Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril Minutes 04-15-2021_v3 Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 04-15-2021_v3 Page 1 of 5 STORM WATER UTILITY APPEALS BOARD Minutes April 15, 2021 7:30 am (Via Webex) Present: John Kiefer, Paul Janty (7:41), Kyle Clark, Maureen Muldoon Absent: Also Present: Justin Gierach, Engineering Division Manager / City Engineer; Dan Gabrilska, Civil Engineering Supervisor; Mike Wegner, Brown and Caldwell; Jason Weis, Westwood I. Call to Order. A. Mr. Kiefer called the meeting to order at 7:31 am. II. Approval of March 11, 2021 Meeting Minutes A. Motion to approve March 11, 2021 minutes. (Mr. Clark / Mr. Kiefer). B. The item was tabled until after agenda item V. to allow members additional time to review and join the meeting. C. Ms. Muldoon identified two typos in the minutes. 1. Under Item IV. B. 2. The word “within” should be deleted. 2. Under Item V. I. 1. The sentence should be revised to replace the first “is” with the word “if” to read as follows; “Mr. Gierach asked if the committee is looking past the 5-year CIP planning cycle.” D. Mr. Clark moved to amend the prior motion to include the correction of typos as pointed out by Ms. Muldoon. Approved 4-0. III. OMNNI Presentation on 2020 Outfall Monitoring Program (Jason Weis – OMNNI) A. Mr. Weis gave a presentation regarding the 2020 outfall monitoring (illicit discharge detection and elimination - IDDE) monitoring program. Mr. Weis indicated the presentation is similar to a prior version, which was last given to the board in 2018. A copy of the presentation was sent to committee members prior to the meeting. B. The presentation provided an overview of the IDDE program, permit requirements, field screening process, issues with gross solids in manholes, locations of chemical indicators identified in 2020, outfall conditions assessment, and 2021 program updates. C. Ms. Muldoon asked about testing procedure and the use of test strips. She asked what methods are used for the different indicators? 1. Mr. Weis indicated that a probe is used to test for temperature, pH, and conductivity. Chemical test strips are used to test for ammonia and chlorine. If detergent testing is conducted a sample is collected and testing is done in a lab. D. Ms. Muldoon asked a follow-up question regarding the use of the test strips and whether they are adequate for screening? 1. Mr. Weis indicated that the action limits are high enough that a visual color change on the test strip is easily observable if the limit is reached. If action levels are reached the discharge is tracked upstream and additional testing is conducted. Depending on the situation samples may be collected for lab testing. One example would be if it is anticipated that the party responsible for the illicit discharge will contest the findings. E. One particular item identified in the presentation as an issue for the City of Oshkosh is gross solids (floatables) that collect in manholes. This occurs because portions of the City’s storm sewer system are submerged beneath the receiving water level. Gross solids that enter the system through inlets get trapped in storm manholes. Manholes with regular occurrence of gross solids are inspected annually. When gross solids are identified the recommendation is to clean the manhole with a vacuum truck. Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 04-15-2021_v3 Page 2 of 5 F. Locations where there were chemical indicators of a potential illicit discharge were discussed. Three locations were identified in the 2020 screening. 1. Chemical indicator #1 was a priority outfall with a small drainage area that had an ammonia indicator. It is believed the likely cause of the indicator is decomposing algae that backed up into the inlet from the Fox River. 2. Chemical indicator #2 was an outfall in Riverside Cemetery that had an ammonia indicator. The drainage basin to the outfall is solely cemetery area, and one hypothesis is that the indicator could be a result of fertilizer application. This outfall will be screened again in 2021. 3. Chemical indicator #3 was a 48”x76” pipe near Armory Place. This outfall was inspected in past years and typically has some amount of dry weather flow, and past testing showed some detergent and elevated pH concerns. This location will be screened in 2021 and the area is planned to have additional samples collected in the upstream storm sewer system to try to identify the source. The concentration is low, but because of consistent flow it is a concern. G. An annual summary report was prepared and delivered in December 2020. H. Ms. Muldoon asked about ammonia indicators. She indicated that typically ammonia oxidizes and it converts to nitrogen. She asked if testing for nitrogen is done? 1. Mr. Weis replied that nitrogen testing is not done. I. Ms. Muldoon asked for additional information on the reason nitrogen testing is not done. 1. Mr. Weis indicated that ammonia is not required to be screened. It has been added to the City’s testing program with a main reason being that air conditioning condensate typically has ammonia. Typically, additional testing for other parameters is not done as a result of this indicator. J. There will be changes to the 2021 monitoring program as a result of changes to the MS4 permit. An overview of the changes was described and included in the presentation slides. This included updates to the outfall mapping, outfall classification, and outfalls that will be screened. K. Updates to the City’s overall MS4 system map were made as a result of requirements from new MS4 permit. 