Agenda - Council - 02/13/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

December 15, 1989 Metro Local Water Management Task Force Repo..."t Ramsey Washin¢on Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) A presentation was heard from the district's president, Roger Lake. The RWMWD was preceded by a ioint powers effort, but the member municipalities could not agree on the reft:ns ~or funding a major creek stabilization project. The municipal representatives were hampered by the need for municipal approval of every agreement made at meetings. The organization was superceded by the water- shed district in 1975. Since 1978 the RWMWD has completed three major capital improvement proiects, man), smaller capital improvement projects, and five water studies. The RWMWD also manages county ditches, and regulates land develop- ment. The RWMWD now funds its projects using ad valorem levies under 509. The relationships between the member municipalities and the RWMWD are quite good, according to Roger, but the future ma:)' pose challenges as the cities as- sume more water-related permitting responsibility. The RWMWD citizen advisory committee has been useful. Public involvement has been solicited through field trips and project open houses. State oversight of WDs has been most effective when the state agencies and the WDs work together on common projects. The employment of one full-time administrator and three other individuals has been essential to the success of the RWMWD. Nine Mile Creek Watershed District (NMCWD) A presentation was ~iven by Ms. Aileen Kulak, NMCWDpresident. The NMC,~D was foundec~ in 1959. Initial city reactions ranged from opposition to apathy. The NMCWD left land use decisions to the cities and confined/ts activities to water management. It established preservation of the Creek in its natural state as its primary goal. To fulfill its goals, ordinances were established by the NMCWD, and occasionally the NMCWD was forced to sue in order to enforce its ordinances. The District has bought land along the creek, designed recreational facilities, in- itiated greenbelt programs, redesigned storm sewer systems, and created or preserved marshes and lakes. The working relationstlip between the NMCWD and the member municipalities is very good, according to Aileen. Since the NMCWD was founded, 65 % of the watershed has been developed, yet there have been no major flooding problems. The costs of recreational features of projects are split fifty-fifty between the WD and the member municipality. The NMCWD pays for 100 % of the water management costs of projects, and'~..5 % of land purchasing costs. Rather than bond, the NMCWD collects a special 1/3 mill levy to create a construction fund for their "basic water management projects". Metropolitan Council Staff member Marcel Jouseau provided the Met Council's (MC) presentation. He stated that the MC is committed to the concept of local watershed management. The MC reviews "509" plans for their consistency, with the four metropolitan system plans. The MC is designated as the metropolitan water quality planning agency, and Paqe 18