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<br />WS – Item 2 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 2 <br /> <br /> <br />Date: June 6, 2016 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Re: VLAWMO Joint Powers Agreement <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) was established <br />in 1983 and is responsible for managing a watershed area in northern Ramsey County and <br />southeastern Anoka County. The watershed area includes a small area of approximately <br />1,000 acres in Lino Lakes. The balance of the City is managed by the Rice Creek <br />Watershed District (RCWD). <br /> <br />VLAWMO operates under a Joint Powers Agreement between the Cities of Gem Lake, <br />Lino Lakes, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Lake and the Township of <br />White Bear. The organization is managed by a Board of Directors made up of one <br />represented, who must be an elected official, from each community. Council member <br />Rafferty currently serves as the director representing Lino Lakes. Funding for the <br />organization is currently provided through stormwater utility charges on property within <br />the VLAWMO service area. <br /> <br />The City Council approved the last extension in April of 2012. The existing JPA is set to <br />expire on December 31, 2016. VLAWMO has drafted and distributed for consideration <br />an updated 10 year JPA that will run from 2017 through 2026. <br /> <br />Most of the changes beyond the dates noted above are relatively minor in nature. <br />Statutory references have been updated by their attorney. Ditch authority language was <br />discussed with the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) and the <br />VLAWMO attorney and updated accordingly. VLAWMO remains the ditch authority for <br />County Ditches 13 and 14 and will continue its management efforts. The Annual <br />meeting of the watershed may now be held in April to allow new board appointments and <br />annual reporting to be completed. The Board offices of Secretary and Treasurer have <br />been officially combined which reflects current practice. Financial disbursement practice <br />language has been updated to reflect what meets current government accounting <br />standards. <br /> <br />Stephanie McNamara, Administrator for VLAWMO will be present at the work session <br />to address any questions. <br />