City Council - 03/15/2011 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher
Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case
CITY STAFF: Interim City Manager Jay Lotthammer, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief
George Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet
Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz,
City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
MPCA STAFF: Jeff Lewis, Doug Day, Peter Tiffany, and Tom Newman
Heritage Room H
I. FLYING CLOUD LANDFILL UPDATE WITH MPCA
Jeff Lewis presented an update to the City Council on the Flying Cloud Landfill. Lewis
said the MPCA's Closed Landfill Program(CLP) was created in 1994 as an alternative to
the Federal Superfund cleanup program. The CLP currently manages 112 closed
landfills, including Flying Cloud Landfill. Lewis reviewed the history of Flying Cloud
Landfill, including court proceedings that resulted in the landfill being closed in 1988.
He said the gas extraction system was expanded in 1992, and the current cover was
completed in 1993.
In 1995, BFI and the MPCA entered into a binding agreement in which BFI retained
ownership of the 240 acre landfill, maintained gas rights and continued business
operations on-site. The MPCA retained long-term care responsibility for the landfill.
Lewis said the MPCA began transfer of the Flying Cloud Landfill property (except for
the 24-acre parcel on which BFI maintains business operations) and gas rights to the State
of Minnesota in 2010.
Lewis said the Flying Cloud Landfill was closed quickly, and the cover slopes are
inadequate. Differential settling is causing ponding and has disrupted gas collection.
Lewis said the MPCA must perform remediation work at the Flying Cloud Landfill in the
near future. This will involve peeling back the top layer of soil, consolidating the waste
footprint, resloping the cover to facilitate drainage, installing a synthetic cover and new
gas extraction system, and seeding of the area with permanent grasses. He estimated this
work will take about 12 months to complete.
City Council Workshop Minutes
March 15, 2011
Page 2
Lewis said the MPCA also needs to address issues at the Hopkins Landfill, which was
closed in 1980. It is considered a high risk site because multiple residences are within 90
feet of the waste area. The active gas system is deteriorating and the landfill has a
permeable cover.
Lewis said MPCA contracted with Wenck Associates in 2010 to evaluate remediation
alternatives at the Flying Cloud and Hopkins landfills. Lewis said two acceptable
alternatives were identified. The first alternative involves consolidating the waste foot
print at both the Flying Cloud and Hopkins sites, installing synthetic covers over each
footprint, and installing gas collection systems at each landfill. The estimated cost for
this alternative is $20.5 million.
The second alternative involves consolidating the waste footprint at Flying Cloud,
moving the waste from the Hopkins Landfill to Flying Cloud, and installing a synthetic
cover and active gas collection system at Flying Cloud. This alternative will cost about
$27.2 million. Although this alternative is more expensive, the MPCA expects to make
up the difference in operations and maintenance savings over the long term.
Lewis said the MPCA has the authority to consolidate the waste already at the Flying
Cloud Landfill, and they have determined this work must be completed in the near future.
City Council approval would be required to move the Hopkins waste to Flying Cloud. He
said moving the Hopkins waste to Eden Prairie would add two months to the project
schedule.
Lewis said moving the Hopkins waste to Eden Prairie would free up 37 acres of
developable land in Hopkins. He noted that the site is very close to the proposed LRT
line. Consolidating the two waste sites would also result in generation of enough gas at
Flying Cloud to produce energy.
Council Member Case asked whether or not landfill mining is feasible. Lewis said in
most cases waste is mixed in with such a large volume of dirt that it is very difficult to
extract usable materials. Florida is one of only two states that have mined landfills and it
has been very costly.
Council Member Nelson asked what toxins and contaminants are in the landfills, and
what dangers they might pose when exposed. She also asked about odors. Peter Tiffany
said he expects there will be odors from the exposed waste,but it is more of a nuisance
issue rather than a health risk. The MPCA will stage the work so that as much work as
possible is completed in the winter when odors will be less of a problem.
Nelson asked how many truck loads would be involved in moving the Hopkins waste to
Flying Cloud. Tiffany said it would require about 115 truck round trips per day for the
duration of the project. Nelson asked if there would be odors from the trucks. Tiffany
said there would be odors.
Council Member Butcher Wickstrom said she was a Council Member in the late 1980s
when the landfill controversy took place. She said many people who lived in Eden
Prairie at that time still have strong negative feelings about the landfill. Butcher also said
City Council Workshop Minutes
March 15, 2011
Page 3
dangerous contaminants were found in some wells at that time. She asked what the
situation is today. Lewis said contaminants do not exceed drinking water standards.
Rosow asked if the MPCA's proposed work would include pulling back waste from the
bluffs. Lewis said waste would be pulled back from the boundary, and the bluff would
have to be rebuilt.
Council Member Case asked why the people of Eden Prairie would want to agree to
taking waste from Hopkins Landfill. Lewis said there is no specific benefit to Eden
Prairie; however, Flying Cloud Landfill will have to be opened in any case.
Council Member Aho asked if there are any alternatives to opening the landfill and doing
all of the work at one time. Lewis said one option that was studied involved bringing in
fill to build up the slopes; however, this alternative was found to be cost prohibitive.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she feels this topic requires more discussion. She has many
questions she would like to have answered before making any kind of decision. Council
Member Case suggested scheduling another workshop on this topic.
II. FLOOD PREPARATION UPDATE
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked Fire Chief Esbensen to address this topic during the City
Council meeting, since they were running short of time during the Workshop.
Council Chamber
III. OPEN PODIUM
A. John Mallo
Mr. Mallo addressed the City Council on concerns he has with equipment use at
the woodworking shop at the Senior Center. Mallo also presented some issues he
has regarding funding for the Veterans Memorial. Interim City Manager Jay
Lotthammer noted that he and the Mayor have scheduled a meeting with Mr.
Mallo on Friday to discuss his concerns. Council Member Nelson also offered to
attend this meeting.
IV. ADJOURNMENT