Minutes of Regular Meeting
# 808 Held in the
Lake Elmo City Council Chambers
Thursday, January 8, 2009
MANAGERS PRESENT: Lincoln Fetcher, President; Dave Bucheck, Vice President; Don Scheel, Secretary; Dale Borash, Treasurer; Ray Lucksinger, Manager
MANAGERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: John Hanson, Barr Engineering; Ray Marshall, Attorney; Ray Roemmich, Inspector; and Karen Schultz, Recording Secretary
STAFF ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Chuck Taylor, Citizens Advisory Committee; Steve Kernik and Sharon Doucette, City of Woodbury; Diane Hankee, WSB Engineering
CALL TO ORDER President Fetcher called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES After discussion of the minutes of the December 11, 2008 meeting, motion was made by Bucheck and seconded by Scheel to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously.
ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS No agenda items were added.
PUBLIC FORUM There was no discussion in Public Forum.
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chuck Taylor had mailed his report on lake levels, and discussed it with the managers at this meeting.
SECRETARY
=S REPORT Secretary Scheel reported that he had distributed the mail.INSPECTOR
=S REPORT Inspector Roemmich reported on inspections that he has made since the last meeting.ATTORNEY
=S REPORT Attorney Marshall presented Secretary Scheel with an Oath of Office form for his signature. It was signed and it will be on file in the Attorney=s office.TREASURER
=S REPORT Treasurer Borash distributed copies of the 2007 Auditor=s Report dated December 31, 2007. President Fetcher asked the managers to review it for discussion at the next meeting.WASHINGTON CONSERVATION DISTRICT President Fetcher reported that he had attended the semi annual meeting of the EMWREP partners earlier this week. He said the discussion included: 1) trying to get all cities and watershed districts to join the partnership and 2) the loss of Local Government Aid (LGA) funding from the state to some cities. He also said that Angie Hong, the Watershed District Education Specialist, will have an assistant in the summer for three months.
ENGINEER
=S REPORT VBWD Rule Interpretation Question from Woodbury Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers copies of a memorandum from the City of Woodbury regarding a request for Interpretation of VBWD Rules. Steve Kernik, Environmental Planner with the City of Woodbury, was present to discuss the issue with the managers. The City of Woodbury is asking the managers to provide some direction regarding infiltration requirements for a road maintenance and mill and overlay project that is scheduled for 2009. The managers agreed not to require a VBWD permit for the project, but would like the Woodbury plans to be placed on file at Barr Engineering.After discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Scheel to waive the need for the City of Woodbury to make application for the volume control and infiltration rules for this project. Motion carried unanimously. President Fetcher directed Engineer Hanson to write a memorandum to the City of Woodbury, confirming the managers
= actions.Woodbury Northeast Area Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers copies of a draft Memorandum dated January 9, 2009, addressed to the City of Woodbury regarding the Woodbury Northeast Area Draft Alternative Urban Areawide Review. After discussion, motion was made by Bucheck and seconded by Borash to approve the Memorandum and direct Engineer Hanson to mail the letter to the City of Woodbury. Motion carried unanimously.
CHANGE IN ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS At this time President Fetcher authorized a change in the order of agenda items.
MANAGERS= REPORT Community BMP Cost-Share Grant Application: City of Mahtomedi Public Works Facility Retrofit At the last meeting, the managers denied a request from the City of Mahtomedi to cost-share a Mahtomedi Public Works Facility project. At this meeting, a representative of the engineering firm in charge of the project was in attendance to explain the request in person that the managers cost-share in the project.
Vice President Bucheck explained that the managers are not in the business of subsidizing community projects. He said if the managers would have had a plan, something to work with, it would have given them something to discuss. The managers agreed to provide some financial support. After much discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Scheel to pay $22,500 to the City of Mahtomedi in support of the City of Mahtomedi Public Works Facility, and that the City will make the facility available for demonstrations. Motion carried unanimously.
Vice President Bucheck suggested that signage be placed at the site noting that the VBWD cost-shared the project.
Diane Hankee thanked the managers and said she will pass this information on to the City of Mahtomedi.
ENGINEER=S REPORT (Cont.) Woodbury Surface Water Management Plan Engineer Hanson asked that this item be removed from the agenda so that he has time to review documents he received from the City of Woodbury.
Lake Elmo Village Area AUAR Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers copies of a draft comment letter addressed to the City of Lake Elmo, regarding the Lake Elmo Village Area Draft Alternative Urban Areawide Review. After much discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Bucheck to approve the letter as written, and to direct Engineer Hanson to mail the letter. Motion carried unanimously.
