Update for October 30, 2020
Save Hinkle Creek
Folsom City Council Recommendations
The Save Hinkle Creek Working Group has met with most of the candidates for the November 2020 City Council elections. Our recommendations are focused on our assessment of the support each candidate has for the Save Hinkle Creek Nature Area campaign. We do not try to assess their positions on other important issues such as: homelessness, South of 50 development, utilization of the maintenance yard, response to the pandemic, growth/no growth, etc. The candidates are organized in alphabetical order.Name Supports Saving the Follow up
Hinkle Creek Nature Area_____________
Jaya Badiga A na
YK Chalamcherla A na
Mark Moore A A
Justin Raithel A na
Rosario Rodriguez B D
We met with Mark Moore and Rosario Rodriguez early in the process. Both were supportive of the Save Hinkle Creek Nature Area project and both volunteered to take a follow up action item. Mark followed through on multiple occasions, but we never heard back from Rosario. Personally, we were all impressed with Rosario, but follow up from an elected official is an important quality.
Hinkle Creek Working Group
Save Hinkle Creek
Folsom City Council Recommendations
The Save Hinkle Creek Working Group has met with most of the candidates for the November 2020 City Council elections. Our recommendations are focused on our assessment of the support each candidate has for the Save Hinkle Creek Nature Area campaign. We do not try to assess their positions on other important issues such as: homelessness, South of 50 development, utilization of the maintenance yard, response to the pandemic, growth/no growth, etc. The candidates are organized in alphabetical order.Name Supports Saving the Follow up
Hinkle Creek Nature Area_____________
Jaya Badiga A na
YK Chalamcherla A na
Mark Moore A A
Justin Raithel A na
Rosario Rodriguez B D
We met with Mark Moore and Rosario Rodriguez early in the process. Both were supportive of the Save Hinkle Creek Nature Area project and both volunteered to take a follow up action item. Mark followed through on multiple occasions, but we never heard back from Rosario. Personally, we were all impressed with Rosario, but follow up from an elected official is an important quality.
Hinkle Creek Working Group
Hinkle Creek Update
October 2019
As most of you know, on September 10, 2019 the City Council voted 3-2 to adopt our plan to increase maintenance, repair and monitor the Hinkle Creek sewer line, not ruin the park with a road and new sewer line.
We would like to strongly encourage you to email the three City Council members who voted to Save Hinkle Creek!
Roger Gaylord: [email protected]
Mike Kowloski: [email protected]
Ernie Sheldon: [email protected]
Include your support of the decision they made September 10 and add any special comments especially about how the Hinkle Creek Nature Area has impacted your family.
A week later there was back-up in the line. You may have seen the reporting in the Folsom Telegraph and KCRA 10 pm news on October 4, 2019 ( https://www.kcra.com/article/folsom-plan-decrease-sewage-problems-california/29373062 ).
Here are the facts:
-This occurrence is not posted on the State Water Board web site, so we assume it was not considered an overflow. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/sso/sso_map/sso_pub.shtml
-For the past 5 years our recommendation has been to flush and camera inspect the line annually. The last time the this was done was August 2016 – over three years ago. The focus should be on implementing what the City Council approved:
For those of you who are interested in more details, go to www.savehinklecreek.com
We need to be sure the City of Folsom implements what the City Council approved on September 10, 2019.
Please continue to voice your support to the City Council!
October 2019
As most of you know, on September 10, 2019 the City Council voted 3-2 to adopt our plan to increase maintenance, repair and monitor the Hinkle Creek sewer line, not ruin the park with a road and new sewer line.
We would like to strongly encourage you to email the three City Council members who voted to Save Hinkle Creek!
Roger Gaylord: [email protected]
Mike Kowloski: [email protected]
Ernie Sheldon: [email protected]
Include your support of the decision they made September 10 and add any special comments especially about how the Hinkle Creek Nature Area has impacted your family.
A week later there was back-up in the line. You may have seen the reporting in the Folsom Telegraph and KCRA 10 pm news on October 4, 2019 ( https://www.kcra.com/article/folsom-plan-decrease-sewage-problems-california/29373062 ).
Here are the facts:
-This occurrence is not posted on the State Water Board web site, so we assume it was not considered an overflow. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/sso/sso_map/sso_pub.shtml
-For the past 5 years our recommendation has been to flush and camera inspect the line annually. The last time the this was done was August 2016 – over three years ago. The focus should be on implementing what the City Council approved:
- Camera/clean the entire line more frequently,
- Repair iron pipes
- Implement flow monitors (they will begin installation 10/14).
For those of you who are interested in more details, go to www.savehinklecreek.com
We need to be sure the City of Folsom implements what the City Council approved on September 10, 2019.
Please continue to voice your support to the City Council!
As many of you know, we WON this battle. Below is the link to watch the session.
Http://folsom.granicus.com/viewpublisher.php?view_id=2
Http://folsom.granicus.com/viewpublisher.php?view_id=2
Save Hinkle Creek
Update
August 28, 2019
Update
August 28, 2019
Agenda:
- Taco Tuesday September 3
- Lawn Signs
- Summary: Clean, Camera and Monitor – Alternative #1
- Hinkle Creek Video
- September 10, City Council Meeting
In honor of our goal to save 83 oak trees, the new owner of the Canyon Grill and Alehouse has agreed to provide a free carnitas taco to the first 83 people who mention Save Hinkle Creek or bring the brochure to the restaurant on Tuesday September 3 between 6-7:30 pm.
Representatives from the Save Hinkle Creek Working Group will be on sight to discuss our plan for the September 10 city council meeting. This is a great time to check out a new restaurant and spend time with your neighbors .. and take Mom out to dinner after the Labor Day Weekend 😊
We would like to give Canyon Grill an estimate of how many people to plan on – Please send the quantity of Taco Tuesday family members you are planning to attend to: [email protected]
Canyon Grill and Alehouse is located at the intersection of Oak Avenue Parkway and American River Canyon Drive - 9580 Oak Ave, Folsom, CA 95630, United States +1 916-987-8700 https://www.thecanyonfolsom.com/
200 Lawn Signs
100 lawn signs should arrive Wednesday 8/28 and distributed by Thursday. Good news is we have received requests for +140 signs, so we ordered another 100 for delivery mid next week. If you have requested a sign and it is not delivered this week, we will get it done next week. We have 60 signs not yet assigned, so just send an email with Lawn Sign in the subject line and include your address to [email protected] and we will be sure you get one ASAP.
Summary: We received requests to provide a summary of Alternative #1
Clean, Camera and Monitor the Hinkle Creek sewer line annually and adjust as required. - Replace three sections of iron pipe using trenchless techniques.
- The sewer line has worked well for 40 years
- The sewer line is a small capillary sewer line that serves only 27 homes
- Two sewer backups on the Hinkle Creek line since 2002. Both backups were within eight months of a line flush. The line flushes preceding the sewer backups did not include a camera inspection to assure the line was clear.
- Since 2002, there have been an average of 2.3 episodes of work scheduled on the line each year.
- The 6-inch sewer line has ample capacity to serve the 27 homes and additional homes are not going to be added to this sewer line.
#2. Leaves the blue segment of the line in the homeowner’s back yards and saves between 42 and 72 trees
#3. Moves the blue line into the Hinkle Creek Nature area and replaces the orange line using a spider tractor. Using a spider tractor vs. conventional backhoe saves 45 trees
#4. Same as option 3 but requires a temporary road to accommodate a construction backhoe which impacts 88 trees.
Key question is: does the Clean, Camera, Monitor alternative minimize the probability of an overflow?
- Blue line – sags – City of Seattle and other cities have standards that when you have sags that are below 50% of the line capacity you clean and camera inspect more frequently. Blue line sags are below 50%. Recommend starting annually and adjust base on results. Answer YES
- Orange Line – three segments of iron pipe which have scale build up inside the line. Recommendation use descaling/lining or pipe bursting techniques to replace these segments using trenchless construction techniques. This will make the orange line fully functional. Answer YES
- Smart Manhole Covers – strategically locate smart manhole covers which monitor flow through the manhole and provide an early warning alert if there is a blockage. The manholes are buried in the brush in the nature area, so extremely difficult to notice overflows. City staff agrees with the smart manhole covers. Answer YES
- Tree Impact – saves between 11 and 83 trees! Answer YES
- Cost Benefits – Current budget is to invest $3.2 million dollars to replace the blue/orange sections of the line. The equates to $118,500 per home and it would take over 100 years before the Alternative #1 costs totaled to $3.2 million! Answer Yes !!
- that has worked well for over 40 years
- that has had 2 overflows in 17 years,
- that serves only 27 homes,
- that could kill 88 oak trees in a protected nature area,
Answer - You Wouldn’t!!
Hinkle Creek Video
As we gather together our documentation for the September 10 city council meeting, we ran across a very good 2 minute video about Hinkle Creek that was produced in 2017. Our 8 page brochure on our web site contains the latest information (www.savehinklecreek.com), but the video gives you a very good overview of the Hinkle Creek Nature Area. Forward to your friends!
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Ffile%2Fd%2F0B5WkTyYj6X5BOWpadkVVS04yazg%2Fview&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd5cbdd2029de4387375b08d72781b979%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637021310417102577&sdata=gRBuJwUNaCj5ggt7mtvUn5IlaFbijQEF5cRP0AEaewg%3D&reserved=0
September 10 City Council Meeting
One of the most important milestones in the five year gauntlet to Save Hinkle Creek was the June 13, 2017 City council meeting. Having 200 residents turn out to show their support of our nature area was key in turning the tide in our direction. We need to make this happen again! Please encourage your neighbors to join you. All will receive a yellow bandana to show your support. We do not want to make noise that is disruptive to the meeting, but anytime you hear anything you agree with, it is OK to give give a thumbs up and thumbs down if you disagree with something being said. Given the facts surrounding this issue, it can be very easy to get angry and become disruptive – you can be sure that all of us in the Working Group feel the same way. However, we are looking to get the City Council to support a critical outcome – move forward with alternative #1 and disruptive behavior is counter to that objective.
Speakers – many of you may not fancy yourself as a public speaker, but we want to encourage you to share your concerns. You only get a maximum of 3 minutes so focus on being brief and speaking from your heart. Just show up a little early to fill out a speakers card .. we will have them at our sign in table.
NEW UPDATES BELOW!!!!!!
Hinkle Creek Updates August 2019
(8 page document below, PLEASE scroll down the right side)
If you would like to expand the document, please hover and click the arrow in the right corner of the green square
(8 page document below, PLEASE scroll down the right side)
If you would like to expand the document, please hover and click the arrow in the right corner of the green square
Hinkle Creek Update September 2018
HINKLE CREEK UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2018
Save Hinkle Creek Supporters
We have remained very connected with the City of Folsom having just completed our fourth in person meeting this year with Marcus Yasutake, Environmental and Water Resources Director and his team. After our June 13, 2017 City Council meeting, where many you showed up to support Saving Hinkle Creek, we received a positive ruling from the State Water board stating that the City of Folsom was not required to access all manholes with a hydrovac truck. After the positive ruling we received the September 1, 2017 letter from Evert Palmer, City Manager, outlining the path forward which is attached below. The City Manager’s letter was in line with our recommended path forward. Here is a summary of where we are today:
Update/Agreement – These are areas that we are in agreement.
Sewer Line Repairs
Concerns/Disagreement
· Single/double track dirt trail to support stable access by maintenance workers with shovels, rakes, buckets, and wheel barrows
· Bridge over the creek near Oak Avenue at the base of the single/double track dirt trail in order to facilitate removal/hauling of contaminated material”
We believe that combining: increasing the line to 10 inches under Hinkle Creek, using non-mechanical access for SSO response (as agreed with the City), contracting all-terrain excavator for emergency response, annual flushing and camera inspection of the line and the fact that there have been so few SSO’s in this line results in an appropriate balance between maintaining the Hinkle Creek Nature Area and ensuring the sewer line is properly maintained.
Since the June 13, 2017 City Council meeting we have made a lot of positive progress, however we still have some important open items to close. We will keep you updated and will need your help when this issue is presented to the City Council for approval early next year.
Given that there will be three City Council seats decided in the next election, we will be inviting all candidates to review our proposals and provide their opinions on how the city council should vote on this issue. We will issue a summary of candidate responses to you before the end of October.
