238353 ORIGINAL�O CITY CLERK 238353
CITY OF ST. PAUL FIOENCIL NO.
, ' OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
.
OUNCIL LU ON—GENERAL FORM
PRESENTED BY
COMMISSIONE DATF
WHEREAS, The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
. is conducting a conference on pollution of the interstate waters
of the Upper Mississippi River tributaries at the Leamington Hotel ,
Minneapolis, on April 30, 1968, and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul has been asked to make a report of its
progress at the said conference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Chief Engineer of
the Department of Public Works is authorized and directed to represent
Saint Paul and the City Councit at the aforesaid conference and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the attached statement proposed to be
made is hereby approved.
COUNCILMEN APR 3 t� 196�
Adopted by the Council 19._ .
Yeas Nays
Carlson . �IPR 3 n t���
��T Approved 19—
Holland
�}� n Favor
P� � Mayor
��'�
Tedesco � A gainst
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:� 3�C��f"ya��Ile:E::e::::
Nir. Vfce Presi�ent �Peterson)
.
��sLtsi7E� ��� 4 j��� °�22
- �� . �� �. � 23�353
M I' I' j
, PROGRESS EVALUATION MEETING
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FEDERAL IJATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
CONFERENCE ON POLLUTION OF THE INTERSTATE WATERS
OF
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES �
LEAMINGTON HOTEL, MINNEAPOLiS �
April 30, tg68
. STA1'EMENT OF EUGENE V. AVERY .
SAINT PAUL CITY ENGINEER ' I
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I am Eugene V. Avery, Chief Engineer in the Department of Public '�
Works in Saint Paul . On behalf of the Mayor and City Council , I am here ' �
to present, very briefly, Saint Paul 's progress in water pollution control '
. as it affects the Mississippi River passing through our City.
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Let me say initially that Saint Paul is in favor of clean rivers and
pollution abatement. This position is historical and is not brought about , �
solely by the current directives and pressures from state and federal
regulatory agencies. We have, both in past decades and in current programs, �
demonstrated with expenditure of many millions of dollars that �ve are �
concerned that sewage be adequately treated. In addition to our participation� ;
in treatment plant activities, through the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Sanit�ary j
District, we have been extensively rebuilding our city sewers also with the �
obj�ective of steady reduction in the amount of diluted sewage overflow from 1
� this combined system. Even though only. three or four percent o,f the sewage �
overflows to the river, this is nevertheless a serious problem and we are �
working steadily. to solve it. � '
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For example, fihe City in recent years has spent over ten million dollars �
on storm sewer outfall construction. These are major trunks outletting to the +
river and capable of' carrying the storm water from approximately six thousand
, acres, about 30 percent of the present combined sewer area within the city i
limits. They are designed in addition to serve some 16 hundred acres of nearby �
suburban areas. We have encouraged and cooperated in the Minneapolis-Saint i
Paul Sanitary District regulator demonstration program, which we expect to , j
produce results widely useable in our contemplated sewer regulator betterments. '
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In the downtown area, as part of the Capital Center Deveiopment, in the �
` . Riverview industrial areas, in the southeast part of the City and in the j
vicinity of Lakes Phalen and Como, separate sewer systems have been constructed. �
Separation of sewers in industrial or commercial areas, has cost in some �
cases as much as $100,000.00 per block. ' ° , ;
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• In order to provide comprehensive guide lines for the selection of � ,
project priorities, the City in 1965 and 1g66, undertook to prepare a �
list of the most needed projects, having as an objective the elimination ,
of sewage back-up into basements and a significant reduction in the frequency
and amount of sewer system overflow to the river. Out of that study developed '
the January 1967 report entitled "St. Paul Sewerage and Drainage". This '
report recommended accomplishment as soon as possible of 120 speci.fic projects
having a total estimated cost in January 1967, of 4�,7 million dollars. 7he
list is serving as the basis for our current sewer facility construction �
program and we are undertaking these projects as rapidly as possible.
Approximately 50 percent of the City's currently-authorized capital improvement
funds for all purposes are being used for sewers, During 1968, sewer consfiruction
' costs will amount to some six million dollars in Saint Paul , The extent of
construction will be the most that the City has seen in any one year for many
decades. This 1968 construction program will contribute to the separation and
pollution abatement objective all over the City and will substantially complete
the separation an the so-called West Side, a completely developed residential ,
industrial and commercial area of about 1800 acras.
Although our efforts have been substantial , it seems apparent that our
activities, as well 'as those of others, must be considerably increased if we
. are to bring about and preserve the high quality of urban environment which
we all acknowledge to be desirable, With this in mind, we are seeking ways
' and means to speed up our current 43 million dollar program and to prepare '
plans for projects and facilities extending considerably beyond this current
program.
Last year, about September lst, we received from the Minnesota Pollution
' Control Agency, a directive setting forth certain sewer system effluent
standards and requiring by March 17, 1969, a detailed engineering report on
eliminating the existing combined sewers and/or developing alternative methods
for controlling the discharge of sewage to the Mississippi River. The directive
. stated further that we are to construct such facilities as may be needed so as to be
in compliance with the standards by not later than ,fune 17, 1g77. �
Cost of the engineering study is expected to be several hundred thousand
dollars.� Since �the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency directive was received
too late for us to make proper financing provisions in the 1968 budget, we
have had some difficulty and delay in arranging for planning funds; but this
has now been done. , •
After interviewing principals from engineering firms on a nationwide
basis, we have selected the firm of Horner & Shifrin, Inc. , St, Louis, to
perform the main body of the study. I have attached to my statement a copy
•of our contract with this company in order to complete the records of the .
conference. •
lJe are in the process also of developing a contract with the firm of
Greeley � Hansen, Chicago, for certain phases of the work. The Horner & Shifrin
. people will be developing�•plans and estimates for the physical facilities
required to meet the standards. Greeley & Hansen v�ill perform a study of the �
administrative, operational and financial aspects of� the water pollution control
activities, relating both to our existing and to our future sewerage systems. ,
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� Initial .financial encur�brances are $173,000,00 for the Horner S '
` Shifrin contract and $40,000.00 for tiie Greeley "� Ha�nsen contr�ct, l�le �
expect that this initial encunbrancc of $213,000.00 may �rell be consiclerably
increased before the ti•�ork is com�leted. The �•�ork of th� t�•�o fi rms to�cther
will constitute the planning response to the State Agency's directive. ,
We expect to have this planning report completed in the fall of 1909,
' slightly more than two years after receipt of the P�Ilution Control
Ac�ency's directive. l•/e believe that this will be in substantial compliance �
• • with the intent o` the Fedcral-State Conference held in FeSruary �nd hS�rch
. o� 1g67, even though it Yrill undoubtedly be •necessary for us to request a •
tine extension of se•✓�ral montl�s beyond Marc;-i 17, 1�6g, the date s,�ecified
in the State Agency's dircctive. . '
As one part of our study we plan to investigate �nd to es�imate
' construction costs, nore precisely than hereto`ore, for a complete set��er
' separa�ion program. Because we believe the general � cost magnitude ,`or
comple�e separation to be beyond Saint Paul 's probable financing abili�y, we
plan to concentrate on alternate methods of pollution con�rol , sucf� as river-
side treatment of combined se�•�age and storm wat�r overflow. 41e a�ill undoubtedly
propose certain "express" sewers to remove major su5urban sanitary flows and .
large industrial flows from our corobined systen. Our �egulator monitoring a�d
betterment investigations will probably be pnased as the latter part.of our
study, so we can take maximum advantaoe of the federally-assisted Minne�polis-
Saint Paul Sanitary District investigations and those of other groups around
the country, .
Our plan, to be presented in the fall of 1g69, though it will involve a
subs�antial degree of sewer separation, will undoubtedly rely heaviiy o��
alterna�e methods of pollution control , not only fo r financial reasons,
• but also because separation, in our view, �•�ill probaE�ly not meet the proposed
a�ater quality standards. The proposed standards are for swimming quali �y • .
� ti•�ater in both the river and in se�•�er system effluents. Our understanding is
tliat even storm water will not meet that standard. T�erefore, even if the plan
�-�ere to involve complete separation of sewers, it may be necessary to ir,clude
some treatment of storm water. �Je do not wish to draw firm conclusions before
our study is conpleted, but we are extrenely apprehensive about the financial
impact of any plan, whatever its character, that has as its o5jective the •
achievement of a sewer system effluent 'that is of swirming quality, wheth.�r it
be a combined se�•�er overflow or storm water overflotv.
� More precise determination of the financial impact must, of course, a�>>ait
� completion of the plan. Ho��ever, at this point we do know enough about our
sewer system, about the facilities that may be requirecl and about general cost
figures to realize� that the program necessary to meet the standards might
very a�ell be such as to represent the equivalent or a_ 60 percent increase in
the City property tax levy . This would ba the equiv�lent of an increase of
about 25 Qercent in the overall tax statement for eac� Saint Paulite. �inancing
requirements of this magnitude would be a majo� Qrob��m to Saint °aul , especially
when available resources are considered in �relation to overall cornmur.ity needs,
w5ich include not only se�•�er systems but such communi�y necessities as
adeGuate schools� streets, fire protection, police protection and recrea�ion. .
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' The water quality and effluent standards are very high, but eve
think they do represent a desirable objective. We do not oppose these �
standards, but we are concerned about our financial a�bility to meet them. �
�,Jhen our plans and cost estimates are completed in lg6g, we wi11 have more
precise figures. At that time, in considering implementation schedules,
together with ways and means of financing the facilities, we hope and trust
that state and federal enforcement agencies will assist us with as much •
financial aid as possible. • '
Approved by Saint Paul City Council
April 30, 1968. � �
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ORIGINAL TO CITY CLERK 238�54
CITY OF ST. PAUL FOENCIL NO.
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
OU RESOLUTION-GENERAL FORM
PRESENTED BY
COMMISSIONE DATE
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 3250 authorizes and provides
f or payment of overtime work, and
�i S, the Commi.ssioner �f Public Utilities has
authorized overtime work in his department during the period
from April 20� 1968 through May 3, 1968;; therefore� be it
RESOLVED, that the proper City Officers are hereby
authorized to pay the employees who performed such overtime
w�rk in accordance with the provisions of Ordinances No. 6�1a.6
and No. 3250�
�PR 3 0 196�
, COUNCILMEN - Adopted by the Council Y9_
Yeas Nays
Car�son ��I� 3 � 1968 �
Da,�g�i�sli , Approved 19—
• Holland
Favor
Me�it�} � . .
Pe er�s fr� ACfl1�� MaYor
Tedesco a gainst
��:e��ie�.;�e..�:e..o�.e��,;:.•,::a - -
�Vir. Vice Preaident (Peteraon)� ' -
` 't+ ' t��, ' �k''�,t�
��RUS�t�e M�1Y 4 196�22