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276084 WHITE - .:CITY CLERK r�R� � {�- PIN". - FINANCE COUflCIl /�/��^� BLUE�Y - MAYOR MENT G I T Y O F S A I N T PA U L ��+� �.� File N 0. Council Resolution Presented By Referred o Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (MWCC) Lake Overflow Report has confirmed the magnitude of overflow volumes, the origin of stormwater runoff resulting in overflows, and the estimated amount of resulting treatment charges to the City of St. Paul for overflow waters from certain metropolitan lakes to the metropolitan sewer system as had been previously determined by City staff and the Task Force on Sewage Rate Structure appointed by Mayor Latimer, and WHEREAS, the Environmental Planning Staff of the Metropolitan Council has siabmitted to the affected communities the following set of four recommendations regarding these lake overflows: 1. That the MinTCC submit a cost allocation which includes estimates of lake overflows with its proposed 1982 budget due to the Council on August 1, 1981, and includes adjustments to the 1981 user charge. 2. That the cost allocation system be based on estimated amounts of overflow, together with drainage areas, amount of development, impervious surfaces, precipitation and runoff amounts, as determined jointly by MWCC and Metropolitan Council after consul- tation with affected local governmental units. 3. That the cost allocation be included as estimated charges for lake overflow in 1982 and subsequent budgets until such time as the flows are removed from the metropolitan dis- posal system, or an agreement is reached between the affected communities on a permanent solution. 4. That affected local governmental units within the Beaver, Phalen, Como and McCarron's watersheds negotiate an agreement that will result in a permanent solution to the lake overflow problems, and WHEREAS, the present allocation of the entire treatment cost to St. Paul for lake overflow waters originating outside of the city limits has resulted in gross inequities to the City, now, therefore be it; COUNCILMEN Yeas Nays Requestgd by Department of: Hunt Publ i r [�Tt�rka Levine [n Favor Maddox �~'�� McMahon B - "" showaiter - __ Against y Donald E. Nygaard, Director ( D) Tedesco Wilson Form Approved b C ty A tor y Adopted by Council: Date — Certified Passed by Council Secretary BY BY -- Approved by EVlayor: Date _ Approved by Mayor or Submission to Council BY - - — BY WHITE - CITY CLERK PINK - +FINANCE u� CANARY - DEPARTMENT G I TY O F S A I N T PA LT L COUtIC1I ({ BLUE� - MAYOR File N O. �• �� Council Resolution Presented By Referred o Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date Page 2 RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of St. Paul endorses the recommendations of the Metro- politan Council's Environmental Planning Staff with the following amendment: Metering stations shall be installed by the MWCC at all four (4) major inlets of lake overflow to the St. Paul sewer system and that charges for these flows be made to the contributing communities based on estimated proportion of contribution to this volume rather than utilize estimated figures as proposed, and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council requests the Metropolitan Council and Waste Control Commission to undertake a review of the present cost allocation system as it relates to charges for surface water and include adjustments of those charges based on the actual treatment costs for those waters as provided for in the Metropolitan Sewer Act. COUIVCILMEN Requestgd by Department oE: Yeas Nays Hunt Public Works Levine In FaVO[ �Aedds+�— � McMahon B �' �,;� �►owa�ter A gai n s t Y � Donald E. Nyga , Director (DJD) Wilson DEC 1 6 148(l Form Approved by ity Attor y Adopted by Council: Date Certified as-e by Counci cre BY Y c • Ap v by EVlavor: �C� � � 190�1 Appro y Mayor for S is ion to Council By BY P�t� 0 E C 2 ? 1980 ,•TI��'��i)r � � CITY OF SAINT PAUL INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM T0: City Council FROM: Director of Public Works DATEc December 16, 1980 SUBJECT: Supplemental Agenda on Sewer Issues I. Sewer Rates - Dan Dunford A. Introduction B. Public Hearing ' C. Resolution - Adoption of new rates II. Lake Overflows - Roy Bredahl A. Introduction & Status Report 1) Overview of Issue 2) Action requested of Council , B. Significance of Issue 1) Approximate cost to City 2) Increased share of other metro costs 3) City sewer rates vs MWCC operating budget trend C. City staff's suggested modifications to the Metro staff recommendations. D. Chamber of Commerce comments E. Legislators comments F. Resolution of Council to support position of the city. REB/ck �� '` CITY OF SAINT PAUL . .+i� . T �:�•` " OF'FICE OF TFiE CITY COIIl�'CIL fi4lifMf��.:'.:1 _ I iii:li:-....;�:,;.� .�. ...,...� / .. J � 1 RON MADDOX � � ��(�� '� KARL NEID, JR. Councilman � Legisiative Aide `�.,... December 8, 1980 _ TO: City Coun i Members �� FROri: Ron Maddo � Council Pr sident � RE: December Co�ncil Meetings Within the next two weeks, several matters of substantive city-wide nature and consequence will be discussed at the City Council meetings. In order that our public busi�ess is conducted and our personal� schedules are addressed, I bring these matters to your attention. Tuesday - December 9, 1980: NSP/St. Paul Energy Office Joint Program Thursday - December 11, 1980: Soiid Waste Nianagement Plan , ;�jy'� ,��`��'; � `"'q��` " Joint Meeting at 10: 45 a.m. with Mayor, t,l �1 '� � � Ramsey County Delegation, and St. Paul Chamber Sewer Charge Task Force. (To discuss Netro Waste Control Commission Sewer Treatment Overcharges. ) Thursday - December 18, 1980: (11:00 a.m. ) District Hearing I hope that these items will not cause any inconvenience to you or the other public business . RM:das . ce: Mayor Latimer �"Olson Alice Murphy �, Don Nygaard Greg Bleese ' Steve Wellington � Dick Broeker CITY HALL SEVENTN FLOOR SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 612/298-4475 �O Senator-Elect Don Frank Senator Robert Ashbach Senator-Elect �regory Dahl � Sec'y of Senate 123B Senate Office Bldg. � Sec'y of the Senate 231 State Capitol Bldg. Saint Paul, NB1 55155 231 State Capitol Bldg. Saint Paul, MN 55155 46 48 Saint Paul. MN 55155 4g Senator Jerome Hughes Senator Neil Dieterich Senator Ron Sieloff 328 State Capitol 306 State Capitol 128 State O�fice Bldg. Saint Paul, MN 55155 50 Saint Paul, MN 55155 62 Saint Paul, MN 55155 Cr�� '°�a'�b � �IA/��'✓v� � *63 Senator Peter P. Stump� Senator-Elect Don Moe Senator-Elect Eugene Waldorf 328 State Capitol $ Sec'y of the Senate $ Sec'y of the Senate Saint Paul, MN 55155 231 5tate Capitol 231 State Capitol *64 Saint Paul, MN 55155 *65 Saint Paul, MN 55155 *66 Senator-Elect Marilyn Lantry • /'' w W n l y �� $ Sec'y of the Senate � vr '��1 231 State Capitol Bldg. Saint Paul MN 55155 --- 67 Representative Paul McCarron Repr�sentative Steven Novak Representative John Rose 248 State Office Bldg. 285 State Office Bldg. 399C State Office Bldg. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Saint Paul, MN 55155 Saint Paul, NIld 55155 46A 48A 48B Representative Donald Valento Representative Robert Reif Representative Constance Levi 378 State Office Bldg. 384 State Office Bldg. 353 State Office Bldg. Saint Paul, MN 55155 49A Saint Paul, MN 55155 49B Saint Paul, NID1 55155 50A Re��. Richard J. Kostohryz Representative Ann Wynia Rep-Elect Walter Hanson 299C State Office Bldg. 263 State Office Bldg. 1136 Hague Sai.nt Paul, MN 55155 50B Saint Paul, NiN 55155 *62A Saint Paul, I�Il�i 55104 *62B ; ' Representative John Drew Rep-Elect Kathy Vallenga ' Representative Tom Osthoff 382 State Office Bldg. 2224 Goodrich Avenue 288 5tate Office Bldg. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Saint Paul, MN 55105 3A Saint Paul, MN 55155 *64A *63B - Representative Peggy Byrne Representative Fred Norton Rep-EZect T�m Harens 214 State Office Bldg. 340 State Office Bldg. 260 Elm Saint Paul, MN 55155 *64B Saint Paul, MN *65A Saint Paul., MN 55102 *65B. Rep-Elect Richard O'Connor Representative Randy Kelly Rep. Frank Rodriguez 657 Case 251 State Office Bldg. 171 State Office Bldg. Saint Paul, NIl�i 55106 66A 5aint Paul, MN 55155 *66B aint Paul, MN 55155 *67A __ �� ------��,. _ Rep. John D. Tomlinson 271 State Office Bldg. 12/4 TEMPORARY LIST - Saint Paul, MN 55155 *67B g�M:EY COUNTY DELEGATION _ *St. Paul Delegation : .' ..M a . � . � . . ; . . . �.. .. �`�.'