City Council

MINUTES OF THE LAFAYETTE COMMON COUNCIL March 5, 2012 REGULAR MEETING The Common Council of the City of Lafayette, Indiana met in regular session on Monday March 5, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 20 North 6th Street, Lafayette, Indiana. President Campbell called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was given to the flag of our Country. The following members were present: Present: Heide, Klinker, Reynolds, Campbell, Brown, Ahlersmeyer, Downing and Weast-Williamson, and Meyer City Clerk Cindy Murray and City Attorney Ed Chosnek were present The City Clerk stated that there was a quorum present. Councilman Campbell moved to approve the minutes of February 6, 2012 meeting, Councilwoman Weast-Williamson seconded. There were no additions or corrections. Minutes approved by unanimous voice vote. The Clerk stated there were no Claims, Petitions or Communications. The Clerk stated the following reports are available in the City Clerk’s Office: Clerk’s Office Monthly-January Police Department Monthly-January Fleet Maintenance/Motor Vehicle Department Monthly-January Water Works Department Monthly-January Water Pollution Control Department Monthly-January and Annual Report 2011 Fire Department Annual Report 2011 Engineering Department Annual Report 2011 Economic Development Department Annual Report 2011 There were No Ordinances for Second Reading. Ordinances for First Reading: The Clerk read Ordinance 2012-04 (An Amendment to Ordinance No. 2010-11 Establishing a Local Oregon Historic District in the City of Lafayette, Indiana) by title only on first reading. Councilman Campbell moved for passage, Councilman Klinker seconded. Brian Bugajski, Community Development spoke regarding the Ordinance. Ordinance 2012-04 passed 8-0 on a roll call vote on first reading. There were no Resolutions: There were no Reports of Standing Committee. There were no Reports of Special Committees. There was no Report by the Mayor. Miscellaneous and New Business: President Meyer stated the City had received a request to approve a proclamation recognizing the Miami Nation of Indians; however Mayor Roswarski will need to give final approval. Mr. Campbell moved to approve the request subject to the Mayor’s final approval, Councilman Brown seconded. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Kerry Smith, Water Works Department Director gave the following Departmental update: Since December of 1998, Glick well #5 has been discharging 1000 gallons of water per minute into the Wabash River as a result of Trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination discovered during routine sampling. This was by IDEM permit and the level of discharge never violated any regulations. Our level was approximately nine parts per billion and our permit allowed for 100 ppb. Drinking water standards call for levels below five ppb. We immediately began searching for the source of the contamination and through geo-probing were able to locate the plume in the area of #6 green on the Lafayette Municipal Golf Course. In October of 2006, we installed an interceptor well into the plume of TCE and began air stripping, capturing the TCE before it could reach well #5. We are now in the process of filing the proper closure documentation with IDEM to start using well #5 for daily production as it has been drinking water compliant for the better part of a year. I estimate that in the 13 plus years of pumping to the river, we discharged about 6.8 billion gallons of water. In 2010 we acquired land out at the old Aretz airport site for an additional well field. Last year we started exploratory drilling and have located adequate water on the site. Right now we are in the process of planning our next move which is spotting the actual site for the permanent wells. Once this site is configured based on hydro-geologic data we’ve collected, we will start with a permanent test well. We plan on three or four wells on this site and estimate a capacity of five to eight million gallons of water per day. We continue our meter change out program to convert more of our meters to have radio read capabilities. We are now a little over a third of the way done with this conversion. To illustrate what this means, a meter route that once took from a day to a day and a half to read, can now be read in twenty to thirty minutes. This has proven to be so efficient and accurate and the cost savings in time alone is remarkable. This winter season has been relatively mild as far as leaks go. We usually average 55 to 60 broken water mains between November and March. Right now at the end of February we have had less than 30. I would like to take this time to thank the Mayor and his administration, the Board of Public Works and Safety, and the Lafayette Common Council for making it possible for the hard working men and women at Water Works to be able to do what they do and enjoy the rewards associated with that hard work and dedication. Brad Talley, Water Pollution Control Department Director gave the following Departmental update: The Orchard Heights Phase I Drainage Project began construction on January 29, 2012. This Project will help to alleviate stormwater drainage that has been a chronic problem in this area. Previous projects have eliminated the inflow of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system and has eliminated basement backup that had been occurring in the area. Capturing and directing the surface stormwater, as well as stabilizing stormwater drainage ditches are the main benefits from this project. Design of the tunnel extension is underway. This project consists of approximately 660 feet of 72” diameter sewer that will run from the north end of the tunnel to Cincinnati St. adjacent to the railroad tracks. This project will allow the City to eliminate the Salem St. Combined Sewer Overflow Point and to eliminate all overflows except during a 100 year storm event at the Cincinnati St. CSO. It also clears the way for CityBus to begin construction of its new transfer station. Initial meetings in regard to the Earl Avenue/Durkees Run project have identified tasks for the City and for its consultants. This project will help with both stormwater problems associated with Sagamore Parkway and the Earl Avenue area as well as address four CSO points that will eventually be eliminated at the end of the project. There will be more updates as the project progresses. The Stormwater Utility has ramped up and is off to a busy start in 2012. The re-organization of the department has allowed us to fill critical positions to maintain highly efficient operations. Stormwater has seen an increase in drainage calls since the stormwater fees have been put into place and now we have the personnel to handle these calls. Stormwater is also working in correlation with the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation on various programs. Construction related inspections and Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) programs are also duties of the stormwater staff. The treatment plant operations continue to evolve as well. The plant staff is currently working with consultants on the Solar Feasibility Study. This is the next step in the 2007-2008 optimization project that has seen major benefits already. From 2007 to 2011 the department was able to reduce electrical consumptions by 354,000 kilowatt hours per month, saving over $300,000 annually at today’s costs. This is a 40% reduction in consumption. The high efficiency blower that the department was able to install through the Stimulus Programs accounts for approximately 16% of that reduction or 141,600 kilowatt hours per month. From 2007 to 2011 the department realized a 50% reduction in natural gas due to the optimization project. All of this has resulted in an overall reduction of green house gas emissions by 3055 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Or in other words the plants carbon footprint has been greatly reduced. During this timeframe the plant flows have increased by 2 million gallons per day or 10% from what they were in 2007. Fred Koning, Traffic Improvement Department shared with the Council a Merit Award the City of Lafayette received for its Central Traffic Signal System (CENTRACS) at the American Council of Engineering Companies Engineering Excellence Awards dinner in Indy. Don Roush, Police Chief presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Cayce Griffin for reporting suspicious activity in his Edgelea neighborhood which led to an arrest. Jessie Graham, Jefferson High School informed everyone about an E-Waste collection day on Saturday March 24th at Jeff to benefit the school’s Robotics team. There were no Reports of Council: Public Comment: Perry Barbee, 3700 Redbud, asked everyone to support and pray for the victims of the recent tornados in southern Indiana. Councilman Campbell moved to adjourn Councilwoman Weast-Williamson seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:32 pm Minutes prepared by Cindy Murray, City Clerk Complete audio of meeting available in the City Clerk’s office or at www.lafayette.in.gov