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MOINDS VIEW City of Mounds View Staff Report Item No: 08C Meeting Date: Nov 23, 2020 Type of Business: Council Business City Administrator Review: To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Resolution 9354; Resolution Regarding the Administration of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act Introduction: Currently, the Wetland Conservation Act' (WCA) is administered by the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). At some point in time, the City relinquished this authority to RCWD. The City intends to take over this role beginning January 1, 2021. This item is related, but separate from the City adopting the RCWD Rules. Discussion: Administration of WCA is summarized below2: 1. The City adopts a resolution assuming responsibilities to administer WCA, and submits this resolution (Resolution 9354) to the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) within 15 days of its adoption. 2. The City must provide knowledgeable and trained staff in water resource management, to manage the program. The City will contract with Stantec for these services. 3. The City Council (LGU) has the option of appointing City Staff as the decision -making authority, if providing an appeals process. Staff is not proposing to do this, e.g. the City Council will be the decision -making authority. 4. Applications for impacts to wetlands and/or public waters, are to be reviewed by a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) consisting of staff from (1) BWSR, (2) Ramsey County Soil & Water Conservation District, (3) the City (e.g. Stantec), and (4) the DNR. At least two of the TEP panel members must be certified Wetland Delineators. The TEP may solicit advice from others (e.g. other City Staff, RCWD). 5. WCA applications will be submitted to the City, and reviewed by Stantec for completeness. If an application is incomplete, Stantec must notify the applicant within 15 business days of what is missing. If the application is complete or if no incomplete notice is given, the TEP will review the application, inspect the site, make Findings of Facts, and provide a recommendation to the City Council for action. The review period may be extended from 60-days to 120-days if the City (Stantec) provides notice to the applicant prior to the end of the 60-days. The review may extend beyond 120-days, if agreed to by the applicant. 6. The City Council's actions (approval or denial) must include consideration of the TEP's Findings and recommendations. Any denial must include Findings to support denial. Action must be taken within 60-days of the date of a completed application. ' MN Statute §103G 2 MN Rule 8420.0200