.o,� . . GITY OF SAINT PAUL ��7`� o� ': OFFICE OF THE MAYOR a , w um , � ��I� r� u Q • A � ... . . . . �,�� 347 CITY HALL SAINT PAUL. MINNESOTA 55102 GSORGE I.ATIMER (612) 298-4323 MAYOR TO: City Council Members and Saint Paul Delegation Members FROM: Mayor George Latimer DATE: December 12, 1980 SUBJECT: Background material for 12-16-81 presentation on Lake Overflow Treatment Charges I am transmitting for your review prior to the 12-16-81 City Council meeting, the Public Works Department staff report on lake overflow issues. I trust you will find this document an informative back- ground for the presentation scheduled for 10:45 a.m. , Tuesday, December 16, 1980. GL/lm enclosure cc: Fred Lanners , Chamber of Commerce Bill Schilling, Chamber of Commerce � . . . . . • . . . . . . .. h ST. PAUL DEPARTMENT �F PUBLIC WORKS REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL ON LAKE OVERFLOW ISSUE Deeember 16, 1980 INTRODUCTION The City of St. Paul is presently in the midst of negotiations to resolve a long standing disagreement relating to unjust treatment charges for lake overflow waters reaching the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission's facilities. The Metropolitan Council staff has issued a document outlining recommended revisions to the present cost allocation system. This report is intended to summarize the problems relating to lake overf lows, to present the MWCC Lake Overflow Study and to present a city staff recommendation regarding the document. The City of St. Paul is fortunate to have many natural lakes within and on its - city limits which offer recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, aesthetic appeal, natural stormwater ponding areas and many other benefits to the city. However, as development proceeded near these lakes, it was found that measures ' to control lake level fluctuations were necessary to prevent flooding of the developing parcels. In the cases of Beaver Lake, Lake Phalen, Como Lake and Trout Brook, averflow structures were constructed to the St. Paul cambined sanitary and storm sewer system: At the time these overfZows were constructed, combined sewage was receiving little or no treatment, hence an overflow structure to the existing combined sewer system was by far the least costly solution for controllinq water levels an those la�es. Furthermore, treatment charges for the communities served _ by combined sewers were based on dry weather flow volumes only, providing a free autlet .for stormwater and lake overflow waters in the existing system. As develop- ment in St. Paul and other c�arrcnunities around the lakes increased further, so did stormwater runoff to these natural ponding sites, resulting in increased overf low volumes. In the cases of both Lake Phal.en and Beaver Lake, the original averflows were enlarged to provide for the additional overflow volumes required. In 1969, legislation which formed the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (MWCC) also included a revision to the cost system which would charge communities for all wastewater received at the sewage treatment plant, including lake �overflows and cosnbined stormwater and sanitary sewage. However, Section 8 of the Metropolitan Sewer Act did include specific provisions for' the reduction of charqes for the treatment of surface waters in the combined sewer system to reflect the actual treatment costs for this relatively clean �ater. Despite these provisions and, numerous appeals by the city in the early 1970's, no reduction in charges for the treatment of surface water has been made. Because of the increasing development in cccnmunities adjacent to Lake Phalen, Beaver Lake, Como Lake and Trout Brook, and because of increasing sewage treatment charges, the cost to the City of St. Paul has increased dramatically to the point where we can no longer afford to provide stormwater outlets for development in neighboring communities. The major portion of these lake overflow is from stormwater runoff originating in communities adjacent to St. Paul. . . . . . \ . . . . . . . . � . . . � . .