2018-11-28 Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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could be mitigated while enhancing their business opportunities. Our conversations will continue and will work towards compliance and potential changes in the CUP. Ready Landscaping City staff noticed some signage on the fence outside Ready Landscping, indicating the operation of a retail business out of their building. The building is set up for some additional tenants to rent indoor storage space from Ready Landscaping (owner of the building), however, retail operations are not allowed in that zoning district or by their Conditional Use Permit. City staff is addressing the situation with ownership and hopes to resolve the situation in the near future. STORMWATER/WETLAND Local Water Plan City staff are exploring opportunities to reduce redundancies in erosion control inspection work with Rice Creek Watershed District. SEWER AND WATER Water Supply Plan As part of our Water Supply Plan, we projected our total annual groundwater usage to exceed our permitted amount within the next few years. In fact, we have exceeded our permitted pumping limit during two of the dryer years in the recent past. Therefore, we have made application to the Department of Natural Resources to increase that limit from around 110 Million Gallons per year to 140 MG/yr. The DNR has already responded and our application seems to be moving through the system without issue. Their response included some statements noting that we are out of the 5 mile radius from White Bear Lake, meaning we are not bound by some of the limitations imposed by the courts ruling. Additionally, our water usage per capita remains within normal ranges, demonstrating that we are not a city which wastes water or uses it irresponsibly. This should also help us gain approval for our application. We are hopeful that this request will be granted and the city will have secured rights to adequate water supply for years to come. Wellhead Protection Plan The Minnesota Department of Health recently approved our groundwater model. Our consultant is in the process of using those results to map out our new Wellhead Protection Area, which is the final stage of Part 1 of the Plan. Water Connection Ordinances On this agenda is the second reading of an ordinance change to up the Water Lateral Benefit fee to reflect modern infrastructure costs. Our last letter to residents informing them of this potential rate hike resulted in a number of prepayments of that fee. We are now down to less than 25 homes that owe this fee and around 100 who have water available but have not connected.