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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> Date: 3/19/12 <br />Item No.: 13.c <br />Department Approval City Manager Approval <br />Item Description: Discuss Assistance and Education Options Regarding Sanitary Sewer <br />Backups <br />B <br />ACKGROUND <br />1 <br />The City Council occasionally receives requests for assistance from private property owners <br />2 <br />related to sanitary sewer backups. On March 12, 2012, the City Council will be hearing a <br />3 <br />presentation from League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust staff on their insurance programs <br />4 <br />and how claims are handled. Staff will present various education efforts we are implementing on <br />5 <br />how to prevent sewer backups and what to do if a backup occurs. We will also discuss what some <br />6 <br />other cities do in this area as assistance to property owners. They include self insurance for clean <br />7 <br />up assistance and cost share assistance to upgrade the private sewer lateral. Some highlights of <br />8 <br />the discussion are as follows: <br />9 <br />Fridley sewer backup cleanup assistance program <br />10 <br />City retained contractor immediately begins cleanup once backup is identified in city mainline <br />11 <br /> City admits no fault or responsibility for damage <br />12 <br /> Costs average $2-3000 per incident <br />13 <br /> Maximum city will cover is $5000 <br />14 <br /> Damage claims are routed to LMCIT for claims adjusting <br />15 <br />Televising of private sewer laterals <br />16 <br />Cost share of private lateral rehabilitation or replacement <br />17 <br />Cost share of backflow prevention devices <br />18 <br />Enhanced education of property owners regarding service lateral insurance coverage, backflow <br />19 <br />prevention, and inflow and infiltration. <br />20 <br />Attached is an example of the educational information staff has developed to better educate <br />21 <br />residents on what to do if a backup occurs and how to prevent sewer backups. <br />22 <br />PO <br />OLICYBJECTIVE <br />23 <br />The City has a sanitary sewer maintenance program and a capital improvement program to ensure <br />24 <br />the sanitary sewer system is operating with minimum risk of damage to private property. <br />25 <br />FI <br />INANCIALMPACTS <br />26 <br />Staff is working on an estimated cost for assistance programs for the discussion at the meeting. <br />27 <br />The city currently averages 6-8 sanitary sewer backup claims per year. <br />28 <br />SR <br />TAFF ECOMMENDATION <br />29 <br />Staff is seeking Council feedback and direction on the assistance programs discussed. <br />30 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />