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

Purpose:
To consider a recommendation to City Council to adopt the 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.

A final draft of the Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance Policy is attached.  This final draft was developed  with input from staff that will be involved with the noted inspections and maintenance work.  The final draft incorporates feedback received from the Public Works Committee on September 17th and October 15th, and reflects requested formatting revisions aligned with the attached Saint Francis Sidewalk and Trail Maintenance Policy, which was submitted to Staff by Chair Musgrove on October 27th and is attached for reference.  The attached policy is still missing two items from the appendix including the inspection and maintenance schedules and the stormwater facilities map.  These items are still being developed and will not be ready for publishing until early next year due to the vast number of stormwater management facilities that must be inventoried and described in the schedules and map.  The inspection and maintenance schedules are being developed similarly to the schedule in the Trail Maintenance Policy.  Staff will display rough drafts of these documents during the presentation at the meeting.

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 for approval. 

Not required.

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 will 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 which 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.