Title
Approving the Department of Public Works' 2012 pilot program for porous alleys.
Body
WHEREAS: The City of Saint Paul contains nearly 24 square miles of impervious surface. Pavement and other impervious surfaces cause excess rainfall to run off the landscape. When uncontrolled, urban runoff conveys pollutants from the landscape to receiving waters such as lakes or rivers.
WHEREAS: Saint Paul has developed and continues to carefully evaluate approaches which ensure the most cost-effective stormwater management designs.
WHEREAS: Utilizing alternative surfaces such as permeable pavement can reduce stormwater runoff volume by allowing stormwater to seep through the pavement surface.
WHEREAS: The City has recently implemented alternative surfaces in a narrow context for certain municipal projects. They are conservatively situated in parking areas and sidewalk boulevards; areas with little to no vehicle traffic.
WHEREAS: Recently some municipalities have sought to reduce stormwater volume generated within alley right-of-way as a response to local drainage issues and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) management.
WHEREAS: Interest and demand continues to grow for broadening the use of alternative pavement surfaces within the City, particularly within public alley rights-of-way.
WHEREAS: Demand is outpacing the City's ability to understand and address uncertainties associated with current or new permeable pavement installations.
WHEREAS: The Department of Public Works will construct a pilot demonstration of a permeable surface at two project areas in 2012. Area one is located in the alley bounded by Snelling, Minnehaha, Asbury and VanBuren referred to as the Hamline-Midway Library Porous Alley. The underlying soils are suitable for infiltration and there is an interest by the community to try a porous pavement in an alley. Area two is located southwest of Otto Ave. between Shepard Rd and the RR tracks referred to as the Victoria Park and Blu...
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