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05-28-1991 CC MIN - JOINT - e e JOINT MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER AND OTSEGO CITY COUNCILS HELD AT THE ELK RIVER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND ELK RIVER CITY HALL TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1991 A tour of thp Elk Rivpr Wastewater Trpatment Plant (WWTP) began at approximately 6:00 p.m. WWTP Superintendent, Darrell Mack, was the tour leaelpr anel show eel all aspects of the plant to the group. The tour was completed in approximately one hour. Members Present: Elk River Mayor Tralle anel Councilmembers Kropuenske, Schuldt and Dietz Otsego Mayor Freske and Councilmembers Roden, Lindenfelser, Black and Fournier Memhers Ahspnt: Elk River Councilmemher Holmgren Also Present: Darrell Mack, Elk River WWTP Superintendent; Tim Keane, Elk River City Attorney; Lori Johnson, Elk River Finance Di rector; Terry Maurer, Elk River City Engineer; Pat Klaers, Elk River City Administrator; William Radizwill, Otsego City Attorney; and Larry Koshak, Otsago City Engineer 1. Call Meeting To Oreler Pursuant to elue call and notice thereof, the joint meeting of the Elk River and Otsego City Councils was called to order by Elk River Mayor Tralle at approximately 7:00 p.m. 2. WWTP Discussion A general eliscussion took place regarding the length of an agreement he tween the two communi ties to share thp spwer capacity currently avai lable at the Elk River WWTP. Concern was expressed regarding whether or not Elk River could "turn off" the sewer lines extended into Otsego upon expi rati on of the agreement even if they had not moved forwRrd with the construction of a future plant, assuming that a future plant was callt~d for in the original agrpement. It was noted that from a legal point of view it may he difficult to simply withdraw service which hael been in pll1('.e. It was also suggesteel that an escalating cllstomer rate structure would encourage Otsego to move forward in the construction of its plant in a timely fashion (provieled that the original agreement called for Otsego to construct its own WWTP). Discussion continued regarding various capacity and hook up charges for future plant expansion in Elk River. It was noted that a future plant expansi on or even a seconel, completely di fferent plant may be a joi nt eneleavor and that a long term sharing relationship may be possible. The Elk River City Engineer indicated that with modifications, the Elk River 1)1ant can accommodate up to 1.1 million gallons per day (MGD) of Joint Elk River/Otsego City Council Minutes May 28, 1991 Page 2 e wastewater. The cost of expanding the plant beyond that capacity is unknown as are the permit parameters that would be placed on EI k River hy the Minnesota Pollution Cont.rol Agency (MPCA). Otsego Council members indicateo that it is not a question of if an Otsego plant would be constructed but more of a question of when the pI ant wou I cl be constructed. Otsego Councilmembers noted that they definitely have plans fOl' their own WWTP. Elk River representatives stated that they felt more comfortable with a definate timeframe for requesting sewer capacity and disconnecting from the Elk River system. Otsego representatives noted that in planning for a sewer plant, a ten year timeframe is rather short for the permi ttj ng process ano pI ant construction process. Both Councils acknowleoged that the length of the agreement and other timeframes within the agreement plus the financial contingencies within the agreement can be worked out to the mutual henefit of both communities. e Discussion continued regaroing when sewer capacity would be rf-quested. Otsego Councilmemhers indicateo that it was uncertain when the request wou1 d come forwaro, hut that the request may very well he based on po 11 uti on concerns and not new deve I opment. The vacant land in Otsego where t.he sewer is planned to be extended includes mainly re8ioentially zoned prOl)f~rty a long wi th a small er amount of commercial and industrial zoned property next to Highway 101. The ultimate residential development in the sewer district in Otsego calls for approximately 1500 new homes to be developed whi ch would require a capacity of approximately 365,000 MGD. Currently, Elk River has excess capacity, if the plant was expanded to 1.1 MGD, of approximately 500,000 MGD. Elk River representatives noted that when Elk River is fully developed it alone would exceed the design capacity of the plant if all the development in the sewer and water di strict takes place as projected. Discussion continued regarding a future plant to serve both communities. Representat i ves of both communities felt that the issue deserves more discussion and that it can be more thoroughly evaluated in a committee format. It was the consensus of both the Councils that a committee be fot'med i nc 1 uding the appropriate staff members of each community along with two elected officials from each community. The committee can be estflblislwo any time this summer ann would hegin meeting to seriously o i scuss the components and the possi bil ity of a future agreement in 1 ater SlImmet', 1991. 3. Other ~Isiness A. Ma in Street Brioge Reso lutton e The Elk River City Council discussed a 5/14/91 memo from the City Engineer regarding the progress maoe to replace the Main Street bridge and have this project take place in 1992. The next step in Joint Elk River/Otsego City Council Minutes May 28, 199] Page 3 e the process calls for the preparation of plans and specifications for the bridge replacement. COlINCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 91-35, A RESOLUTION ORDERING PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS IN THE MATTER OF THE MAIN STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IMPROVEMENT OF 1991. COlINCTLMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. B. pity Administrator Update 1. It was noted that a closed City Councll meeting session will be held on 6/3/91 to discuss the Police Union Arbitration i SSlles. 2. It was indicated that the City will be asked to make a recommendation to the County on the new State law that calls for an additional 1/2~ sales tax. The sales tax can be initiated at the option of counties. Action by the County has to be taken by July 1, 1991. This issue will be on the 6/3/91 Agenda for City Council discussion. 3. Discussi on took place regarding the storage of police ev idence, supplies, materials and bicycles when the old City Hall facil i ty (creamery building) is demolished this summer. It was stated in the 5/28/91 memo to the Council from the Chief of Police that mini-storage facilities could be rented for approximately $63 per month and that the Police Department would need three unt ts. It was also noted that the use of mini -storage is not the preferred storage option until a future faei U ty is constructed and that efforts wil] be made to locate one larger structure to meet all of the temporary pol ice storage needs. The Council discussed the poss i bi 1 ity of construct i on of some type of faei Ii ty at the Street Department garage location that could be used in the future by the Street/Park Departments. e COUNCILMEMBER KROPlJENSKE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE RENTAL OF THREE MINI-STORAGE FACILITIES TO BE USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR STORAGE, ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, AND THAT THE CITY EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A STORAGE BUILDING AT THE STREET DEPARTMENT GARAGE SITE. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. The Ci ty Administrator noted that. he will be attending the 6/18/91 Li brary Board meeting to discuss library expansion plans and future needs for the Elk River Public Library. 4. Acliournment e There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE MOVED TO AD.lOURN THE 5/28/91 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTTON. THF: MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e e e .Toint Elk River/Otsego City Council Minutes May 28, 1991 Page 4 The joint meeting of the Elk River and Otsego City Councils adjourned at approximately 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, '/. ,) ..'j _,L,~;:;J . / ;Z~I2:e-{/I~/ Patrick D. Klaers City Administrator