� '� . . . . � . � . � . . � � � -2- � 2�76�84 In March of 1977, Mayor Latimer and the City Council appointed a Task Force to study the problem of extraneous flows into the sewer system and to recommend corrective solutions. This report estimated the treatment cost of lake overflows to be about $855,000 annually, when presented in January of 1978. This cost has now increased to an estimated $1,500,000 annually. It is important to note that the majority of the.lake overflow originates as starmwater sunoff from developments outside of St. Paul. In accordance with the recoimnendations of this report, the city initiated efforts to identify extraneous stormwater flows across city boundaries and to encourage implementation of a method of assessment to their source by the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission. On January 3, 1979, Mayor Latimer sent a letter to Barbara Lukerman; Chairwoman of the Metropolitan Waste ControT Commission expressing concern about the rising sewage treatment costs, especially as they relate to charges for treating overflow waters froan area lakes. He requested the commission to investigate the assessment of lake overflow waters to the city. The response from Richard Dougherty, Chief Administrator of the MWCC, on January 23, 1979, indicated that he felt lake over- flows were constructed by a city decision and that the city should assume responsi- bility for removing these flows froin the combined sewers. On March 28, 1979, Mayor Latimer. sent a letter to the Metropolitan Council concerning the Maple Green 3rd Addition in Maplewood. In this letter he indicated that any developments increasing runoff volumes to lakes overflowing into St. Paul��s .combined sewers should not be considered consistent with regional planning until management policies for these lakes had been agreed to by aIl contributing comanunities. This was supported by Council Resolution on April 3, 1979. Similar concerns were later raised by-the city regarding the Carsgrove Meadow Addition and the Maplewood Community Development B1ock Granf Application. • While the Metropolitan Council approved the Maple Green 3rd Addition as being consistent with regional plans on Apri1 26th, the Metropolitan Council also appreci- ated the concerns of St. Paul and directed its staff to resolve the issues which had been. raised before any additional developments were approved. This included the establishment of a technical committee to address lake overflow issues. The committee initially met on May 1, 1979, and several times tl�rough the summer. Several possible solutions were identified by the committee, however, it was agreed that further information was required to adequately evaluate these alternatives. - As a result of the committee's recammendations, the Metropolitan Council, on October 25, 1979, directed the MWCC to conduct a special Lake Overflow Drainage Study. The study was completed and released on September 5, 1980. The delays in the release of this study caused substantial concern among city staff. The study was two months late and no facility improvements or changes in the cost allocation system had been included in the 1981 MWCC budget submitted to the Metropolitan Council - as had been directed. Futhermore, the study failed to quantify the volume of overflow so that an accurate treatment cost to the city could be determined. ' However, the study did substantiate the approximate magnitude of the problem. A separate section dealing with the results of the MWCC Lake Overflow Study will be presented later in this report. � ' � ,. -3- , . On November 4, 1980, Mayor Latimer sent a letter to Charles R. Weaver, Chairman of the Metropolitan Council, giving the city proposal for the correction of inequities in the present cost allocation system for lake overflow waters. This proposal recammended that overflows from the lakes be metered and that no charge be made for these overflows. This is justified in part because drainage to the lakes is from numerous communities and it, therefore;is a metropolitan concern. It is further justified because the additional cost to treat the overflow waters is minimal. These waters have little effect on the expensive soTids removal and sludge �handling processes at the MWCC treatment facilities. As a result of the study, the Metropolitan Council staff has initiated discussions with the affected municipalities to determine an acceptable resolution to the lake overflow issues. The outcome of these discussions is a set of recommendations to the Physical Development Committee from the Environmental Planning Office ot the Metropolitan Council, which was released on December 12, 1980. These