Welcome to the Mountain City Council meeting. It's uh Tuesday, August 25th. Uh let's rise for the pledge of allegiance. Please go >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. >> Just sit down and do it. >> All right, we got our agenda. Does anybody have any to add to that? Jez, >> no additions. >> Okay. All right. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> Make a second. >> Second. >> Okay. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Those opposed. All right. That's >> approve. Number four. We got public comments. >> If anybody wants to come up, give you a couple minutes. Give us your name and address. >> Dan Zelmer. I have Surfside Bar and Grill. So, what I just learned was when they shut the when the county shuts it down for the trail crossing and from what I understand that's how are they going to be able to get there if they're coming down 125 but you're still can't go north on Commerce. >> We will be able to go north on Commerce from the intersection at 125 to 110. It'll be open both directions going north and south from there and then north and north and south on 110 south but they'll only be able to get up to a certain point. It'll be fully closed to have the trail and we'll have somewhere from the like the menacing point to the trail. >> So you can't go north or south on commerce and the only access to myself and Gillespie and everything is 125 and then come up. >> Correct. And to get out then they have to >> go back south and then not 125. >> No, I'm So why didn't some of this happen when you guys were doing a project? Why are we Why is that coming later now? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But >> it's a that's a totally separate project run by the county and the three rivers park district. We've been coordinating to try to make sure on timing and that we're not going to trap people in there, but they for two different entities. So, it's not a city project, it's a county project. >> So, my concern is what I mentioned a little earlier is that this thing being done before the first freeze since all the temp water is above ground. I personally don't see it happening. I from what I've been observing it's they're kind of wearing the dirt out from moving it back and forth. It that loader is just going all day long back and forth and doesn't seem real organized to me. Is there >> we have a longterm schedule and they'll be done before when they need to be. >> What if it's not? Is there a plan B if it's not done or If we're if we really get to a point where they can't finish, we will we'll find a stop and they'll have to come back and >> so what do you do with the temp water then that's above ground that >> we wouldn't if we were to a point where we didn't think they'd be able to get done, we would not do that phase until next spring. But if there's if there's slight chance of freeze, it's not a lot of freeze, they can just put on the water a little bit and that is enough to keep everything working just fine because the date keeps getting pushed back on completion. Is is there enough manpower? Does Mer have enough to? Is there any thought about going to 10-hour days or working weekends to try to >> get this completed? >> They've been doing long days. They'll have as many crews as they can fit in in the space here >> because when I came over just now by Westside Auto, the policeman was stopped there given a ticket. I was by there earlier. He was given another ticket. So really been bad. I mean when can we start talking about maybe going north and south on commerce? Is there >> so the longer term schedule is that near the end of September is when all the patching the roadway should be open back up um up basically up to the Mitaka flats coming from the south >> when you're doing the individual hookups. Do you still need to go down to one lane or it seems like those are going to be along the sidewalk and out about 10 ft. So why would you still need to restrict the northbound? So they they need to have a pit open on the the side of the road where the water bank is now and they also need to have a pit open on the opposite side of the road. So in that sidewalk and curve space over there. So that's why they can't >> but you're doing that right now south of Bartlett. You you've got two way traffic >> same side of the street. >> Yeah. >> As we move north there's going to be water man in the >> the east side of the road. But there are still a lot of services on the other side. There's not water main on both sides of the road. So they need to work on both sides. >> But it looks like that the main line went through there and then you came back and did the the west side where you did the hookups and you maintain two-way traffic and now it's still two-way and you're working on the uh east side, right? >> Correct. But there's two there's two mains going through that stretch of road south of 125 because that is a a neck point for the city. So we have a a mainline water main and then we have a backup line. And so there's one for basically one on each side of the road. That's for >> and that's it enables you to keep both both lanes going north and >> well the way we the way it's ultimately set up. Yes. And that can't be done north of Bartlett there with you go up and you do all the east side and then you come back run north south and then come back and do the west side. There's >> they'll be moving around so much and traffic going around it. It's not safe for people to to set it up that way. >> So those lights that you had on those street lights you were running on board with. There's no way to do that where you're alternating. that was kind of on an emergency basis so that they could get the patching in within a safe space there and not have flaggers on online all overnight. When they set it up, the phasing of it got way too strung out and it was a lot more efficient to have flagers that they needed it. But it's not a it's not a good situation to try to do it that way. Well, I'm not in a good situation and I I know Gillespie must be down right now and yeah, if it goes to Thanksgiving, it's going to be really burdensome for for us. So, >> all right. >> So, that's all I got. >> Matt, why are they behind schedule? Do we know? >> We got slowed down a little bit in the Surfside Park area and so they needed to to spread. They needed to do half. >> Why were we slowed down? I mean, I we have a deadline here and we're obviously not going to make it. So, why are they so far behind? Do we know >> what slowed them down in front of Surfside? >> I need to look back at if we're act if we're truly behind. It is taking a little bit longer than some of the dates that Dan shared initially, but the we're spending more time in front of Surf Side because they needed to to split it up into two phases. We ultimately wanted to make sure that we got traffic off of West Edge as soon as possible. >> If we had left that a little more restricted, we maybe could have done it a little bit faster, but and then working around the Spirit of Lakes Festival, >> but >> all things that we knew. So, I'm curious why this wasn't factored. >> Think things that we knew, some things. I mean, I'm concerned about our businesses and I find it hard to believe that we can go two ways in an area that has to have two different sections worked on, but we can't figure out a way to get two lanes of traffic running further out towards town. That seems ridiculous to me. I unless you can explain that to me, my expectation is you would get that done sooner rather than later. >> So, it's about the the lane widths that we can maintain and then driver familiarity. And so if we start to sometimes they they can only go two lanes up to a certain point and then the next day it's two lanes up to a different point and then it >> changing traffic patterns I don't think should be a huge concern. concern. I mean, my god, we all have driver's licenses. So, if we can't drive between the lines, that's not my issue, right? And I mean, our issue is our constituents, our tax dollars, and our businesses, which we are failing miserably to support, just like we failed miserably with the traffic problem on West Edge. And yes, I'm mad. I'm irritated because we can't seem to figure out a simple solution to a problem that does not appear to be that difficult. And yes, it may inconvenience minger, but guess what? We're paying them a lot of money. Meanwhile, our businesses are suffering and losing a lot of money. I feel like we should have a solution. I This has gotten to the point of being ridiculous in my opinion and a lot of other people's opinion. >> So, if if we change it and we add more stuff in and potentially go to that process, that adds more cost to the project as well. Well, we've got a 5% overage on the contract, don't we? >> And we're trying to ensure that drivers know what to expect every day by going south every day. That it's consistent. Everybody knows what to expect. If we start adding in more points where they can go north and south only at a certain point, again, there's going to be >> we're going to have to do that anyway, aren't we? When they start doing the crosswalks. So, that's not going to be a change. It'll be something to expect because evidently you're saying that's what Henipin County is going to do when they go to fix the crosswalk. Correct. >> Correct. But that's a much more isolated area that we'll be in instead of the whole um couple thousand feet over half a mile of roadway that would be if we're we try to do it between 125 and up to the north end where they're working right now. It's just a it's a very long section where we'd be changing pro changing the process changing what operations they can have on a daily basis sometimes an hourly basis to get residents in and out. So if if you're on a city reconstruction project where we fully close everything and residents come in and out. >> Mhm. >> We're only working with a few specific residents and we can tell them the day before tomorrow get your car out by this time you're going to need to go this way. You need to go this direction when you come in and out. Then the next day it's going to be different. We can't do that with all of the all of the public that's trying to travel through the project that we just can't reach. >> So, as a driver and a citizen and resident of Mount, every time I go down that road, it changes. I don't get a notification about it. It's my responsibility as a driver to figure out where to go. So, if we're not clear on our signage, which I think we've been pretty clear on this part of the project, at least to my knowledge. I haven't heard any complaints about that other than they were going the wrong way up the street which I think was remedied with Ryan and his team put up some new signs and that seemed to fix that problem. I mean, and I I I I'm sorry. I just I find this ridiculous that we can't figure this out. The road is plenty wide enough to allow two lanes of traffic to go through there. And if that means Minger's got to move their equipment over two feet, so be it. I don't think there's ever we've ever looked at an alternative deal to the project. I think it was set, you know, you guys were going to do it one way and through all this we've never, hey, maybe this works better and we've tried a different deal and I don't think we've ever even looked at that. We did during design. We we have specific lane widths that we need to maintain in order to maintain two lanes of traffic. And if we can't do that, then we need to add flaggers or stop lights or things of that nature. And we cannot maintain two lanes of traffic once we start doing services. Again, the water means on one side of the road, services are on the other. And there's going to be points where it gets too narrow. We just can't. >> So, it's wider actually in front of me than it is down in front of the park. I've always thought you could do two