MEETING MINUTES

Subject:                 Deerfield Regional Storm Water District

                              Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC)

                              Meeting No. 1

Meeting Date:        July 27, 2005

 Location:               Deerfield Administrative Offices          

The first meeting for the SWAC was held on July 27, 2005.  The items discussed and relevant points are detailed below.  Action items are indicated in bold.

1.      Mr. Calpin began the meeting with an introduction of the issues related to the convening of the SWAC, including regulatory compliance.  As part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Phase II regulations, Ohio EPA requires that all municipalities and urban areas with a population greater than 10,000 but less than 100,000 adopt a storm water management plan by March 10, 2003.

2.      The meeting began with an introduction of the SWAC members present.  Each member was asked to describe himself or herself as a beginner, novice, or expert with regard to an understanding of storm water management.

3.      Scott Brown is an attorney with Frost, Brown, and Todd, LLC.  Scott currently serves as the president of the Landen CSA.   

4.      Jeanne Doan lives next to lake Chetac, works at Lowes, and has been a Deerfield resident for 5-years.  She considers herself a storm water beginner.

5.      Jay Farmer is a resident of the township for 7 years and lives in Carriage Gate.  He is a science teacher with the Lakota School District.  He also has a construction background gained from family business.

6.      Ralph Elliot has been a resident since 1977, works as a real estate agent and considers himself a good storm water novice.  He has been pushing for the formation of the Deerfield Storm Water District for a number of years.

7.      Ken Natorp has been a resident for 50 years and owns the William A. Natorp Company. 

8.      Dave Wright has worked for Duke Realty for 8 to 9 months and was previously with the engineering firm of Klinger & Associates.  He is familiar with HEC RAS and other hydrologic models and has a strong understanding of storm water issues.   

9.      Ohio EPA can issue fines and penalties for municipalities and jurisdictions that do not comply with their storm water regulations.  The District has submitted their Storm Water Management Plan to Ohio EPA and is in the process of implementing it.  Each year the District performs activities toward accomplishing the plan and submits annual reports to the Ohio EPA regarding their progress.  These reports are included in the SWAC binders under the Meeting 1 tab.

10.  As part of the discussion, one SWAC member asked whether the proposed Simpson Creek detention basins are designed to include stormwater quality benefits?  The Township has been taking the lead on the design of these regional facilities.  Therefore, the District and CDM are not familiar with the design to be aware if water quality is included in the design.  Water quality components will require additional capacity that may or may not be available.    

11.  The Deerfield road crew does not have sufficient resources to conduct a proactive catch basin inspection program.  They currently respond to problem calls from residents. 

12.  Mr. Brown voiced his concern that a proactive O&M program would be nice but that the stormwater problems need to be addressed at their source.  Specifically, the developers need to have sufficient stormwater regulations to ensure that erosion problems do not occur as a result of development. 

13.  One SWAC member questioned what voice this committee would have back to the Township planning committee and trustees to potentially affect a change.  Mr. Calpin responded on behalf of the District that this committee will be making recommendations that will be taken back directly to the Storm Water District Trustees as well as the Township Trustees. 

14.  One SWAC member questioned if detention basins are required for developers to control runoff (post development flows must equal pre-development flow) why do we still have problems?  Mr. Calpin responded that when developers deal with local governments on development related permitting they often estimate the predevelopment flow as higher than the actual predevelopment flow.  This results in an undersizing of the detention basins, thus resulting in erosion.

15.  The City of Dublin put new ordinances in place around 1996.  These ordinances dictate to the developers what the predevelopment flow is.  Contact at Dublin:  Paul Hammersmith.  ACITON ITEM:  Mr. Calpin will email the interested members of the SWAC Mr. Hammersmith’s contact information. 

16.  The rough cost estimate for the regional detention basin is 1.1 to 1.2 million dollars and the figure might not include property acquisition.

17.  One SWAC member had an understanding that the Township has agreed in the past to help the Landen CSA fund the 1.2 Million dollars to dredge Landen Lake.  The SWAC member’s understanding was that TIFF money would be used to help dredge the lake. 

18.  ACTION ITEM:  CDM will obtain additional details regarding the TIFF funding applications, potentially including the regional detention basins and partial funding of the dredging of Landen Lake. 

19.  The Landen Community has raised their CSA rates to begin bankrolling the cost of dredging the lake.

20.  One SWAC member questioned what is the group’s liability for any recommendations they make (i.e., if one or more of the group’s recommendations become enacted, what liability does each member of the group have).  Response:  The individuals do not have any liability.  The deciding District board members bear the liability and are ensured accordingly.

21.  Mr. Calpin wrapped up the presentation and discussed future meeting dates with the group, with the following dates and meeting topics being established:

§         Wed August 31, 2005 - 2nd  Meeting – Storm Water Level of Service and Program Cost

§         Thurs September 22, 2005 – 3rd  Meeting – Storm Water Financing & Funding Alternatives / Selection of Level of Service

§         Thurs October 27, 2005 – 4th  Meeting – Committee Recommendations

22.  There was also discussion related to an upcoming field trip to storm water problem areas in the Township, but no compromise was achieved on an appropriate date.  ACTION ITEM:  SWAC members are to email either Chris Calpin (calpinct@cdm.com) or Jamie Coleman (colemanjc@cdm.com) with their available dates during August and September and CDM will provide a proposed date for the field day.