05-14-12-R Draft Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—MAY 14,2012 4 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Annual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Public Hearing John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, stated he was present this evening for the Annual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Public Hearing. The federal clean water act required implementation of this two phased comprehensive national program. He stated that the programs two phases included phase 1 for larger cities and phase 2 for smaller cities and construction sites and that this program is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, indicated that Arden Hills, as a regulated party, must develop a storm water pollution prevention plan that incorporates best management practices applicable to the City. He went on to explain that this plan must be organized to include items to address the six minimum control measures which are Public Education and Outreach, Public Participation and Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control, Post—Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment, and Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping. John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, went on to explain how the City has met the permit requirements over the last years in each of the six areas of minimum control measures. John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, explained the goals for 2012 include continue to produce flyers and newsletter articles, continue to work with Ramsey Conservation District and Rice Creek Watershed District, and update the City's website with new information. John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, stated that the small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit is scheduled to be renewed later this year and some of the changes expected to be included in this would be more stringent standards on site runoff, additional requirements on impaired waters, and increased documentation and mapping. Wetland/pond inventory will need to provide additional detail including number of inlets/outlet, surface area, and other physical characteristics. John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, stated that another part of the permit renewal is related to impaired water bodies and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL). These TMDL studies identify water bodies that are impaired by pollutants and identify maximum amounts of these pollutants that cities can discharge to these water bodies. Lake Valentine is scheduled for a study sometime in 2012-2015. John Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, concluded by saying the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan continues to evolve and is intended to be updated and expanded as needed. Councilmember Holden asked if all wetlands in the City were being mapped. Public Works Director Maurer stated some of this information has already been gathered with the 2011 inventory of inlets/outlets. There are still more wetlands that will need to be inventoried.