City Council Meeting Date: February 16, 2016
To: Mayor and City Council
Interim City Administrator
From: Doug Lien, Utilities Manager
Title
Adopt Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Plan
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is requested to approve the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Facility Plan.
Summary Report:
On February 2, 2016, a public hearing was held for the WWTP Facility Plan at City Council. No public comments were received. The public hearing was required for the ability to receive low interest loans or grants through the Public Finance Authority. The WWTP Facility Plan was also discussed at a work session on September 8, 2015 and further elaborated on plant capacity, facility needs, and financing of the plan.
The existing facility was designed with treatment capacity to meet the needs of the community to the year 2020 based on community development projections outlined in a facility plan developed in 1998. A 20-year planning period is typically utilized for planning and sizing treatment facilities. This WWTP Facility Plan evaluated the treatment capacity for the future community out to 2035, and it is anticipated, based on loadings at the plant along with projected growth, that the plant has enough capacity until 2035.
Understanding there isn’t a need to address capacity issues with the plant; the primary focus of the plan was implementing a timeline for replacement of equipment to continue operations. The consultant, along with staff, identified issues with the existing equipment, its life expectancy and put together a plan to replace aging equipment over the next 10 years.
The facility plan developed by Bolton & Menk, Inc. addresses the current maintenance and facility need. Changes in permit requirements by the MPCA may require additional features to be added to be in compliance with our NPDES permit. The current permit expired in October of 2015; the City is currently operating with an extension from the MPCA until the new permit is issued. Any additional changes will be brought back to the City Council for consideration.
Upon approval of the facility plan, the plan along with public comments will be sent to the MPCA for review and approval.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
As an enterprise fund, the Wastewater Treatment Plant funds operations and maintenance through utility charges to the citizens of Northfield and Dundas. The finance plan was reviewed at the September 8, 2015 City Council Work Session. Wastewater rates will follow the rate study completed by the Ehlers Group in 2014 with 3% increases per year until 2018. It is anticipated that bonding will be utilized for the 2017 ultra violet disinfection replacement project and also in 2021 when the biosolids equipment is replaced.
Tentative Timelines:
Upon approval of the Facility Plan, the plan will be sent to the MPCA for review. Staff will then send in the application to be on a list of cities through the Public Finance Authority to receive low interest loans or possible grants.
Staff will then begin the improvements identified in the Facility Plan.