recommen- dations are to be presented to the Physical Development Committee on December i8th, with possible action at that time. It is, therefore, imperative that the City of St. Paul offer its reaction to these recommendations prior to that time. Goals of Lake Overflow Study The Metropolitan Council issued several recommendations for the content of the Lake Overflow Study undertaken by the Metropolitan Waste Control Cammission. These recommendations included: 1. That the MWCC is to conduct a study of the Beaver Lake watershed and the Kohlman, Gerva3s, Ke11er, Phalen chain of lakes watershed to quantify the. origin and amount of annual surface water runoff fr�n the watershed. To the extent possible, the Commission is also to use established Ramsey Count� records for lake levels and discharge quantities to calculate annual watershed discharge quantities to the 5t. Paul sewer system. 2. That the MWCC is to describe alternative solutions and what their cost and effect is on the metro,politan system and on the cities of St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale in the case of Beaver Lake and the cities of St. Paul; Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Gem Lake, White Bear Lake, W'hite Bear Township, North St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale in the case of Lake Phalen. 3. That the MWCC is to adopt the following schedule to carry out the above'described s.tudy. a. Submit the study as a budget amendment as part of the Metropolitan " Interceptor Improvements Project 74-10 to the Metropolitan Council by November 28, 1979. b. The Metropolitan Council will consider a budget amendment for the above study on December 13, 1979. • ' � . -4- �`j + �r�A � ' ti( �iJV`� c. Upon approval of a budget amendment, the MWCC is to engage a consultant by December 31, 1979, to conduct the study. d. The MWCC is to include as part of the study a progress report or preliminary findings by April 1, 1980, which is to describe the origin and amount of annual surface water runoff from the watershed and the annual runoff to the St. Paul sewer system. e. The MWCC is to submit a final report which will include final calculations of Item "b" above, and will describe alternatives, their cost effectiveness and any chanqes that might occur to the cost allocation system if the alternative is implemented by July 1, 1980. 4. That the MWCC is.to follow paragraph 6 €or handling procedures of system improvement studies, Procedure No. 2. : 5. That the MWCC include any necessary facility improvements to the 1981 Capital Budqet or any changes in their Cost Allocation System for 1981 user charges to the Council by August 1, 1980. 6. That the MWCC is to conduct a similar study on another segment of the Beaver Lake and Phalen Lake Watershed Study for the Como Lake water- shed which is located in St. Paul, Roseville and Falcon Heights, .and the McCarrons Lake/Trout Brook to the St. Paul sewer inlet watershed which is located.'.in Roseville, Little Canada and St. Paul. These studies may be conducted at the same time the Beaver Lake and Phalen Lake Watershed studies are conducted, provided acceptable public water discharge records are conducted from these watersheds to determine the amount of annual watershed discharge to the St. Paul sewer system. Alternative solutions and their cost and effect on the Metmpolitan Sewer System and the cities of each watershed are 'to�be described. The Como Lake and McCarron's Lake Watershed studies' final report may be submitted by November 1, 1980, if inadequate or unreliable data from these watersheds must be verified or new data developed during the summer of 1980. In the engineering proposal, the consultant responded to the Metropolitan Council's recommendations by stating the following major objectives for its study: _ l. To determine lake overflow volumes at each outfall 2. To determine the origin and amount of flow by community 3. To evaluate the impact of flows on MWCC facilities 4. To establish alternative facility improvements for eliminating lake inflow to the sewer system and to estimate construction costs. 5. To define the costs and impacts of the alternative solutions on the metropolitan sewer system and on the cities in the watershed. � . . � . . . . . . . ' . l . . . . . . ' � .�.�. ..