Thanks for your support – feel free to sent questions or comments to: [email protected]
Your Save Hinkle Creek Working Group
September 1, 2017 Letter from Evert Palmer, Folsom City Manager
From: "Evert W Palmer" <[email protected]>
Date: September 1, 2017 at 1:17:32 PM PDT
To: "John Combs ([email protected])" <[email protected]>
Cc: Marcus Yasutake <[email protected]>
Subject: Hinkle Creek Strategy
John –
As you know, city staff has reached out to the State and Regional Board staff regarding exceptions to the vacuum cleanup requirements of the “General Order.” We received a response that seems to provide an opportunity to develop protocols and practices that do not include the use of vacuum cleanup. The State’s response hinges on the feasibility of any particular solution, and while we might all argue about what is feasible and what is not, we are working on the belief that the State has created a window of opportunity for us to identify, adopt, and implement alternative means and methods in order to limit disruption to the Hinkle Creek open space area. According to Board staff, the State allows agencies to employ a variety of methods, strategies, technologies, and/or practices needed by the City based on its own site-specific considerations to effectively reduce/eliminate SSOs. They further state that if the City is unable to access sewer manholes in the vicinity of Hinkle Creek with a vacuum truck, Provision D.8 of the general order allows the City the flexibility to determine whatever specific and feasible alternatives are necessary, which should be described in the City’s adopted Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) and Emergency Response Plan. The State also points out that they are unlikely to consider the lack of feasible alternatives if the City does not implement a periodic or continuing process to identify and correct problems. As such, it will be important for City staff to continue to maintain its sanitary sewer system in a systematic (proper design, maintenance, and emergency response) manner.
Based on the State’s response, City staff is moving forward with the steps necessary to fully leverage this opportunity, while ensuring that the sanity sewer system can be operated and maintained in a safe and effective manner. The next steps are as follows, with many being executed simultaneously.
Step number one is to issue a design contract for the repair of high priority sewer segments, as identified in the Quincy study, and development the expected restoration outcomes (what the area will look like after the repair process.) This item is currently scheduled for the September 12 City Council Meeting. Step two is to revise the City Sanitary Sewer Management Plan (SSMP) and associated Emergency Response Plan (ERP). This plan will be scheduled for a future City Council meeting, likely prior to the end of the calendar year. Upon City Council approval, the revised SSMP and ERP will be submitted to the State Board as required. Step three is to identify and implement a durable access methodology and associated documentation (binding permission slip, if you will) for access to the manholes in the area most removed from Oak Avenue. Step four is to bid, award, and construct the sewer improvements and restore the open space area according to the outcomes identified in Step One. The measures City staff is proposing come at some expense and some risk, but I believe that we are achieving a good balance between the many competing elements in this unique circumstance. I intend that all city staff actions in development and implementation of the Hinkle Creek Sewer Plan be guided by the following principles and strategies
Design sewer improvements that remove private/public property conflicts and increase capacity to contain potential SSO events
I am pleased that the State has provided this opportunity for us to develop alternative means and methods in this case. There is no doubt in my mind that the major contributing factors to these success are the City’s recent track record in maintaining its sanitary sewer system, Mr. Yasutake’s relationship with the State Board staff, and the involvement of the Hinkle Creek working group. Thanks for your role in coordinating this group. I will keep you updated as we progress, and thank you for your patience as we have worked with the State Board staff on this issue. I have copied the Board’s unedited correspondence in its entirety below for your interest. –EP (Evert Palmer - added)
Mr Yasutake,
Again, I apologize for the delayed response to your request letter dated July 17, 2017 (Request). I have reviewed your Request and included attachments and conclude that an exemption to Section D7(ii) of the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ (Order) is not warranted or necessary. Provision D.7 (page 9) states that “[t]he Enrollee shall implement remedial actions to the extent they may be applicable to the discharge and not inconsistent with an emergency response plan” [emphasis added]. While Section D.7(ii) identifies the use of vacuum truck for sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) recovery as a remedial action, it does not explicitly require it. Further, Provision D.3 (page 7) states “[i]n the event that an SSO does occur, the Enrollee shall take all feasible steps to contain and mitigate the impacts of an SSO” [emphasis added].
I would like to offer additional information to further clarify the requirements of the Order. Provision D.8 (page 9) requires the Enrollee (City) to “properly manage, operate and maintain all parts of the sanitary sewer system”. To comply with this general requirement, the City may employ a variety of methods, strategies, technologies, and/or practices needed by the City based on its own site-specific considerations to effectively reduce/eliminate SSOs. If, as you imply in your Request, the City is unable to access sewer manholes in the vicinity of Hinkle Creek with a vacuum truck, Provision D.8 allows the City the flexibility to determine whatever specific and feasible alternatives are necessary, which should be described in the City’s adopted Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) and Emergency Response Plan. For example, the City may wish to include the use of portable pumps, hoses, other related equipment, operating procedures, and staff training needed for addressing easement maintenance and SSO responses. I would encourage the City to research available recommended industry practices and reach out to other operators in designing your sewer easement program for the City.
It is also important to note that while the State and/or Regional Water Boards will consider the lack of feasible alternatives in any potential enforcement action(s), Section D.6(iii) states that “[i]t is inappropriate to consider the lack of feasible alternatives, if the Enrollee does not implement a periodic or continuing process to identify and correct problems”. Therefore, it is imperative that the City make every effort to identify SSO response alternatives in the event conventional approaches are infeasible.
If you have any additional permitting or reporting questions regarding the Order, please contact Gil Vasquez at (916) 322-1400 or [email protected] For enforcement questions, please contact Jim Fischer at (916) 341-5548 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Bryan Elder, PE
Senior Water Resources Control Engineer, Special Investigations Unit
Office of Enforcement
State Water Resources Control Board
801 K Street, 23rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
[email protected]
Ph. 916.327.8363
Evert W. Palmer
City Manager
City of Folsom
50 Natoma St, Folsom, CA 95630
o.916-355-7201
<image003.jpg> www.folsom.ca.us
Save Hinkle Creek Supporters
We have remained very connected with the City of Folsom having just completed our fourth in person meeting this year with Marcus Yasutake, Environmental and Water Resources Director and his team. After our June 13, 2017 City Council meeting, where many you showed up to support Saving Hinkle Creek, we received a positive ruling from the State Water board stating that the City of Folsom was not required to access all manholes with a hydrovac truck. After the positive ruling we received the September 1, 2017 letter from Evert Palmer, City Manager, outlining the path forward which is attached below. The City Manager’s letter was in line with our recommended path forward. Here is a summary of where we are today:
Update/Agreement – These are areas that we are in agreement.