lanes of traffic coming and going out there. We also need to have areas where the backhos can sit. They need to swing. They need a pile of materials and then that all needs to get back in get put back in and it needs to get compacted. So the just the physical pits themselves and not necessarily the size of what the work space that's needed. >> But you're you're working alongside the sidewalks now instead of you say the main line is in. So some of that shouldn't be necessary anymore, right? If you're just digging up the sidewalk and you're coming out 10 ft to the to the main line, I mean, it seems like there's still plenty of roadway to go both ways. They they'll have to dig up at the main line to get the water from one side from the water main side across all the way across the street to the other side where the sidewalk is. >> Then the west side >> you do what you're doing right now on south of Bartlett, right? >> You It's not the same. the the water m there's water services on the other side of the road. They need a backhoe that's going to be they need back hose and equipment on both sides of the road and they need to have space for that equipment to move to get the dirt out and put the dirt back in. >> So when does it look like the intersection is going to be done at Bartlett? When when is that going to be wrapped up? That's been the big bottleneck and the mess and when is that's been like three months now. >> I can provide an update on that after next construction. >> I mean you could only dig that hole. so many times. So >> the traffic light that's sitting out there that's not operational, how much are we paying to rent that for the month or for the week? >> We we paid for that for by the day that we used it by the date per the day for the days that we used. >> Okay. So the project must have changed something going north in in front of on the north side of Bartlett because you were bursting right from Bartlett South and now it's that you're you're drilling a whole new hole, right? You're not going through the old water man. Correct. Correct. We worked with Mayor to come up with to do that so that they'd have to dig less space, dig up less spots. One of them being in front of Gillespie's driveway. that initially was going to be too shallow or we were going to open cut that they drilled that and put it in deeper than the opening. >> How did they not know that before you guys started in July? It looks like that you know at the beginning of July it was oh we can't do this this way anymore. We've got to I think you brought in Miller or somebody to do some of that. >> There was always going to be spots that we planned to drill that we added more and changed that up a little bit to make it more efficient. So, did they not figure out that it was going to be above the frost line till after you got down to that point? because it seems like everybody started scrambling like second week in July and not knowing the depth of the sewer lines or any of the other lines and having to dig down on all those, you know, like the ground penetrating radar wouldn't have given you guys that without having to dig all that up or uh no ground penetrate ground penetrating radar is was not used and would have been helpful in this situation. Well, we we have asbuilts. We go off of how those are drawn. They're not always accurate to a tea. So, we the best we can do is based on what what the what our prior our predecessors wrote down and and drew up. Um that's why they do the verification piece and then we can ensure that what we're going to put in is is finally going to work once we start digging the holes. Was there any deadlines on this project to make sure that menure stayed on on course or they do have a reputation for not completing projects timely? So was there any deadlines at all? There are project controls where we'll work with them if we think that they're actually going over, but that they are continuing to work on the project in the way that they can actually get it done. So if there are changes, which have which there have been, then they get some they get some extra time. So, while we figure that out and come up with the solution for those changes, they're they're not at a point where I would recommend that we're enforcing liquidated damages or anything like that. >> Was the project bid out or is this the It looks like there's going to be overruns now. Is there is that happening or >> the project was bid and there will be change orders. >> So, how is that regulated? I mean, you've been now what keeps MER in line on keeping the cost down or anything? I mean, construction companies love over, you know, the charges afterwards, cost overruns, whatever you want to call that. So, we have bid items for a majority of the work and then if there's something that we deem as extra work, something above and beyond what was planned for, then we worked with them to add that. So, the traffic control changes. A lot of those things are are getting will be some additional cost to the project. Um, but some of the water services that aren't exactly where we plan for them to be. Those are types of change orders that we incorporate into the project. >> So, there's no incentive for men to get this done >> anytime soon. >> They don't want to be here anymore than you want them to be here. >> They're getting paid. They they won't care, right? >> They're not getting paid by the hour, though. Well, I understand that. But by the project and I mean the cost overruns, it's a city just eating all that or what's happening there? We're we if they've submitted change order, we evaluate if the cost is fair. We track all their time so that we can adjust that as to what we actually agree to. And then if there are there unfair costs, we negotiate that down to what what it should be. and we have a lot of examples of change orders and examples of just what bid work for those types of items are. And so that's how we get to to what a fair solution is. >> So Matt, is there any way that he can get some relief with the northbound lane before November? I mean, you said September, right? >> End of September. >> So the the current Yeah. The current long range schedule is near the end of near the end of September. All the road patching should be getting done and that would be basically everything that's disturbed right now from um by south south end by Surfside Park all the way up to the Minnitankka flats area or our lady of the lake school. So once that patching is done it'll be opened up up opened up two lanes up to Minnitanka Plats area. Okay. >> Till they close it for the trail >> just south. >> Just south. >> We will still maintain southbound. The county should be about the same time though fully up the trail. >> So that's a >> So then we're going to be interrupting the bank again. The cremer ready to shut down I would imagine by then. But so and all those businesses zeer construct or um insurance all of those are going to be impacted. Correct. >> Okay. And they've been notified. >> We're we're not at that point yet, but they'll we'll be having those conversations soon. >> Okay. Is there any thing that we can do before the end of September to get him a lane going north just to serve side? >> I can talk with the contractor and see what that would take. >> I think all of us probably agree. We want his restaurant to survive all this and it's really good food. So, can we do that? talk about that in in the next uh meeting, Jesse. The next construction meeting. When is that? >> Uh Thursdays. >> This? >> Yeah. >> Couple days. Okay. So, in a couple days and then can you you got Dan's number both? >> Can you call him and let him know what we're trying to do? We want to >> if possible, we want to try to give him a lane. If it's not, it is what it is. We get it. But if we can do anything, let's try to do something. >> Okay. Thanks, Dan. I think my three minutes are up. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right. Give us your name and address. >> Uh please give us your name and address. >> Yeah. Aaron, get us. Uh 6041 Lynwood Boulevard. Um thank you guys. Uh I've a New Mound resident and I've looked back over all the work that uh specifically Mayor Hol and Council Member Pew have done on uh on this water issue. And if I forgot any of you, I apologize. A lot of names to remember and float around, but uh thank you for the work that you've done. Um as somebody coming to Mound, it gives me confidence that this is going to be a place that I can live and raise a family for a long time. And uh as I talk with my neighbors and other people, I understand the bill that we're looking at is large and scary. Um looking at the adjustments that you guys have proposed and have come out and comparing it to my taxes in Plymouth, I have a house that's valued $100,000 more here and my taxes and water bill combined are still lower and will still be lower after that. So, I know some of our numbers are big and uncomfortable for people, but compared to other places in the area that I could live, the tax burden is still comfortable. So, this is a project that I'm very much excited to see and want to see coming. And honestly, if in 2026, if we need to pay for a water treatment plant, we need to pay for a water treatment plant if the state's not going to be there. um you guys have done tremendous work to try to find support for it and if we need we need to get it moving forward, the time is now. So, thank you for the work you've done and I just want you to know that there are people out here that actually are behind you on this and we are appreciative of the work that you're doing even though that we may not actually make it out here on a Tuesday night to tell you that. But I think you guys really do need to hear that because you're doing tremendous work as >> servants of this community. So, thank you for all you guys do. >> Yeah, appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay, you give us your name and address. >> Hi, John Hulcom, 1908 Shwood Lane. Uh, bound since 2010. Um, equally just want to express gratitude. Um, hopeful that you're going to go to bid um with this strategic project. This has been a bit of a gray cloud over mound um the water issue and the end is in sight if you will. Um, a couple points of context. Um, I owned the house when Chan Hassen built their Westwater treatment plant that monstrosity up at Galpin. I lived with that road being closed for two years. Um, I would say the juice is worth a squeeze, right? You get past that two years of disruption having good clean water um into the house into your appliances was absolutely worth it. I would also say second point of contact is I was a school board member for Minnotonka um for 10 years. I understand when you do large-scale capital projects. I was treasure there for five where we did over $50 million in capital planning across nine schools and eight neighborhoods and I appreciate the complexities that you deal with when you have individual residents and businesses coming to express their fr frustration and I appreciate staff's ability to work with those businesses and continue to push forward while the council members and the mayor continue to work forward with driving the strategic long-term imperative about improving mounds water quality. So, thank you for all your effort. Thanks for staff's effort and uh keep your eye on the long ball. >> Appreciate it. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else? >> All right. Hearing none. Uh number five, we got the consent agenda. Does someone want to go through those four? >> I can do that. Um consent agenda items A through D. Um item A, minutes from the August 26th um minutes from the 1st August 2026 regular council meeting. B we can one day to 4day temporary onsale liquor license. C, approve resolution 2655, Legion Post 398, gambling permit, and D, approve contract with Teamsters, uh, union 2027 through 2030. >> All right. Does anybody want to talk about any of those hearing? None. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> I get a second. >> Second. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Council member Heric, >> I. Council member Mcanini. >> Hi. >> Council member Pew. >> Hi. >> Council member Castellano. >> Hi. >> Mayor Holt. >> Hi. All right. Uh A, B, C, and D. All pass. Number six, presentation. We don't have any. Number seven, public hearing. We have uh substantial similar use request and cup application for 4851 Shoreline Drive. And we got uh Rita coming up. Good evening, mayor, members of the council, members of the public. I'm Rita Trap, uh, city's planning consultant. Uh, the case before you this evening is, uh, twofold. One is a substantial use determination, and the other is a conditional use permit. Uh, for those that were in attendance, this was something that you saw as a project introduction, um, recently, so hopefully um, it's pretty familiar. And just for the public, I'll go through at a high level. Um, and I might go a little faster through certain elements, um, just since you've seen it before, but for everybody's benefit, this site is located on Shoreline Drive. The site is approximately 28,000 square feet. Uh, the applicants are seeking to um use the site uh for uh boat and marine sales as well as uh fixing of boats. Um, the property actually has two different units in it and the applicants are proposing to use the west property. Um there is also the owner will be using the east property and I will talk about both sides particularly when we talk about parking. Um this is a through lot so it it does uh access both shoreline and Bartlett Boulevard. Um there is the substantial use determination because currently in the city code uh we do not identify um boat and marine service as a use in this area but we do uh identify automotive minor repair use. And so the request is to consider that boat and marine uh service similar to uh automotive repair use minor. Um and for that district we do require a conditional use permit for any boat marine sales and an open sales lot. Um this area is guided mixed use. It's one of our nodes where we have mixed use being provided. That idea is to have a mixture of residential and commercial retail service uses in an area. Uh it is also zoned mixeduse corridor again with the same idea. Um and so the proposed use of the site is commercial uh in in keeping with what is included in the the zoning code. Substantial use determination is something that was added to the code a number of years ago and that allows the planning commission and the council to determine that something that's not listed in the code is substantially similar to something else that's in the code. Um it helps make it so that we don't always have to do a zoning code amendment every time someone's proposing a use that's essentially similar but not specifically called out. Um and as I said they're proposing um boat and marine service which is not listed in the table but we do have automo automobile repair minor um and that is talking about repairing. It is not going into very um significant repairs um such as auto body repair or anything of that nature. It's more the services. We have used this uh substantial determination um just down the street as well for similar um for the now it's escaping me >> um the ra the radio and the marine just down the street from here the same substantially. Thank you. It's like I don't know why it's escaping me. I can see it. It's not helping you though. Um the applicants did provide a nice table for us that we included which uh talks about the proposed maintenance activities um that they're proposing and those that are not included in maintenance. And so this is nice for us because it's something we can refer to at any point in the future if you would determine that it's substantially similar. Um that way those are the kinds of activities we anticipate on this site. Uh relative to the conditional use again as I said I want to talk about both sides. The west side is the one that u we've already talked about. The east side, the property owner just wants to use it for office and personal storage. Um so owner occupied um and there aren't specific standards that they have to follow for the boat marine sales or the open sales lot. So it's considered similar to any other type of retail use um that we have. So the the reason that the east side east unit is important is for parking purposes. One element of the conditional use permit is making sure there's enough parking on the site. Um, I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but uh staff did work with the applicants to identify how many parking spaces do we need for employees and visitors as well as where and how many boats would they propose to have on site. Uh, so we included in the packet a diagram that show where they would have boat and trailer parking, where would they have employee or visitor parking. Um, from staff's perspective, this is important because at we want to make sure that we don't have the entire back parking lot filled with boats. And so the anticipation is these are where boats will be located and any ongoing basis and not located in drive aisles or along edges. Um, and so that's the reason the conditional use permit is important is it provides structure for boats should be and where they shouldn't be so that we can keep that lot looking nice um for the adjacent property owners. Um so the applicant is proposing 12 spaces, seven customer spaces and five employee spaces. Um we have conditions included that talk about that those spaces cannot be used for the storage of vehicles or things for rent. Uh the applicant has indicated and provided some supplemental information as well about interior use and I'll cover that in a moment. Um we've worked with the applicant and feel pretty comfortable with the parking. Um, and so the idea is that they're there for sales and then not for long-term boat storage. So we don't anticipate this becomes a boat storage place as much as a sales and service and repair. Uh there is an east uh sixoot cedar fence on the west side of the property. Um so that's where the existing fence is. There's also a building uh farther north uh on the property between that and the adjacent commercial. I did notice when I was driving through there's actually a gap um for the parking the driveway that exists. Um so this cedar fence is on Bartlett and a portion of it is on um their property between them and the adjacent property but there is a little gap where this little asphalt driveway is. Um but the applicant uh does have there is some fencing to provide screening. Um signage the applicant has indicated signage since there's no variance request or anything specific. that will just need to meet the signage code similar to any other business in the community. Noise. Um there was some concern raised by staff in the planning commission about noise. Um the applicant has noted that the noise would include some engine testing from the planning commission meeting. It sounded like that would be very short-term. Um very in you know happened at a moment. It's not an ongoing noise that would occur. Um they noted that the noise is uh 70 to 80 dB when within a meter or two and then obviously not obviously the way that noise works is that the farther you are from the noise source it goes down but it is not a linear it's a very exponential fashion which I cannot explain but I did do a little bit of research and we would anticipate given the distance of the building to the adjacent properties that the noise would significantly dissipate by the time we reach the edge of their property and then go across Bartlett Boulevard and then to the houses. Um, it's probably more in the in the realm of a conversation. And I did I do have a chart if you're interested in that, but just so you know, noise has been something most of the repairs and the noise would be happening inside rather than outside. Um, we did distribute this as is normal and customary and did not hear any concerns um both from the public and from any agencies. Um, at the meeting, the planning commission did have a good conversation with the applicant. Um, and noise was one of the conversations that we had. Um, and also just understanding the seasonality of the business and the fact that a lot of it would probably happen during normal boating season, but there might be some activity over the winter months as well. Um, depends on whether the boats would be winterized or not, and whether you could do additional work, and I'm sure folks here are familiar with that. um supplemental information just to highlight um the addressing. We need to just fix some addressing. That's not a huge issue. Um there's likely that there will be two to three boats for sale and two being serviced inside of the facility on top of any boats that are stored inside. So that was supplemental information received after the planning commission that you might be interested in. Um so the request this evening uh it is a it is a public hearing for the conditional use part. So hold the public hearing and then we do have actions uh one that is substantial use determination and one that is the conditional use permit. So for the substantial use you're determining that um the the boat and marine sale or repair that they're proposing is would be considered substantially similar to if you had an automobile repair shop which is a permitted use within this district. The conditional use is specific to the boat and marine sales and the open sales lot. the fact that they will have boats outside in the back parking lot and those are two different elements. There are conditions uh particularly related to the conditional use permit which are just trying to protect themselves the city and the adjacent property owner. So a lot of the elements that I talked about in terms of parking, the fact that you wouldn't have boats just parked any place on the lot. Those are the kinds of things that we included as conditions. So, with that, the applicant is here and can speak and answer questions uh that you may have. And I'm certainly can stand for any questions of things I didn't cover as I walked through this a little bit quickly since you've you've seen it before. But there is some additional information that we had this time that you didn't have um when you kind of just did an overview a few weeks ago. >> All right. Does council have have any questions for Rita? Okay. Hearing none. All right. I'll do the public hearing. I'm going to open the public hearing now. Everybody wants to come up. and talk about this. >> All right, nobody's coming, so I'm going to close the public hearing. Uh, does anybody on council want to hear from the applicant? I know we already did. >> We already did. >> So, okay. All right. So, let's move forward. Uh, you got a motion or a resolution >> page 33. >> 33. Okay. I can make two. >> I can read that. >> The first one. >> Um approving request resolution 2657. Um substantially similar use determination for property at 4851 Shorland Drive. Planning case 2604. >> And that's the motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. Okay, we got her motion. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Okay, and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Those opposed. That passes. And the next one. So >> And then motion to approve resolution 2658 for a conditional use per permit for boat and marine sales and open lot sales uh at 4851 Shoreline Drive, planning case 2604. Got a motion for that. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Right. A second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. All right, that passes. Congrats. >> We wish you all the luck. >> Thank you very much. >> Exciting. >> Yes, it'll be a great introduction into mound. >> Appreciate that for all your health and your >> good luck. >> All right. Number eight, we hold business. We don't have any. Number nine, new business, water treatment facility authorization for biz. Got our city manager coming up and even dressed up today. >> Okay, mayor, members of the council, I am going to jump up ahead of Matt here. here. I know that he's got the bulk of the of the packet with the uh bib materials, but I kind of wanted to just address a couple questions that have come up regarding the timeline and where we're at on the timeline as it were with the whole project and the the water treatment facility because I think we at times get a little bit confused about where we're at considering this project sort of started at late 20 into 2021 um where we ended up getting some money in 2324 and the work we've been doing over the summer versus what we're here tonight for, which is to um authorize bids for a water treatment facility, which is part of the overall water treatment project, but it is one very specific construction portion. And Matt's going to be able to go into the breakdown on the funding of that and the cost breakdown or or the engineers estimate for the construction of the water treatment facility versus this whole project because I think um we've seen some confusion both on social media and just in, you know, phone calls and emails about, you know, I thought you were building a water plant right now. Well, no, we haven't done that part yet. Or people wondering, you know, how do we know what the breakdown of the cost is going to be? And the short answer is that we need to figure that out. um we have estimates but we need to go to bid for that. So let's go to this is just your basic um steps to construction. We've been doing this for years on everything else we did it was a very large road project going on throughout the city right now. It's how we got to the portion of the of phase two and phase one prior to that. Um right now if you want to see step one ordering plans and specs this was done in actually I'll just go forward. This was done in summer of 2024. So the initially when MON received money from the legislature in 2023, we ended up going back because of a a disparity with the language that didn't quite allow us to access the money in 2024 that we went back to the well, so to speak, to request a change, which was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Walls in June of 24. The city council then passed a resolution that said essentially staff has the authority to begin the design and then uh make this the applications to public facilities authority to get to the point where we are today and start receiving money. We we've we've sent in nine or sorry six pay requests or or reimbursement requests to the PFA. We've received roughly $6 million in reimbursements. We're going to continue to do that until we spend either all of the 10.3 million or as much as the project is um is planned for. So that brings us to today, right? We need to in order to figure out what a water plant costs after doing all the work that the engineers have been doing and um which includes some recent bids around us that that have allowed the the engineers to get better um numbers and just better idea of what we're looking for. Now we're at the point where we need to go out for bids. So, in order to um I believe councilor McName you were asking last meeting, you know, are we going to be able to see all these numbers before October which is on here about when we receive the bids? Yes. So, in order to be able to come to the next meeting or not the next meeting, but the meeting where bids are opened and brought back to council, this is the step we got to do and then we can start plugging in numbers. Um October 6 would be the bid opening if it's approved tonight to go out. So there's about six weeks of of allowing for bids to come in. We open them up and we'll take the low lowest responsible bid and start plugging those in and have numbers on the 13th. But step one is going out for bid. So I kind of wanted to just preempt a little bit of that and then I'll cut Matt loose. If you have any other questions regarding this or just in general, I'm happy to stand. Otherwise, I will tag in the city engineer. Does >> council have any questions for Jesse? >> Not yet. when you bring again we talked about this last meeting but can we get you know a reasonable like infographic or something for us to really understand where the money is coming from when how it's getting paid back franchise fees because I get calls every day about it and residents are suspicious of the numbers I am too um you know you or Ila answered questions for uh Mr. I think Jim and he was here a couple meetings ago and also sent us an email. >> Sure. >> And you did a good job answering some of the questions, but even when I was reading them, I still have questions on exactly where the money is coming from. And we as a council need to have an understanding of this because it's just really embarrassing trying to answer residents when they're saying it can't be $2 or $3 a month. I don't want to just say I agree, but I also have to say I haven't seen the numbers. >> So we have seen the numbers. Here they are. We all saw them. What was it? April >> 28th. >> 28th. >> Yep. >> This is the presentation that was given. Yeah, I mean I remember the presentation but again >> all the numbers are in there >> but again it's how did you get these numbers? It's not the number. >> It's an estimate, >> right? >> These aren't the final numbers. We got to go out for bid. >> These are the wor hopefully the worst case numbers. >> But when you put out that it's going to probably cost only $23 a month on a water bill. This does not explain how we get to two or three dollars a month. There's no way you can finance $30 million and only tax read or hit the revenues of this. >> I think you were here at that time. >> Some of it's coming from franchise fees. That's right. >> Some is coming from the the >> And that's where the confusion is because people don't understand. You're telling them that you're going to increase their water bill to cover this. Yet the number isn't realistic if that's the only source of revenue. If you're taking money from fees and taxes and excise taxes or whatever, franchise fees, excuse me, that's smok and mirrors. You're taking money from one bucket and moving it over to help supplement the cost of this plant. People are confused. It doesn't >> at the end of the day that's October 13th. >> That's when we'll have final numbers, but the estimates >> if you guys don't feel comfortable with the franchise fees or three of us don't feel comfortable with it, >> then we'll change it and we'll put it all in the water bill and see if people like that better. I whatever we want to do. >> I'm just trying to what I've heard for six years >> is don't murder my water bill >> right >> now. Franchise fees, good or bad, and we've I've talked about this for years. Y'all have heard it. We're on the videos. >> We know we're pulling it out of this pocket or this pocket. It's the same pocket. It's the same person, >> right? >> Y'all have heard me say that. We We've said that. We did a presentation about it. >> I agree. And I didn't bring the letter in, Jesse. I provided a letter from one of our residents which you received as well in the mail. Um he was calling that same issue out. So there is definitely confusion at least to the point where one gentleman wrote in to you and I and gave Jesse a com a copy. I don't know if you were in the office today. I thought you weren't. >> I was I was able to read it as well. >> Okay. So you saw the letter? >> I did. >> And that is part of the question. So I'm just saying you know I mean we definitely have to get an estimate. Obviously we've got an estimate. I mean we definitely need to get bids in to find out what the final number is going to look like. But I still say we need to be extremely transparent with this. And I don't think it's >> this is the most transparent we've ever been on anything ever. >> Well, >> we've talked about this for >> we have talked about it, but a lot of these people are reading it and they don't understand. And you're right, when they get their water bill and see what this is going to really cost them to remove iron from their water. And believe me, I don't even wash my white clothes in our water because it turns everything yellow. I get it. I do. But, you know, I don't get the maganese thing at all because to be perfectly honest with you, that doesn't add up. And it's part of your presentation. And if you think I'm just being a crazy neurotic person, I brought you some samples here. This is airborne, which a lot of our residents take. One of the ingredients, in fact, on the front is maganese. On the back, it actually lists the amount, which is almost double from three of these little chewies to the liter estimate that they came up with. Same thing with this osteobioflex. A lot of elderly people take this. I take it for my joints. Guess what? Maganesees once again. So I think we need to be very clear. I know the Minnesota Department of Health states that this is a danger. Okay. I think but what really people are mad about is the iron. And my understanding is this will be removed when we do the filtration. So I need to make sure that that is true. And I would interested to hear that from Matt. As an engineer, we should be able to tell us what we're actually going to be filtering out. I also want to know what the cost is to maintain this puppy because I think that needs to be clearly stated so that people don't get under the expectation is, oh, we're going to have clear water. It's only going to cost us $30 million. No, we have to hire someone from public works to monitor this place. So, that's an increase. >> We've been talking about this for four years. >> That's right. >> What was it? 250,000 a year. >> I've only been here two >> roughly. >> Roughly. I don't have a number. That was original has been >> talking about all this stuff. >> I am off track a little bit because we're not supposed to be discussing this tonight. We're supposed to hear what we're going to do and what we're putting out. >> You have a quick rebuttal for the maganese pills or no. >> You want me to come up? >> Yeah, please. >> I can I can stand. Um, >> so I'm assuming what what's on those bottles is milligrams, but there's uh >> the EPA health-based guidelines are based on milligrams per liter. So that depends on how much you ingest. So if you drink four or five liters a day, you're going to get a lot more. >> This is four six milligrams per serving, which is three of these gummies. >> And remember, manganese has never been I I don't know. We I don't know why we're talking about this tonight because we've covered this, but >> manganese that was an arbitrary number that they picked, but the the state said we have to deal with it. >> Correct. >> So, we're doing this in response to them telling us that we have too much >> going to hang it up. Sorry. >> Uh too much manganesees. Whether we all believe it or not, we still have to deal with it. >> Right. People are not upset about Well, some of them are, but a majority of the people are upset over the iron and the color of the water. We all know that. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Um I mean the estimate like going out for bid will get us those accurate numbers. But I think it's important to mention too like with this we did the franchise fees to help like you said it's like same same bucket >> but it was to diversify so we weren't so reliant on property taxes. >> So like long-term not gain but just kind of a little more stability. And then we also restructured like when we did the utility rate study with um taxexempt properties not contributing. I mean we're getting a lot of revenue via that way for the water treatment plan as well. I mean it was you know years past it was like that water bill was like the residents were subsidizing any property tax schools and >> Yeah. And now that's not the case. So I mean they're contributing because they're all high volume users too. So I mean going out for bid will get us that estimate but I mean it is impactful where you know two or three dollars a month seems low but it's I think also because of the work we did with the utility rate study and like >> the ones that weren't paying before were probably the highest users. >> Yeah. So, I mean, that's, you know, not a small difference, but it'll be interested to see how that works out once the bids come in, you know, but I I don't have any questions. >> Are we just questioning what you're just talking about or >> question every other questions for I guess Jesse? That's >> uh one thing I would like to see is the gap analysis to take a look at the franchise fees as the electricity will continue to maintain its level. I'm sure we're not going to use less electricity. That's not going to happen, right? Um but the cable and the that franchise fee I would think would be probably on the slow decline since everything's going wireless. So, I'm not sure what portion or what percentage of that tax would actually a franchise fee would actually the project. >> The cable thing we changed a couple years ago because we were hiring LMC LMC >> LMC >> LMC uh to do our videos. And you know the guy upstairs, right? Uh when we when I took over as mayor, I said, "Why are we paying them 75 grand a year of our franchise fees >> to do that, we're streaming on uh YouTube, >> not live, but you know, tomorrow you can go on your YouTube machine and see this." And we just saved 75 grand. Now, yes, the cable part of those are going to decline over time because people are cutting the cable. The other part is a flat fee that we tell Excel and Centerpoint that we're putting on there, >> right? >> For years and years and years that has been stagnant. We did not ever raise it. A lot of other cities over time have raised it. We never did. Good, bad, or other. We just didn't do it. Uh the finance committee looked at that as an as an opportunity to again diversify what we're doing. plus churches, schools, a lot of these people aren't paying, you know, but, you know, diversifying the the money helps out a lot. So, um I hope that answers your question, but >> I just want to make sure that we've looked at this. If it continues to decline the usage, that's going to make the fees we collect decline. >> Well, centerpoint and XL is not going to decline, >> right? >> You're gonna It's per house per >> I thought it affected. It's >> not a percentage. It's a flat fee. No, no. I thought it affected the cable companies and >> yeah, the cable but I don't know what if you have the numbers but it was like 75 a couple years ago. It's probably half that now. >> We forecasted that cable. So I think that that's it's a pretty minuscule. >> So you've already >> we've already >> that's why we did a financial plan and as a financial planner that's a smart thing for a city to stay on track and on the financial plan. That's what all this stuff is. >> And it's, I guess, on us that we don't explain it good enough to residents. But, you know, we have all the updates sitting live on the internet right now. >> I mean, winter 2020, all the different water meetings, all the different times we've ever talked about this, there's links to it. I mean, everything we have is sitting in our on our website. So, plus you can call them, you can call us. I mean, we should know kind of what we're talking about, I guess. and we've been listening. So, I I think um nothing was meant to be downplayed for this meeting other than to say that um we didn't have any new information to provide as far as estimates and things. Today was like how can we get to the point of giving you a real number and then I mean send us any of your thoughts and we'll build it into as much as we can. And I I think you've provided I don't know how much more we could add at this point, but I would be happy to to just keep building it out. I think that some of the numbers are really more background. I mean, it's spreadsheets on spreadsheets, but um if we can extrapolate a little bit to make a pie chart look, you know, more palatable because there's a little bit more background information somewhere that will help the council or more residents feel more comfortable about what those numbers will do it. I mean, it's it's um our job is to make it I don't want to say easier decision, but certainly a more informed decision. Well, and it's a lot more palatable for our taxpayers and residents and new users, you know, like you said, the 5013 fees who who have been paying what it's been like two years now. >> Mhm. >> That they've been >> and this is just like the going out for bid part to get us the right, >> you know, estimates to find out, you know, like if it's something that's going to upend the financial plan or upend the capital improvement schedule, like you said, the ongoing costs. I mean, then we'll talk about it. But some of that should be baked into the financial plan and then you know just annual budgeting too. >> We were really trying to forecast high. I mean you were there. >> We specifically wanted >> we knew there was going to be annual cost. >> And remember this is this is before we knew if we're going to get money this year. Everybody else got money around here except for us. And >> but they didn't get money two years ago and you got all the money. >> Yeah. Well, >> we also can't drink our water but It's orange, but whatever. >> Um, >> well, some people can. >> Yeah. >> Not all of them. >> Exactly. >> And and >> we will be coming back the following meeting, too, to um discuss user rates and things, too. So, we'll be providing it the numbers for a water plant at the October 13th meeting and then coming right back two weeks later to talk about the rest of it. So, it'll all be built in in the October 13th meeting. Ultimately, it'll be a series of decisions regarding rates. So there, if on October 13th, you say, "Boy, sure. It would be great if we just put it all in the water bill or whatever." We can then you won't be making that decision on October 13th, but um we need to make that by the end of the year. The plan is to do it a little bit earlier so we have some wiggle room. So there there October 13th would be the date for approving a bid, but we'll have we'll still have more opportunity to kind of talk about how to build this out if you know hopefully there's more flexibility and we can get a even more creative in a good way if if you know we'll just respond to whatever the council's kind of looking for at that moment. >> It can't even affect the levy at that point because we'll have set the preliminary already. >> Correct. >> So yeah, we'd have time. So, I saw a post today online saying that we should have done this a long time ago. Now, let me respond to that. Uh, if we wanted to do it a long time ago, we could have, right? We could have uh just paid for it. You guys just talked about, you know, paying for it, and it's a a tough subject with franchise fees versus water bills. If we would have paid for it all on our own, it would have been, you know, all up front. Now, could we have done it at the time when I was, you know, on we were on council first, right, >> when we were talking about it. Um, the the thought with the council back then was it's just too too big of a thing to, you know, to handle as one city. So, our idea was let's go to the state, let's ask them for money, be them for money, try to get some free money. Wasn't successful. Uh, then I, you know, took over. Not saying that it's because of me, but uh testify down at the capital. We got 10.3. They screwed the verbiage in there, which is funny because after multiple emails back and forth, they still screwed up the verbiage. And then the following year, we actually got unlocked money so we could actually spend this money. So yes, because we're waiting on this money, 10 point, that's a lot of money. 10.3 million plus remember we got the almost two million or a little over whatever it is uh from from the federal government right and we worked with our sen senators to do that. So you know part of this is we got a chunk of chunk of money by delaying this a little bit because of past decisions on what you know we're doing this and we're going to go get the money and that's just kind of what we were doing. >> That's where we where we were. Now, um, last year we were in the finance meeting and and, >> you know, I was kind of like, you know, we just need to do this and just, you know, do it right. And at the end of the day, we decided, no, let's wait one more year to try to go out and get money from the state. Well, we did. You know, here we are about a year later, and we didn't get anything. So, could we have done something last year at this time? Yes, absolutely. Um, but there always would have been that thing in the back of your head that says, "Oh, you know what? If you know, man, Trista just got three million. We could have got 10." And then, you know, then everybody's questioning that, right? So, good or bad, we made a decision to wait to try to just do one more. I mean, we're already I think it was like September, October, if I remember right. Um, and we're like, you know, by the time we figure it out is, you know, May, June, right? So, counting the plus can't do anything in the winter anyway. So, you know, the other thing too is this this first 10 million was paying for uh the design plus what we just talked about the all the road construction that's not road construction that I hear online as well. It's you know our our water infrastructure that's screwing up our roads. Yes. Um all that is this money that we're that we were given from the state. So, um, you know, the new well, I mean, all these things have to happen before we do this treatment plant anyway. So, if all goes well, we say we go out to bid tonight and then we come back and, you know, we work on the budget, figure out how we're going to pay this, you know, pay for this thing. We've we have a lot of rough drafts here, right? We can go with one of these or we can change it. We can do whatever we want. But once we get the numbers back, we can actually go here. Now, we have hard numbers. We couldn't have really done this much faster because we were waiting until May June a couple months ago and then we were waiting for you guys to finish the the specs and >> you know it literally took up to like now uh before we you know have everything that we need. So there's no delay on this. I mean this is yes we could have maybe done a little something last year but then there would have been the question of we would we have gotten money or not you know and I think the prudent thing was let's try to get as much free money as we can so we don't have to take this on ourselves but we're to the point where it's like we just going to keep waiting and waiting and waiting for you know money from the state or we got to find a way to pay for this. That's why we've spent time and energy on coming up with really hopefully bad case scenarios and hopefully they're a lot better than that. And yes, franchise fees is one of them. And you know, raising the fees. If we do nothing and we come back in November and we talk about the utility rates, right? Is that when we're >> October? >> October 27th. >> 27th. Um, you know, per the long-term financial plan, if we stick on it, we're raising the rates anyway. They are going up. We've said that multiple times. We put in the newsletter. They're going up no matter what. And then yes, they're going to go up another couple bucks on top of that on your water bill alone. That's we've we've said that. So, um we're not hiding that. If you all don't want to do a treatment plant, we don't do it. Great. You're