HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-06 Infrastructure Committee Minutes
Infrastructure Committee
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
City Hall Council Chambers
Councilors:
Patricia Blanchette Joseph Baldacci Geoffrey Gratwick James Gallant in for Susan
Hawes
Staff:
Brad Moore Art Morgan Cathy Conlow Dana Wardwell
Guests:
The Committee convened at 5:00 p.m.
1. Accepting Street: City Engineer to Begin the Process of Accepting Whisper Drive as a Public
Way
(Copy of Council Order, Council Action, and Location Map Attached)
Councilor Blanchette briefly explained the City’s process for accepting streets and that it had
served them well. She would approve.
Councilor Gratwick commented that it was part of “in-building” of the City and good for
Bangor. He suggested Art place on his agenda a policy change regarding new development’s
road widths and impervious pavement, as they are very wide.
Art noted there had been discussions regarding revisions to the Land Development Code.
Councilor Gratwick asked when this would be brought to Committee, if before his term would
expired. Art responded that he didn’t have a specific date. Councilor Gratwick then
requested of Art to pursue it, and come to this Committee in eight to ten weeks. Cathy stated
that they could talk about that, as it had taken them off guard.
Councilor Blanchette felt that it would need to be done in procedural steps to allow for public
input. And concurred it needed to be looked at.
Vote: Unanimous
2. Request for Proposal: Structural Analysis & Development of Rehabilitation & Demolition
Plans
(Copy of RFP Attached)
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Motion was made by Councilor Gratwick and seconded by Councilor Blanchette to proceed
with acquiring request for proposals.
Councilor Blanchette asked the City Manager and City Engineer for background and had a
structural engineer evaluated the building that had been vacant for four to five years.
Cathy stated that when she started, the City owned a few buildings that couldn’t be used. A
portion of the old police building was holding up Court Street. Meetings had been held with
the County regarding the property. She stated she thought about deeding it over to the
County without them knowing, but then they would have to accept the deed. Also, a
structural analysis was done in 2000. There had been significant changes that had occurred
with ten years of deterioration.
Art stated the analysis was done in 2001, which pointed to some flaws such as the roof had a
quarter of snow load required by Code. The rear wall foundation was inadequate to support
without a floor structure. An RFP would allow for two plans and estimates, one for parking
and the other to stabilize Court Street and demolish the structure.
Councilor Baldacci asked if there was a budget for this year or next.
Cathy responded there was 250,000.00 this year and would have to add to that in the next
budget year.
Councilor Baldacci asked if there were any available funds from Federal or State.
Cathy said they would look into and investigate.
Councilor Baldacci asked if the County would be interested in taking over the property.
Cathy responded yes, for parking but the City would need costs first before negotiating with
the County.
Councilor Gratwick stated the problem with the location was it had fill and not ledge. He
requested Art to put on his agenda the possibility of tiered parking, as this would be a
valuable spot in the future.
Vote: Unanimous
3. Presentation: Staff’s Proposal to Meet the City’s Clean Water Act Requirements
(Materials Attached)
Brad Moore started the presentation by explaining the objectives:
To discuss challenges facing the City concerning environmental regulations pertaining
to water quality, wastewater, and stormwater.
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To discuss the approach Staff would like to convey to the U.S. Environmental Agency
and the Maine DEP. There were compliance issues that the City would need to deal
with and there would be advantages and disadvantages.
Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) of 1972 provided statutory
framework for protecting the nation’s water from pollution with the following goals:
Protect human health.
All waters in the nation to be swimmable and fishable.
He then outlined the regulatory definitions:
Clean Water Act (CWA)-These were the amendments to the 1972 Federal Water
Pollution Control Act to provide the statutory basis for the NPDES.
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)-Permit program of which the Wastewater
Treatment Plant has a permit that limits the discharge of treated water into the
Penobscot River. He noted there was a provision for States to petition EPA to allow
them to administer permits and licenses. Now the City deals with Maine instead of
the regulators.
Maine Pollution Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) – Permit program controls
water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into the waters
of the State.
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) – Parts of the system serve the wastewater needs of
the community, but also from water from the streets, catch-basins, down-spouts
running into the same line. Problem occurs when the capacity of the lines are
exceeded they discharge into the river. The City has a permit for this. There is
regulatory pressure to remove CSOs. Eight relief points in the City.
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO)-Separation of sanitary from sewers. Wastewater
coming from homes. The separation of sanitary from the sewer. Problems such as
displaced pipe and grease could backup into homes or streets. Required to report on
each incident/occurrence.
Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) – Document to
demonstrate the City of Bangor is caring for the collection systems to meet EPA
minimum standards.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)- Separate EPA permit covering the
stormwater system. Water form impervious areas carry pollutants and eventually
enter into streams and rivers.
Urban Impaired Stream-There are five in Bangor that don’t meet the classification.
City of Bangor must improve the quality to State standards.
