01-08-2025 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Metropolitan Council is statutorily authorized to carry out planning activities to address water supply needs of the metropolitan area. A Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee (MAWSAC) that includes state agency representatives and local officials was established to assist the Council in developing a master water supply plan that includes recommendations for clarifying the roles of local, regional, and state governments, streamlining, and consolidating approval processes and recommending future planning and capital investments. The Master Water Supply Plan serves as a framework to assist communities in water supply planning, without usurping local decision-making. Many cities also conduct their own analyses for use in water supply planning. As the Metropolitan Council continues to assess the region’s water supply and water sustainability, it must work cooperatively with local policymakers and local professional staff to ensure an on-going base of information that is sound, credible, and verifiable, and considers local information, data, cost-benefit analyses, and projections before any policy recommendations are issued. Metro Cities encourages the Metropolitan Council to consider the inter-relationships of wastewater treatment, storm water management and water supply. Any state and regional regulations and processes should be clearly stated in the Master Water Supply Plan. Further, regional monitoring and data collection benefits should be shared expenses between the regional and local units of government. Metro Cities supports Metropolitan Council planning activities to address regional water supply needs and water planning activities as prescribed in statute. Metro Cities opposes the insertion of the Metropolitan Council as another regulator in the water supply arena. Further, while Metro Cities supports regionally coordinated efforts to address water supply issues in the metropolitan area, Metro Cities opposes the elevation of water supply to “Regional System” status, or the assumption of Metropolitan Council control and management of municipal water supply infrastructure. Metro Cities supports the technical advisory committee to the MAWSAC that maximizes participation by municipal officials and helps to ensure sound scientific analyses and models are developed with local expertise and input before legislative solutions are considered. Metro Cities supports efforts to identify capital funding sources to assist with municipal water supply projects. Any fees or taxes for regional water supply planning activities must be consistent with activities prescribed in Minn. Stat. § 473. 1565, and support activities specifically within the metropolitan region. MA-6 REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY PLANNING 64