07-27-1998 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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To the City Council and Citizens of the City of Orono May 15. 1998 The City Council has given conceptual approval to a joint project with Hennepin Parks to construct a bike/hike trail on Old Ciystal Bay Road connecting two regional park facilities - the Luce Line Trail and Baker Park. This trail will also serve the new City facilities and the Orono school campus. Funding for the trail is to be shared between the City and Hennepin Parks. A substantial portion of the trail was completed in 1997. The remainder is to be completed in 1998. In response to the purchase of a residential lakeshore property by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a proposed public boat launch, Orono took action to cause the DNR to rethink its procedures related to the provision of public access. Orono urged the DNR to take a wider and longer range view of this issue to prevent a piecemeal approach to the provision of public access. In response, the DNR stopped all activity related to the initial site and has purchased an existing marina for conversion to a public boat launch. This new facility, completed in 1997, provides for public access needs without expanding commercial uses on the lake and without forcing public boat launching facilities into the City ’s residential areas. This was an outstanding example of a cooperative effort between two governmental jurisdictions to find a mutually beneficial solution to a difficult problem. Orono has worked in a cooperative effort with the cities of Long Uke and Medina and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to accomplish a major water quality improvement project on Long Lake, a lake contiguous to both the cities of Long Lake and Orono. This project was funded by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. A School Liaison Officer Program was initiated through a cooperative agreement with the school district. Through this program a police officer works with school administrative and counseling staff, and builds positive relationships with the students, to enable them to assist in addressing and preventing problems, and to assist in intervening with "at risk" students. This program is fully funded by the school district. The City is currently involved with a group of 14 cities located adjacent to Lake Minnetonka in an effort to identify new opportunities for cooperative service delivery to enable improved services and increased efficiency. « « * • I ( ) t Water and Sewer Fund Operations The City continued its program to reduce the amount of ground water and stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system, with the purpose of reducing sewage treatment costs. The program includes inspection of manholes, lift stations, and sewer lines to identify significant sources of infiltration and inflow (I & I), then sealing the manholes and lift stations, and repairing the sewer lines to eliminate the I & I. In 1996, the City completed the inspection, sealing, and repair of sanitary sewer facilities in the initial project area. In 1997, the City received a $ 10,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services to inspect a second project area and a $ 17,000 loan to assist in funding the sealing and repairs needed in this area. These efforts will result in substantial reductions in I & I, as well as reductions in the related sewage treatment costs. The savings generated by these efforts will then be put toward addressing I & I problems in another project area. This program will be ongoing. The City has now been awarded a second grant and loan for additional I & I reduction efforts in 1998. The City is planning a multi-year rehabilitation of the Navarre water plant. This project will address maintenance and repair needs while upgrading the plant to meet projected water supply needs. The rehabilitation plan will be guided by a comprehensive analysis of the water plant performed by the City ’s consulting engineer. -5-