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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 6F STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director MEETING DATE: June 13, 2016 TOPIC: Consider Resolution No. 16-48, Approving the Revised Joint Powers Agreement to Protect and Manage the Vadnais Lake Area Watershed VOTE REQUIRED: INTRODUCTION 3/5 Staff is requesting City Council consideration to approve the revised Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) for the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization. BACKGROUND The Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) was established in 1983 and is responsible for managing a watershed area in northern Ramsey County and southeastern Anoka County. The watershed area includes a small area of approximately 1,000 acres in Lino Lakes. The balance of the City is managed by the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). VLAWMO operates under a Joint Powers Agreement between the Cities of Gem Lake, Lino Lakes, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Lake and the Township of White Bear. The organization is managed by a Board of Directors made up of one represented, who must be an elected official, from each community. Council member Rafferty currently serves as the director representing Lino Lakes. Funding for the organization is currently provided through stormwater utility charges on property within the VLAWMO service area. The City Council approved the last extension in April of 2012. The existing JPA is set to expire on December 31, 2016. VLAWMO has drafted and distributed for consideration an updated 10 year JPA that will run from 2017 through 2026. Most of the changes beyond the dates noted above are relatively minor in nature. Statutory references have been updated by their attorney. Ditch authority language was discussed with the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) and the VLAWMO attorney and updated accordingly. VLAWMO remains the ditch authority for County Ditches 13 and 14 and will continue its management efforts. The Annual meeting of the watershed may now be held in April to allow new board appointments and annual reporting to be completed. The Board offices of Secretary and Treasurer have been officially combined which reflects current practice. Financial disbursement practice language has been updated to reflect what meets current government accounting standards. The resolution also provides for the extension of the existing agreement until January 1, 2020 if all member communities do not agree to the January 1, 2025 extension.