5.3. SR 08-16-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item 5.3. MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor and City Council Rebecca Haug, Environmental Technician August 16, 2004 Letter of Support for Joint Powers Agreement with the PIPCA As part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking to partner with approximately 10 Local Government Units (LGUs) and financially support two-year pilot projects to assist the MPCA in performing construction stormwater management tasks. The MPCA has approximately $500,000 to fund this program for the first year. The partners will be chosen based upon areas that are experiencing high growth and development, and have impaired or special waters within their jurisdiction that may be impacted by construction activities. The Elk River and Lake Orono were classified as impaired waters and the Mississippi River is classified as special water. If the City is selected to be a partner, we will be required to identify all construction sites with one or more acres disturbed. A component of the NPDES permit is annual reporting, this grant would require monthly reporting to the MPCA. Data collection and record keeping are very important, which the City is already doing with the ASIST Software the City purchased last year. The City would also be able to retain consultants as subcontractors under the Agreement and the MPCA will provide introductory training. The grant application requires information about population growth, building trends and special/impaired water resources. It also requires a proposal for which model the LGU would like the funding to go towards. The three models are planning and zoning, compliance and enforcement, and education and assistance. The LGU can apply for all three models, but will only be accepted for one. The idea is to apply for all three and hope we are chosen for one. The first model which focuses on Planning & Zoning requires the LGU to adopt a construction stormwater ordinance or change the City's existing ordinance to include best management practices to protect surface water. This is a requirement of the NPDES permit regardless of the City receiving this grant funding. Michele McPherson is working on the proposal for this model since it will affect the Planning Department.