Good evening and welcome to the Newport City Council meeting. Today is Thursday, October 16th, 2025. We'll begin our meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Will staff please call the role. >> Council member Schmidt >> here. >> Council member Sumar >> here. >> Council member Ingamman >> here.
>> Council member Taylor >> here. >> Mayor Elliot >> here. The next item on our agenda is to adopt our agenda. Do we have any changes to the agenda this evening? >> I'll move the agenda. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion from council member Ingramman and a second from Council
Member Schmidt to adopt the agenda as presented. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. >> The agenda is adopted. Next on our agenda is public comments. As we have no members of the public in the audience
this evening, I will move on to the consent agenda. All items listed on the consent agenda are considered in a single motion and are considered to be routine by the city council. There will be no separate discussion unless a council member or citizen so requests in which case it'll be removed from the
consent agenda and we'll re uh review it or consider it after the consent agenda has been adopted. Is there anything to be removed from the consent agenda? I'll move the consent agenda. >> Second. >> I have a motion from council member Ingamman and a second from council
member Sumar to adopt the consent agenda as presented. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. The consent agenda is adopted. Next on our agenda is the engineers report. We have city engineer John Herdigan with us this
evening. John, >> good evening. Mayor, members of the council. I'm sure folks have noticed that my list is quite lengthy, so I will be uh I'll I'll run through all these uh for the council. Uh first uh is our 2025 street utility improvements project. Uh
earlier this week, the uh contractor placed the first lift of asphalt on Second Avenue uh from uh 15th Street up to 17th Street. So now all the curbing uh the majority of the driveways uh and concrete aprons are complete uh along
with the uh first lift of pavement and they're working on some drain tile behind curb and then bringing up all of the uh um boulevard areas behind the curb with top soil and they'll be uh seating or dormant seating here later uh this week or next. They'll also be
getting in there to plant trees uh in the corridor to to replace some of those trees that we had uh had to remove to do these improvements. Uh uh last week we had a uh neighborhood meeting at 7 or at 17th Street and Second Avenue and that
was to discuss some project delays in uh in regard to a a pipeline conflict on a pipe that runs down 17th Street. Uh we had a good dialogue with the with the folks that were impacted by that uh by that delay and we're continuing to work
with the pipeline owner to come up with a solution to try to get our utilities storm storm sewer primarily installed on 17th Street to uh be able to move forward with this project. uh working with public works. We're preparing for
uh a scenario that we may not be able to get that uh street paid before the end of the year. And we're also looking at some some traffic control um uh implementation to make sure that we have uh good visibility especially as winter
approaches as to how the how we'd like to um route traffic through that corridor area. Once we get a uh kind of a firm plan moving forward, we'll have some more communication for that out to property owners. Uh but for now, we're we're certainly still working with those
other utility um utilities in the area. Uh with that, we have a partial payment application uh from Meyer Contracting. This is the fourth payment application. Uh our original contract amount is $3,920,426. Uh to date they've uh they've
constructed a little a little more than 200 uh 2,200,000. So less the uh previously paid amount in the 5% retainage that we hold. Uh the contractor has requested payment for uh or a payment of $246,394.
Uh we would be looking for council consideration to approve that payment. >> Thank you. Any questions for John? I'll make that motion. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> I have a motion from council member
Sumner and a second from council member Ingamman to um authorize partial payment application number four in the amount uh listed by our city engineer. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed,
the payment is approved. Next item is the Loveland Sport Court reconstruction project. Uh I understand that there was a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this evening that was well attended by the public. I'd love to hear uh council feedback on the on the ribbon cutting.
Uh but the uh the project uh from our standpoint is substantially complete. Uh the only sorry >> the only the only items remaining are minor restoration items and and then project closeout documentation. So the
uh the payment uh before you this evening partial payment number three uh reflects the final quantities uh for the project. Uh again the uh the original contract amount was 263,800. We did have some project increases
primarily to address uh poor subgrade conditions and to bolster the uh the pavement section that we were uh that we were constructing. The uh the estimated final project cost is $31,5128 uh less the uh previously paid amount
and the retainage that we're holding. The contractor is requesting partial payment number three in the amount of $14,196.95. We will be looking for consideration for this payment as well and the uh um issuance of the substantial completion
for the project. >> Thank you. Any questions for John on this? >> I'll move this one. I do have a question. >> Okay. Um so have a motion from Council Member Sumner. Do I have a second? You should have a second and then discussion. Second. Second. No second.
>> I'll take a second. >> Thank you. So have a a motion from council member Sumar and a second from council member Schmidt. Um any discussion? Council member >> hold back on something like the sports court. What would we be expecting to to see as a change? What I know when we're
when we're planting and so forth, we want to make sure that there's substantial growth. But with that court isn't it pretty much finished is done. it is and we we're still we we're holding 5% retainage which is a significant amount for this type of
work. Uh I would expect that once the uh contractor submits some of the uh some of their project closeout documentation that they would request to reduce that retainage amount to an amount that's um commiserate with the uh or commensurate with the uh the value of the remaining
items. And that's mainly just to make sure that there's uh substantial grass growth in the spring that they come back to fill in some of those sparse areas or if there's any kind of erosion that they need to fix. But we wouldn't expect anything uh regarding the the actual
court or the or the facilities enclosed there. >> Okay. Thank you. That answers my question. >> Right. Other discussion. Okay. All of those in favor of partial payment number three and the amount given by our city engineers say I. I. Those opposed, the payment is approved.
>> And and mayor, if we uh could have a motion also to approve the substantial completion for that project. I combined them on uh and I should have probably made those separate motions. My apologies. >> I'll make the motion for um certificate of substantial completion. I'll second that.
>> Okay. I have a motion from council member Schmidt and a second from council member Sumar approving the certificate of uh well the final certificate of substantial completion. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um any discussion on that?
All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed >> the motion is approved. >> Thank you. Uh next is our water system interconnection project. Uh A1 Excavating has completed all of the water main installation work and they've
uh completed both uh uh pavement lifts uh for Century Avenue as well as the parking lot within Lovelin Park that we uh crossed to uh connect that water mane to the existing system. Uh we are still waiting for delivery of our pressure
relief valve vault and the metering vault that's going to measure the amount of water that uh comes from the city of Cottage Grove. Uh we're expecting delivery on those two structures the first week in November. Uh which does give us enough time to get those installed uh yet this year. The actual
meter that's going to be installed within that vault, we're expecting that to come in in uh January, February. Uh again, that can be installed. Uh but there is some time to get that hooked into the the city's SCADA system which
monitors the um provides information to public works staff at the public workshop regarding the the valving as well as the the metering. So we are uh uh we are looking at likely having to extend this project. Uh the original
substantial completion date was in mid November. Uh we have a change order uh number one for consideration this evening. There are two two components to the change order. Uh one is an extension of the um completion date. Um and
forgive me I believe well pardon me that change oh the change order is in the council packet. We would be looking for an extension to um of the original or the original completion date, forgive me, the
uh to June 1st of 2026. Um and that will provide time to uh to get that uh valve installed and operational um for the uh for the um for the uh system to become functional.
Uh the other item that was included on the change order uh was an unexpected uh condition. We ran into bedrock uh on Century Avenue. Uh it was about 50 ft away from a boring that we had drilled for in advance of the project. So it was
pretty surprising that we ran into bedrock up on top of the bluff. Um, we did uh receive a time of or we we tracked the time that the contractor spent removing that bedrock and they actually the the amount of uh the amount
uh for that bedrock removal was $20,92 which comes out to about $55 a cubic yard. For comparison on our street utility project, our costs are around $100 per cubic yard. So, it was a very it was a very competitive and reasonable
cost from A1. uh we we did uh reach out to the co-rustees for the 3M settlement. They are the funding agency for this project. They agreed that that was unforeseen condition and this is a an eligible cost for that funding. So uh we
do need to formally uh uh formally execute a change order, but that uh change order will have no additional cost to the city. And uh we are anticipating underrunning on on several items. So hopefully we're we're going to come in pretty close to where our
original project budget was. So I'm sure the trustees will appreciate that. Uh so I would uh look for council consideration to approve change order number one uh to uh to for the uh rock excavation at the cost of $20,92
and the time extension to allow for the uh water or for the water meter and pressure relief valve to be installed. >> I'm trying to figure out if we're better to just put those into separate motions. >> It is in a single change order. >> It is. Okay.
Got it. Okay. So, uh motion uh to approve change order number one. >> I'll make that. >> Thank you. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion from council member Sumner and a second from council member Ingamman for change order number one in
the amount stated by our engineer and the extension of that completion date. Um any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. the change order is approved >> and then we also have a uh partial
payment number two uh for A1 excavating uh with that approved change order above the uh original cont or the new contract price is 1,546,427 uh dollars and uh with the previous paid amount and retainage uh held uh A1
excavating has requested $359,74262. We would be looking for council to consider partial payment number two. >> Okay. Motion. Thank you. Second. >> Yeah. Second. >> Have a motion from council member Sumner and a second from council member
Ingamman for partial payment number two. Any questions or discussion? I think just a reminder this is all coming through 3M settlement dollars. It means we pay it and then the settlement reimbures the city of Newport uh for this work. Um,
with that, all those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Partial payment number two is adopted. >> And then the last item on my list is the 12th Street Area Improvements Project. And I thought I would uh share my screen. This is one of the exhibits out
of the feasibility study that we had prepared uh for the for the council. uh the feasibility uh study is a required step in the uh special assessment process. So this would be a a study to determine if the uh improvements are
necessary and cost effective and perhaps we can just kind of walk through the uh what we had proposed for improvements. uh and then we'd have consideration for uh uh accepting the feasibility study and then ordering that uh improvement
hearing which is the first public meeting associated with a with an assessment project. So what I'm displaying on the screen is the the general scope of the uh improvements uh on along the along the south edge here is 12th Street between 7th Avenue and
the Mississippi River. And then uh we also have 13th Street, one block north. That's between 7th Avenue and and 4th Avenue. The two north south streets are Third Avenue and Fifth Avenue. And they both uh begin construction at 17th
Street and extend up to or excuse me, 12th Street and extend north to 14th Street. The majority of the area uh currently is served by water and sewer infrastructure. uh the water shown in the dark blue and the sewer shown in the
light green. Uh there is a small portion of this sewer uh between Third Avenue and just past Second Avenue that we have previously lined as part of this project and maybe I can zoom into that area a little bit. Uh so this lined portion of
the uh of the sanitary sewer would be preserved uh to uh uh maximize the investment of the of the city's previous projects. Um but also um you know and we we have requisite space between the water and sewer to allow us to uh
