|
Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
1.
Introduction / Call Roll
Chair DeBenedet called the
meeting to order at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Members
Present: Chair Jim DeBenedet; and Members Steve Gjerdingen; Jan
Vanderwall; Dwayne Stenlund; and Joan Felice
Staff
Present: Public Works Director Duane Schwartz; Parks and
Recreation Director Lonnie Brokke
2.
Public Comments
None.
3.
Approval of July 27, 2010 Meeting Minutes
Member Vanderwall moved, Member
Felice seconded, approval of the July 27, 2010 meeting as amended.
Corrections:
§
Page 1 (DeBenedet)
Identify Eureka Recycling
Represent present at the meeting
§
Page 3 (DeBenedet)
3rd full paragraph:
identify as removal of “…3,000 [feet] of older lines.”
4th paragraph:
reference MPCA audit as “… [constructive] rather than construction…”
§
Page 4 (DeBenedet)
Item 4, last paragraph – further
discussion at the [September] meeting
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
Motion carried.
4.
Communication Items
Mr. Schwartz provided an update
on ongoing 2010 construction projects, including the Twin Lakes
Infrastructure Phase II Construction Project and the Rice Street/TH 36
Interchange Reconstruction Project;
Discussion included
weather-related delays and issues; erosion control; status of the Rice Street
bridge beams and decking over Highway 36 and anticipated opening of the
eastbound lanes; progress made; ongoing communication between the project
team and area residents and businesses; traffic controls and handicapped
accessibility challenges with the Rice Street project as well as bus stop
access considerations; temporary pathways provided by Xcel Energy and
corrections; and challenges for pedestrians over walkways during the
construction; with recognition of the complexity of such major road projects
and coordination with utility and underground infrastructure work and phasing
of portions of the work.
Further discussion included an
update of the Fairview Avenue pathway project entering its final design
state. Staff is working through easement and cost issues and doing some
value engineering with anticipated early spring 2011 construction.
Member Stenlund stated some
follow-through is needed for removal of erosion control from pipeline work on
Victoria Street adjacent to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
Member Stenlund mentioned a
workshop he’d attended earlier today with Roseville resident and former PWET
Commission member Randy Neprash and representatives from Sweden for
alternative use of trees and rooting soils adjacent to roadways and other
cold climate issues, and suggested a future presentation and discussion with
Mr. Neprash at a PWET Commission meeting on options available for future
livable green space.
Member Vanderwall noted a recent
Rotary Club speaker on organized collection efforts of adjacent communities,
including the City of Falcon Heights, and suggested that the community’s
Public Works Directors get together to share information and potential
parallel committee research and cooperative ventures with other area
metropolitan comities based on past history and lessons learned.
6.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Update
Parks and Recreation Department
Director Lonnie Brokke distributed a bench handout entitled, EAB Management
Program, attached hereto and made a part thereof.
Mr. Brokke provided a brief
presentation on the status of the EAB disease in this area and steps the City
is taking to complete a tree inventory of trees on public property as well as
recommendations for treatment and response, training of employees, and
additional data becoming available from other agencies, such as the
Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources. Mr.
Brokke noted the EAB Management Plan components, including the tree
inventory; management options; ordinance; wood handling; planting; outreach,
education, training, and monitoring; and budgeting.
Mr. Brokke reviewed the
anticipated presentation of findings to-date to the Parks and Recreation
Commission, who also serves as the City’s Tree Board, in the immediate
future, and staff recommendations regarding diseased and hazardous trees in
the community, as well as steps for their removal and replacement.
Discussion included parks and
golf course properties; public rights-of-way; a status of each of the plan’s
components following award of the grant from the Department of Agriculture in
January of 2010; identification of an inventory of 1740 Ash trees on
boulevards in Roseville, not inclusive of other public properties; width of
average rights-of-way between 12 – 15’ behind the curb line; approach for
diseased trees on private property to avoid spreading; and impacts of EAB on
declining trees, with healthy trees having better stamina.
