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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: December 3, 2024 <br /> CONSENT <br /> <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM: East Metro Water Resource Education Program (EMWREP) – Renew 2025-2027 <br />Shared Water Resource Education Program Agreement <br /> <br />SUBMITTED BY: Nicole Miller, City Administrator <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND, PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: The East Metro Water Resource Education <br />Program (EMWREP) was formed in 2006 to develop and implement a shared education program about the <br />impacts of non-point source pollution on local lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater resources <br />and to engage people in projects that will help to protect and improve water quality in the region. In addition <br />to educating the public, EMWREP also provides training for city, county and watershed staff and local <br />elected officials. <br /> <br />EMWREP is a partnership of 24 local units of government located in the east metro area including Brown’s <br />Creek, Carnelian-Marine-St Croix, Rice Creek, Ramsey-Washington Metro, South Washington, and Valley <br />Branch Watershed Districts, Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization, the cities of Cottage <br />Grove, Dellwood, Grant, Forest Lake, Hugo, Lake Elmo, Newport, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, Stillwater, <br />St. Paul Park, Willernie, and Woodbury, West Lakeland Township, Washington County and the <br />Washington Conservation District. Recently the program was expanded to include 5 communities within <br />the Lower St. Croix portions of Anoka, Chisago and Isanti Counties. <br /> <br />Partnership with EMWREP substantially meets Lake Elmo’s education and outreach permit requirements <br />as a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) City. Each year, the EMWREP coordinator prepares <br />an annual report on program activities and provides outreach data and statistics for partners’ MS4 Permit <br />reports. <br /> <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the City Council renew the 2025-2027 Shared Water Resource <br />Education Program Agreement with East Metro Water Resource Education Program (EMWREP)? <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT: $3,500.00. Increased from $2,865.26 for the 2022-2024 Agreement. The EMWREP <br />contribution is funded through the Surface Water-Storm Water Enterprise Fund (603). <br />RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending that the City Council approve, as part of the Consent <br />Agenda, the 2025-2027 Agreement with Washington County Conservation District to participate in the East <br />Metro Water Resource Education Program (EMWREP) with an annual contribution amount of $3,500. If <br />removed from the consent agenda, the recommended motion for the action is as follows: <br /> <br />“Move to approve the 2025-2027 Agreement with Washington County Conservation District to <br />participate in the East Metro Water Resource Education Program with an annual contribution amount <br />of $3,500.00.” <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br /> <br />1. 2025-2027 EMWREP Agreement with Washington County Conservation District.