Sewer Line Repairs
- Approximately 2/3 of the sewer line will be replaced/realigned. Approximate route of the new line is from the intersection of Blue Canyon way and Canyon Rim Drive to the center of Canyon Rim Court, then across the Hinkle Creek Nature Area to Oak Avenue. The diameter of the pipe will be increased from 6 inches to 10 inches (with the exception detailed below).
- To provide better flow, the upper portion of the sewer line will be re-routed which will result in abandoning the sewer manholes that are located in homeowners back yards. The city will remove the steel lid and concrete cap and fill the manholes for those abandoned.
- Bidding Process
- Staff is preparing two separate bid alternatives which will be presented to City Council for approval.
- Conventional construction method: This approach uses a conventional back hoe and requires a level temporary road to be constructed along the path of the new line which is 12 feet wide. With the cuts and fills required to produce a level 12 foot wide surface on a steep slope this will have a significant negative impact on the trees and vegetation in Hinkle Creek. If this method is necessary, the temporary road will be covered up and restored to as natural a condition as possible after construction.
- All Terrain Excavation method: While we believe it is financially prudent to get conventional bid for comparison, our strong recommendation has been to employ an all-terrain excavator which can dig the new sewer line without a level road. This approach should have benefits of causing much less damage to the trees and nature area since a 12 foot temporary road will not need to be constructed/de-constructed. Here is a link to photos of an all-terrain excavators in action: https://www.google.com/search?q=all+terrain+excavator&client=firefox-b-1&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=MlBioL3PQKOsnM%253A%252CGmdfgrQKvnFOnM%252C_&usg=AFrqEze51LPmspjF4xdLQXNx4mLoOOicTQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt2PL9ncPdAhUNHzQIHQLdA_gQ9QEwAXoECAYQBg#imgrc=-_pRPC8tMci1IM:
- Staff is preparing two separate bid alternatives which will be presented to City Council for approval.
- Schedule
- The current outlook is to get City Council approval in the June/July 2019 time frame and begin construction August/September 2019.
- Tree Impact – Quincy Engineering is to provide an estimate of the trees that will be impacted in three categories:
- Trees impacted by the all-terrain excavator
- Trees impacted by the non-mechanical dirt walking trail (should be zero)
- Trees impacted if they build a temporary 12 foot wide construction road
Concerns/Disagreement
- New Bridge Over Hinkle Creek
- In the City Manager’s September 1, 2017 letter he states:
· Single/double track dirt trail to support stable access by maintenance workers with shovels, rakes, buckets, and wheel barrows
· Bridge over the creek near Oak Avenue at the base of the single/double track dirt trail in order to facilitate removal/hauling of contaminated material”
- When we read this letter we believed that the bridge would be a narrow single/double track size bridge to accommodate the non-mechanical walking path and we encouraged them to use the current walking bridge just about 100 feet from the proposed bridge. However in July 2018, the City Council approved an additional $205,000 contract that authorizes Quincy engineering to design a permanent bridge that would accommodate heavy vehicles such as a back hoe.
- We know the all-terrain excavator can cross Hinkle Creek without any disruption, so a bridge is not required for construction of the new sewer line if the all-terrain construction method is employed. So the issue is access to the manholes should there be an overflow after construction is completed. Here is a summary of why we feel the bridge is not necessary:
- There are about 18 manholes in the sewer line. The bridge will provide mechanical equipment access to only two of the manholes as the topography is too steep for mechanical access without a permanent 12 foot wide road.
- The City Manager’s letter states manholes should be accessed with non-mechanical equipment via a single/double track dirt trail. Why would we spend $205,000 to design (not build) a bridge if it is not required?
- Since we had the sewer line completely cleaned and camera inspected in August 2016 we know that every inch of the line can be flushed without any mechanical machinery entering the nature area. This is accomplished via long extremely high pressure hoses that are computer controlled and guided through the sewer line – the same process to used to clean the lines without access issues.
- Marcus Yasutake shared that their SSO on site response time is 30 minutes. Which applies to all of the manholes in the nature area. We had proposed that he contract for emergency response from an all-terrain excavator contractor in the event a mechanical support was required to resolve a SSO. On site response of the all-terrain vehicle would take more than 30 minutes, so conventional high pressure hoses and other procedures would be necessary to contain an overflow until the all-terrain excavator arrived on site. The two manholes accessed via the bridge with mechanical equipment are the two closest to Hinkle Creek so SSO’s are most likely to allow waste overflow into the creek.
- The City Manager’s letter states they will “Install electronic flow and level reporting inside manholes” which provides early warning of any backups as most of these manholes are buried in the brush in the park unlike manholes in the center of the street. This provides early warning of potential blockages. Given the low volumn of liquids in this line it is it would take many hours of normal flows to generate a spill caused by a blockage in the line.
- It is very important to keep in mind that the sewer line has been in service for over 35 years and the city’s maintenance records are available for the past 14 years. City records have recorded only two overflows in the last 14 years. The point here is that combining annual flushing and camera inspection of the line along with replacing all questionable sections of the sewer line with almost double the capacity lines and installing an early warning overflow monitoring system should be way more than is necessary to minimize the probability of an overflow given it has happened only twice in 14 years.
- There are about 18 manholes in the sewer line. The bridge will provide mechanical equipment access to only two of the manholes as the topography is too steep for mechanical access without a permanent 12 foot wide road.
