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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/09/1978SPCCITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota November 9, 1978 Minutes of the special meeting of the City Council of Apple Valley, Dakota County, Minnesota, held at Westview Elementary School on November 9th, 1978, at 7:00 o'clock p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Branning; Councilmembers Fitzsimmons, Hayes, Holton, and Savanick; Clerk Asleson. ABSENT: None. Mayor Branning called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the Alimagnet Lake Outlet proposal, Project 76-10. Receipt of the affidavit of publication of the Notice of Hearing was noted. Mr. Asleson, the City Administrator, reviewed the background of the proposal which is under consideration because the Lake has no natural outlet so an outlet must be constructed to prevent the water from rising too high. If the project proceeds, the costs would be shared 60 percent by Burnsville and 40 percent by Apple Valley. With no delays, the project could be operating in February of 1979 and temporary pumping could begin as early as December 15th, 1978. Cost estimates for an aeration system and fish rearing pond are also included in the project. Mr. Asleson explained the trunk storm sewer assessment procedure. Palomino Hills Lakeshore Addition, Watrud Addition and City park property will be assessed for this project. Other property in the drainage district that has not been assessed for trunk storm sewer will still be subject to future assessments for trunk storm Mr. Asleson said his recommendation is that the fish rearing pond and aeration system be included in the project only if the Department of Natural Resources will fund these items. At this time no funds are available. He said the reason is that even if the aeration system is installed, there is no guarantee it will improve the lake water quality. Based on a report by Fresh Water Biological Institute, dredging may be necessary to cause improvement and this is very expensive. Mr. Robert Rosene showed a map of the drainage district and reviewed information contained in the Preliminary Report dated September 25, 1978. Councilmember Savanick asked about the topography of the area. Mr. Rosene said he does not have a topo- graphic map at this meeting, but the map of the drainage district shows the area which drains into the Lake. The Mayor then asked for questions and comments from the audience, Pam Sohlberg asked why alternate 2 which is $153,200 is being recommended instead Of alternate 1 which is $112,4007 Mr. Rosene said alternate 1 has a smaller pump and requires the Lake level be maintained at 953.0, which is unrealistically low, because during a storm it would take longer to pump off the rising water. Alternate 2 is more cost, efficient and requires the lake level to be maintained at 954.0. Mr. Sohlberg questioned why the aeration system and fish rearing pond should not be installed? Mr. Asleson said unless Apple Valley and Burnsville are prepared to make more major water quality improvements, the aeration alonc will not help. He also said trunk storm sewer assessments are based on a maximum per acre charge which is assessed once and is presently 1.9¢ per square foot for residential pro- perty so no matter what the cost of the project, this is all that will be assessed. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota November 9, 1978 Page 2 Vern Yetzer asked what the purpose of the project is? Mr. Rosene said the water level is high already and has already caused damage; without an outlet, the water will continue to rise. He said the pumped outlet has always been planned for in both Cities master storm sewer plans. A question was asked about the 35E storm sewer. Mr. Rosene said the Highway Department will construct a storm sewer for part of the highway and divert the water to the north. He showed this area on the map. Mr. Sole asked what plans are being made to take care~of the drainage into the pond by the High School? Mr. Rosene said when the Carroll property is developed, a sec- tion of storm sewer pipe will be installed which will take the overflow from that pond. Until that time, arrangements are being made with the Carrolls to allow the water to be drained on their fi~%d. Mr. Sole said developers should pay for this project. Vern Yetzer said the Lake should be left alone, in dry years the level will go down due to evaporation. Councilmember Holton said when the City was considering intal- ling a pump for Farquar Lake, he did not believe it was necessary but he was wrong. Additional development in areas increases run off. Rollin Dennistoun said the Engineer's report should be checked over because it looks like this project will only be helping the 35E drainage problems. He said the drainage problem at the High School pond has no~ been taken care of yet and was going to be done several years ago. He also commented on the Alimagnet Shelter Building, sidewalks, etc. Mayor Branning said the assessments for this project are 1.9¢ per square foot no matter what the cost of the project. Mr. Asleson further explained assessments. Nick Wagner questioned the cost of the fish rearing pond? Mr. Rosene said the estimate is based on features recommended by the Department of Natural Resources. Barbara Patzke asked whether the cost of the aeration system and fish rearing pond would be assessed? Mr. Asleson said it is recommended that those items not be installed unless DNR funding is available to pay for them. Only Palomino Hills Lakeshore Addition, Watrud Addition and City park property are proposed to be assessed now. Other areas included in the drainage district will not be assessed now, but will be later when additional storm sewer work is necessary, probably when the storm sewer in the Carroll property is installed. The assessments would be at whatever rate is applicable then; now it is 1.9¢ per square foot for residential property. Doris Doom asked if money could be borrowed from another fund to pay for this? Mr. Asleson said no, the City's policy is to assess for this type of work. Don Romain asked if the aeration system and fish rearing pond are not installed, will the storm sewer be designed differently? Mr. Rosene said yes, somewhat differently because additional valves would not be necessary. He said he would recommend putting in stubs or tees so these items could be added later if desired. Vern Yetzer said he does not believe this project is necessary. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota November 9, 1978 Page 3 John Gretz explained that the pumped discharge from the Lake will flow through the storm sewer system to the pond at the High School, Arrangements are being made with the Carrolls to let the overflow from the pond drain on their field until such time as storm sewer is constructed on their property. A question was asked about Burnsville's zoning contributing to the water problems? Chuck Siggerud, Burnsville Engineer, was present and said the lowest house in Burnsville on the Lake is still above the water level and some of these houses were built 10 or more years ago. The Lake l~9el has been rising recently because of additional develop- ment in the aroa increasing the run off. Barbara Patzke asked how many inlets there are into the Lake and whether the 60-40 percent split is fair? Mr. Rosene showed the inlets into the Lake. He also said the cost split was agreed to by both Cities and was based on the number of acres in the drainage district and the land uses. A question was asked if additional storm sewer funds from the State for 35E would be available because of the change in administration due to the election and the excess funds in the State budget? Mr. Rosene said the 35E project is too far along now for the State to change its funding of the project. Don Romain said he would prefer waiting with the aeration system and fish rearing pond until it is known if the State has money for such projects. If no money is available from the State, he would not want these installed if the City has to pay for them. Mr. Rosene explained the City's storm sewer system of ponding areas which hold storm water before it drains into the Lake. Mr. Henjum asked about the schedule for completing the project? Mr. Rosene said it could be operating by February of 1979. Barbara Patzke asked about considering the less expensive alternate 17 Mr. Rosene said because the smaller pump would take longer to pump the Lake, the Lake level would have to be maintained at a lower level to begin with. For this reason, alternate 2 is recommended. Pam Sohlberg asked how the Farquar Lake project has worked? Mr. Rosene said it is working very well and this project is comparable to the one proposed for Alimagnet Lake in that both Lakes have no natural outlets. Without the pumped outlet, Farquar Lake would have risen and caused more damage. Don Romain said, as President of the Homeowners Association, he is asking that the project be installed as presented except for the aeration system and fish rearing pond which should be added only if State funds are available. Wayne Lofness said he has lived on the Lak~ for 10 years and the water level has never been higher. He has observed quite a few oak trees standing in water now so the water level must not have been this high for a long time, if it ever was. A person said more responsibility for the cost of this project should be shared by those who live on the Lake because they will benefit the most by controlling the Lake level. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota November 9, 1978 Page 4 Councilmember Savanick asked about the water levels of lakes set by the DNR and whether cities have a responsibility to maintain these levels? Mr. Rosene said the DNR establishes the normal water levels of lakes and there is no responsibility to maintain this level, but cities are expected to have storm water management plans. Mr. Asleson said Burnsville and Apple Valley~have been discussing this project for some time, but part of the delay has been in waiting for the Highway Department to complete the plans for 35E. Both Burnsville and Apple Valley must approve the project for it to be constructed and Burnsville will be holding a public hearing on this also. There being no further questions or comments, the Mayor declared the hearing closed at 9:10 p.m. MOTION: of Hayes, seconded by Holton, adopting Resolution No. 1978- RES. 1978-187 187 ordering the Alimagnet Lake Outlet Improvement Project ORDER PROJECT 76-10, as recommended by Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & 76-10 Associates, Alternate 2, excluding the aeration system and fish rearing pond but constructing the storm sewer so this could be added in the future, subject to the City of Burnsville approving this project also. Ayes - 5 - Nays ~ 0. MOTION: of Hayes, seconded by Fitzsimmons, adopting Resolution No. 1978-188 directing the Engineer to prepare plans and specifications for Project 76-10 as ordered in Resolution No. 1978-187. Ayes - 5 - Nays - 0. RES. 1978-188 PLANS & SPECS PROJ. 76-10 PREPARE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT MOTION: of Hayes, seconded by Holton, directing the City Attorney to prepare a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Apple Valley and the City of Burnsville for construction and management of Project 76-10. Ayes - 5 - Nays - 0. MOTION: of Hayes, seconded by Holton, to adjourn. Ayes - 5 - Nays - 0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 o'clock p.m.