Attorney Marshall asked the managers if they would consider a meeting with the City of Lake Elmo to discuss the issue. President Fetcher directed Engineer Hanson to add an invitation at the end of the letter, for the City to meet with Engineer Hanson, or the managers, or to invite the managers to attend a City of Lake Elmo Planning Meeting to discuss the issue.
FEMA Preliminary Maps Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers copies of a memorandum regarding the City of Grant=s requests to remove floodplain delineations for DNR waters 82-364W and 82-365W from the FEMA floodplain maps. A reason was not given by the City of Grant for the request. Engineer Hanson said that the DNR will map these flood areas unless the VBWD determines that it is not necessary.
After discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Bucheck that the DNR protected waters 82-364W and 82-365W will not be removed from the FEMA floodplain maps. Motion carried unanimously.
Lower St. Croix Watershed Management Organization Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers copies of a memorandum regarding the Lower St. Croix Watershed Management Organization and the expectations that the WMO members have when they meet with VBWD managers on January 14, 2009. In discussion of the memorandum, President Fetcher said he will meet with BWSR representatives to discuss hydrologic boundaries. President Fetcher, Secretary Scheel, Attorney Marshall, and Engineer Hanson will attend the meeting on the 14th of January.
Blasko Dam on Valley Creek Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers a memorandum regarding the Blasko Dam on Valley Creek. The dam consists of an aging four-foot high concrete structure, which prevents upstream passage of fish. After discussion of the issue, the managers directed Engineer Hanson to talk with Kent Johnson at the Metropolitan Council about the project, and to continue to investigate the project and collect survey data.
Permit Close-Out: Ledgestone, Mahtomedi Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers a memorandum regarding the close-out of VBWD Permit # 2006-03: Ledgestone, Mahtomedi. Engineer Hanson recommended that the managers close out the project. After discussion, motion was made by Bucheck and seconded by Borash to terminate the letter of credit and allow the money to be returned. Motion carried unanimously.
System and Dam Inspections Because of the extensive agenda, the managers agreed to postpone discussion of the VBWD inspections.
Habitat Monitoring Report Because of the extensive agenda, the managers agreed to postpone discussion of the VBWD habitat monitoring report.
Stormwater Pond Maintenance Inspection Because of the extensive agenda, the managers agreed to postpone discussion of this item.
Water Quality Assessment of Lake DeMontreville, Eagle Point Lake, and Horseshoe Lake Because of the extensive agenda, the managers agreed to postpone discussion of this item.
MANAGERS= REPORT Next Meeting - January 22, 2009 The managers expect to have a quorum at the next meeting. Secretary Scheel will not be present.
Before the next meeting on January 22nd, the managers will have a workshop at 5:30 pm, to hear the Metropolitan Council=s report on AMetropolitan Council=s Water Supply Plan and Groundwater Model@.
Engineer Hanson and President Fetcher will arrange to have meals for everyone attending the workshop.
Citizens Advisory Committee Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers a memorandum regarding the Citizens Advisory Committee, including a list of names to contact about serving on the Committee. The managers directed Engineer Hanson to prepare and send post cards to the contacts on the list, and to send letters to the current members of the Citizens Advisory Committee, explaining the process. The potential CAC members will be asked to respond by the end of February 2009. The information will also be posted on the VBWD web site.
Recognition Banquet In discussing the volunteer recognition banquet, the managers agreed to scale down the list of those invited to attend. They agreed to invite only volunteers and staff and spouses. President Fetcher suggested that a District tour could be held the day of the banquet. The managers directed Engineer Hanson to look into the availability of the Lake Elmo Events Center in April or May 2009, and to report at the next meeting.
2009 Goals At the last meeting, the managers directed Engineer Hanson to prepare the final list of goals for 2009 for this meeting. At this meeting, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Borash to approve the Goals for 2009 as written at the January 8, 2009 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
2007 Audit See Treasurer=s Report above.
Silver Lake Stakeholders= Meeting In President Fetcher=s report on the Silver Lake Stakeholders= Meeting held in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency building on January 5, 2009, he said there were many people there, including representatives from North St. Paul, Maplewood, Ramsey County, MnDNR, BWSR, and also Senator Wiger and Representative Lillie. He said two decisions were made at the meeting -1) to look at data and the progress made over the last two years; and 2) to start looking at the issue of the watershed district=s role in aquatic plant management of lakes. President Fetcher said a summary of the meeting will be sent to the managers.
Discussion of PERA Treasurer Borash reported that the Public Employees Retirement Association feels that the Recording Secretary and the Inspector should be making contributions to PERA. Attorney Marshall and Treasurer Borash will meet to discuss the issue.
ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Fetcher and seconded by Borash at 10:31 pm to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Don Scheel, Secretary
Don Scheel, Secretary
Minutes Approved by Managers 01/22/09