- 6 Inch line under Hinkle Creek – for all sections of the pipe replaced except for one will be increased from a 6 inch diameter pipe to a 10 inch pipe. That last section just before the sewer flow reaches Oak Avenue flows through a 6 inch line under Hinkle Creek. The current proposal is to insert a liner in this line for better flow and not replace it with a 10 inch line because of environmental concerns of replacing the line under the creek. Marcus Yasutake agreed to revisit this decision and get more details on the requirements to complete this construction with a 10 inch line under Hinkle Creek. We believe it makes sense to upgrade the last ~50 feet to a 10 inch line vs. maintaining a 6 inch constriction at the critical point just before the overflow point into Hinkle Creek. We will get an update in our next meeting on this issue.
We believe that combining: increasing the line to 10 inches under Hinkle Creek, using non-mechanical access for SSO response (as agreed with the City), contracting all-terrain excavator for emergency response, annual flushing and camera inspection of the line and the fact that there have been so few SSO’s in this line results in an appropriate balance between maintaining the Hinkle Creek Nature Area and ensuring the sewer line is properly maintained.
Since the June 13, 2017 City Council meeting we have made a lot of positive progress, however we still have some important open items to close. We will keep you updated and will need your help when this issue is presented to the City Council for approval early next year.
Given that there will be three City Council seats decided in the next election, we will be inviting all candidates to review our proposals and provide their opinions on how the city council should vote on this issue. We will issue a summary of candidate responses to you before the end of October.
Thanks for your support – feel free to sent questions or comments to: [email protected]
Your Save Hinkle Creek Working Group
September 1, 2017 Letter from Evert Palmer, Folsom City Manager
From: "Evert W Palmer" <[email protected]>
Date: September 1, 2017 at 1:17:32 PM PDT
To: "John Combs ([email protected])" <[email protected]>
Cc: Marcus Yasutake <[email protected]>
Subject: Hinkle Creek Strategy
John –
As you know, city staff has reached out to the State and Regional Board staff regarding exceptions to the vacuum cleanup requirements of the “General Order.” We received a response that seems to provide an opportunity to develop protocols and practices that do not include the use of vacuum cleanup. The State’s response hinges on the feasibility of any particular solution, and while we might all argue about what is feasible and what is not, we are working on the belief that the State has created a window of opportunity for us to identify, adopt, and implement alternative means and methods in order to limit disruption to the Hinkle Creek open space area. According to Board staff, the State allows agencies to employ a variety of methods, strategies, technologies, and/or practices needed by the City based on its own site-specific considerations to effectively reduce/eliminate SSOs. They further state that if the City is unable to access sewer manholes in the vicinity of Hinkle Creek with a vacuum truck, Provision D.8 of the general order allows the City the flexibility to determine whatever specific and feasible alternatives are necessary, which should be described in the City’s adopted Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) and Emergency Response Plan. The State also points out that they are unlikely to consider the lack of feasible alternatives if the City does not implement a periodic or continuing process to identify and correct problems. As such, it will be important for City staff to continue to maintain its sanitary sewer system in a systematic (proper design, maintenance, and emergency response) manner.
Based on the State’s response, City staff is moving forward with the steps necessary to fully leverage this opportunity, while ensuring that the sanity sewer system can be operated and maintained in a safe and effective manner. The next steps are as follows, with many being executed simultaneously.
Step number one is to issue a design contract for the repair of high priority sewer segments, as identified in the Quincy study, and development the expected restoration outcomes (what the area will look like after the repair process.) This item is currently scheduled for the September 12 City Council Meeting. Step two is to revise the City Sanitary Sewer Management Plan (SSMP) and associated Emergency Response Plan (ERP). This plan will be scheduled for a future City Council meeting, likely prior to the end of the calendar year. Upon City Council approval, the revised SSMP and ERP will be submitted to the State Board as required. Step three is to identify and implement a durable access methodology and associated documentation (binding permission slip, if you will) for access to the manholes in the area most removed from Oak Avenue. Step four is to bid, award, and construct the sewer improvements and restore the open space area according to the outcomes identified in Step One. The measures City staff is proposing come at some expense and some risk, but I believe that we are achieving a good balance between the many competing elements in this unique circumstance. I intend that all city staff actions in development and implementation of the Hinkle Creek Sewer Plan be guided by the following principles and strategies
Design sewer improvements that remove private/public property conflicts and increase capacity to contain potential SSO events
- Replace/repair pipe segments that are currently contributing to SSO risk
- Relocate pipe segments from private property backyards onto public property in the Hinkle Creek open space.
- Increase pipe capacity
- Increase manhole (wet well) capacity
- Install electronic flow and level reporting inside manholes
- Limit remaining construction spoils
- Limit tree removal to minimum required to facilitate pipeline improvements and non-mechanical SSO response
- Mitigate removed trees, favoring native trees and particularly oaks, with the largest number and size of tree practical, as guided by a consulting arborist, with an emphasis on emulating the natural development of oak woodlands such as the Hinkle Creek open space area. We would view the City’s tree mitigation ordinance as a starting point, but look at this a more a reforestation project on public property than a tree mitigation project
- Single/double track dirt trail to support stable access by maintenance workers with shovels, rakes, buckets, and wheel barrows
- Bridge over the creek near Oak Avenue at the base of the single/double track dirt trail in order to facilitate removal/hauling of contaminated material
- Council Approval of SSMP and ERP
- State Board consideration of SSMP and ERP as necessary
- Develop “contractual” access methodology and documentation with certain land owners adjacent to the sewer line, as access through private property is necessary for routine inspection, flushing and cleaning of the sewer line above Hinkle Creek
I am pleased that the State has provided this opportunity for us to develop alternative means and methods in this case. There is no doubt in my mind that the major contributing factors to these success are the City’s recent track record in maintaining its sanitary sewer system, Mr. Yasutake’s relationship with the State Board staff, and the involvement of the Hinkle Creek working group. Thanks for your role in coordinating this group. I will keep you updated as we progress, and thank you for your patience as we have worked with the State Board staff on this issue. I have copied the Board’s unedited correspondence in its entirety below for your interest. –EP (Evert Palmer - added)
Mr Yasutake,
Again, I apologize for the delayed response to your request letter dated July 17, 2017 (Request). I have reviewed your Request and included attachments and conclude that an exemption to Section D7(ii) of the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ (Order) is not warranted or necessary. Provision D.7 (page 9) states that “[t]he Enrollee shall implement remedial actions to the extent they may be applicable to the discharge and not inconsistent with an emergency response plan” [emphasis added]. While Section D.7(ii) identifies the use of vacuum truck for sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) recovery as a remedial action, it does not explicitly require it. Further, Provision D.3 (page 7) states “[i]n the event that an SSO does occur, the Enrollee shall take all feasible steps to contain and mitigate the impacts of an SSO” [emphasis added].
