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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 46 good thing to do. 47 48 Director Ericson confirmed that it is a law although the City whole-heartedly supports the 49 replacement of wetlands regardless. He explained that this is from the Wetland Conservation 50 Act Legislation as well as the Rice Creek Watershed District regulations. 51 52 Duane McCarty, 8060 Long Lake Road, suggested that someone on the EDA or Council explain 53 the local wetland ordinance and the priorities as set forth in the ordinance in terms of the 54 mediations that could take place. 55 56 Director Ericson stated that the City has a very aggressive position on wetland management and 57 has had for a number of years. He explained that there are two levels of wetland review in the 58 City; there is a wetland buffer that protects all land within 100-feet of a wetland noting that any 59 of activity that occurs within 100-feet of a wetland necessitates a wetland buffer permit and has 60 to come before the Council; any work that occurs within a wetland has to come before Council 61 for a wetland alteration permit and there are various standards that have to be adhered to based 62 on specific criteria. He stated that the City cannot grant a permit in excess of what is necessary 63 and is in a sense, the minimum alteration necessary to accomplish the goals of the project. He 64 stated that the intent is to limit, to whatever extent possible, any alteration or development within 65 a wetland. He stated that the City has taken the position, since the early 1990’s, that the wetlands 66 are very critical to the City’s environmental eco-system and the benefit that they provide the City 67 in terms of stormwater management, they do not want to lose the wetlands that they have adding 68 that the City has been actively protecting them for a number of years. 69 70 President Marty further clarified that it is not just stormwater management it is also for water 71 quality. 72 73 Mr. McCarty asked what the requirements are in terms of onsite retention. He asked if this is one 74 of the first requirements for onsite. 75 76 Director Ericson stated that in terms of mitigating on site or accommodating stormwater 77 management features on site, it is the intent of the City that a project would accommodate 78 stormwater management on site on a property. He stated that it is important that the stormwater 79 runoff generated from one property does not continue to flow downstream and cause further 80 problems. He stated that in terms of mitigation there is a hierarchy of where the City can 81 mitigate noting that the first goal is to always mitigate on site, the second is to mitigate 82 immediately adjacent to the site and third is within the Watershed district. He stated that this is 83 also a recognized goal of the Watershed District and is definitely a requirement that mitigation is 84 accommodated on site. 85 86