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A RESOLUTION REQUESTING COUNTY ASSISTANCE IN THE <br />OVERSIGHT OF THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT <br />WHEREAS, the City of Orono lies within the boundaries of the Minnehaha Creek <br />Watershed District (MWCD); and <br />WHEREAS, the City of Orono believes it is essential that the cities and the MCWD are able <br />to work cooperatively to address and resolve issues related to wetland protection, surface water <br />drainage, and water quality; and <br />WHEREAS, the City of Orono supports the joint effort currently underway to improve the <br />working relationship between the cities and the MCWD; and <br />WHEREAS, the cities under the jurisdiction of the MCWD have significant concerns that <br />the MCWD has not demonstrated good governance in the conduct of its statutory responsibilities, <br />and <br />WHEREAS, a committee representing these cities has identified specific concerns regarding <br />the manner in which the MCWD carries out its responsibilities; and <br />WHEREAS, such concerns relate to such matters as: a lack of intergovernmental comity and <br />cooperation; a failure to give timely, responsive, and reasonable consideration to public and private <br />project applications; an apparent unwillingness to give fair consideration to alternatives for funding <br />MCWD projects; the absence of sound, accurate and thorough budgeting; a lack of consistency in <br />dealing with municipalities with the district; a failure to recognize limitations on legal authority of <br />the District and to appreciate and accommodate local concerns; unreasonable restrictions on minor <br />developments, redevelopments and public improvements; a failure to utilize professional staff <br />effectively; excessive expenditure of public funds for administration, per diem, consultants and <br />travel expenses; inflexible application and unreasonable interpretation of District rules; and the <br />failure to evaluate fully the cost effectiveness of storm water management and water quality <br />improvements and structural and nonstructural alternatives to such improvements; and <br />WHEREAS, the committee has found that the actions of the District have resulted in: an <br />unnecessary duplication of effort among political subdivisions; unnecessary delays and increased <br />costs of development and redevelopment projects and public improvements; an extraordinary <br />• ^