I would like to offer additional information to further clarify the requirements of the Order. Provision D.8 (page 9) requires the Enrollee (City) to “properly manage, operate and maintain all parts of the sanitary sewer system”. To comply with this general requirement, the City may employ a variety of methods, strategies, technologies, and/or practices needed by the City based on its own site-specific considerations to effectively reduce/eliminate SSOs. If, as you imply in your Request, the City is unable to access sewer manholes in the vicinity of Hinkle Creek with a vacuum truck, Provision D.8 allows the City the flexibility to determine whatever specific and feasible alternatives are necessary, which should be described in the City’s adopted Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) and Emergency Response Plan. For example, the City may wish to include the use of portable pumps, hoses, other related equipment, operating procedures, and staff training needed for addressing easement maintenance and SSO responses. I would encourage the City to research available recommended industry practices and reach out to other operators in designing your sewer easement program for the City.
It is also important to note that while the State and/or Regional Water Boards will consider the lack of feasible alternatives in any potential enforcement action(s), Section D.6(iii) states that “[i]t is inappropriate to consider the lack of feasible alternatives, if the Enrollee does not implement a periodic or continuing process to identify and correct problems”. Therefore, it is imperative that the City make every effort to identify SSO response alternatives in the event conventional approaches are infeasible.
If you have any additional permitting or reporting questions regarding the Order, please contact Gil Vasquez at (916) 322-1400 or [email protected] For enforcement questions, please contact Jim Fischer at (916) 341-5548 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Bryan Elder, PE
Senior Water Resources Control Engineer, Special Investigations Unit
Office of Enforcement
State Water Resources Control Board
801 K Street, 23rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
[email protected]
Ph. 916.327.8363
Evert W. Palmer
City Manager
City of Folsom
50 Natoma St, Folsom, CA 95630
o.916-355-7201
<image003.jpg> www.folsom.ca.us
We have good news to report!
The City of Folsom received a positive response from the State Water Quality regulators indicating that a vactor truck was not required to clean up spills in nature areas such as Hinkle Creek. The regulators indicated that there are a variety of methods that can be used to cleanup a sewer overflow effectively. Their opinion allows the City of Folsom the flexibility to develop alternate methods for managing an overflow. No vactor truck required = no permanent road!
Folsom city staff has indicated that their next step will be to contract for the design of the repair of high priority sewer segments. The vote to approve the contract for this design firm (Quincy Engineering again) was approved on Tuesday September 12 at the City Council meeting.
Going forward we will be closely monitoring the construction plan and its impact on the nature area with an eye to minimize the impact on trees in the park. We would like to have the construction work accomplished without the building of a TEMPORARY construction road and we have had conversations with contractors who have indicated that the work can be performed without a construction road. The City’s approach will be to define a project with minimum impact in Hinkle Creek Nature Area and have this as a key attribute when they evaluate construction proposals to repair the sewer line.
In Evert Palmer’s letter detailing the path forward, he included very positive direction regarding restoring Hinkle Creek after the repairs are completed. This is a huge example of standing behind the City motto of being ‘Distinctive by Nature’!
“Mitigate removed trees, favoring native trees and particularly oaks, with the largest number and size of tree practical, as guided by a consulting arborist, with an emphasis on emulating the natural development of oak woodlands such as the Hinkle Creek open space area. We would view the City’s tree mitigation ordinance as a starting point, but look at this a more a reforestation project on public property than a tree mitigation project”
We also will be working with Folsom staff to develop a feasible ongoing access plan for routine maintenance and SSO response. This will require the support of the homeowners adjacent to manholes to allow access for planned maintenance and emergency service. The City will be adding a dirt walking path to allow sewer workers to access the manholes.
Thank you all for your continued support in this protracted process. Your support is helping to protect Hinkle Creek for future generations. City Council Members Andy Morin, Ernie Sheldon and Roger Gaylord were all very supportive to obtain this positive outcome. We encourage you to write a short thank you note expressing your appreciation for their leadership.
Andy Morin [email protected]
Ernie Sheldon [email protected]
Roger Gaylord [email protected]
Evert Palmer [email protected]
Hinkle Creek Working Group
The City of Folsom received a positive response from the State Water Quality regulators indicating that a vactor truck was not required to clean up spills in nature areas such as Hinkle Creek. The regulators indicated that there are a variety of methods that can be used to cleanup a sewer overflow effectively. Their opinion allows the City of Folsom the flexibility to develop alternate methods for managing an overflow. No vactor truck required = no permanent road!
Folsom city staff has indicated that their next step will be to contract for the design of the repair of high priority sewer segments. The vote to approve the contract for this design firm (Quincy Engineering again) was approved on Tuesday September 12 at the City Council meeting.
Going forward we will be closely monitoring the construction plan and its impact on the nature area with an eye to minimize the impact on trees in the park. We would like to have the construction work accomplished without the building of a TEMPORARY construction road and we have had conversations with contractors who have indicated that the work can be performed without a construction road. The City’s approach will be to define a project with minimum impact in Hinkle Creek Nature Area and have this as a key attribute when they evaluate construction proposals to repair the sewer line.
In Evert Palmer’s letter detailing the path forward, he included very positive direction regarding restoring Hinkle Creek after the repairs are completed. This is a huge example of standing behind the City motto of being ‘Distinctive by Nature’!
“Mitigate removed trees, favoring native trees and particularly oaks, with the largest number and size of tree practical, as guided by a consulting arborist, with an emphasis on emulating the natural development of oak woodlands such as the Hinkle Creek open space area. We would view the City’s tree mitigation ordinance as a starting point, but look at this a more a reforestation project on public property than a tree mitigation project”
We also will be working with Folsom staff to develop a feasible ongoing access plan for routine maintenance and SSO response. This will require the support of the homeowners adjacent to manholes to allow access for planned maintenance and emergency service. The City will be adding a dirt walking path to allow sewer workers to access the manholes.
