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12-09-24 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL K=or WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL December 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at: https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Mavor - Mark Johnson: Present Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Chair - Chad Graham: Present Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Public Works Director Susie Turner, Water Resource Manager Joe Schrader, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Aaron Losing. C. DISCUSSION 1. lJ a PDF of presentation during the meeting. Titles in bold match slide titles. 00:01:09 City Manager Doug Russell began the presentation with a review of background discussions on this item. 00:01:57 Public Works Director Susie Turner began a PowerPoint presentation beginning with an overview of the topics she will present. She then introduced other speakers tonight, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Aaron Losing and consultants from AE2S, Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker, and Process Engineer Zach Frieling. Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty was also on hand to answer any questions related to the Flathead County Landfill. Existing Biosolids Dewatering 00:04:02 Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Aaron Losing provided an overview of current biosolid processes at the treatment plant. Page 1 of 7 Kalispell City Council Minutes, December 9, 2024 00:07:32 Project Planning AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained how they planned this review and their projections for long-term projected biosolids loading. 00:10:45 Project Need AE2S, Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker continued speaking about the need for this project. 00:11:38 Glacier Gold Compost 00:13:04 Public Works Director Susie Turner explained ongoing discussions with Glacier Gold. Coming Regulations for Land Application? 00:14:58 AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker continued the presentation explaining the regulatory atmosphere. 00:16:36 Preliminary AWWTP Biosolids PFAS Content AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained preliminary test results. 00:18:15 Council Member Ryan Hunter asked about a news story he saw about PFA's testing of compost including Glacier Gold compost. 00:19:03 AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker continued the presentation and answered Council Member Hunter's questions. 00:20:50 Public Works Director Susie Turner spoke further to questions posed. 00:22:02 Flathead County Landfill AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained what is being taken by the Landfill. 00:23:41 Council Member Hunter asked questions. 00:23:49 AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker answered questions and continued the presentation speaking further about the biosolids going to the landfill. 00:26:15 Gear Technology AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker spoke regarding different types of technology to dewater biosolids at different percentages. 00:28:14 Biosolids Management Alternatives Analysis AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker spoke regarding the criteria they looked at as they evaluated alternatives. Criteria included A. Maximizing biosolids quality to facilitate land application or... B. Maximizing dryness to increased landfill acceptance capacity. He then spoke to the alternatives they evaluated. 00:31:45 Alt 1: Composting AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained Alternative 1: composting. 00:32:25 Council Member Hunter asked questions. Paye 2 of 7 Kalispell City Council Minutes, December 9, 2024 00:33:00 AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker continued explaining Alternative 1: composting. 00:33:43 Advantages and Disadvantages of Composting AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained the advantages and disadvantages of Alternative 1: composting. 00:35:33 Council Member Hunter asked that the report include further information about the environmental impacts of PFA's with alternatives 1 and 2. 00:36:23 Alt 2a: Full Drying and Landfilling AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained Alternative 2a: Full Drying and landfilling speaking about the advantages and disadvantages. 00:38:36 Alt 2b: Partial Drying and Landfilling AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained Alt 2b explaining advantages and disadvantages. 00:40:24 Alt 3: Pyrolysis and Gasification AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained Alternative 3 talking about advantages and disadvantages. 00:42:23 Alt 4: Super Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO) AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained Alternative 4 advantages and disadvantages. 00:43:59 Alt 5: Dewatering Improvements & Landfilling AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained Alternative 5 talking about advantages and disadvantages. 00:46:57 Total Cost Comparison AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained cost comparisons for project alternatives. 00:49:23 All Alternative Life Cycle Cost Estimates AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker showed a graph of the cost comparisons. 00:50:07 Kepner-Tregoe (KT) Analysis AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained how they took other factors into account beyond cost. 00:51:10 KT Analysis Results: AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker explained the KT results that examined economic, technical, social, and environmental considerations. 00:52:25 Recommendations and Next Steps AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker spoke regarding their recommendations and what next steps would be. 00:53:38 Council Member Dahlman asked about Class A and B for the alternatives. Page 3 of 7 Kalispell City Council Minutes, December 9, 2024 00:54:11 Council Member Hunter asked a question about timing. AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker talked about timing. 00:56:02 Council Member Hunter asked questions about the willingness of the Landfill to take biosolids long-term. 00:57:25 AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker answered questions posed. 00:58:17 Public Works Director spoke further to questions posed. 00:58:59 Council Member Nunnally asked a question about planning costs. 00:59:33 Public Works Director Susie Turner spoke further to questions posed. 01:00:01 Council Member Fisher asked about federal regulations related to the Landfill and then about land needed for several alternatives. 01:01:56 Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty with the Flathead County Landfill answered questions from the Council related to agreement purview. He then spoke to the other municipalities that also utilize the landfill for biosolid disposal. 01:04:09 Council Member Nunnally asked about the possibility of regional solutions. 01:04:56 Public Works Director Turner answered questions. 01:05:56 City Manager Russell spoke to a question related to septage. 01:06:21 Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty spoke to the process the Landfill uses to process the biosolids as it comes into the facility. 01:08:46 Mayor Johnson asked about dewatering percentage as it relates to option 5. 