City Council Planning Sessions

MEMORANDUM TO: Record FROM: Susan Bishel, Public Relations Coordinator SUBJECT: February 13, 2017 City Council Planning Session Minutes DATE: February 14, 2017 CC: Mayor and City Council, City Manager, City Clerk, Department Heads The Planning Session took place in the Council Chambers, Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St., Wheaton, Illinois. Those attending the Planning Session included: Councilwoman Fitch, Councilman Prendiville, Councilman Rutledge, Councilman Saline, Councilman Scalzo and Mayor Pro Tem Suess. Mayor Gresk was absent. Also in attendance were City Manager Dzugan, Assistant City Manager Duguay, Director of Public Works Laoang, Water Superintendent McMillen and Public Relations Coordinator Bishel. The session began at 7:00 p.m. and concluded at 7:42 p.m. The following items were discussed: I. Call to Order The Wheaton City Council Planning Session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem Suess. II. Approval of January 23,2017 Planning Session Minutes The Council approved the January 23, 2017 Planning Session Minutes. III. Public Comment There were no public comments. IV. Potential Risks for Lead Released in Water Supply City Manager Dzugan stated the risk of lead entering the City’s water supply is very remote and is generally limited to two specific situations: if a property with a lead service line is disrupted when work is done on the line, or if private plumbing fixtures in a structure contain lead. Water Superintendent McMillen reviewed the EPA’s Lead & Copper Rule established in 1991. Water suppliers must ensure that water is minimally corrosive, and there is mandatory testing of water for lead and copper. Since 1992, Wheaton’s water has come from Lake Michigan and is treated at the Jardine Water Treatment Plant. The City controls corrosion by adding phosphates to the water, which forms a protective coating on the inside of water pipes. Water Superintendent McMillen reviewed the City’s testing procedures, including testing homes known to have lead or copper service lines. Since 1997, lead has not been detected in any of the City’s samples. In response to a Council question, Water Superintendent McMillen stated whenever possible, the City uses the same homes for water testing. Water Superintendent McMillen stated water service lines installed after 1950 usually do not contain lead. New EPA rules require the City to post information on where lead exists, both in the publicly owned part of the service line and the privately maintained part of the service line. The City has found approximately 400 service lines containing lead in the public portion but still has approximately 3,500 lines to research. The City has found approximately 30 privately maintained segments of service lines containing lead and will continue to identify properties as new water meters are installed throughout the City. To provide information to residents, Water Superintendent McMillen stated the City is nearly done with an interactive online map containing all of the information the City currently has about service lines and their materials. To gather this information, the City is going back through individual service records and other records from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Water Superintendent McMillen addressed Council questions about what the City is doing if repairs are needed on service lines containing lead. If the City finds a leak and both the City’s portion and private portion of the service line are lead, the City will replace its portion and recommend that the property owner replace the private portion of the service line at that time to reduce the temporary increased risk of lead entering the water that could occur if the line is disturbed during repairs. The City also will flush the line, educate the property owner about what they should do to decrease this temporary increased risk of lead, test the water for lead, and provide the property owner with an optional filter to use. If the City finds a leak and only the private portion of the service line is lead, the City may be able to repair the spot of the leak, replace a portion of the line, or the property owner can have the service line replaced. The City follows this work with flushing, testing and an optional filter. If the City finds a leak and only the public portion of the service line is lead, the City will replace the line with copper, followed by flushing, testing and an optional filter. Water Superintendent McMillen stated since staff implemented these procedures, there have been three instances in which service lines containing lead needed repairing, and after repairs were made, all of the lab tests reported no lead in the water. Feb. 13, 2017 Planning Session 2 City Code states the property owner is required to maintain the service line from the curb stop to the home. Some cities in Water Superintendent McMillen’s research have programs in place to replace the City-owned portion of the service line when lead is found, while a few programs also offer financial incentives for property owners to replace the privately owned portion. The majority of programs leave the privately owned portion as the property owners’ responsibility. The City can continue replacing just the City-owned portion of lines containing lead that it encounters, offer a financial incentive for property owners to replace the privately owned portion, or the City could fund the replacement of both the public and privately owned portions of the service line. In response to Council questions, Water Superintendent McMillen stated underground sanitary sewer lines can be near water lines in older homes, but in newer homes they must be least 10 feet apart. Water Superintendent McMillen stated residents who want their water tested can call the Water Division, which can help determine the materials used in the service line and can recommend a lab for testing if residents are interested. He stated water testing costs approximately $40. City Manager Dzugan stated when the City comes across lead service lines on the private side when City crews are replacing a water meter, crews will not replace the meter. His recommendation is to wait to make a policy decision until the City knows how many private service lines are lead so they can make a better-informed decision. In response to a Council question, Water Superintendent McMillen stated the City has determined that none of the service lines for Wheaton schools contain lead components. V. City Council/Staff Comments Council members shared their condolences on the passing of former City Council member Tom Mouhelis. They expressed appreciation for Mouhelis’s service in the U.S. Air Force, the mentorship he provided to incoming City Council members, his advocacy for veterans, commitment to serving the community, and his support of City employees. VI. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Feb. 13, 2017 Planning Session 3