Thank you all for your continued support in this protracted process. Your support is helping to protect Hinkle Creek for future generations. City Council Members Andy Morin, Ernie Sheldon and Roger Gaylord were all very supportive to obtain this positive outcome. We encourage you to write a short thank you note expressing your appreciation for their leadership.
Andy Morin [email protected]
Ernie Sheldon [email protected]
Roger Gaylord [email protected]
Evert Palmer [email protected]
Hinkle Creek Working Group
Only a few times in my life have I ever witnessed the power of the people coalesce so uniformly as it did last night in the Folsom City Council Chambers. Every speaker expressed with eloquence and emotion their reason for protecting Hinkle Creek. The chambers were packed beyond capacity with supporters. The energy was intense as democracy unfolded.
Mayor Morin proved to be an exceptional moderator for the evening and should be commended. The mayor suggested to the sewer director, “We need to be more clever” (in developing a solution).
Plan to move forward is outlined below:
1.The City Council directed the city staff to proceed with developing a plan to repair the sewer line which will realign the sections that have sags and replace the cast iron sections that are corroded while minimizing the construction foot print in the park. A construction start would likely not be until the spring of 2018 and would take an estimated three months to complete.
2.Mayor Morin will represent the City in a meeting with the State Water Resources Control Board to seek clarification of their General Order to use methods other than a vactor truck in the event of a sewer overflow. If a vactor truck is not needed, then then neither is a permanent road. Common sense might dictate that every city in California is not plowing up their open space to provide roads for sewer line maintenance, but at this point in time we don’t know how they will rule. Good news is the senior official in our City, Mayor Morin, is leading this effort make an accommodation happen.
3.If the road is not required, the trees impacted to complete the sewer line repairs would be mitigated in the Hinkle Creek Nature Area and the area restored to as natural a condition as possible.
4.The Council directed the city staff to establish an oversight group which would include representatives of the Hinkle Creek Work Group to oversee the project as it moves forward and engage the community in this process.
We want to thank everyone who attended the meeting or took the time to send an email or make a call. Without these actions, we are certain the staff recommendation for a road would have passed tonight. Your actions made a difference. Thank you.
We would like to thank Roger Gaylord and Ernie Sheldon for their support throughout this entire process. They listened, guided and were instrumental in achieving such a positive outcome. We also would like to thank City Manager Evert Palmer and Environmental and Water Resources Department Director Marcus Yasutake for being forth coming when information was requested and for their responsiveness to the Hinkle Creek Work Group inquires.
While this issue is not 100% resolved and will require continued monitoring, we have been assured that the city will engage with the residents and solicit their input through to the resolution of this issue. We want to ask everyone to take their yard signs down at this time but store them in your garage. If a permanent road vote resurfaces, we will need to dust them off and reactivate our community’s powers of persuasion.
Here is a link to the City Council meeting from last night. The Hinkle Creek item 8A begins at 11:44 minutes: http://folsom.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=8&clip_id=1608
Mayor Morin proved to be an exceptional moderator for the evening and should be commended. The mayor suggested to the sewer director, “We need to be more clever” (in developing a solution).
Plan to move forward is outlined below:
1.The City Council directed the city staff to proceed with developing a plan to repair the sewer line which will realign the sections that have sags and replace the cast iron sections that are corroded while minimizing the construction foot print in the park. A construction start would likely not be until the spring of 2018 and would take an estimated three months to complete.
2.Mayor Morin will represent the City in a meeting with the State Water Resources Control Board to seek clarification of their General Order to use methods other than a vactor truck in the event of a sewer overflow. If a vactor truck is not needed, then then neither is a permanent road. Common sense might dictate that every city in California is not plowing up their open space to provide roads for sewer line maintenance, but at this point in time we don’t know how they will rule. Good news is the senior official in our City, Mayor Morin, is leading this effort make an accommodation happen.
3.If the road is not required, the trees impacted to complete the sewer line repairs would be mitigated in the Hinkle Creek Nature Area and the area restored to as natural a condition as possible.
4.The Council directed the city staff to establish an oversight group which would include representatives of the Hinkle Creek Work Group to oversee the project as it moves forward and engage the community in this process.
We want to thank everyone who attended the meeting or took the time to send an email or make a call. Without these actions, we are certain the staff recommendation for a road would have passed tonight. Your actions made a difference. Thank you.
We would like to thank Roger Gaylord and Ernie Sheldon for their support throughout this entire process. They listened, guided and were instrumental in achieving such a positive outcome. We also would like to thank City Manager Evert Palmer and Environmental and Water Resources Department Director Marcus Yasutake for being forth coming when information was requested and for their responsiveness to the Hinkle Creek Work Group inquires.
While this issue is not 100% resolved and will require continued monitoring, we have been assured that the city will engage with the residents and solicit their input through to the resolution of this issue. We want to ask everyone to take their yard signs down at this time but store them in your garage. If a permanent road vote resurfaces, we will need to dust them off and reactivate our community’s powers of persuasion.
Here is a link to the City Council meeting from last night. The Hinkle Creek item 8A begins at 11:44 minutes: http://folsom.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=8&clip_id=1608
ABC Channel 10 News Hinkle Creek Report
Below is the link to the ABC channel 10 news report that ran PM on May 22 and AM on May 23 about the proposed Hinkle Creek sewer road. Pay special attention to the last part of the report where our Councilperson, Kerri Howell, explains why she supports building the road.
http://www.abc10.com/news/local/folsom-residents-protest-plan-to-build-road-through-popular-nature-park/442057319
Kerri Howell states that the road in Hinkle Nature Area proposed by the city is the only way to protect the city taxpayers from the fines associated with a potential sewage spill on Hinkle Creek, but that’s just wrong.
The key to preventing a sewage spill on any sewer line is proper maintenance and monitoring. The Hinkle Creek Work Group has confirmed with multiple industry experts that a vactor truck is not needed to vacuum out solid waste to maintain the Hinkle Creek line properly. If a vactor truck is not needed to drive up to the manhole to vacuum out waste, a road is not needed. As a matter of fact, the City of Folsom has been able to maintain this line for 40 years without a road or a vactor truck in the nature area.
