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1978-08-22 Council minutesPage 947 August 22, 1978 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Special Meeting Held Tuesday, August 22, 1978 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 o'clock P.M. at the Somerset School, 1355 Dodd Road, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M. Mayor Lockwood introduced Councilman Donald Huber to the audience. The following members were present: Mayor Lockwood, Councilmen Huber, Losleben, Mertensotto and Wahl. IVY FALLS CREEK Mayor Lockwood opened the meeting for the purpose of a hearing on DRAINAGE HEARING proposed Ivy Falls Creek drainage improvements. Mayor Lockwood advised the audience of the history of the erosion and flooding problems which began on August 30, 1977. He stated that the City has completed $25,000 to $30,000 of repairs after the August 30 storm, butithe rains which occurred in May and June of this year have washed out all of the repair work done previously. He pointed out that the the hearing was called to discuss the problem with property owners within a proposed drainage district and to give the property owners an idea of the erosion and damage. He stated that the Council proposes that corrective engineering be done to eliminate the problems rather than taking temporary or intermediate action. He advised the audience that the City has applied for federal disaster relief funds to assist in financing corrective work. Mayor Lockwood turned the meeting over to Administrator Johnson for an explanation and graphic presentation of the drainage problems. Administrator Johnson explained a map describing the proposed drainage district and maps showing existing storm sewer facilities and areas of drainage in Mendota Heights and West St. Paul which affect the Ivy Falls Creek. Mr. Johnson gave a description of the storm sewer discharge points and stated that something needs to be done with the excess water coming from the discharge points and from additional development. Mr. Johnson then gave a lengthy slide presentation depicting many problems in the creek area. City Engineer Kishel reviewed several proposed solutions. He stated that in his opinion the best way to resolve problems like this is a creek area is to install drop structures to level off the gradients in the stream and hopefully contain some of the erosion. Phase one of the proposed solution entails the install- ation of twin 48" pipes downstream from the control structure at Brookside and Laura and an additional 48" pipe above Laura and at Sylvandale. The estimated cost of this construction is approximately $200,000. He further stated that consideration is being given to installation of a number of drop structures (gabions) in the future in the Somerset Golf Course, from Sylvandale to Ivy Falls, and even to the City of Lilydale. Corrective measures in the control structure that is now on the golf course property are also being contemplated. Page 948 August 22, 1978 Mayor Lockwood advised the audience of the estimated costs of the proposed improvements, as follows: construction upstream from Sylvandale estimated at $395,000, northeast reach below Sylvandale estimated at $140,000, construction below Sylvandale estimated at $240,000, for a total estimated cost of $775,000. He pointed out that at the present time we must assume that the proposed construction costs are the full responsibility of Mendota Heights, since according to law properties outside of the City cannot be assessed for improvement projects within the City. He did state however, that negotiations are being conducted with the City of West St. Paul and hopefully West St. Paul will participate in the costs. Mayor Lockwood stated that if the f - project is 100% assessed, the assessable rate would be approximately 5.7 per square foot of property. If the project is only 50% assessed, the rate would be approximately 3 per square foot, and the balance would be carried on general obligation taxes. Mayor Lockwood asked for questions and comments from the audience. Mr. Ron Harnack, from the D.N.R., stated that the City has made application to the DNR for remedial action and the DNR is trying to come up with the most appropriate controls. It is very difficult to deal with the types of problems involved and the DNR is concerned about the types of controls to be used. The DNR wants to see the creek kept in as natural a state as possible with as little pipe as possible. Mr. Dick Stryker, 4 Beebe Avenue, representing both himself and the Somerset Country Club, stated that it is obvious to everyone that there is a problem and it's a community problem. The Country Club has made every effort to cooperate and to make corrective measures and work with the community in handling the water that comes across the Country Club. The surface water from West St. Paul enters the City at the center of the Country Club. There has always been a holding pond on the ninth fairway. He feels that it would be advisable to do more than just installing a pair of 48" pipes. He stated that the most important thing he can hope for is that careful consideration be given to a long range solution to the problem. He further stated that he would like to see the community work with Somerset and possibly put in another holding pond on the golf course and to work together to find some place where the water can be held for a period of time during a hard rain. He recommended using drop structures and natural type controls. Mrs. Florence Arth, 1021 Chippewa, asked whether the storm sewer in the northeast area is no longer any good. Gary Brown, 1327 Delaware, asked about cleaning silt from gabion structures and what their life span is. Amos Martin, 700 Woodridge Drive, stated that he recognizes the problem and asked how much the northeast area storm sewer system improvements contributed to the problem. Millard Gieske, 979 Delaware, stated that the City allowed development in the area and that a strong case can be made that this is a City-wide problem. Page 949 August 22, 1978 Howard McEnerny, from the Department of Agriculture, stated that the pictures of erosion and other storm damage shown tonight are upstream from Ivy Falls. Most of the damage has occurred upstream from the discharge point of the northeast area drainage system and that the northeast area drainage improvements do have an effect on the downstream erosion. William Herzog, 1050 View Lane, asked whether the total northeast area was assessed for the northeast area storm sewer. Harold Latham, 1211 Delaware Avenue, asked why the entire golf course is not included in the proposed project. Fred Washburn, 598 Maple Park Drive, asked how the northeast area project was assessed. Ray Undis, 575 Kirchner, asked whether the golf course will be assessed the same square foot rate as the other properties. Michael Kluznik, 1057 Chippewa, stated that the northeast area residents felt there would be no more assessments after the storm sewer improvement project a few years ago. He stated that the Council should be fair about this project and get a more consistent policy of assessing and consider using general Obligation taxes to pay for the proposed project. Steven Gordon, 691 Woodridge Drive, asked if the estimated $775,000 is the total project cost or only a part of the project. James Olson, 1241 Delaware Avenue, aksed for a definition of "benefit," stating that it seems unfair to assess everyone equally, and that those who receive greater benefit should be assessed at a higher rate. James Colburn, 20 Hingham Circle, stated that the City should not support this type of construction without more information from federal and state agencies and the City of West St. Paul, and that the proposed solution is, in his opinion, only cosmetic at best. Herbert Larson, 1295 Dodd Road, suggested that a special taxing district (rather than assessment district) should be established to pay for project costs. Stanley Borman, 638 Ivy Falls Avenue, asked why the project is necessary at all, why not do some cosmetic surgery and wait until the next 100 year storm. Zoltan Posalaky, 515 W. Emerson, stated that he is in support of the project but made two suggestions: 1) there is no way to solve the problem without cooperation from West St. Paul; 2) why can't the City stop the West St. Paul water from coming into Mendota Heights. Ray Perron, 1016 Chippewa, asked whether the City officials have considered a plan similar to that proposed by Mr. Stryker, and what the difference in project cost would be. Page 950 August 22, 1978 Dr. Leonard Levitan, 699 Sylvandale Court, stated that the damage has been done, now something must be done to rectify the problem including the severe erosion. Alex Leibel, 662 Laura Court, stated that the slides showing the flooding at Laura Court were taken after a 212" rainfall. He pointed out that even a one-inch rainfall will flood the area now, and urged that something be done now. Gary Brown, 1327 Delaware, asked whether a comprehensive plan has been put together for drainage controls for the entire creek or only the portion being discussed tonight. Raymond Schwartz, 1355 Sylvandale Road, stated that he is opposed to assessing for this type of project. Since he would have no direct benefit he felt that the project should not be assessed. Bob Emery, 1183 Dodd Road, stated that he is not satisfied that a good solution has been presented and suggested taking corrective surgery into consideration. Ora Wakefield, 5 Hingham Circle, suggested that perhaps the City should retain a second engineering firm to go over the engineering proposals prior to making a decision on the project. Leonard Van Zinderen, 638 Sunset Lane, asked if the City has access over the entire water course (easement rights), and whether the proposed construction costs includes potential easement costs. Mrs. W. Oster, 1068 Esther Lane, asked why the City does not install a storm sewer system in the area in which the drainage problem exists. The Council acknowledged receipt of letters from Donald Woods, 1022 Brompton Placeaalid Dr. and Mrs. William Huey, 1170 Dodd Road regarding the proposed project. The concensus of the Council was that the hearing should be continued to a later date to allow time for discussions with Somerset Country Club representatives relative to Mr. Stryker's suggestions and to allow further study of possible solutions to the drainage problems. Councilman Mertensotto moved that the hearing be continued to 8:00 o'clock P.M., Tuesday, October 17, 1978. Councilman Huber seconded the motion. Mayor Lockwood suggested that if anyone from the audience has any suggestions on drainage controls and erosion control, t'aiy suggestions they feel would improve the proposed system, they should submit their comments to City Hall. Page 951 August 22, 1978 The meeting was adjourned at10:25 o'clock P.M. J 7.)) ATTEST: Robert G. Lockwood Mayor Kathleen M. Swanson City Clerk