Duluth Public Utilities Commission.

411 West First Street City of Duluth Duluth, Minnesota 55802 Minutes - Final Duluth Public Utilities Commission. Tuesday, November 17, 2020 5:15 PM Council Chambers, City Hall, 411 West First Street NOTICE: The Duluth Public Utilities Commission will be holding its November 17, 2020 meeting by other electronic means pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.021 in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Some members of the Board will be participating through video conference. Due to the COVID-19 emergency and the closure of City facilities, public comment will not be taken in person. However, members of the public can monitor the meeting and provide public comment on agenda items through WebEx Events. Visit https://duluthmn.gov/live-meeting to access the meeting. The public is also encouraged to submit written comment to jbenning@duluthmn.gov prior to the meeting. Please include “November 2020 DPUC Agenda” in the subject line, and include your name and address and the agenda item you are speaking to. The agenda can be found online at https://duluthmn.gov/boards-commissions/duluth-public-utilities-commission/. Please note that all public comment is considered Public Data. CALL TO ORDER President Ryan called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chris Adatte, Councilor Gary Anderson, Councilor Derek Medved, Rob Prusak, Carrie Ryan, Councilor Joel Sipress Staff Present: Bob Asleson, Jim Benning, Leanna Gilbert, Tom Johnson, Chris Ostern, Eric Shaffer, Kerry Venier PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD No citizens had comments at this time. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DPUC035 Oct. 20, 2020 DPUC meeting minutes draft Indexes: Attachments: 10202020 DPUC meeting minutes draft Commissioner Anderson motioned to approve the minutes, and the motion was approved unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Stormwater program management City of Duluth Page 1 Duluth Public Utilities Commission. Minutes - Final November 17, 2020 Jim Benning stated that the second reading of the stormwater ordinance will go to City Council next Monday giving the Commission authority to set the BMP credits. It would be late December before the Commission could set those rates. Tom Johnson presented the credits proposed by staff. There was some discussion about potential appeals and the recommended discount for waterfront properties. Commissioner Sipress requested a range of what waterfront properties are paying now compared to what they would pay after recalculation of ERUs with an 80% or 90% discount. He also requested the portion of the original engineering report that was used to determine the 80% discount proposed for waterfront properties. After further discussion, staff agreed to hold off on adjusting ERUs for all commercial and industrial parcels until spring. Public meetings could be held as soon as the Commission is comfortable with the discount percentages. Tom Johnson will put together a short educational component for future public meetings, which should include sample properties, how impervious surface is calculated, and different BMP options. NEW BUSINESS Election of Vice President President Ryan nominated Rob Prusak for Vice President for the rest of his term, and he was elected unanimously. UPDATES FROM STAFF Eric Shaffer reported that construction is coming to an end except for the gas blanket project. We are moving into design work for the winter. Jim Benning reported that an interview for Steve Lipinski is scheduled for Thursday, so he should be with us for the next meeting if he is appointed to the Commission. Commissioner Sipress is still trying to get another commissioner for when Commissioner Prusak’s term ends on March 31. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS There were no questions or comments at this time. UPCOMING COUNCIL ACTIONS Jim Benning mentioned resolutions regarding the Twin Ports Interchange. PREVIEW OF UPCOMING BUSINESS The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 5:15 p.m. The Commission will continue to discuss stormwater BMP credits. Staff will send out the information requested by commissioners prior to the December meeting. KNOWN ABSENCES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS No absences were mentioned. ADJOURNMENT City of Duluth Page 2 Duluth Public Utilities Commission. Minutes - Final November 17, 2020 The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m. City of Duluth Page 3