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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 01-28 CCM Work Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION JANUARY 28, 2013 CITY HALL—COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Tim Willson at 8:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Tim Willson and Councilmembers/Commissioners Carol Kleven, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, City Manager/Director of Building & Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Carla Wirth, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. REPORT ON CITY'S DRINKING WATER Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug described the types of drinking water tests that are conducted in Brooklyn Center based on a program set up by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) specific to each city. Other testing is conducted as warranted, needed, or requested. Mayor/President Willson noted the City Council/EDA had been approached by a University of MN professor to do a pilot project to study manganese and determine how to best mitigate it in a household. He stated support for the City to look at what can be done to bring down the level of manganese and for the professor's study if it is funded through grants. Councilmember/Commissioner Kleven stated her understanding the study would be conducted by the University of Minnesota in coordination with the MDH at no cost to the City. City Manager Curt Boganey stated he has not yet spoken with the professor but a meeting is scheduled on Wednesday when more information about that study will be learned. Mayor/President Willson stated when he was first approached about the study, he recommended they follow protocol and contact City Manager Boganey. Mr. Lillehaug completed presentation of the current situation as it relates to monitoring the City's water supply, education of the public, and to assure safety of the water supply. He advised that the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) are a set of non-mandated water quality standards for 15 contaminants established by the Environmental Protection Agency 01/28/13 -1- (EPA), and are non-enforceable guidelines to assist public water systems in managing drinking water for aesthetic considerations. He advised of other EPA/MDH advisories and health warnings and explained the MDH recently issued a fact sheet pertaining to manganese in drinking water and provided guidance values pertaining to certain health risks. Mr. Lillehaug reviewed a fact sheet on manganese. It was noted that for manganese, the guidance values are 100 parts per billion (ppb) for infants and 300 ppb for children/adults. Mr. Lillehaug indicated that Brooklyn Center's raw well water concentrations historically average about 350 ppb for manganese. The highest concentration from a well is about 550 ppb. He noted that while the presence and high levels of manganese in the City's water is not a new issue, this new information and guidance warrants staff's recommendation to take action to reduce the manganese levels in the City's drinking water. Mr. Lillehaug presented data on the City's wells including concentration of manganese, noting it varies from well to well but the readings for each well have been consistent over the years. He noted manganese at 50 ppb is the rate for aesthetics so the City has managed manganese to that level to maintain aesthetics. Mr. Lillehaug presented the Action Plan and recommended immediate action to provide key information to the public about manganese in the City's drinking water, other sources of manganese, and point-of-use treatment (i.e., Brita-type filter). He stated public education can be done by mailing letters to residents and/or posting the information on the City's web page. Mr. Lillehaug stated this issue cannot be fixed immediately, but things can be done such as adjusting the well supply orientation matrix and well pumping to reduce the level of manganese in the City's drinking water. He proposed pumping water from wells with the lowest levels of manganese to bring the ppb level down as low as possible. Mr. Lillehaug stated staff would also like to conduct additional research to identify filters that are better at reducing levels of manganese so the public can be educated in that regard. Mayor/President Willson suggested staff ask the professor whether the University of MN can test water filters without cost to the City. Mr. Lillehaug presented options under review by staff, as well as pros and cons of each. He reviewed drafts of several public service messages that could be considered and stated that knowing about this possible health risk, he would recommend taking action now. He asked if the City Council/EDA supports developing an immediate action plan pertaining to manganese that is present in the City's drinking water. With regard to funding, Mr. Lillehaug stated he met with the MDH about the federal revolving grant fund application that is due in several months and learned the City's application would not score because manganese is not a primary drinking water contaminant. The City Council/EDA expressed its appreciation to Mr. Boganey and staff for immediately bringing this matter to its attention and crafting an action plan. The City Council/EDA discussed the options presented and expressed its unanimous support to direct staff to take action as soon as possible to reduce the level of manganese. It also supported submission of a grant application even though it may not score well initially. 01/28/13 -2- Mr. Boganey indicated his support for the proposed study by the University of MN if it helps the City accomplish its goal to reduce the exposure of manganese to its customers. He explained that the feasibility study will consider all options to assure the City's drinking water has the least amount of manganese and will approach what the City can do with the whole system, at the consumer's water tap, and education resulting in prevention. The majority consensus of the City Council/EDA was to direct staff to prepare an action plan for short- and long-term strategies, maintenance strategies, operation strategies, and other elements that will address the level of manganese in the City's drinking water as it has been found to be a potential health risk. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan moved and Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:03 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 01/28/13 -3- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on January 28, 2013. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its February 11, 2013, Regular Session. Avg &�k City Clerk Mayor 01/28/13 -4-