1. Mr. Clark asked if the board could be provided with a copy of the map? i. Mr. Gabrilska indicated it was an attachment as part of the annual report and the package that was previously provided to the board for review. 2. Mr. Janty asked if that map was on the City’s webpage? i. Mr. Gabrilska said it was on the webpage as a part of the annual report. Mr. Janty asked if it could be posted as a separate item? Mr. Gabrilska indicated the City would work on having it posted as an individual file. IV. Project Overview on status of Oshkosh City wide TMDL Water Quality Plan (Mike Wegner – Brown & Caldwell). A. Mr. Wegner provided an overview of the status of the plan. Initial data on the no-controls (base) conditions has been collected from the City and integrated into the project. The project differs from the prior (2014) SWMP in that this plan focuses solely on TMDL compliance, while past plans focused on MS4 permit compliance. As a result, there are differences in the requirements for the analysis. The no-controls conditions are being finalized and the City is currently providing data for the 2nd data request which covers the with-controls (existing) conditions. The with-controls conditions analysis will establish the current pollution control being achieved in the City. B. Mr. Wegner provided background data on the TMDL requirements and the pollution control levels that City had met in 2014. He noted that the TMDL requires an 86% TP reduction. As of the 2014 SWMP the City had achieved a 22% TP reduction. Since 2014 the City had added 13 stormwater control measures, UW-Oshkosh had added 4, and there were numerous private sites that added control measures. The next step of the study is adding these new measures into the analysis. C. As part of the discussion of TMDL requirements, Mr. Wegner indicated that an 86% TP reduction is very high and outside of the feasibility of current technology. D. Mr. Clark asked about what is a reasonable level of control that could be achieved? Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 04-15-2021_v3 Page 3 of 5 3. Mr. Wegner indicated that new developments are required to provide 80% TSS control. Which equate to approximately a 40% to 50% TP control. Thus, that would be the approximate control achieved if all areas of the City were treated as new development. This is not feasible as many areas of the City are fully developed and there is not sufficient space for treatment measures. E. Ms. Muldoon asked about how are TP loads calculated? Is TSS used as a surrogate for TP? Do TP loads for urban areas take into account that phosphorus is not allowed in fertilizer? 1. Mr. Wegner indicated that TP loads are calculated using the WinSLAMM model. The model incorporates monitoring data from past studies and does not use TSS as a surrogate for TP. There have not been recent updates to TP inputs in the WinSLAMM model. However, recent studies regarding leaf management show that there is still TP in urban stormwater runoff. F. Ms. Muldoon asked about achieving compliance with the TMDL and what the DNR is expecting? Do they understand that cities won’t be able to comply? 1. Mr. Wegner indicated that the DNR expects a path toward compliance to be developed and that in the cases where there are high TP removal requirements, it will take a long time to meet the targets. The expectation is that cities make continual progress towards compliance. G. Mr. Clark and Ms. Muldoon asked if there are tools/approaches for working with farmers? 1. Mr. Wegner indicated that water quality trading and adaptive management are two approaches that are allowed for cooperatively working with farmers towards TMDL goals. There are guidance documents for both approaches that lay out WDNR requirements. H. Mr. Janty asked about the existing stormwater structures that the City has constructed and whether treatment within those measures will be optimized as part of this study. 1. Mr. Wegner indicated that as part of the alternatives analysis process we will be looking at whether there are retrofit opportunities to increase control from these structures. I. Mr. Janty asked about coordination with the University, Winnebago County, and Towns surrounding the City. 1. Mr. Gierach indicated there have been conversations at the regional level. J. There was discussion from the various committee members regarding working with conservation groups, or the County soil and water conservation department to do regional planning and work with the agricultural community to move towards compliance. They expressed interest in the City exploring these options as a way to achieve more pollution reduction and having a larger impact on waterbodies. K. Mr Janty asked about the schedule for the next milestone in the project. 