HomeMy WebLinkAbout05(E) - Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Submittel of a Grant Application and Dedicating Matching Funds for the City of Prior Lake Inflow and Infiltration Identification and Elimination Study
City of Prior Lake | 4646 Dakota Street SE | Prior Lake MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
ITEM: 5E
MEETING DATE: March 02, 2020
PREPARED BY: Pete Young, Water Resource Engineer; Nick Monserud, Assistant
City Engineer
PRESENTED BY: Andy Brotzler, Public Works Director/City Engineer
AGENDA ITEM: Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of a Grant
Application and Dedicating Matching Funds for the City of Prior
Lake Inflow and Infiltration Identification and Elimination Study
GOAL AREA
OBJECTIVE:
Public Safety
4. Ensure a safe and quality built environment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of a Grant Application and Dedicating
Matching Funds for the City of Prior Lake Inflow and Infiltration Identification and Elimination
Study
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this agenda item is to request City Council approval to apply for Environmental
Assistance grant funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and to dedicate
local match funding which is a prerequisite for a complete application. The grant would help to
fund a sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration research study.
Inflow and infiltration is the excess flow of clear water into the City’s sanitary sewer system.
Inflow occurs when water enters the sanitary sewer system through flaws within the collection
system. Potential flaws include private downspouts, sump pumps, driveway drains, surface
water (lakes, streams, stormwater ponds, and wetlands), and public infrastructure such as
vented manhole covers.
Infiltration is seen when groundwater enters the sanitary system through cracked pipes or leaky
manholes. These issues can be caused by age, design, installation, or maintenance issues.
The sanitary sewer system was not designed to handle this excess clear water. Inflow and
infiltration issues can lead to overloaded systems during times of high groundwater or heavy
rainfall, increasing the likelihood of sewer backups.
Inflow and infiltration problems lead to clear water unnecessarily being sent to the wastewater
treatment facility, increasing costs for City residents.
Item 5E
Page | 2
The Metropolitan Council has identified Prior Lake as a contributor of excess inflow and
infiltration. The City’s sanitary lift stations exhibit increased run times after every rainfall, leading
to increased maintenance costs and an overall decrease in the lifespan of our equipment.
The MPCA’s Environmental Assistance grant program provides grants for community strategies
to adapt to the impacts of climate change and improve community resilience while achieving
positive environmental outcomes. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in local
infrastructure as a result of increased frequency and severity of storms and rainfall is one
strategy the MPCA supports under the broader goal of “Increasing the resilience of the…built
environment to more intense rain events and associated flooding.” (Climate Adaptation
Framework; Menu of Climate Adaptation Strategies, MPCA 2018).
The City’s grant application will focus on developing a program to identify excess inflow and
infiltration issues. When completed, this program will position the City to take advantage of
future funding opportunities to target and eliminate the issues identified within the sanitary
sewer system.
Staff recommends Council authorization for the grant application and dedication of local match
funding. The grant application deadline is March 11, 2020.
There are no issues anticipated with this grant application.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The maximum grant award for inflow and infiltration focused projects is $20,000. The MPCA’s
grant program includes a requirement to provide a minimum of $5,000.00 in local matching
funds. If grant funding is awarded, this funding would be allocated from the City’s Sewer Utility
Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Motion and second to approve a resolution as part of the consent agenda authorizing a
grant application and dedicating local matching funds as detailed in this report.
2. Motion and second to remove this item from the consent agenda for additional
discussion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 20-___
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION AND
DEDICATING MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE INFLOW AND
INFILTRATION IDENTIFICATION AND ELIMINATION STUDY
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Council has identified inflow and infiltration issues within the City
of Prior Lake’s sanitary sewer system; and
WHEREAS, The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is currently soliciting grant applications to
research, develop, and implement strategies for communities to adapt to the
impacts of climate change and improve community resilience while achieving
positive environmental outcomes; and
WHEREAS, The City of Prior Lake is an eligible grant applicant; and
WHEREAS, A dedicated local funding match is a requirement of the grant.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. Staff is authorized to submit an Environmental Assistance grant application to the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency.
3. Upon grant approval, staff is authorized to develop an Inflow and Infiltration Identification
and Elimination Study and administer the grant.
4. Matching funds of at least $5,000.00 are dedicated to this Study.
5. Funds associated with Study will be drawn from the Sewer Utility Fund.
Passed and adopted by the Prior Lake City Council this 2nd day of March, 2020
VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson
Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
______________________________
Jason Wedel, City Manager