07-13-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 22, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 13 water, the groundwater, or drinking water. The basic requirements of the permit include that the City has a stormwater pollution prevention program, prepares annual reports, adjusts ordinances as required by the State, and creates stormwater system mapping, all of which the City does. There are six control measures discussed in the permit: 1) education, 2) public participation and involvement, 3) illicit discharge, detection and elimination. He noted in 2019 there was one incident with an illicit discharge of a sewer service line which was discharging into a creek and was corrected within one day of discovery; 4) construction site stormwater runoff, 5) post-construction stormwater, 6) the City practices good housekeeping and maintains their own systems and infrastructure. He displayed the 2019 Compliance Activities. He noted that last year they finished a five-year period of studying the City’s stormwater ponds in the system, both public and private. The main goal was to figure out who owned what, where they were, and how they functioned together. He said the City did all of its normal construction inspections, erosion control both with the City and in partnership with the MCWD (Minnehaha Creek Watershed District). Last year, the City Staff did 293 different tasks that were stormwater-focused; the budget for the City for stormwater-related items was about $300,000. They do their normal grass/leaf disposal programs at the City. Their street-sweeping program removed an estimated 58 pounds of phosphorus that would have otherwise made its way into the water systems. They also updated all of the storm maps. As far as 2020 activities, they are on hold while waiting for the new MS4 permit requirements from the State to make the necessary adjustments. Everyone’s permits expired in 2018 and everyone is waiting for the MPCA to get through their process to renew the permit. Until then, the City is operating under the old permit guidelines. This year 20% of the storm system will be inspected and conduct normal maintenance operations and sweeping. Stormwater improvements were included in both the streets project and the separate stormwater project, which the City Council awarded at the last meeting. There is a Request For Proposal and bid for the East Long Lake Trail Project which has some stormwater improvements in it. Mayor Walsh closed the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. 15.ACCEPT DONATION FROM BIG ISLAND LEGACY Walsh noted the Big Island Legacy has raised a large amount of money and its representative, Tom Kolar, would like to talk about it and present a donation. Tom Kolar, Treasurer and Big Island Legacy Board Member said it has been quite a journey. He noted it is not easy getting money out of people, and if not for Mayor Walsh, the amount donated would be much smaller. He stated the trails are now mowed and usable. It will be a nice park with the additional improvements that are going to be made. Walsh noted Mr. Kolar has a house on Big Island. Mr. Kolar confirmed he did and stated, as Treasurer of the Big Island Legacy, he bequeathed to the City of Orono the sum of $58,000. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to accept the donation of $58,000 from the Big Island Legacy. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Walsh noted the City Council consented to the Finance Director Report.