01-13-2009 Council Work Session Packet

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. � � MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Bill Wells, City Administrator Ton Kellogg, City Engineer From: Mike Gaffron, Asst. City Admin. - Long Term Strategy ��:�� Date: January 12, 2009 Subject: Surface Water Management Plan Update - Authorization to Commence (For January 13 Work Session - Formal Action January 26) List of Attachments � A - Bonestroo Proposal Dated 1-8-09 B - Excerpts from Met Counci12030 Water Resources Management Policy Plan: Pp. 83-87 C - MCWD Mandate & Checklists SWMP Update Required. The Orono Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) was completed in 2001 by Bonestroo & Associates and received formal Minnehaha Creek Watershed District approval in 2002. There are a number of regulatory changes that have occurred since 2002 that we are required by statute to address, as well as mandates from Metropolitan Council as described in their 2030 Water Resources Management Policy Plan (see excerpts, pp. 83-87 from that document). A significant change since 2002 is the requirement to meet specified levels of phosphorus reduction. Because the level of expertise required to address these changes is beyond that available in- house, the attached proposal to update the SWMP was requested of Bonestroo & Associates. The intent is to bring the SWMP into compliance in a timeframe commensurate with completion of the Comp Plan. Scope. This proposal has received a significant level of scrutiny by staff to ensure that the required mandates are addressed without excessive expenditures. For instance, we have had two meetings with Bob Barth of Bonestroo regarding the specific elements to be updated, and have met with MCWD staff to clarify the level of detail and range of options for meeting our phosphorus reduction requirements. The attached proposal has been reduced in scope and cost from an earlier version received in December 2008, eliminating review of the CSPP (Sewer Plan) Chapter which staff believes is unnecessary. The proposal also converts the Phosphorus Reduction Plan work to an hourly rate which provides some flexibility in the collaboration between staff, City Engineer and MCWD in �he iterative process needed to devise an acceptable plan. Further, the creation of a Design Guide providing detail for developers planning to work in the City has been separately priced as an option, with two levels of detail (see page 4 of proposal). Staff believes that either the Level 1 or Level 2 Design Guide would be very valuable in providing the justification that developers have begun to demand relative to stormwater management requirements and fees given the current economic climate; however, the creation of the Design Guide is not as time-critical as the SWMP update.