Consider Recommendation to City Council to Adopt Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy 

Purpose:
To consider a recommendation to City Council to adopt Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy. 
 
Background:
The purpose of this case is to review the final draft of the Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy and provide feedback to staff on proposed additions, deletions and/or revisions.  The attached final draft was reviewed by all Staff that will be impacted by this Policy and additional content was added to the draft reviewed by the Committee on August 20, 2024.
 
Staff would like feedback on whether a maintenance schedule should be added to the appendix of this Policy, similar to the Trail Maintenance Policy.  Staff will present a draft maintenance schedule during the meeting for discussion purposes, which could then be finalized and attached to the policy before presenting the policy to the City Council for approval.
 
If the Committee recommends City Council approval to adopt this policy, Staff will request a review by the City Attorney prior to presenting the policy to Council.  

Timeframe:
Staff estimates 20 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion recommending City Council adoption of Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion of other.     

For transparency, costs for work required to maintain the City’s stormwater management facilities will be included within the City of Ramsey’s Capital Improvement Program to the maximum extent practicable.
 
All costs for the administration and operation of this Policy shall be funded through the City's Stormwater Funds.  The main source of revenues for this fund is the Stormwater Utility Fee.  In order to fully fund this program, annual increases in the stormwater utility fee rate will be necessary for the foreseeable future.  The City Council will make the decision on whether or not to fund the program, and at what level, each year as part of its budget process.
 
Decisions on what projects to undertake will also be made as part of the budget process and the concurrent annual review of the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP).  The budget will include funds for specific projects and routine maintenance, as well as contingencies for emergencies.

A CIP sheet is being added to the 2025 - 2034 CIP with identified annual costs of $40,000 for surveying existing stormwater ponds.
 

Staff recommends providing a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy.  

Consider recommendation to City Council to adopt Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy.