Agenda - Council - 10/23/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our !Almon: To work together to respcaibty grow Our community, and to provide quality, COM4ffeciive, and efficient government ser ices. CC Regular Session 7. 5. Meeting Date: 10/23/2018 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Adopt Resolution # 18-217 Supporting Metropolitan Council Funded Study for Northwest Metropolitan Area Regional Surface Water Supply System Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #18-217 supporting a Metropolitan Council funded study to explore alternatives and costs for a regional surface water supply system in the northwest metropolitan area. Background: Over the years, the City of Ramsey has explored the use of surface water to augment, or possibly replace, our current groundwater wells as a supply source for our municipal water supply system. Prior to 2016, the City's Capital Improvement Plan included a 9.6 million gallon per day surface water supply facility. However, due to the high capital cost (nearly $20,000,000) the decision was made to remove this item from the CIP until other cities showed interest in working with Ramsey to construct a regional surface water supply facility so costs could be shared and spread among numerous cities. Over a year ago, Metropolitan Council Staff informed City Staff that they could use Clean Water Funds to conduct a study to explore the feasibility of constructing a regional surface water supply facility in the northwest metropolitan area, but in order to do this we would need to find at least two other cities willing to commit to the study. Staff then reached out to neighboring cities in Anoka County to see if any had an interest in studying a regional surface water supply facility study, but none showed interest. Recently, the City of Dayton informed Staff that they were interested in studying the use of surface water as a municipal water supply source given pending development and the need to expand their water supply system. Then the City of Rogers indicated they would also be interested in studying the use of surface water as a supply source for their municipal water supply system. Then the City of Corcoran also showed interest in participating in a study. Staff informed Metropolitan Council Staff that the four cities were interested in completing a surface water supply study. Metropolitan Council Staff then asked each City to adopt a resolution supporting the study so Metropolitan Council Staff could then request the use of Clean Water Funds to pay for the study. The primary objective of the study will be to explore and understand the relative costs and implementation considerations of different surface water use approaches to long-term water sustainability within the study area. The study will support future planning of local area water supplies and water sustainability practices. Cities will continue to face increased demands on their water supplies in the future so this study will provide concept/planning level options for consideration.