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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes STORM WATER UTILITY COMMITTEE Minutes November 12, 2015 Present: John Kiefer, , Paul Janty, Maureen Muldoon; Kyle Clark (arrived 7:53 am) Absent: Sean Butler; Also Present: James Rabe, Director of Public Works; Jim Bachhuber and Mike Wegner, Brown and Caldwell I.Call to Order. A.Mr. Kiefer called the meeting to order at 7:35 am. II.Discussion of Future Meeting Dates and Times. A.Future meetings are scheduled for December 10, 2015, January 14, and February 18, 2016, at 7:30 am in Room 404 of City Hall. III.Approval of October 15, 2015 Meeting Minutes. A.Mr. Janty moved to approve, seconded by Ms. Muldoon. Motion carried (3-0). IV.Update on Capital Improvement Program Project Status. A.Mr. Rabe provided the following summary of project statues: 1.Southwest Industrial Park Expansion (2013 CIP): Construction of this project is complete. Staff going through final quantities with Contractor in effort to close out the contract. 2.Glatz Creek Relief Sewer (2014 CIP): Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aeronautics awarded the contract to Vinton Construction Company Inc. The City of Oshkosh Common Council and Winnebago County Board of Supervisors approved an inter-governmental agreement between the city and county to authorize the transfer of funds to support the construction of the project and define the terms relating to the permission to construct the storm sewer through Wittman Regional Airport property. Contractor submittals are being reviewed by the Construction Management Consultant city staff. th 3.9 & Washburn Area Wet Detention Basin (2015 CIP): Construction of this project is virtually complete. There is some landscaping work that must be completed in the spring (the planting of the emergent plant plugs, other than that only minor clean up and restoration items remain to be completed. City staff are currently working with AECOM (Construction Management Consultant) and the Contractor to review quantities. 4.Contract 15-04: Concrete Paving and Utilities (2015 CIP): Construction is complete. Contractor is completing final cleanup of the site. City staff are currently working with Contractor to review final quantities and get the contract closed out. 5.Contract 15-05: Concrete Paving and Utilities (2015 CIP): Construction is complete. City staff are currently working with Contractor to review final quantities and get the contract closed out. 6.Fernau Avenue Watershed North Main Street Area Wet Detention Basin (2015 CIP): Land Acquisition has been completed, and final design work progresses. It is currently anticipated that the project will be bid in early 2016 with a spring start of construction. Storm Water Utility Committee Minutes 11-12-15 Page 1 of 4 Staff is currently evaluating the potential to bid this project in conjunction with the Libbey/Nicolet Watersheds North Main Street Area Detention Basin. 7.Libbey / Nicolet Watersheds- North Main Street Area Detention Basin (2015 and 2016 CIP): The design work for this project is included in the 2015 CIP. The construction work is included in the proposed 2016 CIP. Design work is approximately 50% complete at this time. It is currently anticipated that the project will be bid in early 2016 with a spring start of construction. Staff is currently evaluating the potential to bid this project in conjunction with the Fernau Avenue Watershed North Main Street Area Wet Detention Basin. 8.Gallups/Merritts Creek Watershed Study (2015 CIP): Brown and Caldwell staff are working on developing the models for this project. B.Mr. Rabe also provided a summary of the Aviation Park Industrial development. The Aviation Business Park expansion project is a joint City / County development. th C.Mr. Rabe added that the 9 and Washburn Area Wet Detention Basin project has additional storm sewer work on Maricopa Drive in 2016. D.Mr. Janty asked about the connection of the Fernau Watershed North Main Street Area Wet Detention Basin project to the Bemis expansion. Mr. Rabe stated that part of the reason for the timing for the Fernau Watershed North Main Street Area Wet Detention Basin was to help storm water management needs from the entire TIF 27 District, including Bemis. E.Mr. Rabe commented that the City is developing a Community Development Block Grant -et North Main Basin project and possibly the Fernau North Main Basin project. V.Update on Recent Legislative Activity. A.Mr. Rabe explained that the League of Municipalities has re-activated a municipal MS4 storm water group. This means that the cities have a mechanism to work with state legislators in development of legislation. B.Mr. Bachhuber s Assistant Director (Curt Witynski) received a copy of draft legislation that would impact storm water utilities in Wisconsin. Mr. Witynski attorney and technical consultants regarding potential impacts of the draft legislation on existing storm water utilities. As drafted, the legislationsignificant changes the areas of a city that would be included for utility charges (the language required utilities to include public ROWs has chargeable areas) and 2) the legislation specified how charges were to be based on a peak flow calculation for each utility customer. Mr. Witynski compiled the review comments and sent to the author of legislation. This proposal was withdrawn from consideration for the 2016 session. C.Mr. Janty requested that this topic become a standing agenda item if /when other state legislation issued develop. VI.Update on 2016 Capital Improvement Program Discussion with Common Council. th A.Mr. Rabe explained the discussion from the November 4 Council budget workshop. The Council discussed the storm water budget and rate recommendations, along with the impact on storm water capital projects at length. Ms. Muldoon asked Mr. Clark to explain the details of the discussion. Mr. Clark explained about the dilemma of significant rate changes versus the schedule of getting the capital projects implemented and moving to a Storm Water Utility Committee Minutes 11-12-15 Page 2 of 4 B.Mr. Rabe further explained that the Council wanted to make sure all areas of need throughout the City were being addressed. The Council agreed to move ahead with the one project/year funding level and not back off to the one project every two years approach. C.Mr. Kiefer asked if the Council discusses the overall schedule and when the completion of the capital projects might occur. Mr. Clark responded that the Council did discuss this and the conclusion was that the one project every two years approach would add seven years to the overall implementation process. D.Mr. Clark commented that the Council also strongly directed City staff to continue working with, and coordinating with, the County whenever possible. E.Mr. Kiefer asked if the Council talked about storm water basin projects versus storm sewer upgrades in the streets. Mr. Rabe replied that the street reconstruction projects are limited by the tax base funding levels ($11.4 million borrowing cap) and this cap will drive the amount of storm sewers that can be improved each year. F.Mr. Janty asked if the Council is considering changing the retained earnings to a 6-month period. He explained that Appleton, Eau Claire, and Kenosha utilize closer to a 2-month period for budget purposes. Mr. Janty also commented that he feels the City cannot continue the increases in the utility rates and these rates are highly affecting the biggest ratepayers. Mr. Clark replied that the City Manager meets regularly with GO- EDC (Economic Development Corp) and discusses impacts of utility rates on local businesses. Mr. Rabe replied that the Council is very concerned with impacts on local businesses from City fees and is looking for ways to reduce impacts. G.Mr. Kiefer asked how the Council direction affects the 2016 and future CIP plans. Mr. Clark responded that the 7.5% rate increase went to 9% and the CIP schedule as presented in October is the project schedule for 2016 and beyond. H.Mr. Kiefer commented that the new funding adds approximately $1.5 million to the 2016 capital program. VII.Update on Engineering Division Storm Water Utility Staffing. A.Mr. Rabe commented that there are two storm water utility engineering positions currently posted (Senior Engineer and Engineering Supervisor). Mr. Janty asked if that might mean less outside consulting needs. Mr. Rabe replied that the new position would help improve response to citizen requests and needs. B.Mr. Janty asked who would be the future staff contact with the Storm Water Utility Committee. Mr. Rabe replied that the new Engineering Supervisor would be the contact person after a transition period. C.Mr. Rabe stated that the application submission deadline was extended to November 25. D.Mr. Janty asked about the level of interest. Mr. Rabe replied that few external applications have been received and some imternal City staff have also expressed interest. Mr. Rabe has posted the position announcements on the Wisconsin APWA site and WAFSCM websites. E.Mr. Kiefer asked how competitive the compensation package is compared to other municipalities. Mr. Rabe replied that the positions compensation is being reviewed by the consultant that originally prepared the compensation plan, and indications are that the compensation for these positions should increase. VIII.Summary of Storm Water Utility Credits to Date A.Mr. Rabe summarized the SW Utility Credits to date. There are 27 Non-Residential Credits approved (6 Riparian and 21 Best Management Practice). There are 143 Residential Credits approved (56 Riparian, 86 Best Management Practice, and 1 combination). Storm Water Utility Committee Minutes 11-12-15 Page 3 of 4 B.Most non- existence. This past year about four or five applications came in. More applications appear to be coming in because of the increased rate levels. C.Mr. Janty how many non-residential ratepayers are in the City? Mr. Rabe did not know that information off hand. D.Ms. Muldoon asked if rain barrels or rain gardens make up the majority of residential credits. Mr. Rabe replied that rain barrels seem more common. IX.Discussion of Future Meeting Agenda Items A.The new topics identified for a future agendas are: i.Status of CDBG grant application. ii.TMDL status update. iii.Update on the new requirements for the Outfall Screening Program. iv.Staff positions for Engineering Division. X.Adjournment. There being no other business before the committee, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Mr. Clark / Ms. Muldoon), the meeting was adjourned at 8:53 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, James Rabe, P.E., CPESC Director of Public Works Storm Water Utility Committee Minutes 11-12-15 Page 4 of 4