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CHAPTER 5: Governance <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />We recommend: <br />□ The Legislature should charge the Metropolitan Council with <br />responsibility for planning and coordinating shoreland, surface <br />use, and water quality management of metropolitan surface <br />waters. <br />We believe the Council's extensive experience in planning and coordination makes it the best choice for <br />these responsibilities for metropolitan lakes. The Council also is one of the few agencies which has <br />worked on both recreational use and water quality issues. The Legislature could extend the Council's <br />authority over regional open space to include surface waters or could designate the surface waters as a <br />separate metropolitan system. It should ensure adequate funding for these new responsibilities. <br />□ In partnership with local governments, the Metropolitan Council <br />should develop a metropolitan policy framework and system plan <br />for regional shoreland and surface water management. <br />The Council should work with local governments to set goals aixl guidelines for recreational use, <br />shoreland development, and water quality, and should develop mechanisms to fund implementation of <br />these policies. As with the regional parks system, local governments should be re^nsible for <br />implementing the plans. The Council should aid local governments that need technical expertise or <br />increased enforcement capability. <br />□ Local governments should be required by a fixed date to develop <br />local surface water plans subject to approval by the Metropolitan <br />Council. <br />Municipalities should be responsible for amending their comprehensive plans to include surface use and <br />long-term shoreland development for surface waters within their borders. Counties should have this <br />responsibility for surface waters that overlap municipal boundaries or are located in unincorporated <br />areas. Local pluming for water quality has already been started by watershed districts and water <br />management organizations. While Lake Minnetorika and White Bear Lake should be recognized as <br />regional resources, their respective conservation districts .should continue to be in charge of planning for <br />those lakes. The Metropolitan Council should review and approve all local plans to ensure they are <br />compatible with the regional plaa <br />□ The Metropolitan Council should make planning grants available <br />to help local governments in the development of their shoreland <br />and surface water plans <br />The Council, from its existing property ta’f levy, sho id also provide shoreland acquisition grants to <br />mimicipalities to meet regional management goals. <br />G The Metropolitan Council should coordinate the plans and <br />activities of the various agencies involved in metropolitan lake <br />management. <br />Local governments and management agencies within watersheds in the metropolitan area should meet <br />periodically to share their management concerns and issues and to explore ways of working together <br />toward common goals. The Metropolitan Council should oversee management so that local policies and <br />activities fit in with regional management goals.