1. Mr. Wegner indicated that through the spring and early summer they would be working towards incorporating existing management measures into the plan and the next milestone would be completion of the with-controls conditions in early summer. L. Mr. Janty asked about the potential for public/private partnerships to implement management practices, such as identifying large parking lots that produce lots of pollution that could be treated. 1. Mr. Gierach indicated there is an issue of public money spent on private land, and there have been limited internal discussions on the topic. 2. Mr. Wegner indicated that a typical part of the alternatives analysis is to consider the impact of treating parking lots with measures such as bioretention or porous pavement. This is typically done an a per acre basis and then can be extrapolated to a Citywide scale. Additionally, as part of redevelopment projects, such as a parking lot reconstruction, a private site is required to implement stormwater controls to comply with the Municipal Code. 3. Mr. Wegner also indicated that if there were areas identified as part of the alternatives analysis where a portion of a private property could be used as a control measure it would be considered. This could include items such as expanding a private detention basin to treat additional runoff. M. Mr. Clark voiced a desire to further explore public-private partnerships and trying to break down barriers. N. Mr Janty asked about whether a workshop with the Common Council on the TMDL would be helpful. 1. Mr. Gierach said that with the recent council change-over there is need for an update/education on the topic. He felt that being further along in the analysis would be an appropriate time for an Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 04-15-2021_v3 Page 4 of 5 update, such as when there is information on the “with-controls” conditions and what can be done within the City’s existing infrastructure towards meeting the TMDL. V. Program and Project Updates (J. Gierach and D. Gabrilska). A. 20-02 Southwest Industrial Park 1. Work is scheduled to start in early May. There has been no work since last fall. B. 20-15 Mini Storm #2 1. Construction has resumed and the contractor is installing storm laterals. 2. Work on the Ceape Avenue storm sewer is scheduled for early May. The City has signed easement documents from WPS. The easements need to be signed by the City and recorded. Then WPS will move their facilities. 3. The project is scheduled for completion in early June. C. 21-03 Oregon Street and Fond du Lac Road Sanitary Sewer Interceptor 1. Preliminary work has started on Fond du Lac Road. The road is closed to thru traffic currently. There will be intermittent full closures starting this week. 2. The contractor will start sanitary sewer construction on Monday. 3. Preliminary work has included dewatering pits and a dewatering basin on a vacant lot. D. 21-04 W. 9th Avenue Reconstruction 1. Contractor is installing sanitary sewer and will continue with the sanitary sewer work for several weeks. 2. The contractor started just upstream of Oakwood Road. There are limitations on the length of closure to Oakwood Road. They are working west of the intersection to be able to meet the Oakwood Road closure limitations. E. 21-05 Ceape Avenue Reconstruction 1. The contractor (Jossert Brothers) will start work on Monday with sanitary sewer work. 2. WPS also needs to relay gas main and will work concurrently with contractor. 3. The road will be closed to thru traffic starting on Monday. F. 21-20 Mini Storm Contract 1. This contract is currently out for bid and bids will be opened on Monday. 2. The project includes about 50 locations for mini-storm work. 3. There is no storm sewer work as part of this year’s project. 4. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of October. There are interim completion deadlines. Each individual site has a 4-week work window. G. 21-07 – Water main Relay 1. This project is in Knapp Street and surrounding streets. It is currently out for bid and will be opened on Monday. 2. The project is in the vicinity of an historic landfill and as a result there are some special methane monitoring requirements. VI. Review Discussion of Future Meeting Agenda Items. A. 2022 Budget (summer topic) B. Review public information through Oshkosh Media Department C. NEWSC News D. Mr. Clark asked if the City Attorney could be invited to have a discussion regarding legal implications of public-private partnerships, particularly in relation to compliance approaches for the TMDL. 1. Mr. Gierach stated this could be a future item, potential for late summer. E. Ms. Muldoon asked if there could be an overview of how other Cities are complying with TMDL requirements in the Upper Fox and Wolf River and/or Lower Fox areas. Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 04-15-2021_v3 Page 5 of 5 VII. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn: Mr. Janty/ Mr. Kiefer (Approved 4-0). Adjournment at 8:57 am. Respectfully Submitted Dan Gabrilska; Civil Engineering Supervisor