Council Special Environmental Quality Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Special Environmental Quality Committee met on April 19, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., with Dr. Blues presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the meeting, including presentations on waste management and monthly financials, as well as discussions of consent decree issues and stormwater recommendations. The committee approved the Coldstream/Crimson King Stormwater Recommendation, deferred action on Consent Decree Issues, and heard two public comments. No motions were voted on during this meeting.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 19, 2011:

• Blues
• Stinnett
• Gorton
• Farmer
• Martin
• Henson
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period regarding sewer and flooding issues affecting their neighborhood.

John Collins 2:04:12 addressed recurring sewage backups occurring in his basement at 858 Astor Road. He described the situation as creating health risks and causing property damage. Collins noted that financial constraints have prevented him from relocating and requested immediate assistance from the city to resolve the issue.

Todd Eads 2:05:51 spoke as a neighbor of John Collins and reported experiencing ongoing sewer problems in the same area. Eads made several specific requests to address the flooding risks:

• Implementation of better notification systems for residents
• Improved backflow preventers
• Possible installation of grinder pumps to mitigate flooding risks

Both speakers raised concerns about the impact of sewer backups on their properties and quality of life, with emphasis on the need for city intervention and infrastructure improvements.

Contested Items

Cost of Sanitary Sewer Upgrades and Rate Increases

The committee engaged in a heated discussion regarding the projected $540 million cost to upgrade the sanitary sewer system to accommodate a two-year storm event. A central point of contention was the potential monthly rate increase of $28.25 for residents. Council members expressed significant concern over three interconnected issues: equity in how costs would be distributed among ratepayers, long-term affordability for residents, and the broader impact on the community. The discussion was characterized as detailed and sobering, reflecting the gravity of the financial implications for both the municipality and its residents.

Private Property Connections and Enforcement

A second contested matter involved the approach to managing private property connections to the sewer system. The committee debated whether to mandate sump pump redirection or enforce private lateral repairs as part of the upgrade strategy. The disagreement centered on implementation concerns, with council members worried that improper execution of either solution could create new problems, particularly the risk of flooding if solutions were not properly implemented. This concern highlighted the tension between addressing infrastructure needs and avoiding unintended consequences for property owners. The item resulted in a split vote, indicating that committee members were divided on the best course of action.

Waste Management Presentation

Steve Feese presented an overview of Lexington's integrated waste management system 3:11. The presentation covered the city's comprehensive approach to waste handling, including recycling programs, composting operations, and landfill management.

Key Topics Covered

Feese discussed several operational and technological components of the waste management system:

• Recycling and composting programs
• Landfill operations
• GPS routing technology for collection vehicles
• Automated collection systems
• Digital customer service systems

Discussion Points

Rich Miller participated in the discussion alongside Feese. The committee examined the financial aspects of waste management operations, including cost structures and fund balances. The feasibility of implementing mandatory recycling was also discussed during the presentation.

Outcome

The agenda item was informational in nature, providing the committee with details about Lexington's waste management infrastructure and current operations.

Consent Decree Issues

Director Charlie Martin reported on public involvement efforts related to the consent decree 1:08:45. The discussion focused on several interconnected infrastructure and financial challenges facing the system.

A primary concern identified was the contribution of private property connections to sanitary sewer overflows. The committee examined how these connections impact the overall system performance and compliance with the consent decree requirements.

The committee reviewed cost estimates for necessary system upgrades and discussed design storm standards for infrastructure planning. A key decision point involved determining the appropriate design storm timeframe for system improvements, with consideration given to the financial implications of different standards.

Potential rate increases were discussed as part of the broader conversation about funding the required upgrades and improvements. The committee weighed the costs of various infrastructure solutions against the impact on ratepayers.

Following the discussion of these factors, the committee recommended proceeding with a two-year storm design approach for the system upgrades.

The agenda item was deferred, indicating that further action or discussion on consent decree issues would be taken up at a future meeting.

Coldstream/Crimson King Stormwater Recommendation

1:59:40

Ben Krebs presented a recommendation regarding stormwater management in the Coldstream/Crimson King area. The proposal centered on purchasing and demolishing homes in the area as the most cost-effective solution to address floodplain issues affecting the community.

The presentation included acknowledgment of community support for the recommended approach. The committee reviewed the recommendation and determined it represented the most economically efficient path forward for resolving the stormwater and floodplain challenges in this area.

The committee approved the recommendation by consensus, indicating broad agreement among members on this course of action.

Monthly Financials

The committee discussed financial reporting issues related to the Urban Services Fund during this agenda item 30:10.

Key Issues Discussed

The primary concern raised was the lack of available fund balance data for the Urban Services Fund. Additionally, the committee addressed questions regarding indirect cost allocations.

Participants and Requests

Council Member Lane and Steve Feese were the key speakers during this discussion. Council Member Lane requested detailed financial reports to address the gaps in available data.

Outcome

The outcome of this discussion was informational in nature. Staff committed to providing follow-up detailed financial reports in response to Council Member Lane's request.

Referred to Committee

Matters related to the Department of Environmental Quality and partner agencies were formally referred to committee during this agenda item. This referral was conducted in accordance with Council Rules & Procedures, effective January 1, 2011. 2:38

This was an informational item with no debate or discussion recorded.