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Home My WebLink About04/11/94COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 11, 1994 Immediately Following Regular Council Meeting Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Rooff, Jordan, Collier, Krizek, Anders, Murphy, Getty. Members absent: Mollenhoff. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Getty that the Agendas, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Mollenhoff. Motion carried. Discussion was held concerning Water Pollution Control Plant improvements and the satellite plant. The Public Works Committee, Wastewater Treatment Plant managers, RUST Environment & Infrastructure personnel and council members discussed serious problems associated with the plant's operation and its non- compliance with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requirements. Councilperson Anders proposed that a contract agreement with RCM Engineering in Minnetonka, Minnesota be considered to provide engineering design review for a satellite treatment facility to treat industrial wastewater from IBP & Eagle Tannery. He stated RCM would contact the Iowa DNR and inform them of the city's intentions and agreement with compliance dates and schedule. He said this review would be completed in 30 days and presented to the city council. Councilperson Getty presented two letters from Gary Schellhorn, Technical Services Coordinator, detailing a number of problems at the main treatment facility on Easton Avenue and the new pretreatment lagoon near IBP. He blamed some of the problems on the engineers. He said he has only been here three years, and it seems that every project that he has been involved with has some very serious problems somewhere in the project. Jack Loynachan, Operations Coordinator, stated he and Mr. Schellhorn were often told to stay away from construction sites involving the sewers despite their knowledge of the system. He said they were told to keep quiet about design flaws and construction shortcuts they observed and just keep their mouths shut. Gary Simmons, Superintendent of Water Pollution/Flood Control, backed up his employees by stating that previous administrations were driven by a "political" agenda and money concerns, and that they ignored his department's concerns about cutting corners on projects, especially the pretreatment lagoon. RUST personnel stated they were unaware of many of the problems Mr. Schellhorn pointed out in his letter to the Public Works Committee. Several of the problems appear to be changes made by the contractors without RUST's knowledge. Councilperson Anders said he had "lost all confidence" in the local engineering firm (RUST) hired to design an estimated $37 million upgrade of the sewer system to meet DNR wastewater discharge standards. Mayor Rooff stated it sounded to him that the design by RUST was great, but the follow-through on the project was lacking. Councilperson Jordan stated he is concerned with switching engineering firms after RUST has already done most of the groundwork for the sewer improvements and has submitted their cost estimates to the city, which are now public record. Council Work Session April 11, 1994 Page 2 Jim Walsh, City Attorney, reminded council members that the clock was ticking on the city's time frame in making the necessary improvements. The city has been sued by the Attorney General's office for past violations of its discharge permit. He stated right now we are continuing to violate, on a regular basis. He stated he thinks the DNR, at this juncture, is going to be disappointed if we come up with some other plan. That fact might not bode too well for the city's chances to reduce what could be millions of dollars in possible fines. Councilperson Anders recommended appropriate city personnel, engineering and construction firms and the Public Works Committee meet as soon as possible to discuss, identify, prioritize and agree on solutions on operational and safety problems currently existing at the northeast site pre-treatment lagoon. In addition to the lagoon, they would look into renovating the treatment plant on Easton Avenue, also a northwest interceptor and value engineering at the existing plant and the satellite plant. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that the meeting be adjourned at 9:47 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Mollenhoff. Motion carried. Tom Campbell Acting Clerk/Auditor COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 11, 1994 5:30 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Getty, Jordan, Krizek, Murphy, Collier. Members absent: Mollenhoff. Moved by Murphy, seconded by Collier that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Mollenhoff. Motion carried. Eric Thorson, City Engineer, presented the annual sidewalk inspection program for the City of Waterloo. He stated we are in the sixth year of a ten-year sidewalk repair program. The yearly program is broken down into four phases. Phase I - Zone inspection of non -abutting sidewalk, or the city's responsibility. Phase 2 - Zone inspection of abutting sidewalk, or the property owner's responsibility. Phase 3 - Preparation of Community Development Block Grant contract for those property owners eligible. Phase 4 - Preparation of the assessment contract. He covered the initial inspection repair survey forms, serving the notices and forms, and the hearing process on the needed repairs. He stated the choices available to the property owners are hiring a bonded contractor, becoming bonded and repairing it themselves, qualifying for Community Development Block Grant funding, or doing nothing and being included in an assessment program. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that the meeting be adjourned at 6:09 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Mollenhoff. Motion carried. Tom Campbell Acting Clerk/Auditor COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 11, 1994 5:00 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Getty, Krizek, Murphy, Jordan, Collier. Members absent: Mollenhoff. Moved by Krizek, seconded by Murphy that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Mollenhoff, Collier. Motion carried. Bob Stevenson, Administrative Assistant, presented the Fiscal Year 1995-1999 General Obligation Bond List, which calls for the city to spend $26,550,000 in the next five years, or a little over $5 million per year. The total FY 1995 General Obligation Bond Issue will be $5 million, with $700,000 ice facility bonds, being issued in the fall. Mr. Stevenson discussed every category in the FY 95 General Obligation Bond List explaining what the money would be used for. PROPOSED FY 95 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND LIST A. Street Improvements Annual Street Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sixth Street Extension Bridge Replacement Program Relocated U.S. 218 Associated Costs Relocated Westfield Construction Shaulis Road Construction B. Other Improvements Underground Storage Tank Removal Traffic Signal Improvements, Monitoring and Painting Sidewalk Repair Program American Disabilities Act Improvement (Includes parking ramp) G.O. Bond Issuance Cost Rath Site Demolition Gateway/Trees Forever Crossroads Drainage Project Fire Department Aerial Truck Park Improvement and Bikeway Development Fund Parking Lot - Park to Sixth Viaduct Public Library Renovation/Building Repair Capital Equipment Subtotal Other Improvements TOTAL PROPOSED FY 95 G.O. BOND PROGRAM FALL ISSUANCE ICE FACILITY *REVENUE BACKED ISSUANCE (FALL OR SPRING) EAST PARK AVENUE RAMP EXPANSION 700,000 850,000 1,500,000 925,000 100,000 300,000 150,000 50,000 3,025,000 100,000 75,000 100,000 75,000 135,000 300,000 75,000 375,000 175,000 155,000 200,000 80,000 130,000 1,975,000 5,000,000 *Contingent upon the receipt of a $1,000,000 EDA Grant With no further business before the council, it was moved by Krizek, seconded by Jordan that the meeting be adjourned at 5:32 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Mollenhoff. Motion carried. Tom Campbell Acting Clerk/Auditor