05-17-2011 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Study Session Packet
City Council:Mayor:
Jay Vavricek
City Administrator:
Mary Lou Brown
City Clerk:
RaNae Edwards
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7:00:00 PM
Council Chambers - City Hall
100 East First Street
Larry Carney
Linna Dee Donaldson
Scott Dugan
Randy Gard
John Gericke
Peg Gilbert
Chuck Haase
Mitchell Nickerson
Bob Niemann
Kirk Ramsey
Call to OrderCity of Grand Island City Council
A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS
Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for Future Agenda
Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without Council action,
notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date will be given.
B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve time to speak.
Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will be speaking.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION
This is an opportunity for the Mayor to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to the community.
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Invocation
This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The City of Grand Island abides by the Open Meetings Act
in conducting business. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is displayed in the back of this room as required by state
law.
The City Council may vote to go into Closed Session on any agenda item as allowed by state law.
City of Grand Island City Council
Item -1
Presentation of Parkview Groundwater Control Issues
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Jason Eley, Interim City Attorney
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: Jason Eley, Interim City Attorney
Meeting: May 17, 2011
Subject: Groundwater Control Ordinance
Item #’s: 1
Presenter(s): Jason Eley, Interim City Attorney
Tim Luchsinger, Utilities Director
Craig Lewis, Building Department Director
Background
The Parkview Well Superfund Site is located in the southwestern portion of the
City of Grand Island in Hall County, Nebraska. The Site consists of two areas of
groundwater contamination and associated source areas which resulted from the historical
mismanagement of industrial solvents.
A contaminant source area located at a facility at 3304 Engleman Road South has
resulted in contamination in the groundwater which trends to the east. This groundwater
contamination is referred to as the Southern Plume. A contaminant source area located at
a facility at 3445 West Stolley Park Road has resulted in groundwater contamination
which trends to the east. This groundwater contamination is referred to as the Northern
Plume.
A component of selected remedies is the enactment by the City of Grand Island of
an institutional control ordinance designating a Groundwater Control Area through which
groundwater use would be restricted to prevent human exposure and consumption of
contaminated groundwater and prohibit the installation of new wells supplying water for
human consumption in the plume areas.
Discussion
At the study session, Bradley Vann, from the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, will present an overview of the Parkview groundwater measures.
Item -2
Water Main Extension Remediation Plan for UP/NE Solvents
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Tim Luchsinger, Utilities Director
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: Timothy Luchsinger, Utilities Director
Meeting: May 17, 2011
Subject: Water Main Extension – Remediation Plan for UP/NE
Solvents
Item #’s: 2
Presenter(s): Timothy Luchsinger, Utilities Director
Background
The former Nebraska Solvents Company operated a facility located at Stuhr Road and
Highway 30 on property owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The operation of that
facility resulted in the release of tetrachloroethylene, commonly used in dry cleaning or
as a degreaser, to the area groundwater. The tetrachloroethylene has now migrated
several miles to the east into Merrick County, and contaminated private wells in several
subdivisions around the Gunbarrel and Fort Kearney Road area. Union Pacific has
enrolled in a voluntary remediation program administered by the Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality to develop a corrective plan. The remediation action being
recommended is to replace the private wells in that area by extending the City’s water
system. The Union Pacific would reimburse the City for the engineering, material, and
construction costs associated with that extension.
Discussion
An overview of this project addressing the general project status and scope will be
provided at the study session. A draft of the proposed agreement will be sent by Union
Pacific for review by the City. The legal issues of owning, operating, and maintaining
portions of a water system outside of the City and Hall County boundaries need to be
included in this review. Upon satisfactory resolution of the agreement, it would be
presented to the City Council for consideration.
Conclusion
This item is presented to the City Council in a Study Session to allow for any questions to
be answered and to create a greater understanding of the issue at hand.
Item -3
Update on Extending City Sanitary Sewer along US Highway 281
to Interstate 80
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: John Collins, Public Works Director
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: John Collins, Public Works Director
Meeting: May 17, 2011
Subject: Update on Extending City Sanitary Sewer along US
Highway 281 to Interstate 80
Item #’s: 3
Presenter(s): John Collins, Public Works Director
Background
At the January 4, 2011 Study Session the City Council was informed of an interest by
businesses along US Highway 281 near the Interstate 80 interchange about extending
City sanitary sewer to serve their property.
On January 11, 2011 City Council approved Mayor Vavricek to sign a “Letter of Intent”
to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality declaring the City’s willingness to
negotiate a public/private project with these businesses to extend City sanitary sewer
south along US Highway 281.
Discussion
Several meetings have been conducted between the City and the interested parties, with
progress towards an amicable agreement.
The total project cost is estimated at $2.2 million, with funding provided from the DEQ
SRF at 3.5% interest for 20 years. The funding is expected to be repaid through tap fees,
via an Interlocal Agreement or Sanitary Sewer Improvement District.
Conclusion
This item is presented to the City Council in a Study Session to allow for any questions to
be answered and to create a greater understanding of the issue at hand.
It is the intent of City Administration to bring this issue to a future council meeting for
approval of the agreement.