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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/08/1997COUNCIL WORK SESSION September 8, 1997 4:30 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Getty, Krizek, Anders, Mollenhoff, Jordan, Murphy, Collier. Moved by Mollenhoff, seconded by Krizek that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Four. Absent: Jordan, Murphy, Collier. Motion carried. The Professional Services Agreement with RUST Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. in conjunction with the Lagoon Bio -Gas Recovery System Project and the request of the Administrative Director to proceed with Phase I, Preliminary Design, was reviewed. The cost of the preliminary design is $70,000 and will be paid from the sewer fund. The Project consists of the construction of new facilities at the Northeast Anaerobic Treatment Facility (NATF) to clean and compress the bio -gas from the NATF for sale as a vehicle fuel and for sale to the local natural gas utility. The NATF produces an average of 539,000 cubic feet per day of bio -gas, which is currently flared to the atmosphere. Previous studies have suggested the feasibility of cleaning the bio -gas of contaminants in order to bring the methane content up to natural gas pipeline standards. The clean bio -gas would be compressed and metered into the nearby natural gas distribution pipeline, either for direct sale to the natural gas utility, or for transport to a future compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station constructed in Waterloo. The Preliminary Design Phase culminates with the preparation of the design documents to approximately 30 percent design completion. The purpose of the Preliminary Design Phase includes the following: 1. Confirm the suitability of NATF bio -gas for the cleaning process. 2. Confirm the reliability of the gas cleaning technology. 3. Determine the size and layout of the new gas cleaning facilities at the NATF. 4. Prepare a conceptual cost estimate. The preliminary design documentation will provide the city with the information necessary to budget and schedule the actual construction of the project as well as confirm that the system will perform as expected after startup. The total project cost for the Bio -Gas Recovery System is $6,680.00. This cost includes 117 diesel conversion kits at $8,300 each and 252 gasoline conversion kits at $4,200 each. Bob Bamsey from RUST Environment & Infrastructure stated that no other community is using bio -gas from a treatment facility. There are other systems in place using bio -gas, mostly from landfills. Councilperson Getty questioned if after the study is completed will the project be brought back to the council for final design. Bob Stevenson, Administrative Director, responded that the results will be brought back to the council and that the city will be investigating funding for the project, including the conversion kits. Moved by Mollenhoff, seconded by Anders that the Professional Services Agreement with RUST Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. be approved and the Administrative Director be authorized to proceed with Phase I, Preliminary Design with an April 1, 1998, in conjunction with the Lagoon Bio -Gas Recovery System Project. Ayes: Four. Absent: Jordan, Murphy, Collier. Motion carried. An application for Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for the Lagoon Bio -Gas Recovery System was reviewed. Council Work Session September 8, 1997 Page 2 Jordan now present at 4:43 p.m. Bob Stevenson, Administrative Director, stated that the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) is preparing a grant application to the Iowa's Clean Air Attainment Program for CMAQ funds. Vehicle conversion kits, which are necessary to allow existing fleets to use the compressed natural gas (CNG), are estimated at $2,030,000, cost for the facility is estimated at $4,080,000 and a contingency of $570,000 to cover legal, engineering and administrative costs for a total project costs of $6,680,000. The city will be required to furnish a 20 percent match, which can met using sewer funds. The deadline for the application is October 1, 1997. Construction could start within one year and take a year to a year and a half for completion. Councilperson Murphy now present at 4:46 p.m. Dick Grimm, Superintendent of Sanitation/Recycling, updated the council on the recycling program. The cost for the city's recycling program has increased dramatically. The recycling cost for April through May 1997 averaged $24,436, and last year over the same period the cost averaged $16,024. Due to increased usage at the drop off sites and demands by the businesses where the drop off sites are located to increase service and the cleaning of the sites, we have increased our contract with Corkery for Saturday and Sunday service at premium labor costs. Representatives from Corkery stated that the cost per ton is determined by the cost to sort the material and whether the materials are contaminated. Materials collected from households are not high valued. There is more contamination with drop off sites. Councilperson Anders suggested an educational program on recycling. Corkery suggested that funds be solicited from the Black Hawk County Landfill Commission to be used for an educational program. Mayor Rooff stated that it may be necessary to implement a curbside recycling program if the costs for the drop off sites continue to rise. Ideas that were suggested included: hiring someone to police the sites, using prisoners to clean the drop off sites, reducing the number of days that the material is picked up from the drop off sites, hiring retirees and educating the public. Corkery reported that seven counties are using co -mingled curbside recycling programs and they have been well accepted. There is approximately a 50 percent diversion from the landfills. Some are using landfill money to help pay for curbside recycling. Councilperson Collier now present at 5:15 p.m. Mayor Rooff stated that our costs for drop off sites has increased 17 percent over four years. The city has increased the number of sites from seven to eleven. Councilperson Jordan asked what system works better, curbside recycling or the drop off sites. Corkery reported that a private contractor can provide the services at less cost than the city and cheaper than the current drop off site system. The city has outgrown the drop off sites, and the level of services has increased at an increased cost. Mayor Rooff stated that staff needs to investigate what it would take to keep the sites clean at a cost cheaper than the services Corkery currently provides. Superintendent Grimm was instructed to gather information and provide the information to the Public Works Council Work Session September 8, 1997 Page 3 Committee. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Jordan, seconded by Mollenhoff that the meeting be adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk