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SP-196 7:40–9:05 p.m. City of Minneapolis Water Works Mattila outlined the staff report concerning an application for a special use permit to construct an underground water reservoir on property owned by the City of Minneapolis. Mattila showed slides of the site. Livingston asked if the applicant was present. Adam Kramer, Director of the Minneapolis Water Works, Galina Izraelev, Project Engineer, and Jay Whitaker, Superintendent of Engineering, were present representing the Minneapolis Water Works. Kramer stated that Minneapolis originally purchased the New Brighton site for additional reservoir capacity. Minneapolis purchased the site because it is a high point in the Metropolitan area. The proposed reservoir could supply Minneapolis and the seven suburbs in the system by gravity as opposed to pumping. The proposed reservoir would be the major backup for the Minneapolis water system in case of a power outage at any pumping station. Blomquist asked if the elevation of the current site was the same as the elevation of the proposed site. Kramer responded they were the same, 1,080 feet. Kramer stated that, to supply water by gravity from two reservoirs, the reservoirs must have the same elevation at the bottom and the top to equalize the pressure. O’Brien asked the City of Minneapolis would object to increasing the planting along the base of the existing reservoir. Kramer responded the City of Minneapolis could increase that planting. Schiferl asked if the City of Minneapolis and the City Forester looked at making the plantings along Stinson Boulevard more informal. The trees and shrubs are planted in a rigid pattern. Mattila responded that he and the City Forester walked the area around the periphery of the site to visualize the proposed landscaping plan. The City Forester recommended the Caragana and Amur Maples be staggered along the bank of reservoir so the root systems would not impact the reservoir. The maples are a good choice because they grow to make a dense screen, 12 feet high. Additionally, deciduous trees would be planted along the Stinson Boulevard boulevard. Blomquist asked what percent of the City of Minneapolis’ water flows through this reservoir. Kramer answered Minneapolis has reservoirs in Fridley and in Columbia Heights, therefore, a third of the water goes through the New Brighton reservoir. The proposed expansion would increase it to about half. Kramer said Minneapolis would be increasing its storage capacity. The flow would stay the same. Councilmember Larson pointed out the existing storage capacity is 40 million gallons. The proposal would double the capacity. The new reservoir would be 750 feet by 400 feet. Whitaker presented a schematic of the Minneapolis water system, which supplies water for a half million people. The New Brighton site has the highest elevation in the system and can feed the system by gravity. Whitaker introduced Galina Izraelev, the project engineer. Blomquist asked about the anticipated construction length. Izraelev answered construction would take between nine months and two and one-half years. Larson asked when the work would begin. Izraelev said construction would begin in the fall of 1997. Kramer said they would begin clearing the site this year, the construction would begin in the fall of 1997 and be completed in 1998. Livingston opened the public hearing for comments from the audience. I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1996\09-17-96.WPD