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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMISC. INFO 2018-07-234?1 METROPOLITAN C O U N C I L Reducing I 1/! From the Chair: Leading on renewable energy Green Partnership with Xcel will advance Council goals. Transportation plan update released for comment Draft update reflects the current landscape of regional transportation. Council names top planner to lead Community Development Barajas tapped to lead work on planning, housing, parks and more. infiltration benefits everyone Inflow and Infiltration (1/1) is clear water— stormwater and groundwater—that enters the wastewater system. It overloads the system and can cause costly sewer backups into homes and buildings. 1/1 can also cause sewer overflows into rivers and lakes. Communities and property owners can both take steps to reduce 1/I. Visit metrocouncil.org/iandi to learn how you can protect your home, your community and our environment. *******z*****AUTO**ALL FOR AADC 550 PLANNING COXMSSION CHAIR CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE 12800 RAVINE PKWY COTTAGE GROVE IVIN 55016-3195 sso 'n P1 Council plans to repair Minnehaha Park area sewer. An 80 -year-old sewer tunnel in Minnehaha Park will be rehabilitated with the installation of a liner. Earlier plans to replace the tunnel were changed to address local concerns about groundwater impacts on Coldwater Spring, about 1.5 miles south of the improvement site. Construction will occur on the north side of East Minnehaha Parkway, is scheduled to begin in 2019, and will take about two years. Council issues preliminary population estimates. The Council's preliminary population estimates for 2017 show that growth is continuing to occur across the region, especially in communities with major transit investments. According to the estimates, population grew by 225,899— or 7.9%—between 2010 and 2017. After review and comment by local governments, the Council will finalize the estimates by July 15 for state government purposes, such as local government and street aid. Region needs more housing. Data from a recent annual survey of building permits shows that residential construction continues to increase in the seven -county metro area, but not quickly enough to keep up with household growth. The region added 83,100 households between 2010 and 2017, but just 63,670 housing units. Housing vacancy rates reached 4% in 2017, down from 5.8% in 2010, and are at their lowest since the early 2000s. Visit metrocouncil.org for more information on these and other news items. Metropolitan Council Chair: Alene Tchourumoff Members: Katie Rodriguez (District 1); Lona Schreiber (2); Jennifer Munt (3); Deb Barber (4); Steve Elkins (5); Gail Dorfman (6); Gary L. Cunningham (7); Cara Letofsky (8); Edward Reynoso (9); Marie McCarthy (10); Sandy Rummel (11); Harry Melander (12); Richard Kramer (13); Jon Commers (14); Steven T. Chavez (15); Wendy Wulff (16). Regional Administrator: Wes Kooistra Editor: Jeanne Landkamer General Offices: 651-602-1000 1 (651-291-0904 TTI) 390 N. Robert St. I St. Paul, MN 55101 e-mail: public.infoometc.state.mn.us Web site: metrocouncil.org This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Printed on paper containing 100 percent post -consumer and alternative fibers. �•y. PRINTED WITH Mr .J SOY INK Improvements at Seneca Plant will boost odor control and energy efficiency Over the next two years, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) will make major improvements at the Seneca Wastewater Treatment Plant in Eagan. The goal is to preserve and renew aging equipment and facilities, increase energy efficiency, and help MCES operate the plant efficiently and cost-effectively into the future. For example, a new odor control system will not just replace but will enhance the existing system, tripling the plant's capacity to treat odorous air in wastewater solids processing. And that helps the plant in its quest to be a good neighbor. "A lot has changed since the Seneca Plant opened in 1972, and this project is giving MCES an opportunity to maintain our ability to treat wastewater and improve our use of technology and efficiency," said engineering project manager Jason Peterson, "as well as be more resilient for handling growth, weather events, and other environmental pressures." Other major components of the $19.2 million project include upgrading the wastewater solids incineration exhaust system to meet new federal air emission limits; replacing lighting, aeration equipment, boilers, and solids processing equipment to decrease energy use; and more. "Environmental stewardship is the cornerstone of our mission," said plant manager Dave Gardner. "And although you may not know us or see us, providing efficient and cost-effective wastewater services is our commitment to you, our Customer." The Seneca Plant treats wastewater for approximately 250,000 people in the cities of Eagan, Bloomington, Burnsville and Savage, and small portions of Lakeville, Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights and Edina. The plant treats approximately 22 million gallons of wastewater daily and discharges the resulting clean water to the Minnesota River. Barajas chosen to lead Community Development The Council has tapped one of its top planners to lead its Community Development division. Following a retirement and national search, the Council has named LisaBeth Barajas as the new Director of Community Development. Barajas is known by local elected officials and staff as a collaborator who listens to communities and finds common ground that honors regional interests