reconstruct the water and uh protect that sewer. Uh we would also be looking to replace the force main which is shown in red which uh begins at the uh 12th street lift station and then pumps waste
water up to uh 4th Avenue. So it would be a full street and utility reconstruction of the of the areas shown and also we would be looking at adding uh storm sewer. Now we've done some preliminary calculations as to what we
would need for uh both storm water collection and storm water treatment. Uh we are uh in the process of completing a formal study capacity study on the adjacent uh storm sewer systems first on
4th Avenue going north. We believe that we can uh collect the majority of the water from 13th Street and Fifth Avenue and direct that into a uh a unimproved right ofway. So where you see that light
blue area, that is a that's city uh well it's it's right of way that uh is part of 13th Street, but there's no road there. It's a green area now. and trying to utilize that to do some storm water retention to reduce the peak flows
coming off of the uh off of the street now that it would be curbed with uh storm sewer allowing some retention and then draining back into the storm sewer on on 4th Avenue and then up to 15th Street. Uh likewise uh along 12th
Street, we have we're looking to identify some areas of boulevard uh retention to be able to perhaps connect into the storm sewer on 4th Avenue going to the south. uh we will you know for purposes of the
estimate we are assuming that we're going to bring a uh a storm sewer trunk line from the river all the way up to uh 4th Avenue but if we are able to if we have additional capacity in fourth uh
4th Avenue storm sewer or if we're able to provide some small retention areas in the boulevard which by the way is 80 ft wide as opposed to the 50 ft we were working with uh on this year's project. Uh if we can find some areas for some
retention and and enable or allow us to discharge into the storm sewer on 4th Avenue, then we can reduce this uh trunk line that you see going along 12th Street. And our hope is is that we can extend that that storm sewer only up to
Second Avenue and then eliminate or perhaps up to Third Avenue to eliminate a portion of the proposed storm sewer which would be constructed in bedrock. So it is is certainly a a a construction item that we'd like to
avoid if if we can. uh the storm sewer outfall and and uh is going toward the Mississippi River. We are showing a a concept at this point. We do have across the majority of 12
street there is the and for the 12th street overlook and they have the is that a WPA wall that has been there for a long long time and we are assuming that that wall is not something that can
be modified. It's uh so we need to go around it in one direction or another. uh our survey work will kind of determine where the boundaries of the city's rightofway are and hopefully we can uh we can construct an outfall that
does not impact the wall uh to the to the river. Uh but again for purposes of the study and and uh determining costs, we've looked at going north and then discharging into the river away from that wall. there is potentially an
option to go south as well, but again we we wanted to uh kind of reflect a more conservative option uh that we've shown. Obviously what we have shown here is a is improvements that are outside the city rightway. So we would we would have to work with the adjacent property
owners to acquire an easement for that um uh for that construction. We would also uh have to work with the both the DNR and the Army Corps of Engineers to get a discharge or permission to discharge another outfall into the
Mississippi River. That process can take some time uh probably upwards of 3 4 months. Um it is I I think there's a very um the city can make a very solid case that this is a necessity uh for this area given that we don't have any
storm water management facilities for any of these streets. aside from the crossing on uh on 4th Avenue. So that uh but that will be a process to um to obtain that uh permit from those two entities.
Um maybe I'll pause there uh before we talk about some of the um uh uh estimated project costs to see if there's any questions on the on the proposed improvements or the uh or the scope of the study.
Mayor Council member Sumar, Mr. >> Engineer, you spoke about a forced main on 12th Street. What exactly is that? >> So, there is a uh sanitary lift station uh on 12th Street. So, all of the sanitary uh sewer from the from the area
flows by gravity into that force or into that uh lift station. And then it's needed to pump up in elevation to be able to get to 4th Avenue to continue south to the uh uh the Met Council's lift station at the south end of the
city. >> So is that underground then? >> It is underground. Yeah. And it's it's an aging it's an aging pipe. We It's a usually I believe it's a 4-in um cast iron pipe similar to our water mane. So, it's it's pretty brittle and it's it's
an item that we certainly want to replace before we make investments on the surface such as the curb and gutter and and pavement. >> So, did I say we have 6 in or 8 in options in there or was that somewhere else? >> What size would you put in there? >> We would likely put in 4 in to match the
uh match the existing size >> based on the age. It's it needs to be replaced certainly. >> Council member Taylor. >> Um I just I guess my first question would be that retention on 13th Street. What I mean when you talk about reducing peak flows would that how much
what depth of water would you something like that typically have? How long would you expect water to remain in that? I mean what kind of functionality? I'm just trying to obviously it's going between two existing homes and it's not a typical water feature. So I'm just trying to understand >> the uh so the the width of the uh area
is I believe 50 ft wide. I would say that the the basin would probably try to occupy as as much as that as we can but the the depth I would say is uh 2T 2 and 1/2 ft and uh target having trying to do
like 5 to one slope so it's more of a gradual slope nothing uh that creates a a large hole in the area. Uh and then our for a draw down time we norm we would target uh 48 hours of draw down
and likely uh we would put in some level of drain tile. Uh so that and we can put valves on those drain tiles as well to kind of throttle that if we uh if we choose to. Uh we the one of the important parts of that is we do retain
a volume of water to allow for the uh storm sewer that's contributing uh downstream to get through the storm sewer and then we add more water to it so we don't sirch charge the uh existing uh infrastructure downstream. So it's
it'll be it I guess we're that's our goals to target about that size. uh ultimate uh design will be kind of dictated on how much capacity that we need to um reduce this to to connect to that existing infrastructure.
>> I guess my second I don't know if it's a question thought. I'm just you know the 12th Street overlook is obviously I mean I'm just wondering you know has there been any looking at that overlook to assess its condition? And I mean, I know it's not in great condition. At least that's my observation at times. And it's just is something like this an
opportunity to, you know, if to to maybe I don't know. I mean, I'm just trying to see address maybe to actually make that because right now I just I feel like that it's just on Yeah, we're talking about preserving it, but we're also it's in a long-term decline and
deterioration. So, I don't know if there's a way to that we can maybe use that existing right away and actually use that as an opportunity to, you know, I don't know. I'm not sure what the I mean, rather than just avoid it and I think it's easy to avoid and go around it than just kind of keep neglecting it for, you know, if that's if our goal is
to preserve it, you know, I don't know. I'm not sure what the goal, you know, the city and the council is on that. But it's just something I guess I would like to think a little bit about rather than just draw a line around it and kind of ignore. And maybe there's a way of achieving both um without because it would be certainly an additional expense
to and disruption to go around it. Maybe that money and time is better put forth to try to to to you know put into that wall itself might be better use of that money. But >> just a thought but no ex excellent excellent thoughts. Uh I I think taking
direction from the council as to what uh what's important to preserve and then also uh I I would imagine that the the state historical office will uh will have some opinions as I I don't know for sure but I believe this is on their
registry as a as a historical uh as a historical um feature. So there there may be limitations to what we're allowed to do, but that's that's great feedback and we can we can come back with um we can reach out to that department and see
what we can what we can find out as to what our options may be. >> Mayor, members of the council, if I may, >> are you finished? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yes. >> Uh we will be interviewing uh an HBC consultant. Uh we'll start interviewing them next week. Um with that said, uh
I'm sure there's funding in grants. I know there's funding and grants through the state to maintain this wall uh should we want to keep it. I do think it's in the interest of the city to keep it and I think uh we'll have some options once we eventually uh reach an agreement with a new HBC consultant. So
I would kind of you know I I think we absolutely should keep it and I think we'll we can kind of work through that as uh once we get a new consultant hired. >> Sounds good. I grew up on that side. Um a side note, I grew up on a civilian conser for civilian conservation course
site that my grandpa attended. So I my sidewalk was a w an era from that era. So I was like I know this era and that what it means to people and I used to you know have people would stop by when we clean this clean the steps down to the highway and like people had attended that camp you were thankful you know that you know I didn't realize I thought
I was just cleaning the steps and having fun you know but it's it is it is an important you know period for you know obviously less and less people that live from that area but it is a so I I don't want I just want to think about that intentionally about I think that what Joe said maybe who knows how these two could could fit together and ideally
they'd be perhaps a win-win for both But so thank you. >> So possibly we could put this on a future workshop agenda just sort of have some images of that overlook and the wall that's there and the condition it's in and possible historic funding. And
>> I think even maybe an assessment or a survey conducted by our new consultant along with potential uh grants that would be available and then options to restore it >> and maybe that can coincide with this. I I mean just I think uh from my perspective I think it's been council's wishes to try to preserve as much
history as possible as such a important part of our kind of story here in Newport. So >> well and I think um it would be great to be able to time it with the work on this project as well because the equipment you heavy equipment will be down there and things like that. So council member
Sear >> I just want to mention that there are a total of three historical sites I believe with the walls on them. That of course will be included an analysis of all three sites. >> Okay. Um I did have a question just going uh south of this particular
location um along uh 12th Street. You also have a small kind of water ponding area there. And I see it's really close to a home. Typically these ponds are kind of set
back in a way so that people don't kids don't wander into them and >> well and forgive me mayor. So this uh this basin again this would be what what we call a a bio retention basin or a
rain garden. So it would be a very it would be a shallow pond uh with with that underlying drain tile. So, the idea of trying to get them into the right of way. So, and that's that shaded area in in yellow. I I should have mentioned previously. Um, and you're and you're
right that that is it is close to a house. Their their driveway does come off a fourth, so we're not interfering with with the driveway. Obviously, we have a um a water service going through there that we'll have to work around, but really, I mean, for I guess just for
a graphical representation, we wanted to put something in there so we can include it in the in the project estimate. We, you know, we'll need to get our survey completed to see where it really makes sense to to put some of these, but it wouldn't be a a large basin that we
would be concerned with, you know, a a child walking in there and and getting injured. It would be pretty shallow. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Hearing none, um I would uh look for a
motion to approve resolution 2025-73 that is on page 90 in your packet. And and mayor, if I may, the the resolution before you uh accepts that feasibility study and this would order the improvement hearing. So again, this uh hearing would be that first public
hearing to let folks know that this is a project the city is proposing. Uh we would do a short presentation at that uh hearing. Uh provide similar information that we provided the council tonight. Uh let let folks know what the anticipated
uh assessment rates would be. Uh as well as field questions and concerns and then following that hearing, the council would decide whether or not to move forward with the project. Uh right now the uh resolution before you uh identifies the November 5th uh council
meeting as the date of that hearing. Uh that is a Wednesday if I'm uh uh correct that we are moving that council meeting up. Uh which does uh allow us to have the um the proper noticing times both for a mailed and published notice for
the for the hearing. >> Okay. questions on um accepting the feasibility study and ordering the improvements. >> I'll move resolution 2025-73 so we can talk. >> Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second.