Mr. Brokke reviewed various
management options as outlined in the Management Plan and anticipated
combined removal and/or treatment, with grant funding providing for removal
of up to twenty-three (23) trees, with analysis of the inventory to determine
those most declining Ash trees and their systematic removal, with others
being treated, and then replanting of various species.
Mr. Brokke reviewed the proposed
ordinance updating current City Code, Chapter 706, as part of the requirement
of the grant funding. Mr. Brokke anticipated a Public Hearing to be held on
the proposed ordinance by January of 2011; and provisions for licensing tree
companies working in Roseville required to sign a compliance agreement, in
accordance with state and federal guidelines.
Further discussion included
identifying species not subject to infestations, with Mr. Brokke advising
that the tree inventory had identified appropriate species, and
recommendations that no more than 10% of one species be planted on one
street, to avoid losing significant tree canopies within the community.
Additional discussion included
unauthorized people going door to door offering to do tree trimming and/or
removal, and the need for citizens to be aware of scams in the area and
educational information available from City Hall to use caution in selecting
contractors and making sure they’re licensed by the City of Roseville to
avoid issues and fraud, especially for the senior population in the
community.
Further discussion included a
temporary emergency site to be determined for proper quarantine of diseased
trees; provisions of storm water action plans for tree disposal according to
MS4 requirements; additional resources for tree replacement; experimental
injection system treatment and research underway by the Cedarholm Golf Course
Superintendent and Greens Committee at the Golf Course; nursery stock owned
by the City behind the arboretum and long-term treatment to expand stock; and
staff versus outsourcing treatment.
Member Stenlund suggested that
staff not restrict themselves in considering future potential infestations by
providing flexibility and using resistant varieties.
Member Gjerdingen noted the need
to replace the City’s tree inventory to maintain shade, energy savings,
community health and quality of life, as well as aesthetics.
Member Stenlund noted the additional
benefits and value of trees beyond their monetary value, including traffic
calming, storm water drainage, and less crime.
Additional discussion included
tree replacement costs based on the diameter of trees; community’s value of
trees based on their interest when a developer proposes removing mature
trees; controlled landscaping needs and considerations in urban areas;
hazards of trees reaching their maturity and/or becoming diseased.
Further discussion included
displays from the Department of Agriculture located at City Hall and the
Harriet Alexander Nature Center (HANC) to educate the public and provide
outreach on the value of trees and recognizing diseased species; additional
plans for meetings throughout the community and training of staff; ongoing
monitoring of the purple traps around the area and frequency of that
monitoring; 2011 budgeting proposed for the EAB Management Program requesting
$100,000 annually for various components, and considered an ongoing budgetary
need.
It was noted that of the total
boulevard trees in the community, Ash trees made up approximately twenty
percent (20%) of that inventory.
Mr. Schwartz advised that, once
the data had been entered and information completed, reports and maps would
be available, and could be shared with the PWET Commission at their request
and based on their interest.
Member Vanderwall suggested that,
as money is available, it seemed prudent to purchase small trees now for
future use and less initial expense for purchase of larger trees in the
short-term. Member Vanderwall further suggested that there may be some
community clubs, organizations, or school groups that may be interested in
assisting with planting the stock.
Member Vanderwall asked that Mr.
Brokke share this EAB Management Plan with Mr. Schwartz electronically for
forwarding to PWET Commission members.
5.
Recycling Contract Outcome
Chair DeBenedet advised that both
he and Mr. Schwartz had been involved in the Recycling provider interviews,
and they would report rather on that process.
Mr. Schwartz advised that the
City Council had awarded the contract to Eureka Recycling, based on the
information they received, which was also included in tonight’s PWET
Commission agenda materials, with ranking information based on community
values provided by the PWET Commission, using the Best Value scoring
approach. Mr. Schwartz reviewed the comprehensive process used in evaluating
the four (4) proposals received, criteria used for ranking, and their
subsequent ranking; and the determination that Eureka was the overall best
value after taking into account different financial analyses.
