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

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Metro Local Water Management Task Force Report December 15, 1989 and guidelines for water plans are needed, and that too many agencies review the water plans. The municipalities suggested that ad valorem taxes be levied only on the properties that are drained by a ditch, and that WMO's be given the same taxing authorities as WD's. Some communities have expressed reluctance to write local water plans because of a lack of fur:ds. Minnesota Beard of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director Jim Birkholz pres,e, nted BWSR comments on metro area local water management. He stated that "509 has been a plus and that many gains have been made m local water management. A handout was provided that summarized the present status of the "509" planning process and the BWSR's position statement. · Mr. Birkholz emphasized that any changes made by the Task Force would pertain to' second generation WM?, comprehensive water plans. The BWSR's position state- ment highlighted BWSR s views on the problems and opportunities of the existing planning process, the goals for local water management, and the changes and initia- tives that the BWSR recommends. Among the prominent positions stated, the BWSR feels that rules need to be promulgated to better define the plan content of second generation plans. Another BWSR position is that a better oversight process needs to be established to ensure that the plans will be implemented. Jim suggested that a this oversight may be better done at the county level and channeled back to the BWSR and ultimately the legislature for action. Jim suggested that a logical en- tity to oversee an audit-type of process of WMO's would be the local SWCD. League of Women Voters Correspondence from several local chapters of the Leag-ue of Women Voters was circulated to members of the Task Force. A number of concerns was outlined. The general theme throughout was that league members were not satisfied with the way local water management was being implemented. They cited several specific ex- amples where wetlands were destroyed or damaged because of failure of local government to be responsive to natural resource concerns. In one case, it appeared that both state and local regulations were not enforced adequately. Concern was also expressed about lack of adequa[e public involvement and a perceived tendency for some joint powers WMOs to maintain the status quo, thus avoiding good pro-ac- tive local water management programs. Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts (MAWD) Correspondence was received from the MAWD concerning certain Task Force is- sues. MAWD has observed that: 1) planning has proceeded at an extremely slow rate in some watersheds, perhaps due to a lack of penalties in the law for failing to meet deadlines; 2) some WMOs do not intend to become or remain active water management organizations; 3) .joint powers WMOs should be required to submit an- nual reports to the BWSR; and 4) counties should follow an open appointment process in selecting watershed district managers, and not be confined to appointing only persons nominated by cities or towns. Page 21