The Hinkle Creek Work Group’s plan is simple with four points:
Join us June 13th at 6:00, 50 Natoma St, Folsom to tell the City Council that our natural resources need to be protected, especially when the city plan is fiscally wasteful and not in-line with industry standard practices.
For more information go to SaveHinkleCreek.com or email [email protected] with questions.
Below is the link to the ABC channel 10 news report that ran PM on May 22 and AM on May 23 about the proposed Hinkle Creek sewer road. Pay special attention to the last part of the report where our Councilperson, Kerri Howell, explains why she supports building the road.
http://www.abc10.com/news/local/folsom-residents-protest-plan-to-build-road-through-popular-nature-park/442057319
Kerri Howell states that the road in Hinkle Nature Area proposed by the city is the only way to protect the city taxpayers from the fines associated with a potential sewage spill on Hinkle Creek, but that’s just wrong.
The key to preventing a sewage spill on any sewer line is proper maintenance and monitoring. The Hinkle Creek Work Group has confirmed with multiple industry experts that a vactor truck is not needed to vacuum out solid waste to maintain the Hinkle Creek line properly. If a vactor truck is not needed to drive up to the manhole to vacuum out waste, a road is not needed. As a matter of fact, the City of Folsom has been able to maintain this line for 40 years without a road or a vactor truck in the nature area.
The Hinkle Creek Work Group’s plan is simple with four points:
- Complete the necessary maintenance work on the sewer line and restore park as natural condition as possible.
- Contract with a qualified contractor to flush and camera inspect the lines annually.
- Install strategically located wireless flow monitors to provide early warning of potential blockages.
- Blockages are cleared with high pressure flushing and industry standard collection baskets.
Join us June 13th at 6:00, 50 Natoma St, Folsom to tell the City Council that our natural resources need to be protected, especially when the city plan is fiscally wasteful and not in-line with industry standard practices.
For more information go to SaveHinkleCreek.com or email [email protected] with questions.
Here is the link to the May 18, 2017 Sacramento News and Review article about Save Hinkle Creek: https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/sharpening-the-ax-folsoms-plan/content?oid=24253107
Sharpening the ax: Folsom’s plan to chop down trees in nature park sparks ire - News - Local Stories - May 18, 2017
www.newsreview.com
City Council to vote on $2.6 million sewer line proposal community members say is unnecessary.
While we are pleased with the publicity this article provided, in an effort to be fair, we wanted to include a bit more detail on a few points:
- Four of the City Council members have met with the Hinkle Creek Work Group and have listened to the details of our alternative plan. The only City Council member that has not met with us to date is Steve Miklos, who indicated he would meet with us after he had been briefed by staff.
- The Hinkle Creek Work Group has met a number of times of the past year with Folsom City Staff who have been responsive with one exception; they have remained silent on the viability of our four point alternative plan.
- The City has presented a number of cost estimates in the past two years:
o August 2015 – Marcus Yasutake – build the Hinkle Creek Road - $ 1 M
o FY 16-17 Budget – build two sewer access roads (Hinkle Creek was one of them) and refurbish one – cost $2.6M
o March 2017 – Repair sewer line in Hinkle Creek and build phase 1 of the road - $398,000.
Our ability to do a comparison of costs using the city figures has been difficult. The Hinkle Creek Work Group can say, unequivocally, that our four point alternative plan will always cost less and will have the added benefit to the community of preserving the nature area and provide an early warning mechanism for sanitary sewer overflows which will protect water quality. These two important benefits are not found in the City’s plan.
Our recommendation has four elements:
1. Complete the necessary maintenance work on the sewer line with a keen eye to minimizing damage and destruction of trees. After construction, return the area to as natural condition as possible.
2. Contract with a qualified contractor to clean and camera inspect the lines annually (vs. the current standard of every five years) and use the videos to provide early warning of maintenance issues.
3. Install strategically located wireless flow monitors to provide early warning of potential blockages.
4. If there is an up line blockage that needs to be cleared, using industry standard debris baskets vs. a vactor truck to remove the waste. Here is a one minute video on how a debris basket works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E6vtISamkU
Sharpening the ax: Folsom’s plan to chop down trees in nature park sparks ire - News - Local Stories - May 18, 2017
www.newsreview.com
City Council to vote on $2.6 million sewer line proposal community members say is unnecessary.
While we are pleased with the publicity this article provided, in an effort to be fair, we wanted to include a bit more detail on a few points:
- Four of the City Council members have met with the Hinkle Creek Work Group and have listened to the details of our alternative plan. The only City Council member that has not met with us to date is Steve Miklos, who indicated he would meet with us after he had been briefed by staff.
- The Hinkle Creek Work Group has met a number of times of the past year with Folsom City Staff who have been responsive with one exception; they have remained silent on the viability of our four point alternative plan.
- The City has presented a number of cost estimates in the past two years:
o August 2015 – Marcus Yasutake – build the Hinkle Creek Road - $ 1 M
o FY 16-17 Budget – build two sewer access roads (Hinkle Creek was one of them) and refurbish one – cost $2.6M
o March 2017 – Repair sewer line in Hinkle Creek and build phase 1 of the road - $398,000.
Our ability to do a comparison of costs using the city figures has been difficult. The Hinkle Creek Work Group can say, unequivocally, that our four point alternative plan will always cost less and will have the added benefit to the community of preserving the nature area and provide an early warning mechanism for sanitary sewer overflows which will protect water quality. These two important benefits are not found in the City’s plan.
Our recommendation has four elements:
1. Complete the necessary maintenance work on the sewer line with a keen eye to minimizing damage and destruction of trees. After construction, return the area to as natural condition as possible.
2. Contract with a qualified contractor to clean and camera inspect the lines annually (vs. the current standard of every five years) and use the videos to provide early warning of maintenance issues.
3. Install strategically located wireless flow monitors to provide early warning of potential blockages.
4. If there is an up line blockage that needs to be cleared, using industry standard debris baskets vs. a vactor truck to remove the waste. Here is a one minute video on how a debris basket works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E6vtISamkU
Thank you to all who attended the meeting on April 24th. The following link is to a video of the presentation.
https://www.facebook.com/SaveHinkleCreek/