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Metropolitan Council has a unique role as a planning <br />agency, not a regulator or utility <br />Bringing together the many different and changing facets of water <br />supply into a regional picture is outside the scope of any one <br />community, yet it is necessary to adequately plan for the region's <br />growth and economic development. The Metropolitan Council, as <br />the regional planning agency for the seven -county Twin Cities <br />metropolitan area, provides this role in collaboration with <br />communities and state agencies under the advisement of several <br />committees. <br />The Council has a unique role regarding water supply planning; it is <br />not a regulator nor a water supplier. The Council's regional water <br />supply work has been designed and applied to ensure local water <br />suppliers have control of and responsibility for their water supply <br />systems, while at the same time assuring state agency oversight is <br />effective and efficient. This program supports municipality and <br />industry efforts to address threats to drinking water supplies, <br />provides cost-effective regional solutions, boosts inter -jurisdictional <br />coordination, supports local implementation of water supply <br />reliability and water quality protection projects, and protects <br />groundwater for current and future use. Through its work, the <br />Council helps to bolster the livability of the region, foster economic <br />growth and prosperity, and alleviate competition and conflict over <br />water supply. No other agency or unit of government provides this. <br />The Council's role is authorized in Minnesota Statutes (Minn. Stat. <br />473.1565) and supported by Council policies. Specifically, the <br />Council: <br />1) Maintains a database of technical information, based on <br />analysis of regional and local issues <br />2) Identifies approaches for addressing emerging issues <br />3) Develops and updates a metropolitan area Master Water <br />Supply Plan (Master Plan) with partners <br />4) Assists communities with developing their local water supply <br />plans and other local plans <br />5) Facilitates cooperation between communities and supports local <br />and subregional efforts <br />• Collaborate <br />with experts <br />• Technical <br />analyses <br />Investigate <br />/01100..""."1 <br />Plan <br />• Convene <br />stakeholders <br />• Regional & <br />local planning <br />• Build <br />partnerships <br />• Fund & <br />implement <br />Implement <br />Figure 3. In collaboration with partners, the Council investigates, plans, and <br />implements water supply projects and programs. <br />LOCAL PERSPECTIVES <br />SHAPE <br />REGIONAL PLANNING <br />"Water Supply Planning <br />since 2005 reflects a <br />partnered approach between <br />the Council, local <br />governments as well as <br />other water -specific <br />agencies/ entities. To me, <br />the greatest value in this <br />partnered approach is that <br />documents like the Master <br />Water Supply Plan (2015) <br />are informed by the real <br />experiences and expertise of <br />the local water suppliers that <br />the public has come to trust <br />for safe and sustainable <br />delivery of drinking water. <br />The incorporation of those <br />local government assets in <br />MAWSAC, TAC, and water <br />supply workgroups have <br />added value and credibility <br />to the necessary water <br />supply planning efforts of the <br />Metropolitan Council." <br />Mark Maloney, Public Utilities <br />Director, City of Shoreview <br />Page - 7 I METROPOLITAN COUNCIL <br />