still your water's still going to go up if we raise the rates next year, which we're five half million dollars in the hole in our water plant. Our conservative view on this is we need to get out of debt. You know, the residents don't see all that unfortunately or fortunately. They see the construction on the road. They see our Tesla just got built. They see the flats, but they don't see, oh, we're in debt, you know, as a city. I do. The finance committee do. We all do. >> Well, we've been working for four years to rip the band-aid off, right? So yes, it it's been great that we got to pay down a lot of our bonds and now this will >> bring some new, I guess, debt to us, >> but this is why I appreciate you're explaining this again. >> Because it has been a while since you've kind of gone through all of this scenario. >> Um >> I I I got to say we have been Minister How long it take them to pass their second water treatment? This is like a blink of an eye, >> right? >> I don't know specifically. >> This is a four-year thing. We've If people want to know about this, we've It's all out here. We've talked about it. We've agonized over this thing for for a long time. Was it 12 out of 14 newsletters or whatever I said a couple meetings ago, we're talking about it. I mean, everybody's got our email and our and our phone number. They can call the city. It's on the water tab. We did a special tab for the water on our new website. Now, social, you know, previous people didn't want to do social. I said, "We got to do social." Even if we get a lot of weird comments on there. We still got to push stuff to people. We don't have everybody's email. We can't just call you up. And I will say the amount of people that I've come across, everybody wants to do this. I I haven't heard anybody say that they don't want to do this. They some people say yes, what's the cost? Whatever. But 90 plus percent are get it done. You know, I'll pay I'll pay whatever we got to do. This is a no-brainer. Let's fix our water. We've had not great water for a long time. Maganesees or rust or whatever you want to call it. This is I mean tonight this is a no-brainer to go out to bid in my opinion. Obviously, you just heard me talk for 20 minutes, but we'll figure out all the details. Everybody will need to be comfortable with the details before October 13th. Don't be sick that day. That's the day we're hopefully going to >> October 13th or >> 13th. Come come here. You're not You're not doing a You're not calling that one in. >> Jesse, in preparation for that though, can you you said that you had six reimbursements submitted and you've been paid 6 million. So, we're still short what? 4 million. Is that something we finance or is that something we take out of our general funds? So the the public facility authority uh manages the money that was appropriated and it is on a we spend it and then we ask for a reimbursement. So we put in a reimbursement request by the 12th of every month and we receive money by about the 30th of every month. >> Okay. >> And it might be seven. It's six or seven um reimbursement requests and I don't have a number exactly in front of me, but it wasn't until earlier this year, it was right right around December of last year actually that we got everything finalized to be able to start being reimbursed and the city on the city council's direction last June was able to start um fronting some of that specifically on the design and phase one of the of the water treatment infrastructure project. >> So, we're funding that out of our own money. We're not borrowing it to so there's not a cost to carry or >> we did initially and then we were as soon as we were able to we submitted a very large reimbursement request that was turned around in the earlier this year but it's we were fortunate enough to be in a situation to be able to start that a little bit earlier otherwise it would have been you know potentially waiting until after the new year just to even really begin anything. So >> is there any chance the state could default on our requests? I mean, this is a lot of money. >> The money was appropriated and given to the PFA as part of the spending bill in 2023. So, um, >> counting on them still having it. >> I mean, is there a scenario? Everything is guaranteed. I >> when it comes to government, I'm aware of that. >> Not that I've heard of, but that they the money was appropriated as part of the bill. So, the money was technically spent by Congress already and given to the PFA. Okay. All right. Any other questions for Jesse? >> No, I have one other comment, but not no more questions. >> Now comment or later comment. >> Well, I don't know. And now comment for maybe the 13th. I really like the slides that are on 12 and 16 of what you just passed out. I don't think we have it for up there, but it explains the difference in the franchise fees for regular users. And then um the how we changed for the utility rate study for um churches, schools, etc. >> You can see how impactful it is. >> 12 inch width 12. >> Uh so 12 and 16 >> 16. >> So like uh I mean I'll give mine to Jesse, but like just to have these slides for probably the 13th to reference would probably be really helpful once we have bids to make an estimate. But I think um you know to what you guys brought up earlier, it's like people want to know how it's coming out and I mean we'll probably in the fashion we've been explaining through this we'll probably explain it 10 times but I don't know this kind of lays it out pretty simply I think for most people. >> Yeah these you're these are good infographics. >> Yeah we can get them for the residential portion very clearly that would be helpful. A lot of these are multif family and commercial >> 12 and 16. So >> yeah. Um so that's all I got. >> Okay. All right. Matt. >> Thank you, mayor, members of the council. Matt Bowman, city engineer. I'll just add that Brian would have loved to be here tonight, but he scheduled a vacation a long time ago, so you get just me tonight. So yes. >> All right. So the agenda uh discussed the need for the treatment facility. You guys are all pretty aware of that. It's a couple slides you'll recognize from past presentations. Refresh on the water treatment plant overview site >> site aspects uh current estimate um funding information on that and then our projected schedule to wrap this up. Uh so first two are basically state of the water slides that you've seen before. So just kind of rehashing uh Mount has two wells. um several years ago the EPA mandated the the manganese limits and that's where why we're here talking mainly about that but then what people mainly noticed is the iron so that's what we're moving forward with with after feasibility study was completed in early I think 2021 central treatment plant um just rehashing mount's mission for water remove maganese iron and other contaminants and steward taxpayer dollars efficiently versus um in home water treatment solutions. All right, so the lot of information on this slide here, plant will remove manganese, iron, other contaminants. If you want to know real specific what the other contaminants are, I'll have to bring Megan Brockman in because she's the the expert on that. The site that was chosen is is off of Evergreen Road behind Sorville Park, kind of tucked into the woods there. We have done some preliminary tree clearing um with the one of the the change orders we did with the water plant or the water infrastructure project that was efficient to do while that crew was in there. Um the building footprint itself is about 13,000 square ft. A little bit later here you'll see that there is a attached garage storage space for water utility operations. That's about 3600 square ft. um items that were brought up during the CP portion peak height is 31 12 ft that is not the garage that's actually treatment as treatment portions of the building itself um impervious coverage is less than 30%. Uh besides that office and lab space for plant operate operators I think it's just one office right a little bit bigger and then lab space uh then as of the end of June the department of health cleared uh approved the permit for the water treatment planted. So with that and some final changes we are ready tonight to go go for authorization for bid. Uh I think you've seen similar images to this. This is generally what the plant will look like without the the grass and the trees around it. um garage space will be facing the the east and then the one on the top that right side that's what you would potentially see from West Edge Boulevard over there. >> Uh this image is turned sideways. >> Not West Edge. >> North is to the right. >> Not West Edge. >> Not West Edge. >> Yeah. >> You talking about through the trees or you talking about >> Yeah, through the through the trees. >> Oh, okay. It is West. No, there's a park between what's >> that? Yeah, that one that image I just showed >> preserve them. Yeah, >> would be here. Park there. >> Um, >> you're not talking about the street right here, >> correct? This is Evergreen. >> You are talking west edge. >> This is Evergreen. I was talking west. I go back here >> through a bunch of trees. >> This is the wall. You can see potentially through the trees across the pond. Yeah. Sorry. >> Is there only one window in this building? >> Windows are bad for water treatment facilities. Yeah. So, >> it is that that's it. That one window by is that by the door? >> Uh that is for that's >> I'm just thinking for security reasons. Do we have a window that somebody can look out when they're letting somebody in or any of that kind of thing? >> They have cameras. >> Huh? >> They're going to have cameras. >> They are going to have cameras. >> Security. There will be slide. It'll be >> similar to public works building. So they need key cards and everything to get in there. >> Go ahead. I was just curious. >> Uh all right. So just kind of some refresh on plants itself. So the tried to highlight here green the brighter green here would be new proposed trees generally evergreen to try to screen as much as we can once we're we're done. Uh this is the actual facility itself. This up here is a reclaim tank so fairly small >> when we put this out for bid. Are we specific that we want to add 15 new trees and they need to be hardwoods or do we just say we want to add trees? >> How specific do we get? >> They have the they have all the counts that are in the plans. Yeah. So that that's all in there. Okay. >> What I'll add is >> treatment facilities are usually bid by the lump sum >> and then we have some bro some parts passed that are broken out that'll be a little more detailed or things might change a little bit as far as like the roadway the um the um the storm water basement and things like that. So but in general trying to list out every single thing that would be bid within the plant itself is thousands of items. They generally bid it as a lump sum, but that they have the accounts that they have staff that they put together their own estimates on those items. >> So that they won't transpose a hard, you know, hardwood evergreen for a birch. >> Correct. It's it's clearly laid out in the plans. >> Right. I just want to make sure we're very specific. I mean, I walked up there today and there are several large oaks that are not necessarily tagged, but are >> kind of having a tough time. Hopefully, we can salvage them. We we've saved everything we think we can. >> And um we may need to provide some special attention, Ryan, to a couple of them. They need a little love. But um that's later, right? But I Yeah, I just I want to make sure we're very specific about how many trees we're putting back in there and what type they are. And I don't know if that's possible, but um I would definitely think we could be a little more specific on that. >> Yeah, this is just an overview. There's there's a landscape plan within the