Laserfiche WebLink
Request for Action <br />To Item Number <br />Ma -or and Ci T Council 7.5 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />Public Hearin s December 18, 2023 Suzanne Fischer, Env. Services/S ecial Pro�ects Director <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Amend Sections 30-1850 thYough 30-1855 of the aYed She herd, Ci r Attorne r; Rebecca Hau , WSB En r. <br />Wetlands Protection Ordinance. Reviewed by <br />Cal Pormer, Ci T Administrator <br />Action Requested <br />1. Approve, by motion, the amended sections of the Wetlands Protection OYdinance. <br />2. Adopt, b�T motion, a resolution for summaryT publication of the CityT of Elk River Wetlands Protection <br />Ordinance <br />Background/Discussion <br />The iVlinnesota Wetlands Conservation Act (WCA) was passed into law in 1991 with numerous amendments <br />thereafter, `vith the purpose o£ <br />■ Achieving no net loss in the quantitv, qualit�T, and biological diversityT of Minnesota's e�sting �vetlands. <br />■ Increasing the quantity, qualityT, and biological diversityT of Minnesota's wetlands by restoring or enhancing <br />diminished or drained `vetlands. <br />■ Avoiding direct or indirect impacts from activities that destro�T or diminish the quantinT, qualityT, and <br />biological diversit�T of wetlands. <br />■ Replacing wetland values where avoidance of activities is not feasible and prudent. <br />UnfortunatelyT, staff has encountered an increased number of �vetland violations over the past two yTears. Some <br />resulted from residents not being familiar with the law, and others were simply intentional and blatant violations. <br />Staff, therefore, has proposed amendments to better clarify regulations and improve compliance levels. <br />The attached proposed language is a combination of the cit�T's wetland ordinance and that of another municipalityT. <br />Staff believes the proposed amendments `vill provide a clearer explanation of WCA regulations to residents, �uhich <br />in turn, should reduce the number of violations moving forward. <br />Financial Impact <br />N/A <br />Mission/Policy/Goal <br />ResponsiblyT gro�v <br />Attachments <br />PYoposed Ordinance Sections 30-1850 thru Section 30-1855 of the Wetlands Protection Ordinance. <br />Summary Publication of the Cit�T of Elk River Wetlands Protection Ordinance <br />The Elk River Vision <br />A 2a�elcolning co�nlnunity 2a�ith T evolutiona� y and spizzted T esou� cefulness, exceptional <br />se�vice, and coln�nunity engagelnent that encou�ages and ins�iz•es pTo�pe�zty. <br />rowEREo ar <br />�I'1 ���� <br />Update�l• January 2023 <br />