Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8B - Watershed Dist. VisionSTAFF AGENDA REPORT l~So AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: DATE: BACKGROUND: DISCUSSION: ISSUES: 8B FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER CONSIDER COMMENTS REGARDING THE PRIOR LAKE-SPRING LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT OUTLET CHANNEL VISION STATEMENT MARCH 6, 1995 Earlier this year the City Council considered adopting a resolution which would have encouraged the Watershed to accomplish certain of its responsibilities in a timely fashion. Betty Erickson-Kotek attended that meeting to discuss the Council's proposed action. She indicated that the city could accomplish two steps which would facilitate the Watershed's ability to complete its responsibilities. The two steps which Ms. Kotek requested that the city take were: 1. Review and approve the proposed Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District Outlet Channel Vision Statement. 2. Complete the Storm Water Management Plan. Earlier this month, Larry Anderson, Lani Leichty and I met with with Barbara Kane-Johnson and Dave Moran to discuss these matters. We agreed that the Storm Water Management Plan would be completed in draft form and provided to the Watershed by April 17. We also agreed that the draft Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District Outlet Channel Vision Statement would be reviewed by the City Council in a timely fashion. The purpose of this agenda item is to begin to discuss this issue but take no formal action at this time. The Vision Statement prepared by the Watershed District raises a number of issues which the Council should be aware of: . The Vision Statement is for the outlet channel as opposed to the entire Watershed. As such it focuses on a small but important segment of the storm water management system instead of the entire system. As a result, the focal point may tend to be more oriented to the cities, and particularly the developing cities rather than the entire watershed including townships and cities. The Watershed's focus must be on the entire service area. Barbara Johnson advises me that she does not believe that the Watershed has adopted a mission statement for the entire district. -1- 16200 Eagle Creek Ave., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDATION: ACTION REQUIRED: e The mission statement could be broadened so that it indicates that people at the top of the hill share the responsibility with those on lower lying parcels. Similarly, those governmental units already developed or yet to be developed share Watershed District responsibilities with those currently under development. . Focusing for a moment on the outlet only, a statement should be included which recognizes that the outlet and channel together with the rest of the storm water drainage system need to be upgraded to meet ultimate needs at build out. At present the outlet in particular was designed under sized and needs to be upgraded to serve the entire watershed. . A more inclusive statement with respect to funding responsibility is required. The Watershed has levying authority to provide for ongoing operating and capital funds. As such, they should expect to be responsible for the funding the vast majority of the public improvements necessary to improve and expand the system to meet its ultimate objectives. Cities and townships on the other hand are responsible for providing technical assistance, completing and maintaining a current watershed management plan, providing support to the Watershed in cooperative efforts, participating on Watershed committees, coordinating and assuring that water quality ponding and storm drainage channels and piping are installed in accordance with the overall Watershed plan for developments taking place within the community. The Watershed has asked the City to endorse their vision statement. Prior to doing so, I think it is necessary for the Council to discuss the issues set forth above together with any others which may be identified. These matters should be discussed by the City Council prior to our joint meeting with the Watershed which tentatively scheduled for May. At that time, it would be appropriate to further discuss the vision statement and provide recommendations for its revision. By May we should also have a draft Storm Water Management Plan to the Watershed. These two steps should go far in facilitating a more harmonious joint meeting between the two bodies. Discuss the issues set forth above together with any others identified and provide staff with further direction on how we should respond to the Watershed's request that the city endorse this vision statement. Action dependent upon Council's discussion. AG368B. WRT -2- PRIOR LAKE-SP~G LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT OUTLET CHANNEL VISION STATEMJ~a'~ PREA~LE The purpose of the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed Dsitriet, reader Minnesota Statute 103D.201 is to conserve the natural resources of the state by land use planning, flood control and other ~onservation methods by using sound scientific principles for the protection of the public health and · welfare and the provident use of natural resources. Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District was formed in part to reduce the severity and frequency of flooding and high water and to improve water quality. Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District reduces the impact of high water on Prior Lake by operation of an outlet. The Watershed District monitors and maintains the outlet channel in accordance with a lake operating plan and the Joint Powers Agreement. Land alteration affects the rate, volume and quality of surface water runoff which ultimately must be accommodated by the existing surface water systems within the Watershed District. This vision statement provides a framework for sound management of the outlet channel and participation by contributing municipalities and watersheds. FLOW OUANT1TY The outlet channel was constructed to accommodate excess water discharge from Prior Lake whenever necessary in accordance with the lake operating plan and the Joint Powers Agreement with the ability of the District to control future flow rates and levels within legal flowageways and easements. An important goal of the District is to develop an o-~erall plan for operation of the outlet channel that is acceptable to the Cities of Shakopee and Prior Lake and the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District to assure there is adequate capacity to handle present and future flow rates. WATER QUALITY The outlet channel is to receive and convey discharge of sufficient quality to protect and improve in4ine lakes, the channel and the Minnesota River. The District's goal is to improve and upgrade the channel to reduce streamba~k erosion and sedimentation and to have stormwater pretreated before discharge into the outlet channel. The Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District will strive to reduce overall public expenditures for operation and maintenance of the outlet channel by watershed(s) taking the lead role as outlet caretaker, developing long-term strategies and implementing projects. The Watershed District will identify problem areas and implement comprehensive remedies. The Watershed District will coordinate an outIet master plan with communities and the Lower Minnesota Watershed District. The District will upgrade and maintain the outlet channel. Any improvements generated by additional discharge should be funded by communities and watersheds that create these increased discharges.