>> So I have a motion from council member Sumar and a second from council member Taylor and that resolution heading reads a resolution receiving feasibility report and calling for an improvement hearing. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I.
>> I. Those opposed, the resolution is adopted. >> And then lastly, uh also regarding the 12 street area improvements project, uh we have a a proposal uh a scope and fee proposal to complete the topographical survey work uh associated with the
project. Um we do it is uh we're getting close to winter and we'd like to try to get in there to do especially some of the uh uh survey some of that infrastructure as well as property corners uh as quickly as we can so that we can get the most accurate
information. Uh understanding that this work would be taking place in advance of the uh uh ordering the improvement hearing. Uh we did provide a proposal for consideration this evening. We would like to move forward with it. It's not absolutely necessary, but it uh it would
be helpful to try to align with a uh our design uh should the project go forward in a in a spring bid. So, we would appreciate consideration uh for the topographical survey uh fee proposal uh in the amount of $35,800.
>> Council member Schmidt. Um so just to confirm the survey that you're looking to do, the topographical survey would be fully complete and wrapped up in two weeks. >> No. Uh it would likely be uh we would
work on the survey in November into December. There's probably about uh in the neighborhood of two full weeks, maybe two and a half weeks of of survey work to do. And then we would also have office work that brings all the survey
points in and creates that base map. So all told the length of that that survey is probably about a month and a half. >> Okay. So then in the next two weeks before the November 5th, what are you looking to actually gather for data points in those two weeks? >> I don't know that we would make it out
to the field in advance of that November 5th. Um, but there's a potential that as things move around in our schedule that we could potentially get there. If we wanted to wait till November 5th, that's that's perfectly fine as well. >> I uh I'll just put this out there. I
might want to wait a little bit. I'm also looking at the price tag on that. I'm not I'm not totally understanding and digesting what's all incorporated in $36,000 for that. So, that's maybe just my personal opinion is if we're not confident we're going to get out there and I'm not entirely sure what $36,000
is fully getting us. I see the scope written, but I don't understand the the full dollar amount there, I guess, for what what's actually going on. Um, I might want to wait on that personally. >> Do you want to talk to us a little bit about what that scope of work entails and really how that um incorporates or
folds into the feasibility study? >> Sure. Uh, we have, uh, and I'm going to go off of memory and I can provide additional information. I believe we have about a 100 hours of uh of survey work to uh complete the uh again the
topographical survey from uh the edge of the rideway to the edge of the rightway. So we would uh for portions of 12 street we would uh survey about 80 ft wide and then uh uh record any kind of improvements that are that are present.
We also survey the front edges of the houses and the edges of the driveways so that we know we can match those in. Uh we locate as many property irons as we can. So we uh we will recreate the underlying plat and then try to locate
uh with a metal detector and by um coordinates the uh existing property corners. Uh we will also go into all of the utility structures and do a a manhole report meaning that you uh measure the depth, you measure you
assess the condition, you you confirm the uh pipe sizes going in and out of that that structure. Uh we coordinate with the utility uh private utilities Excel and Lumen and and the like uh to get their ser or to get their utilities
marked in the field. uh we pick up all of those uh all of that utility information so it can be included in our plans. And then so uh and then lastly we also have to do a uh not a full boundary
survey but we have to go in and tie into different known property or known locations around the city so we can uh reconstruct that plat so we can find those property corners and and define where the rightway is where we have the
ability to um where we have the ability to work. And then if we do have to acquire any easements, uh that addition or that um additional boundary work helps us uh write easement descriptions for the for the property. And then
lastly, we take all of that uh survey information, bring it into the design software so that we can, you know, connect all the dots for lack of a better word and then apply that uh the different layers um drafting layers so that we can utilize that as here's our
existing conditions and then here's our um uh proposed improvements uh based on the uh based on the data we receive and then create a uh um a surface, so an existing uh elevation of the surveyed
area and then that allows us to tie in our proposed conditions. >> Okay. So, that's super helpful and I appreciate the depth of that, too. And this is thousands of feet we're talking about as well, just looking at the numbers there. So, um super helpful. Realistically, not going to have any meaningful data points to share in two
weeks from now at the November 5th meeting where we would plan to have this hearing. >> I'm leaning towards holding on this until we have the hearing. That would be my opinion. Sounds like there's no risk to do that at this point. >> There's no risk other than if we in I
believe there's three weeks because we have that fifth Thursday here in uh in there in in October. But the the only the only benefit to moving forward now is if there were if things open up in our schedule that we could go out there. We would not get it completed. And
chances are I know it's it's still pretty busy for us. So, if we if we waited till November 5th and the council felt more comfortable hearing that or having the public hearing, soliciting that feedback, and then if the project gets ordered, uh, then we move forward with this, that that's fine, too.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, did you, >> Council Member Sumar, >> but this this project does look like it needs to be done. There there's no question that the deterioration that at some point that this would need to be done.
So, it's done this year or done >> I I think the both the utilities and the street condition are are are very poor in the area and I think it's certainly necessary. Uh there there are a lot of factors that go into whether or not it it should be done but I certainly think
it's necessary. So if we did the if we did the work even if it was done early it would be a repository >> and yeah of course you would have that information. The the downside to that is
you know things do change. You know if if someone you know if if say that we decide not to do it not to do the project we couldn't come back in 5 years and use this information. you would have to supplement that because maybe utilities moved or you know someone
improves their driveway or something like that. So there is risk in uh in setting this on the shelf and coming back to it. Are my numbers correct that this particular project that we're proposing is part of the 2.75 million that we'll
be getting um from the Met Council, the state from outside funding sources and the and the 1.5 million for storm water improvements. We the we are anticipating receiving
a a 2.75 million additional $2.75 million grant from from MPCA to address INI for for this area. Uh the storm water uh resiliency grant is a program that has been offered the last two
years. We were fortunate enough to receive grant dollars last year for that program. Uh I believe that this project uh aligns very closely with their goals of that grant program. So we are we are hopeful that we would get that grant as
well. I have not heard yet when that solicitation is going to take place. We will certainly be uh applying for it if uh if this project moves forward. The challenge is is that like we found uh this year we don't we find out in April
if we're if we're successful. And so it's it's it's a challenging scheduling to know and be confident to move forward if the if the funding is is there uh before we um bid that project. >> So my understanding is we received 1.75
million for storm water. Is that being spent on the current project that we're working on? It >> is. Okay. And then what is the funding though that we're asking to delay the expenditure on um past uh June 1 of 2026?
>> Uh mayor, members of the council, we received the city received about uh 2.7 million in the environmental omnibus uh bill in 2023. uh that uh that contract that agreement required that fund to be contracted.
Originally, it required it to be spent by July 1 of 2026. Uh in uh recent discussions with the Met Council, they just want that money to be contracted by July 1 of 2026. Um we're working with uh
the contract folks at the Met Council in order to uh have an amendment to that agreement. So, uh, feeling feeling very good about that. Not worried about it at all. If they we don't get it, uh, then we would, um, ask for legislation with, uh, Representative Hansen in order to
have that extended in that state statute. Um, but, uh, we're going to be good. >> Okay. So, a delay in the project that's being proposed for the feasibility study
means asking for an extension of those funds. No. No. Uh I don't think so. I I don't think there is going to be any uh delay in those funds in regards to
delaying this study. Is that the question? >> Um, well, if there's a hesitancy to approve the top topographical survey and the topographical survey is part of
the feasibility study and how they determine the location of things within the rightways are. Mayor and Council, if I may. So, this 2.7 million that we received in the 2023 environmental omnibus bill, um that's likely going to
be spent, I believe, with the Second Avenue and then um Third Avenue projects. And this will be the project after that. So now if we get the we do expect to get some additional funding potentially by the end of this year. We
were notified this week of a pilot program >> uh of uh some funds uh that but it is going to be a competitive process and we'll have to get our application in soon. We believe will be very competitive uh and we'll be proposing to
get some funds. So that money we would then potentially use for this project. Okay. um which then we'd have to still go through a new agreement in order to get this new funds. Thankfully, we've been very aggressive and maybe lucky, I'm not sure, or uh just uh really built
some great relationships and have a great story here in Newport. So, that would be that then that money would likely be the grant funds we'd use to pay for a portion of this project. >> Got it. >> If that's helpful. >> Yes. >> I It's a good place to be in when uh we
have too many grants. Well, and per usual, we're asking for state bonding money and we're asking for federal money and yeah, >> uh to help pay for these things. Okay. Any further discussion on that? >> Yes, council member. >> Is it better for us to have these
surveys done when we go and apply for these grants? There is there is benefit to having a a design uh you know designs to a point that it it tells the the story or provides enough information to support
the uh the the grant request. Um to council members uh Schmidt's point I believe uh does the survey need to be done in the next 3 weeks to accomplish that? No, it doesn't. So, I I know that we're kind of we're we're on the subject
of a of a survey. That survey uh you know, waiting that three weeks doesn't impact our our grant eligibility. Um it it would it may get the project done uh or started a week earlier. Um but it uh it would certainly not be completed. We
wouldn't have um significant progress if we if we waited. >> Thank you. Any further questions? With that, I would entertain a motion to approve the MSA scope and fee proposal
for the um professional services agreement for the feasible study and storm sewer capacity evaluation topographical survey. >> Yeah, it >> I'm right here.
