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street sweeping), and watering .needs are really non-existent until the final landscaping and <br />irrigation is installed. <br />Enforcement could be accommodated working with the building department during- the final <br />grade inspection. The definition of final grade could be revised to include the stipulation for <br />topsoil, meeting the City specification, to be installed. We should also look at revising the <br />landscaping escrow that is currently collected with building permits to cover these additional <br />costs and be more in line with what other communities are doing. We will continue working <br />with the building department on a permit review letter update to include notification and contact <br />information for this final inspection. We will also work on an education component for builders <br />and homeowners on how this revised topsoil specification will assist in reducing water <br />consumption and directly benefit them on their utility bill. <br />The development of a City compost site is a more complex issue that could not be fully <br />researched for this case. Generally speaking, staff would agree that it is a good idea to have a <br />local compost site as an amenity for the community. The logistics of where it would be located, <br />how it would be supervised, what would be collected, what would the associated costs be and <br />how it would be funded are things that could not be resolved at this time. We will continue <br />investigating options and working with the City and County environmental coordinators on <br />issues that should be looked at and earmark this as a future topic to be discussed, potentially as <br />the plans for the future public works facility are being developed. <br />Recommendation: <br />Staff is recommending that City Code be amended to require a minimum of four (4) inches of <br />topsoil meeting MnDOT specification 3877 C, premium topsoil borrow in landscaped areas of <br />all new developments (residential & commerciaUindustrial). This could be accomplished by <br />import, or the option to blend additional materials into existing substandard soils on site. <br />Action: <br />Motion to recommend to City Council that staff be directed to prepare an ordinance modifying <br />City code to require a minimum of four (4) inches of topsoil meeting the MnDOT specification <br />3877 C, premium topsoil borrow in landscaped areas of all new developments. <br />Attachments: <br />MnDOT specification 3877 <br />Reviewed By: <br />Director of Public Works/Principal City Engineer <br />City Engineer <br />Environmental Coordinator <br />PW: 7/15/08 <br />-167- <br />