012703 CC WS Min
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CITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2003
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
8:30 p.m. or following EDA Meeting
MINUTES
1. CONVENE WORK SESSION MEETING
Mayor Love convened the meeting at 9:45 P.M.
A.
Roll Call
Present:
Mayor Love; Councilmembers Garfunkel, Lizee, Turgeon, and Zerby; Administrator
Dawson; Engineer Brown; Finance Director Burton; and Planning Director Nielsen
Absent:
Attorney Keane
B.
Review Agenda
Without objection from the Council, Mayor Love proceeded with the Work Session Agenda for this
evening.
2. Water Systems, Ordinance, and Policies
Administrator Dawson explained that during discussions on the 2003 budgets, Council expressed
concerns about the financial condition of the Water Fund. In review of this fund, Council also requested
review of the physical infrastructure of the City's water system as well as the Water Ordinance and
policies related to extension of City water services. He further noted Staff had spent several weeks
sorting through historical data related to the current state of water affairs in the City. Many philosophical
shifts had taken place regarding policies in effect, what exceptions had been recognized, and how best to
proceed with plans for expansion of the infrastructure. As a result, discussions held this evening would
most likely lead to other discussions of ordinance and policies.
Engineer Brown then provided Council with an overview of the City's water system. He explained the
City's water system was comprised of five separate systems, encompassing seven wells to service
residents. He noted these separate systems had been installed in a manner to take opportunities to
connect them. All of the existing wells, storage tanks, and watermains were necessary for the individual
systems to operate, and all would be needed when they could be connected.
Engineer Brown then thanked and commended Engineering Technician Boyd Bailey for his fine work in
developing a mapping system of the physical infrastructure of the water system for the City.
Engineer Brown went on to explain the well facilities in terms of aquifers drawn upon, well depth, year
of installation, reserve storage tanks, as well as detailed explanations of status of each well system, and
subsequent interconnections. Next, he reviewed the description of each well system, permitted volumes,
actual usage, number of connections, permitted allocations for each well, in addition to connections with
other municipalities. He stated there were two recommended changes for maximum optimization of the
City's well systems, including the interconnection of the Woodhaven Well to the City of Excelsior's
water system, and the interconnection of the Amesbury Well system with the Southeast Area water
system.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
January 27, 2003
Page 2 of 2
Councilmember Zerby questioned the original plan for the water system when the storage towers were
built. Engineer Brown explained the water towers had been designed to hold and supply the entire line
with existing wells and interconnected towers. Since there had been additions to the system, and the
system had been a bit more overused than originally expected. He also noted that changes in the latest
version of the Uniform Fire Code may result in larger watermains in order to complete the system.
Mayor Love questioned whether community-wide discussions had taken place with regard to potential
water system connections in neighboring municipalities. Engineer Brown responded attempts had been
made asking for initial dialogue on the matter, but many municipalities were quite territorial about the
issue.
In response to Councilmember Lizee's question about identification of potential problems and priorities
within the current water system, Engineer Brown stated technicalities had been evaluated and prioritized
with regard to the system.
Mayor Love stated he would like to establish certain policies and guidelines to help municipal
negotiations in discussing water connections.
Councilmember Zerby commented it seemed as though a philosophical shift had taken place over time in
how best to connect to the City's water system.
Engineer Brown questioned what changes could be made to current policy to enable additional
connections and expansion of the current water system.
While Council indicated a full discussion of this issue should take place at another Work Session, Mayor
Love stated opportunities for expansion and interconnection should be defined, especially in terms of
new development within the City and/or commercial development. Council agreed.
Discussion ensued regarding the potential factors related to establishing policy for feasibility studies,
such as number of potential connections, location, and economics of any potential expansion. Discussion
continued regarding the responsibility of the City toward bearing the cost of any feasibility study with
regard to the City water system.
Council agreed to continue discussions on these issues at a later date, as well as attempting to define
policies, and review ordinances for potential changes and expansion opportunities.
3. Adjourn
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Sally Keefe, Recording Secretary
Garfunkel moved, Lizee seconded, Adjourning the Work Session Meetin
11: 38 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.
Woody Love, Mayor