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Current Situation: <br />Circle Pines has taken the lead for the five cities in Anoka County with respect to the <br />Commissioner Appointment. An early September summary judgement hearing has been <br />scheduled to hear the case. The City is requesting the seat be vacated and the board appoint <br />from the slate of nominees submitted, per statute, by the five city group. <br /> <br />Circle Pines and Hugo, both of which have significant water and storm water issues in their <br />communities have taken over the Local Governing Until (LGU) designation which allow them to <br />issue the permits. <br /> <br />I have spoken with my counterparts in Blaine and Spring Lake Park with both indicating they are <br />watching with great interest. SLP does not have much territory and minimal storm water <br />whereas Blaine has significant issue. Mayor Ryan has been outspoken and critical of RCWS <br />and supported a change in Commissioner Appointments. <br /> <br />Becoming the LGU: <br />By undertaking the LGU, the City becomes the permitting entity specific to Storm Water <br />Management. Instead of residents and/or developers contacting Rice Creek whenever <br />development occurs, they would contact the City. <br /> <br />The LGU is specific to Storm Water Management Plans – Rule C of Rice Creek. We must <br />follow that rule and have no ability to change it (always have ability to advocate but no legal <br />authority to do it). Thus, we are permitting and inspecting to their rule. <br /> <br />There are 7 steps or items to be undertaken in order for us to become the LGU. They are; <br />1. Amend the City Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) to reflect the City’s <br />plan to assume permitting responsibilities – state that the City adopts RCWD <br />Rules C, D, E, and F by reference. List goals and policies that are consistent with <br />these rules. <br />2. Execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the RCWD that the City <br />will take on permitting responsibilities and inspections. <br />3. Pass ordinances adopting Rules C, D, E, and F <br />4. Adopt a resolution taking on WCA responsibility <br />5. Create a protocol guide for issuing permits for submittal to the RCWD. It should <br />lay out various procedures including permit application review and closeout <br />process, hydraulics/hydrology data submittal to the RCWD, and the auditing <br />process. <br />6. Create a permit application form (including a fee schedule) <br />All of these are reasonably easy and inexpensive to do as Stantec would simply amend <br />the SWMP as part of the current update that is in process and both Circle Pines and <br />Hugo have provided samples for 2-6 and I have included some of those in the packet. <br />Reasons against becoming the LGU: <br />1. Additional burden onto staff, primarily Public Works administering permits and <br />inspections, Public Works staff would be reviewing/inspecting job sites. <br />2. Rice Creek has levy authority and thus, collects revenue to provide this function. <br />Neither Hugo nor Circle Pines receives any remuneration for taking on the <br />permitting and inspection process despite an argument that could be made they <br />should. <br />Reasons for becoming the LGU. <br />1. Staff is more than confident that the additional time needed by staff will actually be an <br />overall reduction based on substantial staff time dealing with the watershed on infiltration <br />basins, permitting, inspections, and storm water management. On average, over the