Chair DeBenedet reviewed the
bids, revenue sharing; quality of proposals received and the amount of
detail; presentation of documentation; and supporting data provided; and the
superiority of the Eureka proposal compared to the other proposals. Chair
DeBenedet opined that it was obvious that Eureka was serious about the entire
recycling process to the end product.
Discussion included continuation
of the single-stream recycling process at this time; submission of more than
one proposal by several of the firms based on term of service and type of
collection and whether or not they included revenue sharing; trends for
future bids and validity of criteria for ranking those bids; compliance with
community values in reviewing those bids; and how proposals were scored and
ranked based on the Best Value process and individual interpretations.
It was the consensus of members
that they were pleased with the outcome, and about their participation in the
process.
Recess
Chair DeBenedet recessed the meeting at approximately 7:50
p.m. and reconvened at approximately 7:57 p.m.
7.
Follow-Up Discussion on Library Tour
Chair DeBenedet sought comment
from members on their tour of the Roseville branch of the Ramsey County
Library last month; and future storm water management options for Roseville in encouraging developers to be proactive in similar management practices.
Chair DeBenedet suggested that City Engineer Debra Bloom and local Watershed
Districts encourage developers to pursue Leadership, Energy, Environmental
Design- (LEED)-certified projects, particularly in the Twin Lakes
Redevelopment area.
Member Vanderwall suggested that
developers, early in the application and/or permitting process with the City,
be made aware of exemplary sites already in the community and/or area, such
as the library, established rain gardens, and other areas providing proactive
site water management systems for their consideration on their projects.
Mr. Schwartz noted that
developers have contact early in the design process with the City and
Watershed Districts; and potential financial partnerships with those
agencies.
Discussion included development
of educational materials for those remodeling or building new single-family
homes that highlighted new technologies in site water management; zoning code
rewrite including Best Management practices and recertified periodically and
recorded with the property for future information; potential recognition of
those property owners using proactive techniques; and potential tours of
those sites to provide examples.
Member Felice suggested, and
Member Stenlund expressed support, for educating the public on these ideas
and recognizing citizens who took the initiative to “think green;” and the
value of visible examples, since many of the storm water management systems
are underground and part of the unseen infrastructure.
Chair DeBenedet expressed his
interest in hearing from City Engineer Bloom at a future PWET Commission
meeting the process for developers to receive such information and how the
City encourages positive storm water treatment on properties.
Member Vanderwall noted the need
to raise awareness in the residential and business community; and provide links
on the City website for easy reference for the public, with ongoing
monitoring of the website information to ensure it doesn’t become obsolete.
Member Stenlund noted the need to
recognize the audience by providing different materials, whether for the
general public or “as builts” or technical information for developers for
commercial projects.
Members concurred that there
needed to be future discussion and brainstorming of ideas at a future PWET
Commission meeting.
Chair DeBenedet noted previous
discussion for storm water credit fees built into the fee structure, with Mr.
Schwartz advising that is still a consideration being considered by staff if
and when the storm water ordinance is rewritten, since it’s initial enactment
in the 1980’s and given changes in storm water management today.
Chair DeBenedet suggested that
discussion of those credits be included in future PWET Commission discussions
to achieve a sustainable storm water system.
8.
Preliminary 2011 Infrastructure Work Plan
Mr. Schwartz briefly reviewed the
proposed 2011 work plan for infrastructure replacement, including 15.37 miles
of seal coat; 2.71 mill and overlay; 0.47 miles of reconstruction; 0.50
county reconstruction; and 0.76 miles of potential state mill and overlay;
all detailed in the staff report dated September 28, 2010.
Mr. Schwartz noted that the
associated Aladdin Street storm water project would receive funding
assistance from a grant received by the Grass Lakes Water Management
Organization (GLWMO) partnering with the City of Roseville, for treatment of
storm water through a series of rain gardens.
