04-22-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orono – MCWD Coordination Plan Through its Water Management Plan (WMP/Plan) the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD/District) has defined its role as a regional water planning agency and incorporates a subwatershed focus to address areas of significant resources needs with a level of complexity that requires sustained effort and coordination across multiple partners. Through sustained focus, the District is able to develop a thorough understanding of issues and drivers, build relationships, identify opportunities and coordinate plans and investments with its partners for maximum natural resource and community benefit. While operating on a subwatershed scale, focused within priority areas indicated in its WMP, the MCWD is remaining responsive to its communities District-wide by providing technical resources, regulatory coordination, and in some cases funding. MCWD partnership and level of response is driven by early coordination of land use planning through the implementation of this coordination plan. Although the City coordinates with numerous agencies with respect to Surface water management, the city recognizes the benefits that arise from close coordination with the MCWD. Therefore, the City and MCWD have established a coordination plan that can be implemented at a staff level. Improving coordination at the concept level planning phase between land use planning at the City and watershed planning at the MCWD will result in better projects that meet both organizations’ goals and are a more efficient use of public funds. Early coordination and collaboration between entities is the key to maximizing shared water resource goals and community goals for private redevelopment and public capital improvements. It is the intent of the City to leverage this coordination to efficiently manage water quality, natural resource threats and opportunities that arise through land use change, our shared interest in conservation, and overall maximize the asset value of the City’s natural resources in the future. Coordination Plan The following coordination plan will be adjusted and expanded as deemed appropriate by the City and MCWD during implementation. The City Administrator is the primary City contact and the District Administrator will be the District contact for the coordination plan. 1.Annual meeting – City and MCWD staff will meet during the first quarter of each year to review the following: a.National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) reports and activity from the previous year b.Draft Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) for each organization for the upcoming year. The City will focus coordination of the Streets, Stormwater and Park CIPs with MCWD. c.Opportunities for early coordination and review of land use change applications d.Regulatory coordination to identify areas of collaboration e.Operation, maintenance, and management of Big Island Nature Park f.Areas for improved coordination and process improvement. g.Public Education plans, resources and opportunities. 2.Land Use Planning and Regulatory Coordination- The City of Orono staff will continue to route requests for land use approvals, including but not limited to, subdivisions, site plan approvals, WCA applications to the District in an effort to maximize water resource benefits and streamline regulatory processes. Specific areas of regulatory coordination include the following: a.The City will continue to rely on MCWD to maintain authority for reviewing and approving applications for compliance with MCWD’s rules and enforcing those rules as necessary. The City will rely on the water resource management standards set forth by MCWD and their management of the Wetland Conservation Act in Orono. Since all wetlands within the City are within the MCWD