�. -5- � • ' , City of St. Paul Coimnents Concerninq the Lake Overflow Study � Subsequent to the release of the study final report, the City of St. Paul has found numerous reasons for being disappointed with the study. It is the opinion o€ the Depa�tment of Public Works that in many regards the goals have not been met. First, the ti.me schedule has not been met. Although the consultant submitted the report on July 16, 1980, the MWCC withheld it for the "inhouse" discussions of methods to reallocate costs regarding lake overflows. The report was revised and not released to the public until September. 3, 1980. As a result, the report was considered too late for inclusion of a revised cost allocation in the MWCC 1981 Budget. Consequently, it appears the Metropolitan Council does not propose to reallocate costs for these �verflows until the 1982 MWCC Budget. Second, the report has not succeeded in calculating accurate data on` overflow volumes. The consultant has made four conclusions about his computed output: 1. Lake overflow volumes cannot be dete�mined accurately by computer modeling or by historic lake level records. � 2. The computer model qives reasonable estimate� of runoff volumes to the � lakes and determines an accurate distribution .of relative runoff quantites fram each community. 3. Groundwater levels have minimal affect on Phalen and McCarron's Lakes, and bottom seepage is expected. Groundwater levels have significant affects on Como and Beaver Lakes and bottom seepage is minimal. 4. The only accurate method of ineasuring lake overflow volumes is to meter the flow in the lake outlet conduit. The Department of Public Works is substantially in agreement with these conclusions. The distribution of runoff to the lakes according to community was reasonably accurate, with the exception of Lake Como. However, we did arrange to have the : consultant revise the estimate for Lake Como. FnTe also concur with the statement that the lake overflow volumes are not accurately determined. We wholeheartedly support the statement that metering the lake overflow volumes is the next logical step to determine these overflow volumes. Finally, we disagree with the statement that Como Lake has minimal bottom seepage. Since we are concerned only with the lake overflows reaching our sewers, however, the hydrology of the lakes and ground- water is not a primary concern at this time. Third, since overflow volumes are not known accurately, it is impossible to determine the impact of lake overflows on the MwCC facilities. Futhermore, it is impossible to determine the benefits of constructing new sewers to remove lake overflows from the sewer system until metered volumes can be determined. • � -6- ti 1 �Ll�� Metropolitan Council Comments Concerning the Lake Overflow Study Subsequent to the release of the Lake Overflow Study, the Metropolitan Council has directed its staff to review the study with the communities involved. The Metro- politan Council and MWCC held a general information meeting on October 23, 1980. On December 10, 1980, a meeting of the Technical Committee was held (this committee ' included metropolitan staff and the affected communities) . At that time, the • Metropolitan Council discussed their staff repart on lake overflows. On December 18, 1980, the staff report is to be presented to the Metropolitan Council's Physical Development Committee. 5ubsequently, the comanittee will present the report, along with their recommendations, to the Metropolitan Council for final action. The Metropolitan Council staff has made a preliminary recommendation for relievinq St. Paul of the inequitable burden of paying for the treatment of lake overflows. In effect, they are supporting St. Paul's position that some relief is justified. Their proposal is to allocate the treatment costs and facility construction costs. according to the share each communtiy contributes. St. Paul's recommendation would declare overflows unrelated to direct treatment costs and would, in effect, � take the costs that have been incorrectly placed on St. PauZ and spread them out to the entire metropolitan area. It is our belief that the removal of lake over- flowS from the sewer system would be a metropolitan benefit. The Metropolitan Council staff has looked at the issue from the metropolitan point of