Discuss Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) Proposed Wetland Protection Standards

With the adoption of the LRRWMO 3rd Generation plan, there were certain requirements imposed by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) related to wetland protection and stormwater management standards.  They agreed to allow the plan to continue through their approval process, with the understanding that a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) would be formed to develop such standards.  The TAC consists of the member communities within the LRRWMO (Anoka, Ramsey, Andover, and Coon Rapids), the DNR, BWSR, MPCA, Met Council, Army Corps of Engineers, MnDOT, Anoka Conservation District, and the Builder's Association of the Twin Cities.  The group met monthly to develop the standards, which would then be reviewed by the member communities and voted on by the LRRWMO.

The stormwater standards were adopted earlier this year, and are generally consistent with existing City of Ramsey requirements.  Because the proposed standards were slightly more restrictive than what is required by state law, Mayor Ramsey voted against them, but ultimately the motion passed on a 3 to 1 vote and the stormwater standards have been incorporated into the 3rd generation plan.

The wetland standards have been more of a challenge to get through the process, as BWSR was adamant about a wetland buffer requirement.  Throughout the course of the TAC meetings on the subject buffers were the most contentious issue.  In the end it was agreed that temporary construction buffers should be required during the grading and building phases of a project, and permanent buffers were removed from the standards all together.  The temporary buffers would be placed within drainage and utility easements, and consist of heavy duty silt fence (or other means to prevent erosion into wetlands) that would be installed prior to any land disturbing activities and remain in place until all construction activity is completed (including construction of homes).  Following final stabilization the silt fence would be removed and the property owner could then utilize this area.

The TAC wanted to ensure consistency throughout the member communities, and recommended placing further restrictions on what could be placed within the drainage and utility easements that would encompass these temporary buffer areas.  Each community has a separate policy on what can be placed within drainage and utility easements, and the proposed standards further restrict what the City of Ramsey could allow.  Currently we only restrict the construction of permanent structures and all other improvements that would impede or alter drainage patterns.

Staff participated in the TAC discussions, and has reviewed and commented on the attached proposed standards.  This item is scheduled for discussion by the LRRWMO Board on September 15th.  Staff would like to present the information to Council and foster a discussion that could lead to consensus on how Mayor Ramsey, our voting member, should address this matter at the LRRWMO meeting.

No funding is required for this discussion, however with with the adoption of the 3rd generation plan (and the additional requirements contained within it) the City's contribution to the LRRWMO budget is tentatively planned to double from what has been paid in the past.  This matter will need to be reviewed with the overall City budget at a later date, and would most likely be financed through the Stormwater Utility Fund.

Based upon discussion.