Provide City Council Recommendation for COR Infiltration Basin Improvements, Improvement Project #18-09

The City made the decision to place their municipal wells in the western part of the City where development was expected to happen in the mid 1990's.  The area around the wells was selected as the site of Ramsey Town Center (RTC) in the early 2000's and development began.The state required development of a well head protection plan for the wells in the mid 2000's.   The City acquired the foreclosed RTC properties in 2009 and began marketing the properties as the COR. 

The City is part of the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) which is tasked with maintaining water quality through regulating stormwater discharges.  The LRRWMO Third Generation Plan was adopted in 2012. Their plans must be updated every 10 years just like the City Comprehensive Plan.  The Third Generation plan required infiltration of the first one (1) inch of runoff from all impervious surfaces (roofs and paving) on new projects.  The infiltration guidelines discourage or prohibit infiltration in wellhead protection areas.  The Third Generation Plan has a provision that projects can pay into an infiltration mitigation fund if they cannot infiltrate on site.

Most of the COR area to be developed is in the area where infiltration is not permitted.  All projects developed in the COR since 2015 have paid into the infiltration mitigation fund.  LRRWMO permits were approved for these projects with the condition that the City develop an infiltration basin in an area where infiltration is permitted.  The City was required to have the infiltration basin in place by July 1, 2018.

 

Staff estimates approximately 15 minutes will be required for presentation and discussion of this case.

Construction of the infiltration basin is necessary to fulfill City obligations incurred with LRRWMO approval of projects in the COR since 2015 and to provide capacity for future development to occur.

The City has collected infiltration mitigation funds from all developments in the COR since 2015.  These funds will pay approximately 1/4 of the cost of the project.  The City will pay for the remainder of the project now and be reimbursed as future development occurs. 

The estimated cost for the improvements is $850,000.

Staff recommends the committee recommend the City Council authorize preparation of a a Feasibility Study for the COR Infiltration Basin Improvement, IP #18-09.

Motion to recommend the City Council authorize preparation of a a Feasibility Study for the COR Infiltration Basin Improvement, IP #18-09.