'_'_~~'~~"_'_.'"____"__~____.,____~~,,_._,._,"",_.. ,