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Mr. Johnson noted that an engineering firm was currently ranking and rating the <br /> huge choke point in the area of Old Highway 8 creating the overflow, with only a <br /> 12-18 inch pipe under that highway at this time; with 50 acres currently draining <br /> into this system before reaching the Rice Creek Watershed District ditch, and <br /> further consideration needed for the entire area to determine problem points. <br /> Mr. Johnson noted that the City had received a grant through the Board of Water <br /> and Soil Resources (BWSR) for the work at Evergreen Park and, in working with <br /> the watershed district, storm water would be intercepted coming through the <br /> entire system and redirected to an underground vault for re-use as irrigation for <br /> the park. <br /> Chair Vanderwall noted that there was significant water coming into the <br /> elementary parking lot there as well; and suggested that may be incorporated to <br /> contribute to that re-use, since the water was coming off the asphalt, and could be <br /> part of the mitigation efforts. <br /> Mr. Culver noted that, as part of the overall plan for revitalization at Evergreen <br /> Park, the Master Plan indicated rain gardens in the southeast and northeast <br /> corners, and he had frequently assisted the drainage of those baseball fields and <br /> had observed the drainage toward Eldridge Avenue. Mr. Culver opined that any <br /> opportunity to capture rain water and re-use is would be beneficial. Mr. Culver <br /> noted that another area could also be the hockey rink location, which would no <br /> longer be maintained for that use, even though it may prove more difficult since it <br /> was on higher ground. Mr. Culver advised that all of those areas would continue <br /> to be reviewed, and recognized that a lot of water was running through that school <br /> parking lot. <br /> Chair Vanderwall noted that the school parking lot was very congested, and in <br /> working with transportation aspects for the School District, spoke in support of a <br /> separate bus lane along the south border of the park for buses to safely leave the <br /> parking lot without conflicts with other traffic from parents picking up students. <br /> Chair Vanderwall admitted that there were significant drainage and parking lot <br /> issues in that area, and suggested one solution may be for an underground water <br /> storage system, similar to that installed at the Rainbow on Larpenteur and <br /> Fernwood, using such a cistern system for irrigation purposes. Chair Vanderwall <br /> noted that this park was jointly owned by the School District and City, and <br /> suggested a further partnership in pursuing mitigation efforts if feasible. <br /> Mr. Johnson noted the need for a structure on the southwest end of the parking lot <br /> as well, with a current beehive on the bottom corner where the water wants to run <br /> and the natural ditch area near the Evergreen Park field. Mr. Johnson opined that <br /> there was no lack of ways that water could be re-used for multiple purposes. <br /> Chair Vanderwall noted the advantages of irrigating ballfields without using other <br /> water; with Mr. Johnson responding that throughout the entire drainage area there <br /> Page 9 of 13 <br />