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City of Ann Arbor SSWWEP - Citizens Advisory Committee Coordination — City of Ann Arbor

FDD CAC Meeting Minutes

Posted by Lori Byron on 25 Jan, 2014
Category: Category 2 - about potential recommendations

Mr. Burdick requested the date, time and location of the most recent FDD CAC meeting. Attached are minutes for FDD CAC meetings in 2013. 

Comments

Joe Conen on 25 Jan, 2014:

Thanks for getting these, Lori.
Good idea from Frank to look at these.  Reading through these minutes, it appears that additional footing drains were disconnected in 2013.  Some of these may be the "developer mitigation" activities that may not be a significant net total reduction (but could be locally significant) and others appear to be something else, like multi-unit facilities.  Would it be possible to have a short presentation on what was done in 2013 (and a brief explanation of why the work was performed), where it was done (in terms of OHM's calibrated results, if possible), any net I&I reductions or local improvements?  The point would not be to have anyone defend these disconnects; it would be to provide us with information we could use when developing our recommendations. 

Frank Burdick on 28 Jan, 2014:

Upon review of these minutes, much of what they cover are very general issues concerning surface and sewer water issues.  They do not cover much about the actual construction management process and details of the FDD program.  It appears that this CAC is like a mini/freshman TOAG.  Is that the case?  What is their mission? Who is paying CDM to facilitate these meetings? Is it being funded from the Developer Offset Mitigation program?  How many sewer pipes could have been enlarged or repaired with the funds used to pay CDM to facilitate these mini-TOAG meetings?

Jim Osborn on 28 Jan, 2014:

" How many sewer pipes could have been enlarged or repaired with the funds used to pay CDM to facilitate..."

Short answer; not many.

Most likely not enough to do even one block and certainly not enough to widen a pipe from a group of homes all the way to the distant treatment plant. After all, we do not want to kick the can down the road and flood the basement of someone else who lives down hill. Doing one block is not enough, and is very expensive. 

Frank Burdick on 28 Jan, 2014:

I suggest that we discuss this with Robert.  When I took the time to accept his invitation to sit down, one on one with him, I learned many things.  I interpreted the 'lesson" that the main problem we have is NOT overflow at the WWTP... it IS more about the conveyence piping.  I also learnd that it IS feasable to install a small pump station IN THE RIGHT OF WAY for just one house or a few houses that are in suceptible areas.  I learned that cost of this type of pump station is relatively small compared to the overall costs for the FDD program.  I learned enough to post the following questions on my Log.... which to date, I have not receieved an answer.  I also have come to realize that the reduction in sanitary backup flooding has occured NOT because of FDD installations. These have been remedied by the installation of Check Valves / Back Flow preventors.  

We need OHM to respond to all of the above, and WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT other ALTERNATIVES to the FDD program VERY soon.  I surmise that we should have started this whole process by starting with Alternatives.

4 If the current study by OHM reveals that there are now only select areas with potential sanitary sewer "back ups" due to surcharging of the existing sewer pipes, is it possible to remedy this with auxillary pumping stations located in manholes in the right-of-way, near these selected areas, in lieu of performing more FDDs? 11/12/2013

41 What local fixes have or could be employed, in "target" or other problem areas?

11/12/2013

Jim Osborn on 28 Jan, 2014:

Frank Burdick says, "When I took the time to accept his invitation to sit down, one on one with him, I learned many things..."
This is great that you learned something from Robert. This is as it should be. I am grateful and when I have time, I will read this and think about it.

But on AnnArborUnderwater this was said:

"Processes Closed to Public View 
We are also concerned at the amount of private communications already conducted by Mr. Fleetham and OHM personnel with individual CAC members..."

This appears that Frank Burdict is meeting privately with OHM and then posting on a website, AnnArborunderwater that this is a bad thing. 

Really?

After all, he is an individual and he met privately with OHM.

http://a2underwater.com/2014/01/23/leaving-comfortopia-i-non-transparent-facilitation-at-the-fddp-cac/

Judy Hanway on 28 Jan, 2014:

Jim,

Frank Burdick has never posted anything on a2underwater. JH

Jim Osborn on 28 Jan, 2014:

Frank said, "it IS more about the conveyence piping.  I also learnd that it IS feasable to install a small pump station IN THE RIGHT OF WAY for just one house or a few houses that are in suceptible areas."

This sounds interesting, and I would like to know more about what it is.

Patricia Marten on 28 Jan, 2014:

The info Frank has presented is exactly what we should be talking about at the meetings.  What other ideas and info do the engineers have that could be shared?