>> Yeah, the feasibility study is what we're accepting today. We're not >> We already accepted that with resolution 202573. So I'm on >> um D3, the scope and fee proposal for 35,800. >> Yep. So I would entertain a motion for that.
>> Been making them. I'll make this one. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Yeah. Go ahead. I'll second. >> Okay. All those in favor of the or any further discussion? All those in favor of uh approving this uh fee for services
with MSA say I. >> I. >> Those opposed I. >> So the uh proposal is adopted on a 4-1 vote with council member Schmidt voting no. >> Anything else? John?
>> Uh no, mayor. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Next on our agenda is the superintendent of public works report. >> Uh good evening, Mayor Elliot and council members. Uh I have one formal uh um >> item.
>> Yeah, sorry. Uh this is our annual MS4 uh public comment openhouse. Um most of you have seen this before. It's it's a requirement of our municipal separated
storm sewer uh system. And so uh without further ado, I'll go through this. I believe everyone's seen it but Josh maybe. Um so um yeah with that I will lead off. So um every year we have to uh
complete a storm sewer report that we submit. Um and the biggest difference is this past year uh we went through an MS4 audit through MPCA. So, um we found a
few uh weaknesses in in what we were doing. Um we addressed those with the change in like the salt storage uh and a few other other uh requirements in there. Um we haven't resubmitted our
information yet, but I feel confident that we'll we'll uh we'll make it through that that audit. Um, and from there on out, it should be fairly routine, just keeping up with what we have been doing and continuing to improve. Um, like I said, each each
community has requirements and they vary based on where you're at, your um, location relation to the river, um, other environmental issues you have. So, each each permit is a little bit unique to every city, but they're also a lot
the same. So, um, one of the biggest things that we do is look for an elicit discharge. And, and that goes for me, my staff, the fire department, sheriff's office. Um, and an elicit discharge is anything going into
the storm sewer or the river that is not intended to go there. So, one of the most common ones that we see is residents blowing uh like lawn clippings out into the street, which make it into the storm sewer, make it into the river, decrease your oxygen levels, um increase
fertility, algae blooms, etc., etc. Um there are some less common ones, you know, uh concrete cleanout, uh guys, people pouring all kinds of waste into there. Anytime we see that, we ask that people call or report it. Um, also our
staff will um, investigate and try and figure out exactly what's going on if this is, you know, an ongoing issue or, um, a one-time deal and and react accordingly. So, um, we are required to do inspections
for that, both random and scheduled. Um, and we track that with our GIS system. Uh we've been working on that for roughly the last 10 years to kind of continuously tweaking and updating and and making it work better and smoother
and easier to track the information. So um we also have basically a a screen that tells us how we're doing. That's getting updated as well. Um so um the last year or two we've been doing a lot of modifications there. Um, and
basically a majority of it just to simplify the process. So, anyone can do it, anyone can fill it out. You know, we don't need one person that specializes in it. So, um, then the public education, a big
portion of this goes to the East Metro Water Resource Education Program. Um, essentially every city in Washington County, I believe, um, contributes or a majority of them contribute to, um, to that and they take care of the public
outreach and education portion of the permits. They hold, you know, on-site meetings. They have classes. They I mean, they do multiple multitudes of things. Um online presentations and, you
know, um social media posts. I mean, they're they're good at it and that's what they do. So, um we also use the um closed circuit uh television. Um we also
put a uh a storm water blurb in every quarterly newsletter. Um we have Facebook and um and also website posts and then again like I said we we talk to residents that we see doing something
that we are trying to stop and just say hey this is the problems it causes. If you can just point your mower the other direction saves everyone a lot of headache. I don't have to stop back. So, um, we also have, uh, post construction
best management practices, BMPPS, and that's anything from like the the ponds that John was talking about, uh, infiltration basins, that kind of stuff. Um, basically any of the processes or practices that keep um, our storm water
clean and return it to the river in as good a condition as possible. Um, here's an example of a few. Um the latest and greatest will be the 17th and Cedar. Um obviously once the pipeline issue is figured out there, you know,
we're putting a grit chamber in there which settles solids and organics out of the storm water before putting it right back in. There's already a you know an outlet to the river there, but there is no filter on that. So as part of this construction project, we are adding a
filter. Um, same thing. We're in the process of looking at one um where Seventh Street would enter uh the river to the wershed is looking at installing another grit chamber is there as well. So um those are probably the biggest
difference makers. Um, I know another, uh, one that we're working on with the watershed is an enhanced street sweeping program, which is one of the most effective ways to pull sediment and/or organics out of the or keep them out of the storm
water system before they enter. And for that, we're working with them for some street sweeper funding. So, um the ways that we do um as a city, uh is the biggest one is probably reducing
salt usage. Um we've been working on that really hard the last three years. Um as soon as we receive our new plow truck, all three will be outfitted with uh what we call pre-wetting kit, which basically puts salt brine on the dry
salt and makes it activate sooner and faster. It also helps it stick to the road and the big picture is to use less of it. So, um like I said, as soon as we get that truck, that'll be the biggest biggest change for that. Um and then
like I said, the uh the grit chambers that are planned or already installed. So, um the biggest thing that the public can do to help us on this is keep catch basins clean. You know, leaves, grass, all of the above. anything that you can
