01-26-2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF ORONO STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN The following sections describe the development and land use philosophy and policies of the city, process of developing the City of Orono ’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) pages, and summarize the Best Management Practices (BMPs) selected for the program. Section Page 1Overview Self-Assessment Description .............................;.:2 . Minimum Control Measure Summary....................4 Overview The City of Orono is located on the edge of the Twin Cities urbanized area (UA) the entire city limits fall within the UA which classifies it as a mandatory regulated MS4 for the ^fPDES Piiase II program. All of the surrounding communities are also MS4 regulated communities. The Director of Public Services was selected, by the City Administrator, to oversee this program because the Public Services Department includes public works operation and maintenance, planning and zoning, engineering, building and site inspection, septic systems program, and the municipal golf course operation. Therefore the Public Services Director has responsibility and management authority fro almost all of the City functions that arc involved with the stormwater management from both the operational and development perspective. The Public Services Director is also closely involved with the Administration and Police Departments through weekly senior level staff meetings that are facilitated by the City Administrator. Selection of the Public Services Director to oversee the NPDES Phase II Stormwater Program, provides a high level of city support for this program and enhanced coordination of the various city functions associated with this program. The City of Orono was one of the participants the League of Miimesota Cities Phase II Guide Plan Process the City Council authorize city fmancial participation in the guide plan process to provide assistance for city staff to complete the required permit application and SWPP. This guide plan participation was vital because of the small size of Orono and the limited staff time and expertise available for implementation of this new program. The City of Orono is located on Lake Minnetonka and has been aware of the importance of protecting water quality for many years. In 1975, about 80% of the city was rezoned to a 2 and 5 acre density to limit the amount of stormwater runoff entering wetlands and Lake Miimetonka. At the time of this rezoning Orono was largely undeveloped, so over the past 30 years the majority of new development has been on 2 and 5 acre lots The city has also had regulations protecting wetlands inplace since the early I980 ’s which has saved numerous acres of valuable wetlands as the city develop^. The city ’s long standing policy of low density rural development, and wetland protection has bMn invaluable in reducing the pollutant loading from stormwater into the wetlands and Lake Minnetonka. The Orono City Council strongly believes that the most effective stormwater nmoff “Best Management Practice” is limiting Uie amount of high density urban development and is committed to maintaining rural density in Orono as this pollutant loading source reduction is far more cost effective than removing the stormwater pollutants after the fact. The recently approved Community Maiuigement Plan for 2000-2020 retains the 2 acre and 5 acre zoning for the majority of the city. P«gC I