and local values. Barajas has been with the Council for more than a decade and is currently the Local Planning Assistance Manager, managing a team of 12 direct staff and more than 40 technical experts across the Council focused on regional planning. The Community Development Division at the Council addresses issues involving development and implementation of Thrive MSP 2040, the region's planning document; Metro Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) operations; Livable Communities Act grants; and regional park plans and grants. It helps communities plan to make our region economically competitive with peer regions. "Metro Cities appreciates Lisa's highly collaborative approach to addressing issues where regional and local considerations intersect and sometimes collide," said Patricia Naumann, Executive Director of Metro Cities. "Her depth of knowledge and skills, combined with a spirit of working in consistent partnership with local governments, will serve her well in her new role as Community Development Director for the Council." Council grants support jobs, redevelopment In June, the Council awarded nearly $3.3 million in brownfield investigation and cleanup grants that promote redevelopment and economic opportunity. The grants are part of the Council's Livable Communities program, which is a voluntary, incentive -based approach to helping communities achieve their regional and local goals. In this round, the Council awarded three different types of grants, related to investigating and cleaning up contaminated sites, and improving redevelopment opportunities in an existing or former area of concentrated poverty. Funds were awarded to six cities—Burnsville, Hastings, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minneapolis and Saint Paul—for 16 projects. The grants will help clean up 12 acres, increase the net tax base by $3 million, and encourage millions more in private investment. "For more than two decades, the Livable Communities Grant Program has turned polluted land across the Twin Cities into fertile ground for economic growth and opportunity," said Governor Mark Dayton. "These grants will help create 200 jobs and support the development of more than 1,200 new homes, including affordable housing for 96 Minnesota families." "The Council works with a number of partners, including state and local government, as well as private and nonprofit developers, to make a significant contribution to development and redevelopment that enhances our communities and economy," said Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff. The Council received 28 applications this funding round totaling $7.9 million in requests. Agreement fuels commitment to renewable energy In June, we signed an agreement with Xcel Energy to power the work of the Metro- politan Council with clean, renewable energy It embodies our Alene Tchourumoff commitment to FROM THE CHAIR bring to life the Thrive MSP 2040 principles of good stewardship and sustainability for the benefit of the region. In this agreement, we are committing to using 100% of our power from renewable sources by 2040. This 245,000 megawatt annual commitment is enough to power 25,000 homes. As one of Xcel's top 10 consumers of electricity, the Council is in a unique position to partner with Xcel on renewables. By committing to purchase a large bloc of power, we offer Xcel the security of knowing that their investment in new technology is sound, because they already have a large customer lined up. money for the ratepayers who use our wastewater treatment system. But the deal also opens great possibilities for the future use of renewables in our region. We will work with Xcel to innovate the use of more electric vehicles, including buses in our transit system. That will lead to discussions about building out the infrastructure to charge electric vehicles. How and where Xcel can add more generating capacity for renewable electricity will also be a focus. Comments sought on transportation plan update The draft update to the 2040 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) is ready for public comment. Since adopted in 2015, new investment decisions and work have been incorporated into the plan to reflect the current landscape of regional transportation. Many elements factor into developing and implementing a regional transportation system. The Council plays a substantial role in planning and identifying needed investments for that system, and in coordinating with partners across the region to build transportation options that benefit everyone. Required by both state and federal law, the current transportation plan serves as a blueprint for growth and establishes key transportation goals that are guided by Thrive MSP 2040, the Council's regional policy framework. Federal law requires that the Council update the tranportation plan every four years. This update has been a collaborative effort between the Council, state and regional agencies, and local governments, along with the people of the region. This update continues to focus on cost-efficient and safe transportation investments that maintain our roads, bridges and transit system, and that will meet transportation needs now and into the future. At the same time, the plan emphasizes multimodal options across the region and how those modes can be strategically aligned with land use. The Council is ready to hear from you, and will receive comments until 5 p.m., Monday, Aug. 13. Visit metrocouncil.org to read the draft update and learn how to comment. The Council will make revisions after hearing comments and release the final TPP update