do there. Um, and probably the biggest part of that is like we said mowing and blowing everything back into your yard. And then the also um kind of somewhat unique to you to Newport is the amount of streets that we have that don't have
curbon gutter parking in lawns where your tires pick up mud and drag them onto the street. Um, that's all has potential to make it back into the catch basins again. So, if you're parking on a hard surface, um cleaning up after your pets, reduce your fertilizer and
herbicide, and then, you know, if you got a car that's leaking oil, getting that addressed, all of that stuff works to keep our storm water as clean as possible, and like I said, get it back into the river as good shape as possible. Um, with that, that's the end
of my presentation. I didn't uh time it, but like I said, I've had plenty of practice doing it. So, um I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have or the uh residents as well. So, >> thank you. Any um questions from the
council? Council member Sumar. >> Material that comes from the additional street sweeping and from the grit chambers. Where is that disposed of? How is that handled? >> The grit chambers would go to Met Council because it's gone through the vac truck. And the street sweepings we
stockpile and then you can either screen them and reuse them or um you can haul them to a landfill depending on what's all in there. So >> So is it
mainly the the sand or excuse me just the the material the the waste material from the yards that leaves that blow into the gutters and so forth? In in fall, it's mostly organic, mostly the leaves. In spring, um typically it's
there's some trash, but a lot of it is just the um sand and and material that's tracked around by vehicles. Like I said, whether it's gravel roads or parking on non-paved surfaces and that kind of stuff. So, at that point, we typically don't have a lot of leaves in the in
what we sweep up. So, >> thank you. Okay. Other questions on this? Now, uh, do you need me to formally open a public hearing or just take any comments public? So, any, uh, members of the public would like to make any comments on this? I see the head
shaking. No. Um, so, uh, with that then our public hearing is completed. Uh, requirement is completed. Anything else for the council? >> Uh, nothing formal, but happy to stand for any questions. >> No. >> Okay. Nothing at this time. So, we'll
move on to the administration report. >> Mayor, members of the council, nothing formal tonight. Um, but happy to stand for questions. >> Any questions for administrator >> hearing? None. We'll move on to council uh council reports. So, just a reminder
to the public, o Saturday, October 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 2 pm we'll have the prescription drug takeback event that's going to happen here at city hall. Um pills, supplements, vitamins, creams, gels, unused epi pens, um inhalers,
patches, liquids, powders, and sprays. You can bring all of those in. They will not accept any needles, sharps, used epi pens, liquid chemotherapy drugs, no vaping devices or e-liquids. Um, drop off is anonymous. No ID is
required. You can cross your name off any medication uh bottles if you like. You don't have to do that though. Um, you don't have to have things in their original containers. You can just drive up and uh drop them off. And this is something where I'm seeing that the
county is trying to do more events within Newport to help out our residents. So, I really encourage people if you've got some medications that you're ready to get rid of to please um just drive on up and do that. Um also, uh my house has been delused by uh
peddlers wanting to look at my roof. Um this is just a reminder that anyone who is in Newport selling something, they're required to have a peddler's permit. they need to come to city hall and get registered and we run a background check on them and I believe they get an ID card that establishes that um they are
an authorized peddler um in the community. So you can always ask anyone who knocks on your door to sell something um do they have that peddler's permit from city hall. Um our engineer mentioned it our November 6th meeting which is typically on a
Thursday evening is being moved to November 5th. So, if you are an avid viewer, um there's a we have a scheduling conflict on November 6th. So, we'll be meeting one day earlier uh than normal. And so, now on to something more fun and interesting. Yes, we had the
ribbon cutting for the sports courts. They looked great. Um by the time we left, the basketball court had five people playing and all three pickle ball courts were busy. And I want to encourage anyone who plays tennis to get out there because uh we didn't see any tennis players out there quite yet, but that court looks beautiful as well. So
that was a fun event. And um I also attended the uh 2nd Avenue and 17th uh street project and John mentioned the pipeline there needs to be lowered and so staff is working pretty hard on that but got a chance to meet some of the
neighbors out there and talk a little bit about uh that particular project. So with that council member Ingamman >> I have nothing. Council member Taylor, >> just I just add on like the Lovelin project. I have, you know, been talking to people. They have different people have different little ideas, little
tweaks that we might do to, you know, make it function a little bit better. Even, you know, if you have ideas, you know, please feel shar myself or staff. And, you know, we're not going to jump at each one, but I think there's a little improvements that we can do because there's a lot of this is new to us and having people using it a lot. And
so, it's a nice problem to have is when lots of people are looking to use it. So, if you do have ideas, please share them. So >> great, Council Member Schmidt, >> Foral, >> Council Member Sumar. >> Uh, the library's got a lot of things going on as we approach Halloween. There's the pumpkin event on the 22nd
and there's going to be more things in the near future. There's going to be an indigenous people's event coming up and also the annual winter get together at the at the library. So keep keep tuned for the library. Sarah
Marie puts together a wonderful group of of activities. >> She certainly does. Thank you, Bill. With that, I would take a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make move. Second. >> Have a motion from Council Member Ingamman and a second from Council Member Schmidt. All those in favor say
I. >> I. Those opposed. Thank you for watching. We're adjourned.