Resolution approving the Minnesota River-Mankato Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan Joint Powers Collaborative Agreement.

Adoption of the attached resolution.

In 2024, the City Council authorized the City to participate in the development of the Minnesota River-Mankato Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. IN January 2026, the Council received an update and adopted the plan. The Plan has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. 

Since that time, the various members that are eligible to be a part of the Watershed have been working on the development of the bylaws and a cost-sharing policy. The Bylaws and Cost Sharing Policy have been adopted by the Policy Advisory Committee, which is made up of Elected representatives from each of the member jurisdictions. Council Member Laven has been serving as our designee member. 

The next step in the process is to consider joining the Joint Powers Collaborative by Agreement. This Agreement does not establish a Joint Powers Entity but sets the terms and provisions by which the Parties “may jointly or cooperatively exercise any power common to the contracting Parties or any similar powers, including those which are the same except for the territorial limits within which they may be exercised.” (Minn. Stat. § 471.59). As is permitted under Minnesota Statutes Section 471.59, the Parties agree that under this Agreement, one or more of the Parties may exercise any power common to them on behalf of the other participating units.
A few key elements of the agreement that should be noted include: 

• The members include:
  1. The Counties of Blue Earth, Nicollet, Le Sueur
  2. The Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur
  3. The Cities of Lake Crystal, North Mankato, Mankato, and Saint Peter
• The agreement remains in effect until canceled.
• The City may withdraw from the agreement upon providing 60 days’ notice. 
• The parties will be governed by a Policy Advisory Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee.
• Nicollet County is serving as the Fiscal Agent.
• We are recommending Rick Baird, Environmental Services Coordinator, to serve as our Authorized Representative, shown in Section 13 of the Agreement.

Elements from the Bylaws that should be noted include: 

• The Policy Advisory Committee members are made up of one elected official from each member entity. 
• Amendments to the Minnesota River-Mankato Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan may be made by a simple majority vote of the members present at a meeting, provided there are enough members to make a quorum. As a result, the Council should make sure that the designated representative is able to attend meetings which are during daytime hours. 
• Meetings will be held at the Nicollet County Health and Human Services Building in St. Peter.

The 2026-2027 cost to participate is $1,000 per entity. If the Council wishes to authorize the agreement, we recommend allocating funds from the membership line item in the Storm Water Fund budget. Staff recommends adoption of the resolution authorizing entering into the agreement.