later this year. Potential wastewater reuse project advances The Council has adopted the facility plan for a proposed wastewater reuse project in the southeast metro, giving approval in June to submit the plan to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). To provide reclaimed water, the Council would need to treat the wastewater to a higher level required by the MPCA for reclaimed water, compared to what's required for discharging into the river. A Canadian firm, Enerkem, in partnership with local firm SKB Environmental, has expressed interest in using reclaimed water at its proposed waste-to-biofuel facility in Inver Grove Heights. The facility is projected to create more than 100 jobs. By using reclaimed water, Enerkem would avoid withdrawing approximately 1.6 million gallons a day of groundwater. The Council's proposed plan would be to build water reclamation facilities (filtration, disinfection, storage) in Rosemount to treat wastewater discharged from its Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant. The proposed Southeast Metro Water Reclamation Facility would be located at the Council's former Rosemount Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project also includes a Council -owned distribution pipe to the 117th Street industrial area in Inver Grove Heights, where the potential Enerkem facility would be located. The Council Facility Plan will be submitted for review to the MPCA as part of the loan approval process. The Council is prepared to proceed with the next steps of design and construction pending Enerkem's decision-making about its waste-to-biofuel project and the execution of agreements with Enerkem about the Council's design and construction cost recovery. The agreement is just the beginning; Today, about a quarter of the The agreement has an important it's the framework we will use for future electricity to run our wastewater caveat. The deal for Xcel to sell discussions. But it's an important first treatment system comes from renewable energy must make sense step, and it represents a commitment renewable energy. for their investors. Likewise, the deal to by our region to be a national leader needs to either break even or save on clean energy technology. Comments sought on transportation plan update The draft update to the 2040 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) is ready for public comment. Since adopted in 2015, new investment decisions and work have been incorporated into the plan to reflect the current landscape of regional transportation. Many elements factor into developing and implementing a regional transportation system. The Council plays a substantial role in planning and identifying needed investments for that system, and in coordinating with partners across the region to build transportation options that benefit everyone. Required by both state and federal law, the current transportation plan serves as a blueprint for growth and establishes key transportation goals that are guided by Thrive MSP 2040, the Council's regional policy framework. Federal law requires that the Council update the tranportation plan every four years. This update has been a collaborative effort between the Council, state and regional agencies, and local governments, along with the people of the region. This update continues to focus on cost-efficient and safe transportation investments that maintain our roads, bridges and transit system, and that will meet transportation needs now and into the future. At the same time, the plan emphasizes multimodal options across the region and how those modes can be strategically aligned with land use. The Council is ready to hear from you, and will receive comments until 5 p.m., Monday, Aug. 13. Visit metrocouncil.org to read the draft update and learn how to comment. The Council will make revisions after hearing comments and release the final TPP update later this year. Potential wastewater reuse project advances The Council has adopted the facility plan for a proposed wastewater reuse project in the southeast metro, giving approval in June to submit the plan to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). To provide reclaimed water, the Council would need to treat the wastewater to a higher level required by the MPCA for reclaimed water, compared to what's required for discharging into the river. A Canadian firm, Enerkem, in partnership with local firm SKB Environmental, has expressed interest in using reclaimed water at its proposed waste-to-biofuel facility in Inver Grove Heights. The facility is projected to create more than 100 jobs. By using reclaimed water, Enerkem would avoid withdrawing approximately 1.6 million gallons a day of groundwater. The Council's proposed plan would be to build water reclamation facilities (filtration, disinfection, storage) in Rosemount to treat wastewater discharged from its Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant. The proposed Southeast Metro Water Reclamation Facility would be located at the Council's former Rosemount Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project also includes a Council -owned distribution pipe to the 117th Street industrial area in Inver Grove Heights, where the potential Enerkem facility would be located. The Council Facility Plan will be submitted for review to the MPCA as part of the loan approval process. The Council is prepared to proceed with the next steps of design and construction pending Enerkem's decision-making about its waste-to-biofuel project and the execution of agreements with Enerkem about the Council's design and construction cost recovery.