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<br />Mr. Riverblood stated transportation and water issues are the City Council’s primary focus, with <br />an emphasis on water in the Environmental Policy Board (EPB)’s City Council-approved Plan. <br />He added the EPB will meet on May 9, 2017, for the second meeting on an ordinance that would <br />place requirements on installation of energy-efficient inground irrigation systems with water <br />conservation technology. He noted the EPB has reviewed possible incentives and rebates for <br />residents who retrofit their existing irrigation systems <br /> <br />Mr. Riverblood stated the City was unable to develop plans for a surface water treatment plant on <br />the Mississippi River due to its prohibitive cost. He added efforts to improve water quality and <br />conserve water are still necessary. He noted irrigation systems use the highest volume of water, <br />although the City can only track residential properties that are on the municipal system. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated one half of all municipal water used is for irrigation. He added this could be <br />changed by introducing more efficient irrigation and water management systems. <br /> <br />Mr. Riverblood stated this issue will be reviewed at the EPB’s May 15, 2017, meeting. He added <br />new development and principal buildings will have a landscape requirement of 4 inches of top soil, <br />which meets specifications for water conservation. He noted education and awareness is a major <br />component of the effort to conserve water and ensure that irrigation systems are operating <br />efficiently. <br /> <br />A Committee member stated she is a developer, and she has worked with many cities that <br />incentivize developers to include energy efficient fixtures in their development plans. She added <br />it could be added as a requirement in the development agreement. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated that issue has come up during discussions regarding recent development <br />projects. Mr. Gladhill stated the proposed service water treatment plan was removed from the <br />Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as its total cost would be over $35 million. He added the <br />consensus of City Staff, the City Council and the Committee was that surface water should be <br />addressed as a regional issue, as it would not be possible for any one community to solve this <br />problem on their own. He noted a legislative approach across municipalities is being reviewed. <br /> <br />Mr. Gladhill stated any efforts the City can make regarding water conservation are vital, as the <br />need for a solution will be less urgent, and the City can demonstrate its mindfulness and <br />commitment to conservation to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. <br /> <br />A Committee member stated residents understand the Transportation issue, but he is not sure <br />whether residents understand the very real nature of the water conservation problem. He added <br />that is something the Steering Committee can focus on making residents aware of. <br /> <br /> <br />2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee / May 8, 2017 <br />Page 4 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />