Minutes - Public Works Committee - 05/16/2006

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is being created, and to treat it prior to its entrance into the wetland. The intent of the Wetland Conservation Act and the WMO is to protect those areas and make them as pristine as possible. Councilmember Pearson suggested the possibility of Mr. Rowe creating his own retention pond. Mr. Rowe questioned where he would be able to locate a pond. He questioned the purpose of the stormwater utility fees. Chairperson Elvig noted the following issues. · Additional drainage due to the expansion on Mr. Rowe's property cannot mn to the neighbor's property unless there is an agreement in place. · If the stormwater is draining to a wetland the DNR will require that it be treated prior to entering that wetland. Public Works Director Olson explained there are credits available for ponding and water treatment that would reduce the stormwater treatment fee. Depending on the size there is the potential of a 50% reduction. Mr. Rowe inquired if there is anything in relation to the agricultural aspect of this land that could change anything with these fees. Public Works Director Olson replied not from a stormwater utility perspective. Chairperson Elvig noted this site includes a lot of rooftops and impervious surface, as opposed to a field, and he does not know that he would view the site as agricultural. Public Works Director Olson advised this issue is open to the discussion of the Committee. Staff wanted to present the Committee with the facts and inform them of how other businesses in the City are treated. Staff's recommendation is to deny the appeal and that the property be billed at the new rate of $2,953.69/qtr. He noted in 2000 using the 1997 aerial photographs the impervious area was calculated at 384,000 square feet, which is roughly a little over 8 acres. Now, based on the aerial photographs the impervious surface has increased to 746,000 square feet, which is 17 total acres of impervious area. That is a dramatic increase to what was originally anticipated. Mr. Rowe questioned what is classified as impervious surface. Public Works Director Olson replied Class 5, concrete and rooftops are classified as impervious surface. Mr. Rowe stated water will filter through Class 5 more than through rooftops or a blacktop surface. Chairperson Elvig noted part of the problem is that Mr. Rowe no longer owns land that he previously owned, which helped to mitigate some of the water drainage. So proportionately there is now a larger portion of the land that is impervious surface. Public Works Committee / May 16, 2006 Page 9 of 16