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Mounds View EDA August 8, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 2 Mr. Werner asked if this is a law or is this something that the EDA does because they think it is a good thing to do. Director Ericson confirmed that it is a law although the City whole-heartedly supports the replacement of wetlands regardless. He explained that this is from the Wetland Conservation Act Legislation as well as the Rice Creek Watershed District regulations. Duane McCarty, 8060 Long Lake Road, suggested that someone on the EDA or Council explain the local wetland ordinance and the priorities as set forth in the ordinance in terms of the mediations that could take place. Director Ericson stated that the City has a very aggressive position on wetland management and has had for a number of years. He explained that there are two levels of wetland review in the City; there is a wetland buffer that protects all land within 100-feet of a wetland noting that any of activity that occurs within 100-feet of a wetland necessitates a wetland buffer permit and has to come before the Council; any work that occurs within a wetland has to come before Council for a wetland alteration permit and there are various standards that have to be adhered to based on specific criteria. He stated that the City cannot grant a permit in excess of what is necessary and is in a sense, the minimum alteration necessary to accomplish the goals of the project. He stated that the intent is to limit, to whatever extent possible, any alteration or development within a wetland. He stated that the City has taken the position, since the early 1990’s, that the wetlands are very critical to the City’s environmental eco-system and the benefit that they provide the City in terms of stormwater management, they do not want to lose the wetlands that they have adding that the City has been actively protecting them for a number of years. President Marty further clarified that it is not just stormwater management it is also for water quality. Mr. McCarty asked what the requirements are in terms of onsite retention. He asked if this is one of the first requirements for onsite. Director Ericson stated that in terms of mitigating on site or accommodating stormwater management features on site, it is the intent of the City that a project would accommodate stormwater management on site on a property. He stated that it is important that the stormwater runoff generated from one property does not continue to flow downstream and cause further problems. He stated that in terms of mitigation there is a hierarchy of where the City can mitigate noting that the first goal is to always mitigate on site, the second is to mitigate immediately adjacent to the site and third is within the Watershed district. He stated that this is also a recognized goal of the Watershed District and is definitely a requirement that mitigation is accommodated on site.