03/17/2020 - City Council Public Works CommitteeAGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
(After conclusion of Regular Council Meeting)
CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
I.ADOPT AGENDA
II.WATER METER PROGRAM - SURCHARGE APPEALS
III.DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - FIBER REQUIREMENTS
IV.FAT/OILS/GREASE (FOG) ORDINANCE REVISION
V.OTHER BUSINESS
VI.ADJOURNMENT
1
II.WATER METER REPLACEMENT/REPAIR PROGRAM
SURCHARGE APPEALS
DIRECTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Provide direction to City staff regarding the final disposition of
the Water Meter Replacement/Repair (R/R) Program (City Code 3.05) surcharge for the identified
properties in accordance with the related City Ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
•On May 15, 2012, the City Council adopted an amendment to City Ordinance 3.05 regarding
the Rules and Regulations relating to Municipal Utilities that requires all properties connected
to the municipal water utility to permit the city's designated utility employee onto the
property and within the structure for purposes of the inspection, repair or replacement of
the water meter. This action, in essence, implemented the Water Meter Replacement/Repair
(R/R) Program to ensure accurate water use measurement and payment.
•Part of the amendment, and accordingly the Water Meter R/R Program, incorporated a fee
schedule that provided for a surcharge to be placed against utility billing accounts for those
properties that either didn't schedule an inspection or did not bring the identified deficiency
into compliance within the prescribed time frame.
•The Surcharge Fee is $150 per month for Single Family properties and $500 per month for all
others.
•In anticipation of appeals, the Council directed the Public Works Committee to review any
appeals and provide their recommendations back to the Council under the Consent Agenda.
Staff has recently heard from the following property owners who want to appeal a related
surcharge.
•The following surcharge appeals are being presented to the Public Works Committee for the
purpose of the corresponding recommendation for future Council action. The properties
have been found to be in compliance with City Code regarding the Water Meter R/R Program.
As a result of the individual reviews, the related surcharge appeals should be recommended
to be supported (waive surcharge) or denied.
o Karen Guettler, 3966 Riverton Avenue: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Thong Nguyen, 4318 Bear Path Trail: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Camille Abrams, 3816 North Ridge Drive: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Ogbonna Iwu, 4440 Woodgate Court: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Le Anna Gordon, 1638 Donald Court: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Matthew Vopat, 4484 Clover Lane: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Veronica Mogaka and Cyrus Mokaya, 1766 Gabbro Trail: Water Meter Program – Remove
$150 surcharge (utility account)
2
o Kelli Meredith, 4259 Rahn Road: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o Chou Hang, 1495 Palomino Trail: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o Matthew Vopat, 4484 Clover Lane: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Alexander Shifrin, 3711 Blackhawk Lake Court: Water Meter Program – Remove $150
surcharge (utility account)
o Pam Burns, 3762 Denmark Trail E: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o Paul Caldwell, 1302 Crestridge Lane: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Alain Kinsala, 1648 Donald Court: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o Eric and Ardelle Olson, 3140B Farnum Drive: Water Meter Program – Remove $150
surcharge (utility account)
o Lori Swenson, 2111 Cliffhill Lane: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o LeAnne Offill, 4731 Covington Court: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Bona Ku, 4666 Pello Circle: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o Dave Morris, 4420 Wilderness Run Circle: Water Meter Program – Remove $150
surcharge (utility account)
3
Agenda Memo
March 17, 2020 Public Works Committee Meeting
III.DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - FIBER REQUIREMENTS
DIRECTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Provide direction to City staff regarding the consideration
of the removal of the current development condition of approval requirement for fiber
conduit installation for new R1/R2/R3 zoned developments.
BACKGROUND:
•For approximately ten years, as part of the City’s effort to provide high-speed fiber
service to Eagan’s homes, it has been City policy and practice to require the installation
of plastic conduits within the street boulevards of all new R1/R2/R3 residential
developments. The conduit installation was intended to provide facilities for the
convenient installation of telecommunication private utility fiber networks within the
developments.
•In the time this condition of development approval has been in place, there has been
about six miles of conduit placed within thirteen residential subdivisions.
•Due to a variety of factors, specifically private utility companies desire to install and own
their own facilities, none of the conduit has been utilized for fiber installations within
these developments. Instead, the fiber providers have chosen to install their own
facilities within the street right-of-way and easements.
•With this past and anticipated future lack of use, it is recommended that the City
discontinue the policy/practice of requiring developers to install conduit.
•Public Works staff will present details and address any questions the Committee may
have on this item.
ATTACHMENTS (0):
4
Agenda Memo
March 17, 2020 Public Works Committee Meeting
IV.FATS, OILS AND GREASE (FOG) ORDINANCE REVISION
DIRECTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Review and comment on current practices with regards to
the Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG) management in the City’s sanitary sewer system and provide
direction to City staff on any related ordinance revisions for future City Council
consideration.
ISSUES/BACKGROUND:
•Fats, oils and greases, also referred to as "FOG", come from items such as meat fats, lard,
oil, shortening, butter, margarine, food scraps, baked goods, sauces, mayonnaise, and
dairy products. FOG can enter the sanitary sewer system from washing dishes and
cooking facilities containing even residual amounts of these items. Large amounts of
FOG are commonly found in Food Service Establishments (FSE’s).
•When FOG is poured down the drain, it solidifies and builds up in the sewer pipes.
Blockages from the FOG can cause back-ups in kitchens or basements or can lead to
sanitary sewer overflows. These backups and overflows are a health risk and cause
unpleasant odors. Back-ups are expensive and unpleasant to clean up and often must be
paid for by the business/homeowner.
•Eagan Utilities’ quarterly sewer cleaning records show labor and equipment costs
associated with additional sewer cleaning/jetting efforts needed in areas with multiple
restaurants and a high volume of FOG (map, records, costs). The annual costs of these
additional cleaning efforts is approximately $40,000.
•The main objective of a FOG Program is to reduce the additional management and
cleaning of the City’s system and place the responsibility appropriately on Food Service
Establishments to maintain their own system properly and in accordance with plumbing
code. This would reduce quarterly jetting by Utilities staff and get these sanitary lines
on a normal jetting schedule (every 1-6 years).
•Recently, Eagan’s Utilities Construction Inspector was able to shadow the FOG
Coordinator with the City of Rochester. Staff saw firsthand the importance and value of
their program. Not only is it valuable in reducing FOG in the sanitary sewer system, but
also in educating the FSE’s as to the importance of their practices, and ultimately,
education of the rest of their staff. The efforts of the Rochester inspectors have led to a
58% increase in FOG removal from these FSE’s, before it has a chance to reach the
sanitary sewer system. Their program is only a few years along, but progress is clearly
being made in that short time.
•Public Works staff will present options for consideration and address any questions the
Committee may have on this item.
ATTACHMENTS (2):
IV-1 Map of Grease Traps & Additional Sewer Jetting/Cleaning Efforts
IV-2 Annual Costs for FOG Cleaning
5
6
Quarterly Sewer Cleaning
Annual Cost
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Labor $9,084 $12,890 $23,712 $8,953 $6,172
Equipment $20,592 $30,096 $54,583 $21,227 $14,664
Total $29,676 $42,986 $78,296 $30,180 $20,836
Lost Productivity Hours
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Labor 122 172 356 138 96
7