HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-25 City Council Workshop MINUTES
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE Equal Opportunity Employer 2897 -458-Fax 651 2800 -458-651 gov.mnwww.cottagegrove Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 12800 Ravine Parkway
MINUTES
COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL January 25, 2023
12800 RAVINE PARKWAY SOUTH
COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA 55016
SPECIAL MEETING - 6:00 P.M
Public Works – 8635 West Point Douglas Road (Large Conference
Room)
1. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a
special meeting on January 25, 2023, at the Cottage Grove Public Works Building, 8635
West Point Douglas Road. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Administrator Jennifer Levitt called the roll: Mayor Bailey - Here; Council Member
Dennis - Here; Council Member Khambata - Here; Council Member Olsen - Here;
Council Member Thiede - Here.
Also present: Jennifer Levitt, City Administrator; Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director;
Zac Dockter, Parks & Recreation Director; Lee Mann, Stantec.
3. WORKSHOPS – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
4. A Site Tour – Public Works Facility
Public Works Director Burfeind and Parks & Recreation Director Dockter conducted a
tour of the Public Works Facility. Director Burfeind and Director Dockter fielded
questions from the Council regarding the space, operational processes and issues, and
future needs.
B. Low Zone Water Treatment Plant
Director Burfeind presented an update on the schedule, location, site layout, plant
layout and preliminary building renderings for the proposed 3200 gpm, granulated
activated carbon w/pre-treatment, low zone water treatment plant. This treatment plant,
th
which will be located at the northeast corner of Ideal Avenue South and 110 Street
South, will treat all wells south of Hwy 61. The schedule anticipates bidding the project
in summer of 2023 with plant commissioning in 2025. Further information was
disseminated regarding the overall water treatment plan for the City, which includes a
City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2023
Page 2
th
second treatment plant that will be located behind the central fire station on 80 Street,
which will treat all wells north of Hwy 61. Three new FTE’s will be funded by the 3M
Settlement. Council received the information.
C. Utilities and Engineering Building Review
Director Burfeind gave a presentation reviewing the City’s background of public
works/parks space needs discussions, and the current status of the proposed Utility and
Engineering building.
The Public Works/Parks space needs study was completed and reviewed in February of
2020. Three options were presented, two to be located on a new site, with 15- and 30-
year build options, and one 15-year renovation option on the existing site. At that time,
land was not yet purchased and there were unknowns with the water treatment plants
and staffing. The consensus was that it was preferable to invest money on a new site,
th
located along or south of 100 Street.
In August of 2020, a 5-10 year option was presented for new metal storage building and
expansion of the cafeteria and locker room at the existing site. From a funding
perspective, it was determined that it would be preferable to focus on the utility division.
In August of 2021, the City purchased approximately 29 acres of land at the northeast
th
corner of Ideal Avenue South and 110 Street South. A Utility Division building was
included in the CIP, with design in 2023 and construction in 2024 on this site. Locating
this building next to the low zone water treatment plant will create operational
efficiencies and site work cost savings.
Initially upon completion, the proposed building would house 15 Utility FTEs, 5
Engineering FTEs and 3 seasonal positions. Some space will be available for off-
season storage of Parks and Streets equipment. The estimated total project cost is
estimated at $14,000,000, which would be funded by a Utility Revenue Bond split 75/25
between water and sewer utility funds.
Staff fielded questions from the Council and the Council discussed among themselves
whether to move forward with the design of the project. At the end of the discussion,
Mayor Bailey, Councilmember Khambata, Councilmember Olsen, and Councilmember
Thiede agreed to direct staff to commence with the design of the building as presented,
with Councilmember Dennis dissenting. Another check-in with the City Council was
requested upon completion of the preliminary design, before moving into final design.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Councilmember Olsen, second by Councilmember Thiede, to adjourn the
meeting at 8:30pm. Motion carried: 5-0
City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2023
Page 3
Minutes prepared by Lee Mann, PE and reviewed by Tamara Anderson, City Clerk