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

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restrictions or water supply capital improvements on any municipality. Alternatives: Alternative # 1 — Motion 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. Alternative #2 — Motion to deny adoption of Resolution #18-217 at this time. Funding Source: No local cost contributions are associated with this request, other than the time Staff will spend participating in the study. The Metropolitan Council will cover all study costs using dedicated Clean Water Funds. The City Engineer will serve as the City's technical advisory team member for the study, and other key Staff will be required to provide input into the study. Recommendation: Staff recommends alternative # 1. On October 16, 2018, the Public Works Committee reviewed the draft resolution and adopted a motion to pass the resolution on to City Council for review without a formal recommendation from the Public Works Committee. One Committee member questioned why the cities would lead the study and not Met Council, and whether Met Council could use the results to require future conversion to a surface water supply system. Discussion followed regarding the Department of Natural Resources requirement to conduct a pilot study at the City's expense to explore the potential use of surface water as a supply source at the time the City applied for a permit to construct its last groundwater well. Staff noted that the Metropolitan Council has no statutory authority over municipalities regarding water use restrictions or water supply capital improvements, and that Minnesota Statute 473.1565 directs their work as noted in the resolution. Staff also noted that the Met Council wants the cities to assume control over the study to ensure that the results are applicable to the needs of each of the cities. It is therefore Staff's position that the results of the study cannot be used by the Metropolitan Council to commit the City to using surface water as a water supply source. Instead, Staff believes the study will provide valuable information to the cities for guidance in future water supply planning efforts. Action: 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. Attachments Resolution 18-217 MN Statutes 473.1565 Form Review Inbox Reviewed By Date Kurt Ulrich Kurt Ulrich 10/18/2018 10:30 AM Form Started By: Bruce Westby Started On: 10/16/2018 08:27 AM Final Approval Date: 10/18/2018