11-06-2013 JWC MinutesJOINT WATER COMMISSION MINUTES
Golden Valley - Crystal - New Hope
Meeting of November 6, 2013
The Golden Valley — Crystal — New Hope Joint Water Commission meeting was called to order at
1:32 p.m. in the City of Golden Valley Council Conference Room.
Commissioners Present
Tom Burt, City Manager, Golden Valley
Kirk McDonald, City Manager, New Hope
Anne Norris, City Manager, Crystal
Staff Present
Tom Mathisen, City Engineer, Crystal
Randy Kloepper, Utilities Superintendent, Crystal
Bob Paschke, Director of Public Works, New Hope
Sue Virnig, Finance Director, Golden Valley
Jeannine Clancy, Director of Public Works, Golden Valley
Jeff Oliver, City Engineer, Golden Valley
Bert Tracy, Public Works Utility Manager, Golden Valley
Kelley Janes, Utilities Supervisor, Golden Valley
Mitch Hoeft, Utility Engineer, Golden Valley
Pat Schutrop, Administrative Assistant, Golden Valley
Others Present
Scott Harder, Environmental Financial Group, Inc.
Bernie Bullert, Director of Water Treatment and Distribution Services, City of Minneapolis
Glen Gerads, Assistant Director of Water Treatment and Distribution Services, City of Minneapolis
Minutes of October 2, 2013 Meeting
MOVED by Norris and seconded by McDonald to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2013
meeting as presented. Motion carried.
Amendment to Minneapolis Water Agreement
The JWC engaged the services of Scott Harder, EFG, Inc., to work with the City of Minneapolis on
the water rate study. Minneapolis hired HDR to take a critical look at the rate study process and
what determined the costs to its customers. This current process will result in more transparency,
consistency, and demonstrates to Minneapolis customers what they are paying for. Key areas
addressed in the amendment include:
1. 2014 water rate will be $1.97/100 cubic feet. This amount is pending approval by the
Minneapolis City Council.
2. A revised definition of "Minneapolis Inside City Residential Rate" was replaced in the new
amendment.
3. The interval schedule for cost of service studies will change from 5 years to 3 years. 2015
will be the next cost of service cycle affecting rates starting in 2017; in 2018, affecting rates
in 2020; and the last cycle will run to the end of the contract.
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4. Both Minneapolis and the JWC are beginning to develop emergency backup groundwater
supply systems. Text was added to the amendment clarifying how the groundwater supply
costs will be identified and apportioned resulting in a more equitable and transparent
allocation of costs and assurance that the JWC will not be paying for two systems. Bullert
added drilling wells is 10 years out because the Minneapolis City Council will not approve
drilling right away.
5. The agreement reconfirms both parties will keep the service off peak as much as possible.
Peak hours are from 9 am to 9 pm. In the event Minneapolis has an interruption of service,
Minneapolis may ask the JWC to draw water from its emergency backup supply during an
emergency in Minneapolis. The emergency would be a "true" emergency and not used to
manage water quality issues such as temperature or hardness control, etc.
MOVED by McDonald and seconded by Norris to direct the JWC Chair to approve the amendment
to the Minneapolis Water Purchase Agreement. Motion carried.
The commissioners will present to their city councils for information only.
Update on Emergency Backup Water Supply Plan
The work is focused on locating well sites, meeting with the Minnesota Department of Health
and talking to property owners regarding easements. As stated in the feasibility study prepared
by Barr Engineering Co., the estimated cost for the wells will be about $4.5 million. Request for
proposals were distributed to five consultants and TAC requested Bolton & Menk, Inc. be
awarded the contract. An updated 80% design cost estimate will be completed by November
25, but the three cities financial directors can use the $4.5 million knowing that amount will
change when the new cost comes in.
Burt added the JWC has a lot of projects that need to be completed and asked where the wells
will fit in the prioritization process (i.e., faulty pipe may be more important than drilling the
wells). Clancy added that looking at the County Road 9 project and what the JWC is committed
to, there is about one mile of the JWC 36 -inch water transmission line from Minneapolis that is
programmed to be replaced at a 72.5%JWC/27.5% Hennepin County cost share. The estimated
total for JWC will be $1,260,733. The JWC has $1,300,000 budgeted which includes replacing
the meter vault at York Avenue.
Discussion followed regarding the infrastructure and evaluating its integrity. Burt wants the TAC
to review the entire CIP and consider drilling the wells in sections.
Bolton & Menk, Inc. submitted a professional services agreement in the amount of $128,035.
The work scope approach proposed is a two-phase approach. Phase I is the design and bidding
($77,805) and Phase II is providing construction services ($50,230).
MOVED by Norris and seconded by McDonald to approve the professional services agreement
with Bolton & Menk, Inc. in the amount of $128,035. Motion carried.
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The TAC will review and update the CIP to coordinate with the County Road 9 project, drilling
wells and the Crystal emergency generator. The TAC will report back to the JWC at the
December meeting an amended CIP.
Update on Crystal Pump Station Emergency Generator and Costs
Crystal is continuing to work toward the purchase of a generator from Cat Ziegler. Xcel Energy
meter records indicates an 800 kW generator will be able to handle the three 300 ph pumps.
The estimated cost is $500,000 and will be brought back to the Commission for financing and
approval at the December meeting.
Update on Crystal Reservoir Fill from System Project
Crystal is looking at removing #5 pump and installing a butterfly valve that would allow
backfilling the Crystal reservoir during off hours through that pump column. The flows would
not affect the Golden Valley system. Total cost is about $15,000 to remove pump and install the
valve. The pump has been recently rebuilt and should not require a total rebuild. Mathisen will
be ordering some parts for the project after the first of the year.
Approve Leak Detection Study of 36 -Inch Pipeline as Part of County Road 9 Proiect
Pure Technologies submitted a budgetary proposal to provide an internal SmartBall inspection
for a lump sum cost of $53,300.
MOVED by Norris and seconded by McDonald to approve the proposal with Pure Technologies
to provide a pipeline inspection as part of the County Road 9 project in the amount not to
exceed $53,300. Motion carried.
Mathisen will prepare a contract document with Pure Technologies for the project.
System Evaluation Due to Pendine County Road Projects
Mathisen reported that he will not be getting back to Smart technology because it has some
limitations.
December 4, 2013 Tri -City Council Meeting
The JWC decided to postpone the December 4 Tri -City Council meeting to allow the TAC to meet
and evaluate the CIP and for the three cities' finance directors to develop the finance plan for the
emergency backup water supply. The meeting will be rescheduled for early January 2014. Clancy
will contact Bonnie Morey, SEH, Inc., to see if she is available to facilitate the meeting.
Other Business
The New Hope City Council approved the contract amount of $49,355 to Dave Perkins Contracting,
Inc. for the replacement of one 18 -inch water valve at the intersection of Boone and 54th avenues.
MOVED by Norris and seconded by Burt to approve the reimbursement amount of $49,355 to the
City of New Hope for the repair of the 18 -inch water valve at the intersection of Boone and 54th
avenues in the City of New Hope. Motion carried.
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Next Meeting
The next scheduled meeting is December 4, 2013 at 1:30 pm.
Adjournment
Chair Burt adjourned the meeting at 3:12 p.m.
Thomas D. Burt, C
ATTES .
Pat Schutrop, Recording Secretary
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