02/07/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 2/7/2006 perform this service. The committee recommended approval and for passage under suspension. • Floyd Browne report originating as a result of the flooding that happened recently in the city. First concern in the report was to investigate the storm collection system adjacent to the two sanitary lift stations to determine if the existing structures are adequately transporting storm flows out of the area. Second goal of the study was to perform a representative survey of the affected residents in an attempt to determine the cause of the basement flooding and any pattern that could lead to a solution for a particular area. Finally, the study examined the two critical sanitary pump stations to determine why the pumping capacity decreases during periods when the wet well is 8 foot high and three pumps are actually in service in each of those two well sites. The recommendations are as follows: First, the city should establish a baseline design storm event with the EPA in terms of sanitary sewer by-passing, documented events of greater intensity should be rare but an allowable excursion in accordance with permit conditions. We need to analyze the costs on that project. Second, the city should establish a baseline storm event for protection of residential neighborhoods. Third, the next phase of the plan study should begin only after a basis of understanding is reached with the EPA about item 1. Fourth, the work plan should be designed to achieve results in logical phases, avoiding false starts or arriving at inconclusive results. It is interesting to note that their number one comment, particularly as it applies to the residential program, is the extraneous flow contribution from the residential home sites appears to be the lead cause of flooding and sewer problems. It's recommended that a carefully crafted residential abatement program be assembled. An initial public relations campaign will be necessary. The dominant flow issues of the area are not on public property. The bottom line is this is going to take money, time, and resident involvement because the majority of the problem is originating from residential property. It is his understanding the city is waiting for word back from the EPA as to what we should do or how we should approach Phase II in cooperation with the EPA. Because of concern over the rain event this past weekend, he asked the Service Director to come forward to give a report. Service Director Limpert said the city fared out very well. The philosophy we have with our systems people is an ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of cure. Systems employees were monitoring both the LeBern and the Dover lift stations on Saturday. At no time did the water come up at a height where it got to be a concern of a flooded basement. It stayed down within the wet well. We also took the precaution of putting about three pumps out in the city to be prepared. At no time was it necessary to turn them on or by-pass. We are planning on moving forward with legislation to launch into Phase II which would be to determine the various costs and which direction we should go. He does not believe we require the EPA to get back to us on permission to move forward. They want us to move forward, and it will be primarily up to the administration, with Council's input as to funding, to determine what direction Phase II will take. The plant would like to move rather expediently because they would like the engineering 5