Minutes - Public Works Committee - 01/15/2008

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Councilmember Dehen asked if the City had ever considered having a City compost site. He stated that the County is almost all sand and this would give people the chance to compost their organic material and get some soil that has been sitting to help enrich their lawns and gardens. He asked whether organic content was most important or clay content for better water retention. City Engineer Jankowski stated that both playa part and noted that there is a company in Elk River that can prepare custom soils by including organic material for about $400-$800 per lot in a new subdivision. Councilmember Dehen stated that he feels requiring 6 inches of topsoil is a lot and suggested that if the City was trying to accomplish water retention that the thickness of the topsoil requirement could be decreased if material such as clay could be incorporated into the soil. Chairperson Elvig stated that he agrees that 6 inches is a lot of topsoil and would like to see a cost breakdown of adding different materials such as compost or clay. He suggested that perhaps requiring 4 inches of topsoil with a content of 20% organic material may be a wise idea. City Engineer Jankowski stated that he will get this information for a future meeting. Councilmember Dehen stated that he also wonders how this will be enforced and asked what other cities were doing. City Engineer Jankowski stated that this would be a similar requirement for subdivisions and the City would get involved when developments are being mass graded. Mayor Gamec stated that he thinks this is something that the Building Inspector can do on the final inspection and just add something to the check list and do a few soil borings. Councilmember Dehen reiterated that he would like to see the City take a look at a City compost site. Mayor Gamec stated that the City sold some individual compost bins a while back and that went pretty well. He stated that the County has a compost site and it is a major production that takes a lot of space and equipment. City Administrator Ulrich suggested that the County be contacted to see what they would suggest for the City. Case #5 Review Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) City Engineer Jankowski noted that he just wanted to highlight some of the projects have been included in the CIP but reminded the Public Works Committee that none of them have been officially authorized by the Council. He reviewed the three scheduled street projects: Phase 1 of 16ih Avenue extension; McKinley Street extension (Ramsey Blvd. to Sunfish Lake Blvd.) and South Highway 10 Frontage Road (Riverdale Dr. and Rivlyn Ave.). Public Works Committee /January 15, 200~ Page 10 of 13