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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY AND ACCEPT $100,000 FOR E-COLI ASSESSMENTS AT KEENE AND TISCHER CREEK, AWARDING SAID FUNDS TO BURNS & MCDONNELL FOR COMPLETION OF THE WORKPLAN.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to enter into a joint powers agreement, attached hereto as exhibit A, with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and accept $100,000 for E.coli assessments with said funds deposited into 205-130-1220-CM205-NATRES-MISC (Parks Fund, Community Resources, Parks Capital, Capital Maintenance Fund 205, Natural Resources, Miscellaneous)
FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant with the approved project work plan attached hereto as exhibit B, the City agrees to contract the E.coli source assessment work to Burns & McDonnell.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the city to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and accept $100,000 for completion of E.coli assessments at Keene and Tischer Creek and contract said work to Burns & McDonnell as approved by the MPCA project work plan.
On January 8, 2019 City Purchasing issued a formal request for proposal for water assessments at Keene and Tischer Creek. Burns & McDonnell was the lowest responsive bidder and pre-approved by MPCA for the attached work plan.
The goal of these source assessments is to provide the City and the Duluth Urban Watershed Advisory Committee with information on the sources of E. coli bacteria exceeding state water criteria, and to use that information to provide recommendations on Best Management Practices that can be used to achieve the total maximum daily load reduction targets. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine likely sources of E.coli in Keene and Tischer Creek, whether bacterial regrowth in the creeks contributes to elevated E.coli levels in the surface waters, if bacteria survival or regrowth contributes to E. coli levels in the storm sewer systems, and if there is a human health and/or aquatic habitat risk associated with assessed E.coli levels.
Work is anticipated to begin in June of 2019 and be completed by November of 2020. The outcome of this project will be a report that assesses the sources of E.coli in both creek sub watersheds and the transport mechanisms that deliver E.coli from the watershed to the receiving waters. The final report will include recommendations based on findings to reduce bacterial concentrations. The project will also provide a platform for civic engagement that will increase awareness and aim to foster environmental stewardship.