06-12-17 PC Agenda AGENDA
Planning Commission
Comp Plan Conversation
Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road
Council Chambers
Monday, June 12, 2017
6 pm
1. 6-6:30 pm: Open House (Water Resources)
2. 6:30-7:30 pm: Presentation and Discussion (Water Resources)
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763-593-8095/763-593-8109(fax)
Date: June 12, 2017
To: Golden Valley Planning Commission
From: Jason Zimmerman, Planning Manager
Emily Goellner, Associate Planner/Grant Writer
Jeff Oliver, City Engineer
Subject: 2040 Comprehensive Plan—Water Resources
Summary
Water Resources is the fourth of seven elements to be discussed as part of the 2017 update to the
City's Comprehensive Plan. Staff will host an open house immediately prior to the Planning
Commission meeting as a way to share information and gather feedback. Members of the public and
Commissioners from the Environmental and Open Space and Recreation Commissions are invited to
stay and participate in the discussion that follows.
Background
The Water Resources Chapter will include a set of coordinated policies and strategies on water supply,
wastewater, and surface water. A major change is required by the Metropolitan Council for this round
of Comprehensive Plans. In the existing Comprehensive Plan,there were three separate chapters on
Water Resources. Staff conducted analyses and created separate plans for each of the three topics.
For the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Cities must adopt an integrated approach to planning and analysis
in order to emphasize how efforts in one area can benefit another.Therefore, Water Resources will
become one chapter with an integrated policy plan and implementation plan. The City's work will be
influenced by the Metropolitan Council's 2040 Water Resources Policy Plan, which moves beyond the
management of these resources only to meet regulatory requirements. Rather,the plan addresses
them as vital resources that must be sustained for future generations.
Outcomes from this Session
1. Consensus on general themes and priorities
2. Preliminary agreement on the 2040 Goals and Objectives
Attachments
• Summary of Community Feedback on Water Resources (1 page)
• Water Supply Summary (1 page)
• Wastewater Summary (2 pages)
• Surface Water Summary(2 pages)
• Proposed Goals and Objectives for Water Resources Chapter (2 pages)
SUMMARY OF' COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
.� Water Resources - 204o Com rehensive Plan
p
(��/2�4� Comprehensive Plan Conversations - June �2, 20�7
Summary
The City engaged the community on the topic of Water Resources in a number of different ways in 20�6 and
2oi7:
• Community survey (via telephone) was conducted with several environmental questions
• Comprehensive Plan kickoff open house was held September�9, 20�6
� City solicited online comments on the 204o Comprehensive Plan update
• Focus groups on Resilience and Sustainability were conducted in 20�7 and included water issues
The general themes that are emerging are:
• Protect natural resources, open space, and parks with sustainable land use patterns and policies
• Educate the public about ways to reduce stormwater runoff and the pollutants within it
• Encourage residents to reduce the use of chemicals on lawns to improve quality of stormwater
• Protect drinking water from pollutants and ensure access to an adequate supply of drinking water
• Plant native plants and rain gardens to improve stormwater infiltration (and encourage residents)
• Plant rain gardens and native plants along roadways and other highly visible areas of the city
• Increase water reuse and conservation
• Preserve and improve the function of wetlands
• Increase convenience of access points to creeks and lakes for kayaking and other recreational activities
• Reduce the risk of flooding and mitigate flooding impacts on residents and businesses
• Invest in aging sanitary sewer, water supply, and stormwater infrastructure
Comprehensive Plan Kick-Off Open House
As community members arrived at the open house, they were given a set of stickers to use at each "station"
or chapter of the Comp Plan. Stickers were used by attendees to represent the goals that they feel are most
important to them and should be included in the long-term vision for Golden Valley.
Top 5�Nater Resources Goals Identified at Open Nouse Sticker
Count
Protect and enhance natural areas and wetlands to im rove their functions 34
Improve ualit and reduce quantit of stormwater runoff 32
Im rove water uality of local water bodies 27
Involve and educate the ublic on water resource related issues 22
Reduce im act of flood dama e on residents and businesses 8
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WATER SUPPLY SUMMARY
� Water Resources - 204o Comprehensive Plan
GV2040 Comprehensive Plan Conversations - June �2, 20�7
Summary
The City of Golden Valley has purchased drinking water from the City of Minneapolis since the early�q6os. In
�q63, the Joint Water Commission (JWC) was formed with Crystal and New Nope to collectively purchase
and distribute water from Minneapolis to the three cities. Golden Valley owns and maintains the smaller
diameter (less than �b-inch) watermains.
The JWC currently purchases Minneapolis potable water under a 2o-year agreement that was signed in 2004
which replaced a previous agreement signed in 1963. As a supplier, Minneapolis must deliver treated water
that meets all Federal Primary Drinking Water Standards.
The JWC system consists of three elevated storage tanks and five underground reservoirs, three in Crystal
and two in Golden Valley. The system also has three emergency back-up wells that have been installed within
the last few years. In addition to the water reservoirs, the JWC owns and maintains �6 miles of pipe that are
�6-inch in diameter or larger, eight miles of which are located in Golden Valley.
The City of Golden Valley is responsible for �28 miles of watermain (less than �6-inch diameter), of which less
than 5��o has been replaced or rehabilitated. Approximately 73��0 of the water system is nearing the end of its
useful life. The average cost to repair or replace one mile of pipe is $1.4 million.
The JWC and the City of Golden Valley have identified critical customers and highest users in preparation
for an Emergency Plan to follow during conditions that require reduced water service. Emergency situations
include drought, flood, tornado, or contamination of the Mississippi River. The emergency backup wells and
inter-connections with neighboring Cities greatly reduce the risk of a water shortage during a potential
emergency situation.
The City of Golden Valley and the JWC have established the following goals for water conservation:
• Limit per capita residential demand
• Limit peak daily demand
• Limit total peak daily purchases from Minneapolis
• Limit unaccounted for water
The new challenge for the JWC and the City of Golden Valley is to develop a comprehensive
repair/replacement strategy for the water systems to maintain the current level of service. The challenge will
be to balance the repair/replacement given that the majority of the pipes are reaching the end of their
service life. It is not feasible to replace the majority of the water system at once. Prioritizing replacement will
be the leading challenge.
� WASTEWATER SUMMARY
� Water Resources - Zo4o Comprehensive Plan
GV2040 Comprehensive Plan Conversations - June �2, 20�7
Summary
The Golden Valley sanitary sewer collection system is part of the overall Minneapolis-Saint Paul Regional
wastewater collection and treatment system program managed and operated by the Metropolitan Council
Environmental Services (MCES). In addition to the interceptor collection system owned by the MCES, the
local sanitary collection system is jointly owned under private ownership and the City of Golden Valley. The
MCES is required under state and federal requirements to insure all wastewater throughout the Twin Cities
Metropolitan area does not leave their interceptors and is properly treated before discharge to local
receiving streams.
In order to insure the capacity of their interceptors, the MCES adopted a surcharge program to make sure all
communities were properly maintaining their sanitary sewer collection systems and managing peak discharges
caused by inflow/infiltration (I/I) in their sanitary sewer collection systems. Prior to 2003, the Golden Valley
sanitary collection system had a history of ineasuring high peak wastewater flow rates during rainfall events.
As a result of the MCES Surcharge Program, peak wastewater flow rates above MCES allowances were
identified during rainfall events in September and October of 2005 resulting in the City of Golden Valley
committing to a I/I abatement program to manage and reduce their wastewater contributions to the MCES
interceptors.
The City of Golden Valley established two goals to effectively manage their wastewater and sanitary sewer
collection system. They are consistent with the goals and objectives of the MCES and are as follows:
Goal �: Provide adequate capacity to insure wastewater collected for treatment does not leave the Golden
Valley sanitary collection system causing a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO).
Goal 2: Reduce I/I to a manageable level to maintain and reserve wastewater capacity within the Golden
Valley system for future development and reduce operation and maintenance each year.
Over the past ten years, the City of Golden Valley has taken an aggressive approach to reducing the impact
of I/I on their collection system. Following a preliminary assessment through flow monitoring, the City
implemented a private property inspection program. The inspection program consisted of two parts, a
voluntary program through the City's street reconstruction project and a mandatory program through
property sales (Point of Sale). The private property inspection program has reduced peak wastewater flow
events caused by I/I across the City. Prior to the program during the spring of 2003, permanent flow meters
operated by the MCES recorded peak wastewater flow rates exceeding�9 million gallons per day (mgd). A
typical dry weather day would record only 3 mgd on average. In 20�4 after eight years of the program, a
similar event with high levels of precipitation in the spring recorded less than half the peak wastewater flow
rate at the same MCES flow meter location.
Although the inspection program has been very successful, due to the structure of the program, many of the
private properties addressed have been more focused on the eastern side of the Golden Valley where more
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Comprehensive Plan Conversations - Water Resources
GV2040 June 12, 2017
street reconstruction projects have been completed over the past eight years. City efforts continue to
reduce the stress on the system resulting from I/I. The program has been successful in locating and repairing
illegal connections to the wastewater conveyance system. Illegal connections include foundation drains or
basement sump pumps discharging to the sanitary sewer. As of May 2017, the City has repaired 3�o illegal
sump and/or foundation drains throughout the City.
The previous sanitary sewer model developed over ten years ago has been an effective tool for staff to help
with the decision making process as a result of future redevelopment projects throughout the city. The
existing model identified a number of areas where pipe capacity has been an issue due to existing I/I and
redevelopment in western areas of the city. Future development opportunities in critical areas where pipe
capacity could potentially be an issue especially along the Hwy 55 and I-394 corridor can be evaluated to
determine how and if land use changes will impact existing sanitary sewer infrastructure. The success of the
I/I program has been reflected in an updated sanitary sewer model by adjusting peak wastewater flow rates
and allowing more reserve pipe capacity for potential development.
Much of the City of Golden Valley's wastewater system was installed prior to �970. Over eighty-six (86)
percent of the wastewater infrastructure is over fifty (50) years old with more than half of that total more
than sixty (bo) years old. Years of maintenance and clear water from I/I entering the collection system will
reduce the overall service life of the existing infrastructure. As the wastewater system ages, the pipes and
structures underground crack and break, allowing ground water to enter the system. Groundwater is clean
water and does not need to be treated at a wastewater plant. This I/I takes available wastewater flow space
and results in extra fees to the residents of Golden Valley. A programmed lining project can increase the life
span of older pipes as well as reduce the amount of I/I entering the wastewater system.
Through various studies, scans, flow monitoring and emergency repairs, it is apparent that the wastewater
infrastructure needs repairs and rehabilitation. Regular maintenance has been performed, including pipe
lining, asset scanning for condition status, but not enough to keep up with the aging system. To continue to
provide sufficient wastewater capacity to the residents, a dedicated push to repair and rehabilitate the
wastewater must be done. In addition to the work completed on private property, the City of Golden Valley
has upgraded the sanitary sewer collection system during many street reconstruction projects. A sewer lining
project has recently been implemented along Laurel Avenue to reduce potential I/I in a high groundwater
area and maintain pipe capacity along the I-394 corridor.
Future development in the core industrial and commercial areas may require the City to evaluate the need
for their main collection pipe laterals to be upsized. Due to increased growth and changes in development,
certain stretches of wastewater piping may be found to be undersized and impact the City's goals for their
infrastructure. Undersized pipes can cause backups in high flow events which result in costly repairs to
individual residents and businesses as well as the City as a whole. The sanitary sewer model is an effective
tool to determine if future development will impact pipe capacity resulting in undersized pipes and the
potential to limit future Golden Valley growth. Continual work will improve life of residents of Golden Valley
by maintaining water quality with the reduction of wastewater overflows and backups, lowering wastewater
costs to each resident, and improve the local economy by promoting future growth and development.
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� SURFACE WATER SUMMARY
;�� Water Resources - 204o Comprehensive Plan
GV2040 Comprehensive Plan Conversations - June �2, 20,�
Summary
The City has made progress towards the goals, objectives, and policies of the 203o Comprehensive Plan.
The 203o Comprehensive Plan included surface water goals covering the following issues areas:
• Water quality of lakes and streams • Flood control
• Water quality of stormwater runoff • Erosion and sediment control
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination • Wetlands and natural resources
• Recreation, habitat, and shoreland • Groundwater
management • Education and public involvement
• Streams • Funding
Overall, the City has made progress towards achieving the goals included in the 203o Plan. The City
continues to operate its stormwater program consistent with its Minnesota Separate Storm Sewer System
(MS4) permit, which requires stormwater best management practices affecting many of the resource areas
listed above. The City continues to review proposed projects for conformance with City and watershed
requirements to minimize adverse impacts to surface waters, infrastructure, and public health. The City
continues to be a member and active participant in the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission,
an organization that strives to achieve surface water management goals similar to the City.
The City has implemented, in cooperation with its watershed partners, studies and projects to address areas
of concern identified in the 203o Plan. These include monitoring of Sweeney Lake, Twin Lake, and Bassett
Creek, modification of the Wirth Lake outlet (resulting in removal from the impaired waters list), streambank
restoration of Bassett Creek, construction of the Briarwood-Dawnview pond, expansion of Noneywell pond,
the Schaper Pond diversion project to improve water quality in Sweeney Lake, alum treatment of Twin Lake,
and others activities.
The surface water issues to be addressed in the 204o Plan are generally similar to the topics addressed in the
203o Plan (see bullets above). Water quality and flood control are likely to be the most significant issues
addressed in the Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) and will be similarly emphasized in the 204o Plan.
Emerging issues to be included in the 204o Plan are listed below by general issue area:
Water quality of lakes and streams: Impaired waters and total maximum daily load (TMDL) studies; chloride
management strategies
Stormwater runoff water quality and quantity: Redevelopment as the primary opportunity for water quality
treatment and volume and rate control; filtration, infiltration, reuse, and recent adoption of Minimal Impact
Design Standards (MIDS); consistency with watershed rules
Flood control: Utilizing updated (Atlas 14) precipitation data in public projects and private development;
incorporating watershed hydrologic modeling into planning and management efforts
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Comprehensive Plan Conversations - Water Resources
GV2040 June 12, 2017
Wetlands and natural resources: Developing wetland performance standards; addressing aquatic invasive
species
Groundwater: Groundwater/surface water interaction; greater emphasis on sustainability
Education and public outreach: Building community capacity for appropriate local water management
practices
The issues listed above will be discussed in greater detail in the City's SWMP, along with goals and policies
addressing these issues.
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�, PROPOSED GOALS & OBJECTIVES
�� Water Resources - 204o Comprehensive Plan
Gv2�40 Comprehensive Plan Conversations -June �2, 20�7
Goal �: Sustain and (mprove Water Quality
Objectives
• Achieve pollutant load reductions(e.g., as specified in TMDLs) as required by the state or watershed
management organizations
• Achieve BCMWC and MPCA water quality standards in City lakes and streams to preserve beneficial uses
• Minimize hydrologic alterations to Bassett Creek
• Minimize the rate and volume of storm water runoff entering Bassett Creek
• Minimize pollutant loading from storm water runoff through non-point source reduction and treatment
• Comply with all applicable storm water regulations established by the Federal Government,the State of
Minnesota, Nennepin County,the BCWMC, the MCWD, and the Metropolitan Council
• Minimize erosion and sedimentation to protect the city's water resources
• Implement soil protection and sedimentation controls whenever necessary to maintain public health, safety,
and welfare.
• Sustain a healthy water supply
Goal 2: Protect and Enhance Aquatic Resources
Objectives
• Preserve and enhance the quality and quantity of wetlands
• Develop wetland performance standards
• Protect and restore natural areas
• Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat
• Preserve and enhance the quality of aquatic resources to enhance aesthetics and associated recreational
opportunities
• Maintain the integrity and ecological function of shoreland areas
• Protect the quantity and quality of groundwater resources
Goal 3: Reduce the Risk and Impact of Floods
Objectives
• Minimize the risk of flooding along Bassett Creek and its tributaries
• Protect human life, property, and natural and constructed surface water systems that may be damaged by
flood events
Goal 4: Maintain and Rehabilitate Infrastructure
Objectives
• Rehabilitate water supply system components to improve system effectiveness
• Implement programs to periodically evaluate the condition of water infrastructure and system performance
� Maintain the City's stormwater system to consistently provide the intended level of service and protection
• Develop or expand programs to help ensure periodic maintenance of the sewer system
• Establish procedures and ordinances to protect the City's sewer infrastructure
• Determine the City's equipment and staffing needs
g
Comprehensive Plan Conversations - Water Resources
June 12, 2017
GV2040
Goal 5: Ensure Capacity of Systems Meet Future Needs
Objectives
• Sustain a healthy and viable water supply
• Implement strategies to manage the impact of future precipitation and climate patterns on City stormwater
infrastructure and planning
• Utilize future growth forecasts in population, households, and employment to ensure adequate system
capacity
• Ensure that land use decisions reflect the opportunities and limitations of existing or planned infrastructure
Goal 6: Balance Water Usage and Conservation
Objectives
• Limit per capita residential demand for water
• Limit peak daily demand for water
• Limit total peak daily purchases of water from Minneapolis
• Limit unaccounted-for water in the system
Goal 7: Involve and Educate the Public in Water Resource Management
Objectives
• Involve Golden Valley residents in water resource related issues
• Build community capacity to implement stormwater best management practices at a local level
• Educate Golden Valley residents in water resource related issues
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