view. They consider removal of lake overflows as the most desirable solution because it would essentially increase the available capacity of the treatment plant. Futhermore, future federal and state requirements may reguire the removal of lake averflows. Therefore, the removal of lake overflows from the metropolitan sewer system may enhance tYe probability of ineeting permit .requirements for future metro- politan facility improvements. The staff report proposes diversion facilities to prevent lake overflows fresm reaching the MWCC system. On an interim basis, the costs for treating lake overflows would be reallocated to the contributing communities. To summarize, the conclusions of the staff report are: � 1. � Lake overflows are attributable to surface water runoff originating outside St. Paul. 2. Lake overflows are discharged into the metropolitan sewer system through the St. Paul sanitary sewer system. 3. St. Paul, because it is the location of the overflouz discharge points, is charged the entire cost of treatment for those flows by the MWCC. 4. Lake overflows have an impact on the available capacity of the metropolitan treatment pl.ant and future NPDES permits. 5. The preferred solution would be the construction of diversion facilities to prevent the lake overflows from reaching the MWGC System. 6. An alternative (interim) solution would be to reallocate the costs for treating the lake overflows to the com�nunities contributing surface runoff to the lake. -7- � ► The recommendations of the report are: 1. That the MWCC submit a cost allocation which includes estimates of lake overflows with its proposed 1982 budqet due to the Council on August 1, 1981. 2. That the cost allocation system be based on estimated amounts of overflow, together with drainage areas, amount of development, , impervious surfaces, precipitation and runoff amounts, as determined jointly with the Metropolitan Council after consultation with affected local governmental units. _ 3. That the cost allocation be included as estimated charges in 1982 for lake overflow and subsequent budgets until such time as the flows are removed from the metropolitan disposal system. City Staff Recommendation Although the recommendations of the Metropolitan Council Environmental Planning : staff do not totally agree with the City of St. Paul's position, as autlined in Mayor Latimer's November 4, 1980 letter to the Metropolitan Council Chairman, it is our opinion that the recommendations, with a few minor amendments, are an agreeable interim solution to the lake overflow issue. We believe that the report recommendations should be amended to include the following: l. The revision of the MWCC Cost Allocation System should reflect the lake overflow volumes and charges as of January l, 1981, not January I,'- 1982 as proposed. The overcharqing to St. PauL for lake overflows has occurred each year since 1970. St. Paul has repeatedly requested the MWCC to review this issue. On October 25, 1979, the Metropolitan Council charged the Waste Control Commission to (1) conduct a study of lake overflows to be completed by July l, 1980 and (2� include any necessary facilities improvements in their 1981 Capital Budget or any changes in their Cost Allocation System for 1981 user charges to the Council by August 1, 1980. Therefore, we feel justified in requesting the January 1, 1981 date. 2. Metering stations shall be installed by the MWCC at all four major sources of lake overflows rather than utilizing estimated figures as proposed. It is our opinion that accurate metering stations is critical to the determination of the volume of lake overflows. It would be exceedingly difficult to base the allocation of volumes and related costs with estimates. In addition, metering is the only way to provide adequate . information for the design of future clearwater sewers and to determine ' if the construction of these clearwater sewers is a cost effective way of dealing with the lake overflows. 3. The Metropolitan Council and Waste Control Commission should undertake a review of the present cost allocation system as it relates to charges for surface water and possible adjustments of those charges as provided for in the Metropolitan Sewer Act. . - -- � OM G1 : i2/1975 , � Rev: 9J8/7E� , FXr'�P,t?��i�i�^�! ^F AG?11!J(r';'}::�°f 1'JE 0�'.1�E:?S, � ' r'.'t�,vt_UT i G��J E,P:�� Oitb I id,��i'dCES � �]r'yV�.fV A �G/ `� Cate: December 15, 1980 T0: MAYOR GEC2GE LATiMER FR: Donald E. Nygaard, Director i�E; Lake Overflows from Beaver, Phalen, Como and McCarron's Lakes � ACTiOh P,E�ULSTE►�: Approval of the report of the Department of Public Works on Lake Overflow Issue; endorsement of the recommendationg. of the Metro Council staff with amendment and request for further review o� �uxf:aae.::�ate� ,filows. ��, ��,.�- � �- ��,�,,�,�P o� G-�. �2 -� 2 - `6 v � �%�. ��`' Pi1RPOSF At�D f2AT��P;AIE FO�. TNlS A�TIaN: Provide City Council support of the city's position regarding the inequitable MWCC charges for lake overflows. ' A7TACNP1FNTS: Resolution � Department of Public Works Report to Council on Lake Overflow Issue DJD/ck ,,��T: � GITY OF SAINT PAUL j ' o' � '� OFFICE OF THE MAYOR ��' �+ �uuntua � '�•,nu 11�n ^� �� 347 CITY HALL SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 GPARGE LATIMER (612) 298-4323 MAYOR December 8, 1980 MEMBERS OF THE SAINT PAUL DELEGATION De� ..��g?.s].ator: Please,_}�e,.��lvised_ that on Tuesday, December 16, 19$0, the Public, Work�, Depa�tmenit and: t�,e, Sa,i.nt,Paul Area Chamber of C�Sm'�nerce will be making a joint presentat'ion to the City Council on unfair sewage treatment charges being levied against Saint Paul properties for the treatment of clear water overflows from suburban lakes. The purpose of the meeting is to update the issues, describe alternatives, and have the City Council adopt �a �forn:al position for the City to take to the Metropolitan Council. You_:;�r�:,invi�ed to ,atter�d ,the City Coun,�il meeting which has tnis matter scheduled ori tlieir`agenda for" 10:45 a.m. in the Council Chambers on .�he �third floor"of fhe`�Ci�y. Hall/Court House. In 1980, the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission billed Saint Paul over $1,500, 000 for the treatment of clear lake water which overflowed from lakes located to the north and east of our city. These overflows are transparted to the Pig' s_ Eye Treatment Plant through MWCC' s interceptor system and based on the current MWCC cost allocation formula, Saint Paul is assessed the total cost of treatment. I have worked with the Public Works Department since Jant�ary 1978 to bring this unfair situation before the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission for resolution: 1) The City has requested that the sewage treatment cost allocation formula be changed. 2) The City has identified its concerns in the A-95 review process when the City of Maplewood sought approval for additional development which aggrevated the problem. • .�ti • ` � � • � � �! ss��w.,l� �,.�- �� . � ��d � ��,�� . ��.:� ��. . _ -� ,�,;,�� .��,"�.�.� - � � Saint Pau1 Delegation -2- December 8, 1980 3) The City has requF��sted that an independent consultant be hired to confirm Saint Paul' s claims. Two months ago the consultant hired by the MWCC completed the requested study and their analyses confirmed Saint Paul 's basic claim that there are significant overflow volumes being discharged to the Pig' s Eye Treatment Plant. And the cost for treating these significant clear water lake overflows is being assessed in total against the City of Saint Paul. The matter is now back before the Metropolitan Council for consideration. Their Physical Development Committee is scheduled to recommend a solution to the problem on Thursday afternoon, December l8, 1980. The most direct and equitable solution to the problem will not be well received by other metropolitan communities if the burden for lake water overflow treatment charges are transferred back to the generating communities. Because the Metropolitan Council 's decision making is extremely difficult 'due to the complex allocation formulas involving various municipalities, I am asking for the support of interested Saint Paul legislators. If your busy schedules permit, would you please attend the Physical Development Committee's December 18, 1980 meeting to assure that the City of Saint Paul 's concerns are addressed in an equitable manner. Thank you for your anticipated support. Respect�ully, . LATIMER May GL/lm cc: Members of the City Council Fred Lanners - Bill Schilling � Rose Mix Don Nygaard Roy B�edahl Jerome Segal Richard Schroeder