HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/24/1996 Work Session
.
City of Springfield
Work Session
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, JUNE 24, 1996
The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan
Wastewater Treatment Plant, 410 River Avenue, Eugene, at 6:31 p.m. with Councilor Greg
Shaver presiding.
Present were Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Dahlquist and Shaver. Absent (excused) were Mayor
Morrisette and Councilors Burge and Maine. Also pre~ent was City Manager Mike Kelly, City
Attorney Tim Harold, City Recorder Eileen Stein and members of staff.
I. Short Mountain Sanitary Sewer Line Update
.
Planning Manager Greg Mott provided the staff report. Mr. Mott stated this is a continued
discussion from the May 8 joint meeting of the elected officials of Lane County, Springfield and
Eugene. He stated the comment period has been extended again until June 28, 1996. The
ordinance is scheduled for second reading at the July 1 regular meeting. Mr. Mott reported that
additional analysis has shown that the most cost effective way to treat leachate is to extend the
sewer line to the metropolitan sewer system. He reported the Eugene City Council has requested
that this matter go back to the Eugene Planning Commission which discussed the matter today at
noon and that the Eugene Planning Commission recommended the Eugene City Council approve
the original ordinance with an alternative route and that an intergovernmental agreement be
negotiated which would, among other things, specify the pipe size which had been a concern of
Councilor Shaver's. Mr. Mott provided a sample of a 4" sewer pipe that is proposed to be used.
He stated the proposed pipe would withstand pressure of 160 psi. He introduced Mr. Ken Kohl,
Lane County Public Works staff.
Councilor Ballew asked what was the purpose of the intergovernmental agreement. Mr. Kohl
answered the purpose of the agreement was to specify certain issues about the installation of the
sewer line and the treatment plant operations such as pipe size, treatment specifications and
applications, penalties, and ability to disconnect if provisions of intergovernmental agreement
aren't adhered to. Mr. Mott commented that nothing in the agreement would be inconsistent
with the language in the Metro Plan and that to get an exception would require going back
through the exact same process as this one.
Councilor Shaver asked if there was really a need for Goshen Elementary to hook up to the sewer
line. Mr. Mott stated he did not know, but that the technology of the proposed sewer line
material will not allow for solid waste matter to pass through it. He stated whether it is really
needed remains to be seen, however if so, it would have to go through the Metro Plan
amendment process. Councilor Shaver commented that if Goshen Elementary does need the
sewer line, then he would rather that be included in this process now. If not, then he would
prefer to exclude them and refocus the issue on Short Mountain only.
.
Councilor Ballew asked whether by amending the Metro Plan that would be enough to get the
line through. Mr. Mott replied it would. He stated the language in the plan is general enough,
but that what the City of Eugene wants is a contract, the intergovernmental agreement to address
the specific issues. He noted such written agreements have been done in the past on other Metro
Plan amendments to address the specific issues of a particular project. He stated the specificity
of such things as pipe size is awkward for the Metro Plan.
.
.
.
,"
Work Session Minutes
June 24, 1996
Page 2
Mr. Kohl reviewed the various routing alternatives that were presented to at the May 8 joint
elected officials public hearing. Councilors asked questions about the technology that would be
used for each routing alternative.
Mr. Mott reviewed the possible scenarios for adoption of the plan amendment. He stated that
unless the Council advised him ,differently at this meeting, then at the Council's July 1 Regular
Meeting, the council would have a second reading of the original ordinance. He stated the City of
Eugene is also scheduled for a second reading of the ordinance on July I and the Board of
Commissioners would likely wait longer but is expected to approve it. After that, Lane County
would go before the Boundary Commission and request an extraterritorial sewer extension. If
there is not mutual adoption of the ordinance, then the matter would go to the Metropolitan
Policy Committee for resolution which most likely would not occur prior to the Council's
summer recess. Another alternative possible is that if a solution is reached which does not
require a Metro Plan amendment such as treatment on site, disposal by another means or
extending a sewer line into Creswell, these alternatives would notrequire a Metro Plan
amendment and therefore would not involve the City of Springfield.
Councilor Shaver asked what was needed from the Council. Mr. Mott replied Council
concurrence was needed to conduct the second reading on July I.
Councilor Beyer asked at what point do specific issues get addressed such as pipe size. Mr. Mott
replied those details will get negotiated and included in the intergovernmental agreement. He
added the Council's preferences can be entered into the record and made a part of the legislative
history on this matter.
By consensus, the Council agreed to conduct the second reading of the ordinance on July 1.
2. Metro Wastewater Management Commission Briefing/Issues and Regional Water Pollution
Control Facility Tour.
Acting Environmental Services Manager Ed Black provided the staff report. He introduced Mr.
Peter Ruffier, Wastewater Division Director, and Mr. James Ollerenshaw, Laboratory Director.
Mr. Black provided a historical perspective on how the wastewater treatment plant came into
being and provided a copy of the intergovernmental agreement between the cities of Springfield
and Eugene, and Lane County, which created the Metropolitan Wastewater Management
Commission (MWMC) and governs operations of the plant. Mr. Black then discussed who and
what role is played by the members of the MWMC that oversees the operation of the plant.
Public Works Director Dan Brown discussed current issues facing the MWMC including
completion of the facilities master plan, biosolids and infiltration/inflow management and public
outreach efforts, the equalization systems development charge paid by MWMC, renewal of the
NPDES permit which authorizes the plant to treat wastewater and put water back into the
WiIlamette River, and finally completion of the EPA audit. Mr. Brown commented that the
completion of the audit was discussed earlier in the evening at the continued regular meeting of
July 17 held at Springfield City Hall.
.
.
.
..
. ."
Work Session Minutes
June 24, 1996
Page 3
Mr. Brown then discussed future issues facing MWMC including capital financing, revise and
update the intergovernmental agreement, relationship of sewerage planning to other regional
planning efforts and MPC, industrial pretreatment management efforts, and establishing a vital
role for Springfield in metropolitan sewerage treatment efforts.
Prior to a tour of the facility, Mr. Ruffier provided an overview of sewer treatment processes and
infrastructure in the metropolitan area that serves the treatment plant. He reviewed statistics
about plant operational parameters and mandates, and seasonal performance and permit limits.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. to tour the treatment plant facility.
Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein
~o~ S:>
Presiding Councilor
ATTEST:
1~
City Recorder '