01:09:49 Council Member Graham asked questions about alternative processes. 01:12:15 Council Member Daoud asked questions about future possibilities. 01:14:52 AE2S Senior Project Manager Scott Buecker answered questions. 01:15:49 Public Works Director Turner spoke to the amount of biosolids we produce compared to other area municipalities. 01:16:52 Council Member Hunter provided discussion about the alternatives and how they relate to environmental factors. 01:18:21 Public Works Director Turner spoke further to the alternatives. 01:19:43 Mayor Johnson asked questions about PFA's exposure. Page 4 of 7 Kalispell City Council Minutes, December 9, 2024 Staff and Council discussed PFA's. 01:22:27 Council Member Daoud asked about Landfill acceptance long-term. 01:23:11 Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty answered questions from Council and Mayor Johnson. 01:26:17 Mayor Johnson and City Manager Russell spoke to next steps. 01:27:08 Public Works Director Turner spoke to next steps and asked for feedback. 01:27:44 Council Member Nunnally asked questions about timeframes. Public Works Director Turner spoke about next steps. 01:29:26 Council Member Daoud asked about the process for alternative 5. 01:30:00 Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Aaron Losing answered questions about the process for alternative 5. 01:32:06 Council Member Hunter asked how alternative 2 costs were calculated. 01:33:35 Council Member Nunnally asked about expected future Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. He then thanked everyone for what they do to protect the environment. D. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Johnson opened public comment. 01:35:18 Mayre Flowers, Public Comment Flowers with Citizens for a Better Flathead spoke to working with Flathead County to try to address the issues with the proposed Lakeside Septic Receiving Station injection permit. She explained that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) opened a 30-day public comment period today on the groundwater discharge permit that the Lakeside Sewer and Water District is requesting and the septic receiving facility. She hopes the City and public will take into consideration including her concerns for the Old School Station Well and other wells in that area due to the proposed major expansion of the waste going into the Lakeside Sewer and Water District and their proposal for ground water injection ponds a mile from Flathead Lake. She spoke of concerns that the area is shallow with high ground water and not appropriate for the type of expansion requested. She spoke regarding a report just released from the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology refuting the thought that the deep aquifer is not connected to the shallow aquifer. Several high -capacity wells are also being proposed in the area she feels will change water patterns in the area. Flowers then spoke in appreciation of the thoroughness of the biosolids alternative presentation tonight and talked about an energy alternative technology from Washington State she had discussed with the County previously, explaining it is being used by Phoenixville, Pennsylvania which has converted a sewage treatment system into an energy facility. She explained that system further and that she feels the technology is sound. She would like the City to call the Page 5 of 7 Kalispell City Council Minutes, December 9, 2024 community and investigate feasibility of the system. She spoke to the possibility of grant funding available for energy -related projects. She spoke about how the County Landfill must handle leachate and possible related constraints they may have for taking further biosolids. She talked about environmental factors including the impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewater. She spoke further regarding factors she believes the City should consider related to the composting alternative. She asked about the City process moving forward and to looking now into future long-term solutions. She spoke to the Washington state company she had referred to being a cost-effective solution. She provided a hand-out for Council regarding the PXVNEO wastewater treatment plant in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania she had referred to. Public comment received to Mayor and Council via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com can be seen at https: //time. ci.kalispell.mt.us/WebLink/Browse. aspx?id=128274&dbid=0&repo=Kalispell. Public Comment Closed Seeing no further comments, Mayor Johnson closed public comment. 01:50:47 Council Member Dahlman asked about pharmaceuticals within solid waste materials. 01:51:31 Council Member Hunter asked about the Old School Station Well and what was stated during public comment. He then asked about the other items mentioned in public comment. 01:55:19 Consultants and staff said they will look into the public comment provided. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS City Manager Doug Russell provided the following report: • Manager Russell provided a detailed overview of the timeline, actions and mitigation planning related to City water and PFA's regulation including the installation of a treatment facility currently in use that removes PFA' S in water coming from the Grandview Wells before it enters the water distribution system. Staff are planning to add a work session discussion in late January related to PFA's regulatory components and what next steps and potential grant sources might be related to the water system. • Lead and copper water line funding related to the EPA regulation will be discussed at the first work session in January, as well as the possibility of revisions to the fire code as related to the property maintenance code. • Next week's regular meeting includes a recommended Memorandum of Understanding with the Bibler Legacy Foundation as it relates to the creation of Ashley Creek Park. • Washington DC congressional Cities Conference — Manager Russell asked Council whether they want to appoint someone to go to the conference in lieu of Mayor Johnson who has a conflict and is next in line to attend. The conference is March 9-13, 2025. • The Sidewalk and Trails Sub -Committee Meeting will take place directly upon adjournment in the First Floor Conference Room. F. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:21 p.m. Page 6 of 7 Kalispell City Council Minutes, December 9, 2024 ®ko4QOR�T�; a.; Aim4 Brunckhorst, CMC City Clerk . 0�1,.••' Minutes approved on January 6, 2025 UPCOMING SCffVDLi ►E%%% Next Regular Meeting — December 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers City Offices Closed — Wednesday, December 25, 2024 — Christmas Holiday City Offices Closed — Wednesday, January 1, 2025 —New Year's Holiday Next Work Session — January 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Watch City Council meetings live with the agenda and documents or later with time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meetin2-Videos or live or later on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/kcilyofkalispellmontana9632/streams. The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, activities, and employment practices. Auxiliary aids are available. For questions about disability accommodation please contact the City Clerk at 406-758-7756. Page 7of7