Discussion included additional
state and county projects and involvement of the City for portions of those
projects; Engineer’s cost estimates for the various projects; funding sources;
replacing utilities and underground infrastructure as part of some of the
projects; and projected annual maintenance funding to retain actual needs.
Member Vanderwall, in his role
with the School District’s transportation routing, requested that the Dale Street project plans provide keeping the road open through the end of the school year
if at all possible.
Mr. Schwartz reviewed
reassessment of pavement conditions and some past pavement applications that
were failing prematurely, requiring more frequent mill and overlay
applications at added cost; state studies looking into those failures during
the early 1990’s to determine the cause of failure, whether oils used or mix
designs, given the extent of failures beyond those in Roseville; and adjustments
to the City’s Pavement Management Program (PMP) annually as failures are
observed.
Further discussion included
short- and long-range planning and adjustments accordingly; some older
pavement applications performing better than those installed in the 1980’s
and 1990’s, with additional research being performed to determine the reason
for that improved performance; petition received for installation of a
sidewalk by residents on Iona and Dale based on safety and speed, moving that
segment ahead of the Victoria project, even though their pavement conditions
were similar; types of soil impacting the type of pavement distresses found.
Chair DeBenedet opined the need
to take speed study and citizen concerns seriously and increase the police
presence and issuing tickets as indicated.
Mr. Schwartz noted that the
Police Department was aware of various speed studies, and were very
cooperative to citizen concerns and stepped up their presence and enforcement
as warranted.
Additional discussion included
how utility needs are incorporated into street projects; televising lines to
determine flow; water line break history on cast iron water mains and their
sizes and flow rates; replacement of all cast iron 6-8” water mains during
reconstruction projects as a cost-effective consideration; and new
technologies being developed.
Mr. Schwartz reported that the
City of Roseville is being considered for a pilot project with the 3M Company
to test a new water lining product they’ve recently developed and tested in
Europe for several years and now available in the United States, and their
willingness to line 2,000 feet at their cost, provided the City do the
excavation work.
Mr. Schwartz noted staff’s
anticipation of receiving favorable bids on various seal coat projects, based
on combining with projects in other communities, providing for larger
quantities and economics of scale.
9.
2011 City Manager Recommended Budget
Mr. Schwartz highlighted the
Public Works portion of the City Manager’s recommended 2011 budget and City
Council ranking of programs and services in tax-supported funds; with a five
percent (5%) proposed increase in the Preliminary Levy. Mr. Schwartz
reviewed challenges in maintaining necessary funding in light of ongoing
state cuts; new mandated budget expenses as detailed in the staff report
dated September 28, 2010; and major personnel expenses, including wages and
benefits, with the exception of the Public Works budgeted personnel expenses
at 18% versus that of public safety at 85%.
Mr. Schwartz briefly reviewed the
ongoing process to achieve program-based budgeting and individual and
composite rankings. Mr. Schwartz encouraged members to offer their feedback
to staff prior to final budget and levy adoption.
Discussion included reductions in
maintenance of City Hall, with PWET Commission members expressing concern in
reducing custodial costs (#85) with higher paid engineering staff providing
those services rather than using their expertise as needed; duties
incorporated into organizational management (#76); staff hours in supporting
various Commissions and their related budgets; and difficulties in PWET
Commission review of the budget based on their limited information.
Members concurred that, in order
to make informed recommendations, it would be helpful to obtain additional
information on what each line item encompassed and those areas that are
sustainable and those that are not.
Chair DeBenedet noted individual
values for various services and/or programs, but lack of information on the
actual cost of those services and programs. Chair DeBenedet emphasized the
PWET Commission’s repeated previous concerns for the need to ensure
infrastructure maintenance is ongoing and proactive to avoid higher long-term
costs through deferral of that maintenance or a lesser quality of the City’s
infrastructure and those implications to the City quality of life and
property values.
Further discussion included the
long-term costs in deferring custodial services and/or maintenance issues
through deferring ongoing short-term care and costs.
10.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Contamination Discussion
Chair DeBenedet led a discussion
on member interest in prohibiting coal tar products on driveways and parking
lots in the City; and how such a process could be facilitated.
Chair DeBenedet and Members
Stenlund, Vanderwall and Felice each expressed their interest in pursuing
such a recommendation to the City Council, noting the carcinogenic nature of
the product, as well as detrimental effects to the environment.
Mr. Schwartz advised that staff
was in the process of compiling a list of ponds where sediment is removed,
and tests were performed to identify and classify the sediment to determine
their source and impacts to water quality.
Discussion included those
products and vendors involving coal tar derivatives and those using other
by-products; and the need to educate and inform the public on what questions
to ask vendors and/or licensed contractors offering sealing services.
Member Felice suggested a first
step may be to alert citizens to staff’s evaluation in an upcoming City
newsletter; and fellow members concurred.
Chair DeBenedet asked that Mr.
Schwartz add further discussion to a future agenda; along with their
finalized sediment study data; and additional information from the MPCA and
other sources, along with model ordinances from other communities as an
example in drafting a City ordinance for recommendation to the City Council.
11.
Possible Items for Next Meeting – October 26, 2010
Conservation Water Rate Review
Mr. Schwartz suggested requesting
the City’s Finance Director Chris Miller to attend the meeting to discuss
what, if any, effects were evidenced from the conservation water rates put
into place two (2) years ago; and the appropriate timing since this was the time
of year utility rates were reviewed by staff and recommendations made to the
City Council for 2011, including funding for CIP needs. Mr. Schwartz noted
that determining a trend in water use based on conservation may prove
difficult based on the rainier year and lower watering than compared to last
year’s drier season and more use of water on lawns.
PWET Commission’s role in the
Land Use Review process
Chair DeBenedet noted previous
discussion at the City Council level for a potential joint meeting between
the PWET and Planning Commissions regarding land use review. Chair DeBenedet
suggested that a stating point may be for the PWET Commission members to
brainstorm with Community Development staff in how the PWET Commission could
fit into the process to ensure storm water management goals were met, while
not further delaying or complicating the process for developers within the
State mandated 60-day review period.
Discussion included storm water
management goals and how they’re being met in land use cases and their
review.
DeBenedet Project
With the concurrence of fellow
members, Chair DeBenedet requested time at a future meeting for presentation
of his Master’s Degree program project. Chair DeBenedet provided preliminary
information in this infrastructure systems engineering study based on
maintenance of municipal utilities and his work with Mr. Schwartz and GIS
Technician in a review of the miles of water and sewer mains, pipe material
and size and construction of the various portions of the system. Chair
DeBenedet provided comparisons of types of pipe material; infiltration data
based on those materials; types of soil and impacts form frost heaves and
soil movements; and age of the infrastructure. Chair DeBenedet noted that
his initial findings indicated a serious need in replacing the aging
infrastructure, based on breaks and ongoing maintenance.
Green Streets
Member Stenlund reiterated his
encouragement for members to hear a presentation by former PWET Commission
member Randy Neprash on storm water management practices in Sweden. Member Stenlund suggested that this could be incorporated into a broader
discussion and review of street sweeping versus vacuuming; current snow
plowing practices and how snow was winged off roadways in the community based
on impacts to storm water, as well as boulevard tree maintenance and
longevity.
Surrounding Communities
Chair DeBenedet expressed
interest in comparing practices with Shoreview in their experience with a
vacuum sweeper and how their pilot project with the pervious pavement was
working.
Meeting Schedule for the
Remainder of 2010
Chair DeBenedet noted the need to
review November and December meetings in relationship to the upcoming holiday
season.
12. Adjournment
Chair DeBenedet adjourned the
meeting at approximately 9:14 p.m.
|