| Minneapolis
Joint Water Commission Joint Water Planning and Governance Task Force Meeting
Minutes
March 22, 2006
4 - 6 pm
City of Minneapolis City Hall
Mayor’s Office, Room 331, Conference Room C, Third Floor
Present
Minneapolis
Barbara Johnson, Council Member
Sandra Colvin Roy, Council Member
Klara Fabry, Director of Public Works
Golden Valley
Linda Loomis, Mayor
Bob Shaffer, Council Member
Tom Burt, City Manager
Crystal
ReNae Bowman, Mayor
Mark Hoffman, Council Member
Anne Norris, City Manager
New Hope
Mary Gwin-Lenth, Council Member
Steve Somer, Council Member
Dan Donahue, City Manager
Others
Lisa Dressler, Minneapolis Public Works Interagency Coordinator
Scott Harder, Environmental Financial Group, Inc.
Review and Approve Agenda
Decision: The Task Force unanimously approved the agenda for the meeting. There were
no changes.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Decision: The Task Force unanimously approved the meeting minutes from the January
11th 2006 meeting. There were no modifications from the draft minutes. Revised Schedule
The Task Force reviewed a revised schedule that was distributed with the agenda
beforehand. The schedule had been revised at the request of the Task Force so that
governance issues would be considered after the technical topics. A copy of the revised
schedule is attached as Exhibit 1 to these minutes.
Decision: The Task Force unanimously approved the revised schedule. Budget and Cost-Sharing
Klara Fabry and Scott Harder discussed the budget for consulting support services. Prior to
the meeting, Scott had met with both Klara and the Joint Water Commission to describe the
scope of services in detail. The total budget of $120,250 assumes seven task force
meetings, four technical memoranda, and a final report. An additional contingency of
$25,000 (for a total of $145,250) was recommended in case additional technical
information is required, additional meetings are needed, or if additional issues arise that
the Task Force needs to consider.
Scott then discussed the preliminary cost sharing arrangements that were discussed at the
January 11, 2006 meeting. The purpose was to ensure that all Task Force members were
supportive of such an arrangement.
Decision: The Task Force confirmed the budget and the 50% - 50% cost sharing
arrangement. Mailing List and Web Portal
Scott Harder solicited Task Force input on the mailing list to make sure that all members
were receiving email notices and attached documents. Scott also indicated that the web
portal would be available shortly, pending some final design modifications.
Decision: No Task Force decision was necessary for this informational item. 2006 Legislative Update
The Task Force had included this on the agenda in the event that the water system
interconnection project required additional support at the legislature. In addition, Scott
Harder distributed copies of backup water supply legislation secured by the City of St. Paul
last year. The legislation is similar to that secured by the JWC in 2004.
Decision: No action is required of the Task Force on this matter.
Action Item: Scott Harder indicated that he would continue to monitor pending water
supply legislation and send email notices of such legislation to the Task Force. Metropolitan Council Regional Water Planning Update
Scott Harder presented slides shown to the Governor-appointed Advisory Committee
overseeing the Metropolitan Council regional water supply planning process. The
presentation included an overview of the regional aquifer system and other background
information.
Linda Loomis (Advisory Committee member) briefed the Task Force on planned outreach
efforts planned, including possible May workshops in Chanhassen and Hugo. Linda also
indicated that the Council is seeking to reach out to environmental groups including MEI,
MEP, and Friends of the Mississippi. She indicated that outreach plans and related key
messages were still in development.
Decision: No action is required of the Task Force at this time. Planning Information “Gap” Analysis
Presentation by Scott Harder. Discussion by all.
Prior to beginning work on specific water issues, the Task Force was interested in
reviewing the current status of water supply system planning for Minneapolis and the JWC.
The intent was to identify “gaps” in planning information that might inhibit a full
exploration and understanding of the issues to be considered by Task Force. The planning
information analysis focused on a back-up water supply, water quality, hydraulics, and the
conjunctive use of river and groundwater. The slides used to present this analysis are included as Exhibit 2 to these minutes.
The analysis highlighted the need for the following:
- better information on Minneapolis water system hydraulics,
- an understanding of the economics of backup supply options,
- emergency demand requirements,
- the feasibility of interconnections with other cities,
- blended water quality impacts, and
- aquifer impacts for demands greater than JWC.
Decision: No action is required of the Task Force at this time.
Next Meeting Decision: The group decided that the date and time of the next meeting would be coordinated through Minneapolis and JWC staff.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned about 5:45 P.M. |
