08-23-2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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FILE #04-3039 August 11. 2C04 Page 1 of 3 To;Chair Rahn and Planning Commission Members Ron Moorse, City Administrator From: Date: Subject: Melanie Curtis, City Planner August 11,2004 #04*3039. City of Orono Ordinance Revision Public Hearing List of Exhibits A. Existing Floodplain & Wetlands Management Ordinance B. DRAFT Floodplain Management Ordinance C. DRAFT Wetlands Management Ordinance D. Previous Memorandum to Council &. Planning Commission E. Correspondence from FEMA F. Correspondence from Mn DNR Background Due to recent reinterpretation of their regulations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mandated changes in local floodplain ordinances. FEMA requires that these changes are in effect in our community by September 2, 2004. On .luly 15. 2004, the DNR approved the draft ordinance. Our current Floodplain and Wetlands Management Ordinance is serving as two ordinances, .^t the time they were combined this may have been a convenient option, however new standards and regulations dictate that it is more appropriate to designate separate ordinances for each of these overlay districts. The wetland portion of the Floodplain and Wetlands Management Ordinance is outdated and staff has been working in conjunction with the City’s engineering consultant to develop a wetland ordinance which addresses the goals and strategies identified within both the Community Management Plan and Surface Water Management Plan and maintain conformance with the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 (WCA) and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s standards (MCWD). At the August 4“* work session, the Planning Commission and staff discussed the draft Floodplain Management and draft Wetland Management ordinances. Tom Lutgen (with the MN DNR) and John Sm>lh (from Bonestroo) attended the meeting to answer questions and helped to facilitate the discussion. The changes discussed at the work session have been included in the revised draft Ju