Agenda - Council - 10/27/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3) WMO Draft Y Generation Plan Assistant City Engineer Jankowski stated the discussion for tonight is the 3 rd generation plan for the Lower Rum River Water Management Organization. The watershed is mandated by State law. This plan is the third since the organization was founded and is intended to carry through for the next 10 years. We would like to submit our draft plan to the agencies. He introduced Melissa Lewis, from the Board of Soil and Water Resources. The purpose of this plan is to outline desired outcomes relating to storm water management while providing its member communities clear direction in terms of controlling the quality and quantity of storm water runoff relating to development and redevelopment prior to discharge into wetlands, lakes and rivers. Mr. Jankowski referenced Policy 1.12 — this is a new policy that alerts us to the fact that Andover and Coon Rapids have had to prepare non - degradation plans. They have it.at the bottom of the list as water quality. We are number 33. Staff compared the second - generation plan to the third and much of the draft plan seems to reinforce the City's current regulations and goals of the Surface Water Management Plan. There are some differences, most notably references to wetland buffers. He mentioned Policy 2.9 — buffer strips. The third generation plan has the same wording but states that the strip is the responsibility of the municipality. The Environmental Policy Board had an opportunity to review the draft plan and provided recommendations for consideration. They suggested revising the language of policies 2.9 and 7.6 to reference Best Management Practices rather than specifying wetland buffers to provide more flexibility. They also suggested revising language of policies 3.4 and 3.5, which specifically refer to two invasive species, purple loosestrife and Eurasian water milfoil, to address any invasive species identified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Director of Public Works Olson stated the WMO is giving us the ability to regulate if the buffers can be adjacent to wetlands — it gives us options on how we do it. Maybe we ask people to do grass swales instead of pipes, etc. Mayor Ramsey stated he has learned more about buffers there are other ways to protect high quality wetlands. Sometimes it's wasting time and money protecting degregated wetland. Mr. Jankowski stated that 3.2 talked about buffers of natural vegetation and ponds for natural habitat. The 3` generation plan allows the City more flexibility. Buffers need to be typically 100' or more — we are trying to have the WMO review that. Mr. Anderson stated we are trying to convey our thoughts. This is not what would be forwarded to the WMO verbatim. Discussion ensued relating to manmade ponds, etc. Councilmember Look felt that manmade is non - descriptive. He wondered at what level do we protect our infrastructure. Assistant City Engineer Jankowski stated in our current policy, we state that the WMO supports the program for control of milfoil, etc. Rather than single out a particular invasive, just refer to the - DNR's invasive species list. Section 5.2 is a correction. The current plan says Anoka County is recognized as having authority over public ditches. The 3` generation plan says the same but noted the City ditches 43 & 3 (66) have been turned back — it should be turned back to City Council Work Session Page 6 of 10