Asset Management-These are assets the City has and the conditions and what the City
will do to improve them.
Art provided the following background:
In 1968, the City voluntarily built a primary treatment plant at a cost of approximately
three million. The primary functions were to separate larger particles.
In 1987, A Consent Decree with the State of Maine to separate and eliminate
combined sewer overflows.
In 1991, Consent Decree with the US EPA.
In 1992, Consent Decree required the secondary treatment plant be built.
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In 1994, with the assistance of CH2MHILL there was approval of a long term plan to
eliminate CSOs in Bangor. Formerly there were twenty-three, now there are eight
remaining.
Next, Art explained the 1991 map in tiers:
Tier 1: From 1890-1915 stormdrains still exist today.
Tier 2: From 1940-1960 Airport and Dow area.
Tier 3: From 1991-2008 Added new sewers.
From 1991-2008 45.25 miles of sanitary sewers, including in development areas had been installed.
31.97 miles of new & converted storm sewers installed, 21.94 miles of combined sewers were
removed from system. Total length of installed system 165.5 miles, cost forty-four million. He then
explained in the next map that red notated separation work, green dots represented five existing
pump stations, blue was the drain system. Under the map entitled “City-Maintained Sanitary Sewer
Infrastructure” the blue areas represented areas separated. Green was the stormwater collection
system and red was the remaining combined sewers.
Brad explains the drawings depicting a separated system and how a combined sewer overflow
operated in dry weather and during times of overflow, such as with times in the spring. He offered
photos of the outfalls when there was a light ran.
The 165 miles of combined sewer systems are maintained by seven employees from the Sewer Fund.
Those seven work with marking for dig safe, paving program, and sewer assessment activities such as
TV lines, and assessing the condition of parts of the system. Public Works has two full time equivalent
employees for the sewer and stormwater maintenance, supported by the General Fund and the Sewer
Fund. Their functions include street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, and ditch maintenance.
The City would like to offer an integrated approach to dealing with the regulatory agencies. In a
memo from a representative of EPA on October 27, 2011 wrote “..we (EPA proceed as one EPA to
assure that we work with states and communities to get the most effective, as well as cost effective
approaches for meeting our share objective of clean water that protects public health and the
environment.” Also, “..we (EPA sometimes assess and implement the best alternative to solve one
problem at a time without full consideration of all Clean Water Act obligations…”
An integrated approach would:
Increase stakeholder involvement at the community level.
Prioritize various regulatory requirements in different areas of the City.
Will make decisions based on an affordability study, as priorities are set and projects selected.
Expand resources in areas of most need while considering all regulatory requirements.
Move the regulators to consider the total regulatory burden on the City for all the
environmental programs.
Brad noted that the City of Bangor preference was to drive as opposed to be driven by the EPA and
should do the affordability study.
Cathy explained that if the City didn’t do the study then EPA would and tell the City what they think it
could afford.
Brad explained the risks associated with an integrated approach:
US EPA and MEDEP do not follow up with necessary guidance or regulatory changes necessary
for integrated approach.
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Some City programs not fully implemented, such as storm system maintenance and
identifying storm system assets, which would require time to accomplish.
Request extended time schedule and new consent decree requirements that need long-term
commitment to support.
Staff felt benefits outweighed risks.
Activities currently being worked on:
CH2MHILL had been assisting the City in assessing the needs of the sewer system and
wastewater treatment plant.
CH2MHILL would provide assistance on assessing the needs of the stormwater system.
Upon further knowledge of the stormwater collection system, its priorities would be to
incorporate in the City’s overall integrated approach.
Meeting with US EPA and Maine DEP on December 14, 2011.
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Councilor Baldacci asked what Brad might expect at the December 14 meeting and would any
congressional delegation be participating. Brad explained that the meeting was to be sure they were
on the right road and Cathy stated they wanted to take this approach with DEP and EPA first.
Councilor Gratwick stated how it was ingenious of Jim Ring to figure out how to store the overflow,
his receiving awards for it and asked if more of these would be put in.
Brad responded they would likely be putting more in, but needed to look at that.
Councilor Gratwick asked the frequency of the overflows and Art responded that there were 74
events on the year basis, occurring at different times. He also talked about end of pipe storage with
CSOs, which allowed for less expensive, smaller storage, reducing maintenance and construction
costs.
Cathy stated this was a unique opportunity to integrate with another consent decree coming. The
sanitary stormwater regulations were difficult to negotiate. The affordability study would be
necessary and Brad concurred.
Councilor Gallant asked about matching funds or grant availability. Brad stated yes, with CMOM and
asset management being an advantage, may open doors.
Councilor Gallant asked about the timeline compliance and urgency. Brad responded they would
request fifteen to twenty years, but may be as little seven to ten years.
There was question of using stormwater utility fees, which Brad said a presentation would be going to
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Infrastructure Committee on the 20.
There was no further discussion and the meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:52 p.m.
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