plants itself. >> All right. Yep. Go ahead. Uh, one of the things we talked in detail about was a storm water filtration basin. Um, south of that, we are going to put in a metal railing fence between the basin and the playground. And then we we somewhere or another we needed to do more treatment. This wasn't enough space. And so that I think the last plans you had, we had a a another filtration basin here that wasn't necessarily large enough. So we're going to do a pvious basketball court. There's going to be about 2 ft of rock underneath the basketball court that can handle the extra storm water management needs to meet the wershed requirements. >> So that storm water basin, does it go lack of this direction and then over to the storm drain that runs into that holding pond behind those houses? >> Yes, it'll it'll overflow. Yep. It flows out this way. >> Um that's generally it for this one. So I'll keep moving. Uh rehash back to the the conditional use permit hearing. Um there they had four main points for us. So provide a plan for the fence between the play gun and the basin. We did that. Uh update landscape plan for screening on all sides. We've done that. It'll it's to the extent where we're not planting trees over pipes so that we don't necessarily have to take them out again in the future if something has to be redone. Uh lighting plan develop minimize light pollution as much as possible. So downward facing lights for minimal security. It'll be somewhat adjustable based on what staff feels they need out there. And then we talked about a single generator option between the plant and the wellhouse. There's an existing diesel generator at the the wellhouse. If we were to two combine them together, we have to do a diesel generator at the plant. So, we're not advocating for that. We're just going to do a natural gas one at the plant and then Ryan and I can work together on swapping out the diesel generator at the wellhouse in the future date. That's more of a noise. >> Yeah, I was going to say, aren't those noisy? >> Yeah. in a residential area, >> right? We want natural gas. >> Okay. And the fencing that you're talking about putting up between the built the playground and the filtration basin, what is that going to look like? >> Is that you said middle fence fence right >> like that? Okay. >> So, it's going to be tall enough though that kids can't I'm going out there. It's pretty steep. So, I don't think they're going to be inclined to climb over it, but it is tall enough. >> Kids can climb over anything they determine they want. >> They just go around it. Yeah, >> it'll slow them down. >> It'll slow them down so their parents can see them until to get off of there. >> That's assuming their supervision. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh park impact. So, I added this picture compliments of Ryan. So, obvious the if you've been over there, you know, the tower was recently painted. >> It's a storage space where it's going to need to continue to be a storage space for the plant construction itself. They need areas where they can lay down materials prior to them being able to construct them. Once we're done, like I mentioned, the the court will be brand new and then this will all be receded and regrassed and this tower is going away when pretty soon. >> Yeah. So that that all get cleaned up as part of the project as well. Um all right. So on to the big part here. So the current project estimate uh our estimate is a little under $25 million. So 24.8. Um then not part of that is we got to get upgraded power and gas out there. So 250,000 there 5% contingency. Um so sub total construction of 26.3 and then roughly estimated 8% for engineering and administration. That's another number that airing airing on the side of being high hopefully. So total project estimate of 28 28.4 million. Uh then I'll kind of go over some of the the funding pieces that we know and some that we project. So we had received 960,000 in 2023 from the federal appropriations and then this year uh 1.09 similar from federal. So that there are some this and some of the PFA money. I don't know where that piece went but the there were some plant there were some site hurdles that we had to clear and some of that is based on where we get money. So that added a little bit more to that timeline that we talked about as well. Um, so we got to make sure we have the right ducks in a row to get to access that roughly $2 million. And then I have on there an anticipated emerging contaminant grant. So that's something um EPA's been putting out. It has been 3 million. We're told it's going to 5 million. So once we get bids, I got to confirm if that needs contracts, too. But once we get bids, we can submit for that and get that firmed up. >> Did Bolton Banks send that grant in or >> we we can't do it yet. So we we got to get the bids first >> before. So this 5 million doesn't have anything to do with the other 10 11 million. What about the million9 92,000 and the 960? Was that because I want to make sure we're not double counting things here like so we're very clear with the public. >> Yep. Matt and that's what Matt was getting at with the with the two federal grants which are on there which is the 960 and the 1.092. Yep. They just there are certain other parameters that you need to follow as far as your how you bid and how you do contracts um which were hurdles that were easier to sort of sidestep with the state money and then so we're going to spend that money on this portion of it. >> So we just allocated those grants to this versus the the work that we were doing >> the I'm trying to be careful about what I call it the water infrastructure work that we've been doing under the road. >> Correct. There we go. Correct. And that 10.3 covered all of the those other >> 10.3 was used for that. Okay. >> Um, all right. These next two slides, >> go back one just >> so in the slides I just gave you and what we reviewed in April >> for how we're paying for this thing. >> Uh, page eight, it says uh, you know, cost and then funding. funding says 27 million PFA loan which is ultimately how we're going to pay for it. And you can see 21 to 26. So we were again seeing 27 on the on the high end and hopefully it doesn't come over 27. But again the estimates are even if it's 26 that's we were we were thinking 27. If it's 21 or 22, great. Let's do it. >> Good. >> Uh, this is another slide from the state of the water. I just left it in here in case there's more questions. Probably a better one for Brian to go over. And then, uh, I know we like this one, too. So, we've been, you kind of rehashed it, but we've been working on getting grants for many years being on the IUP and PPL. That's what allows us to to go for the low interest loans once we get the the project through. >> Can you explain that ranking so people understand that? >> So that that is a statewide ranking and depending on the year they give different priority points to different projects that helps the the state basically decide who should get some extra funding >> and lower is better. >> Correct. So yeah 135 is good. Obviously being being one is means you're in the worst situation. >> Yeah. So as you can see 2022 343 2023 658 then we went down and we're kind of flat and then of course now we're back up 36. So the state's got other priorities I guess not us. So that's again why we're not going to do this again. We're not going to wait another year. We're going to do this ourselves and we're not doing it. I don't know. >> So thanks. All right. So, schedule. So, you guys uh again all saw this in April. Kind of the biggest uh discussion point to date. The Department of Health approved the project in June. Um authorization to bid tonight. We'd be back for awards uh in on October 13th. So, we'll be doing I think October 6 is the date we picked for the actual bid date right now. And then construction would start early next spring. >> With that, I will stand for questions. Council have any questions? >> You've already I've already said my question. >> Yeah. >> Go go go back one just so again so the public understands assuming you know we're going off to bed. We'll see what happens in October. >> Hypothetically if we do approve something in October we're talking you know fall winter 2028. >> Correct. As we should be wrapping up. Yep. And somewhat dependent on making sure we can get everything. >> Yeah. And let's just say even and I know we've talked about this 100 times, but even when we turn the switch on in fall 28, still going to take some time to slush through all the old pipes and the old, >> you know, rust and all that iron and all that crap, >> right? Yeah. >> To get it dialed in perfectly, right? So, my water is pretty good except for my bathtub for whatever reason, but everything else looks good. Um, >> the oldest line. >> One bathtub for real. I don't know. It's green. It's weird. >> I've I've had them look at it. >> Even two years, Matt, though, we may not see water relief color-wise. Is it going to be starting already to be doing its work over the two-year period at when residents are paying for this already? >> Yeah. So, so what you'll get at the tap will be treated. What what might what's going to take a while to get out is the the rust that is >> not set and tired, but it's kind of settled out. And that's got to get stirred up enough and keep getting flushed out. Like even when city when they public works does the the citywide flushing, that's a a month process and they're just trying to go one direction and they don't always get it or they can't get it all. So there's little pockets and stuff that are going to kind of hang out for a while. But yeah, the the taste will change very quickly. The all the treated piece of it will change instantly. It's just kind of getting all the the stuff. >> We're not taking the hard water stuff out. >> We're not treating it with salt or anything like that. Correct. >> Uh you will taste um No, it's not it's not water. You're not getting soft. Not softening it, I guess, is the >> Yeah, you can't water. You can't do anything in your house with soft water except take baths and things. It's going to be regular a regular, >> right? You're still going to water softeners. >> Will it incre will it improve the water hardness that mound has had for a long time? >> I don't believe so. >> Okay. We we did talk about this when we were uh the two of us were on council >> uh when we first first looked at options and they kind of said you know here's one two and three and you know we picked >> I think the middle version roughly but you know there's an expensive version of like let's you know literally salt you know actually and then we're like well >> you can't do that >> yeah people are going to do put on their grass you know because I mean that'd be right at the city level so we decided for a lot of reasons not to do that. So, you're still going to Yeah, you still got to make maybe treat your own hard. >> Well, you're still going to need to have a water softener to treat the hard water, >> right? >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> But we'll get that orange water out of there. >> Yes. eventually that is the >> So once you flip flip the switch I mean is it drinkable as in like yes the color might not be perfect but is it you know drinkable as in can we take off our you know since 2021 you know when we sent out that letter we've been basically saying no one drink >> I would say um depending on when we turn it on I'd recommend that >> well staff would do their >> a few months later yeah >> and then we test different residence houses. >> Yeah. >> And then and I guess >> and we'll still be putting chlorine and fluoride in there. Correct. >> Yeah. That that's all >> when we flip it. Yeah. That that continues. Um >> but it's going to take a while from the water at the plant in the towers to get to the person at the the farthest point of the line where that all gets through there. >> And those are the places that have the worst water. They're gonna have to wait the longest, >> unfortunately. >> Thanks for explaining a lot of that. Those are some of the questions that I'm getting at least. >> Can we put a link to this meeting, uh, the video and the slides >> page? >> Yeah. Thanks. Um, any other questions for Matt? >> Okay. Thanks. >> We Yeah, with that, you have a resolution to >> Where is Oh, it's Oh, there. >> All right. Who wants to make a motion? >> I can do that. >> Okay. >> Um I would like to make a motion for resolution 2659 receiving plans um receiving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids for the water treatment facility. >> And that's a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Okay, we got a uh we have a motion and a second. Okay. Any other discussions? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> I. Those opposed. All right, that passes. Thanks. Thanks for all your guys work. Thank Jesse and Ryan. You guys >> and Matt. >> Matt. Thanks. >> Okay. Or mayor >> and you guys all you guys. >> Uh, is that it? All right. Number 10. We got announcements. Uh, council. >> Um, let's see. Well, I have um I had some concerns, but let me say this. I'd like to suggest that the end of September, we have a community celebration um for our park because the the historic signage is now up. Um it went up this week and um it'd be a good opportunity to bring back some of the former businesses that uh were in that location, people who were from the community. Um the dods of the, you know, Ace Hardware, they're the only business that still exist in the in that center section of town. Their their actual real store was not too far. It was just their their store was probably like where the parking lot is now. So, they just moved over. But anyway, I thought it'd be a good time for us to celebrate our new park and um extend some of the good um the good times we've had so far this year with it. So, um and I've started working on program for it. So, >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. So, if everyone's in agreement, we'll do it probably the last week in September, first week in October and stuff. Um, couple of things that have come to mind. Um, this week, um, there was a news story about Folk. I don't know if you're famili plate readers. And evidently um our police force does has installed some of these. Now I don't think any of them are in mound. Um and I thought that it'd be interesting for us to know what how did they determine when and where they're going to put them up. There are two of them in Spring Park. >> One of them they just took down from the drive-in. >> Oh, that one. Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. And the reason I'm bringing it is because this company has their readers have become so sophisticated that people are able to generate files. Not only are they taking pictures of the license plates, but then they identify who the owner of that plate is and they can create files and um you know we have some bad will already in the community with the police force for always stopping people for DWIS and stuff. So, I thought it would be good for us to hear from the police department or next report. And I don't know, maybe they talk about it, uh, Michelle, at the meetings you go to. >> Well, they're also the last one. >> Black cameras. >> Flower cameras. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> I know they've been very useful in solving several cases. So, um, it's like anything else. There's a positive side to it and there's a negative. Um, >> I think it just be good for us to know as a council when they decide. I think it's the controls that they have in place and that's what I'm not sure of that. I don't think they've really gone into that detail with us, but I know their investigators use them >> and they have solved multiple cases using them. >> Yeah, it it is true. We've been at the police commission meeting and they're very very helpful. But yes, the first thing I saw when >> I think I I think once or twice I saw it and you know you can't really see any I think they blur out the driver if I remember right, but you do see the license plate and kind of like the make of the car and whatnot. But >> yeah, >> um I think it'd be helpful >> if we had uh the new chief out. >> Yeah. >> And maybe he can explain it. Um there was an uh article in the paper >> that he I I didn't really read it yet, but anyway, I think it was this Friday, maybe. >> Okay, >> maybe it was the previous Friday, but >> yeah, I think it' just be good for us to know as a council. Do do we have does the council have any say in it or notification of when these things are placed? >> Absolutely do. Yeah. >> And it's up to >> Yeah. If we don't want it in our city, we don't know. >> Yeah. That's right. Frank Park just said that as a council they said we don't want them. >> Is that what they did? Okay. >> Yeah. So, >> I mean it's a huge um issue right now for privacy reasons. >> Privacy issues. Yeah. >> You want to schedule him to come to the next one or >> Yeah. And and I'd like to get a report. You know, he hasn't we haven't been here for the last two meetings, I think. >> Oh, yeah. >> I don't know. I wasn't here last one. >> Yeah. >> They were scheduled. schedules, but they weren't. >> I think that might have been due to the date change, but uh Chief Stenzard is um >> I believe basically offered an open invit or >> open uh >> yeah, >> availability to come and speak to the council most likely in like a workshop setting so you can kind of wrap about a little bit more and ask some more questions. But however you'd like to do it, I'll just tell him that's what >> having the agenda. Yeah. Huh? >> Sorry. >> Oh, okay. My other comment was um now I know that I was the one who said I I thought we had excess and seeing all the every check that was written for every item, but now we've not received any financial data from staff or and um it would be nice to get at least a quarterly or at least a you know uh budget um to date against last year's um so we know because I know there's been a a lot of new staff and I say a lot but I I don't have a quantified no number of that but there have been a number of new staff added um which is the job of the of the city administrator to do that but I think it would help us to know you know how how we're doing financially and um how we afford all these new staffing >> yeah weren't we going to do like a where we are year to date >> yes >> report I know you guys are busy and you're doing the annual >> we can get that pulled together. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> The check thing was like every other meeting, right? Wasn't every >> something like that first meeting of each month or something >> that has been >> Yeah. >> Um >> summarized a little bit more than versus the every every single detail. But um >> yeah, >> a report is probably overdue. So I >> Yeah. >> Can we do that next meeting? >> A summary is good. you know, it's just not getting anything was kind of a little bit um ownorous. Okay. And those are my comments. >> Okay. >> I don't have anything today. >> I don't have anything. um said a lot already tonight, but um I think we can follow up with the police department, but um and get that information um because I don't know the details around the controls. They haven't really gotten into that with the meetings that I've attended. Um I think I missed one, so maybe that's why. Um and then I was asked if I would serve on the board of Gillespie Center, and I know Sher, you've been going to those meetings as a representative of, you know, the council. Um I don't know if that's going to be any type of a conflict if after the first of the year um >> well it just depends on you know I think we can both be honest just you know after the first of the year my I'm there to represent the city >> and they're asking you if they need new board members >> or you're going to stay on >> Well I don't know. >> Oh >> I might retire from that too. >> So will there be an overlap >> this year? >> An overlap with both of you on there. Um, well, if if she starts now, >> I don't think it's now. I think they're, you know, >> are they anticipating a charity? Possibly not. >> They're coming. >> No, I mean after the first of the year. Yes. >> Oh, after the first year, >> they're looking for someone to serve on the board. So, that's different. She's representing the city. I don't >> you know, I don't know if they meant like I think they mean like in the next 30 days. I don't think they mean like today. >> So, >> yeah, >> I'll need to get the specifics. I mean, it's not a quorum because there's only two of you, but >> right, that's why I'm asking. I mean, >> still say though that have to be careful if there's someone else there, you know. >> Remember, she's gone next year. So, >> I'm gone next year. So, >> somebody would need to be appointed. >> Someone's going to be appointed to. So, if that could be you anyway, >> right? >> But then are we going to appoint and you're doing it then? >> I don't know if that looks good, but >> Right. >> Especially when they come in asking when they come in asking for money. I mean that's that's one. But anyway, >> I can I can speak with Scott a little bit later. >> Yeah, we can talk about Mr. Mayor, members of the council, >> and they will be coming in this fall >> with the proposal. >> Um I I don't know the I have never been involved in the internal rules with regards to the appointment itself. >> Well, my but putting that aside, my main issue would be whether or not a quorum is is created and the mayor is correct that if two members are there, that's not a quorum. So it's not it's not a meeting, it's not an issue, >> right? >> So I I if I think in order to provide a more detailed answer, I'd have to know more about the appointment and the internal rules and whatever else too, which I don't I've never been asked that question before, so I don't have the answer. >> I'm still waiting for feedback from them to how much time is this going to take, you know, for me to be involved and blah blah blah. >> Okay. Well, so the next mayor will appoint >> the next Yeah. >> the next. >> So that would like that would be two, >> right? >> If you're already on there, you're not obviously not going to get appointed on there. So then someone else, whoever the next council, >> I don't know. >> I mean, I don't think it's an issue mention. >> Yeah. >> What do you think? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Other than that, um trying to think, you know, once again, thanks to the staff and everybody for what you've been doing. And I know this has been a trying time and I'm not the easiest one to get along with sometimes, but that being said, you know, I'm definitely looking out for the best interest of our constituents. So anyway, that's all I got. >> All right. Uh, do you guys have anything? >> Only that the finance committee's meeting on Friday. >> Yeah. >> I was asked to ask the two of you if 7:15 would be out of line >> because we always go along. >> It's against it. Well, I'm not going to say it on the record, but uh it's a dense it's a dense agenda. >> You have not said, >> but if it was possible to even go 15 minutes early, um it would be great. Otherwise, >> we can talk afterwards, too. I just figured >> Okay. >> Yeah, we're fine with that. You guys got to get up early, though. >> I'll stay over here if I have to. >> All right. >> All right. Our next city council meeting is Tuesday, September 8th at 6 p.m. here. And uh I'll call for uh adjournment. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> All right, I got a motion. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Any other discussion? >> All those in favor, please say I. I. >> I. Those opposed? All right, we're adjourned.