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Fd_ CAS # I WELL HEAD PROTECTION JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT By: Steven J. Jankowski, City Engineer Background: The Minnesota Department of Health drafted Rule 4722, which will require a well head protection plan for all public water supply systems. Among other things, the plan will require that the area contributing to the recharge area of each well be defmed. Because all public water supplies need to meet this requirement and because recharge areas are largely a function of local geography, a number of Anoka County municipalities have been meeting to discuss the possibility of entering a joint powers agreement to consider hiring a single consultant to model the area geology and preparing individual plans for all member cities. Dakota County recently undertook such an approach to prepare plans for their member communities. Attached is a draft of a joint powers agreement to facilitate a similar process. Anoka County, through its Department of Health, would be the coordinating agency. You will note that the joint powers activities are proposed to be divided into two phases. Most significant is that the fa'st phase will consist of developing a project work plan, selecting a consultant and determining individual member costs. A direct financial commitment would not be required until Phase II and the City would have the ability to opt out of the agreement at the end of Phase I. An individual well head protection plan for Ramsey's water utility is estimated cost between $20,000 and $30,000. The joint powers agreement proposes dividing the cost of a joint plan based upon an equal weighting of six factors which include: base amount, population, number of service connections, water appropriation, number of wells, and well risk. Using this formula, Ramsey's share of the joint project would be 4.8 percent of the total, assuming all communities participate. The individual percentages would increase if some cities choose not to participate. The total cost of a county-wide plan is estimated to be between $100,000 and $200,000. A joint powers approach to this requirement certainly appears to have the potential to reduce project costs, particularly in the area of developing a groundwater model. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City enter into a Joint Powers Agreement and participate at least through Phase I of the project so that the cost of a jointly prepared plan could be compared to one for Ramsey alone. Committee Action: Motion to recommend City Council adopt Resolution g96-11- entering into a joint powers agreement with Anoka County to investigate the cost of performing a county-wide well head protection study. Reviewed by: City Engineer City Administrator City Attorney Finance Officer RB: 11/26/96