HomeMy WebLinkAbout5L, Motion to Approve Ordinance 2011-014 – Approval of the Stormwater Illicit Discharge & Connections Ordinance��-
�R`EN HILLS
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Request for Council Action �
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Prepared By: Kristine Giga, Civil Engineer � Council Meeting Date: December 12, 2011
Ordinance 2011-014 - Approval of the Stormwater Illicit Discharge and Connections
Ordinance
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source:
N/A N/A N/A
Recommendation:
Approve Ordinance 2011-014, adopting Chapter 16, the Stormwater Illicit Discharge and Connections
Ordinance, as presented in the December 12, 201 l, report to the City Council.
Approve publication of a summary of Ordinance 2011-014.
SupportinE Documents:
1. Memorandum from Kristine Giga, dated December 12, 2011.
2, Ordinance 2011-014, and Publication Summary.
�
EN HILLS
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 12, 2011
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
Patrick Klaers, City Administrator
FROM: Kristine Giga, Civil Engineer
SUBJECT: Illicit Discharge and Connections Ordinance
BackgroundlDiscussion
Since 2003, the City of Arden Hills has been required by Federal and State law to have a
permit to operate as an MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) city. Under this
federally mandated storm water program, MS4 cities are required to develop and
implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). The SWPPP must
cover six minimum control measures:
■ Public education and outreach;
■ Public participation/involvement;
■ Illicit discharge, detection and elimination;
■ Construction site runoff control;
■ Post-construction site runoff control; and
■ Pollution prevention/good housekeeping.
The City has had to identify best management practices (BMPs) and measurable goals
associated with each of these six minimum control measures. As required by the MS4
permit, the City submits an annual report to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MPCA) on the implementation of the SWPPP each spring.
As listed above, our SWPPP is required to include procedures to detect and remove illicit
discharges and improper disposal into the MS4 to the maximum extent practicable within
the City. We currently investigate reports of illicit discharges when observed by City
staff or reported to the City by concerned citizens. The existing City Code includes
language that prohibits illicit discharges and connections to the sanitary sewer system;
however, to meet the requirements of the SWPPP, language must also be included to
prohibit illicit discharges and connections to the storm sewer system. This proposed
ordinance is to address identified deficiencies within our existing City Code to ensure
City Council Meeting
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that they adequately address the requirements of the SWPPP.
Attached is the proposed Storm Water Illicit Discharge and Connections ordinance. Staff
utilized a model ordinance developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well
as ordinances developed by several neighboring communites (Roseville, Blaine, St.
Anthony, Mounds View), to develop the ordinance. The City Attorney has reviewed the
ordinance, and his comments and recommendations have been incorporated into the
document.
Council Action Requested
Approve Ordinance 2011-014 to add Chapter 16, Stormwater Illicit Discharge and
Connections and its Subdivisions to the City Code as presented in the December 12,
2011, report to the City Council.
Approve publication of a summary of Ordinance 2011-014 as required by Minnesota
State Statute 412.191 Subd. 4.
City Council Meeting
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STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
ORDINANCE NO. 2011-014
AN ORDINANCE REGARDING STORMWATER ILLICIT DISCHARGE AND
CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
The Arden Hills City Council hereby adds Chapter 16 and its subdivisions to the Arden
Hills City Code to read as follows:
Chapter 16: Illicit Discharge and Connections
Section 1600 — Purpose
1600.01 Purpose. The purpose of the ordinance is to promote, preserve and enhance the natural
resources within the City and protect them from adverse effects caused by non-storm water
discharge by regulating discharges that would have an adverse and potentially irreversible impact
on water quality and environmentally sensitive land. This ordinance will provide for the health,
safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the City through the regulation of non-storm water
discharges to the storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable as required by
federal and state law. This ordinance establishes methods for controlling the introduction of
pollutants into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in order to comply with
requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process.
The objectives of this ordinance are:
1. To regulate the contribution of pollutants to the municipal separate storm sewer system
(MS4) by storm water discharges by any person.
2. To prohibit Illicit Connections and Discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer
system.
3. To establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, surveillance and monitoring
procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this ordinance.
Section 1605 — Defmitions
1605.01 Definitions. For the purposes of this ordinance, the following terms have the meanings
given them in this section:
Subd.l Best Mana�ement Practices (BMPs). Schedules of activities, prohibitions of
practices, general good house keeping practices, pollution prevention and educational
practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce
the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or
1600-1
stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating
procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water
disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.
A. Non-structural BMP: Practices that focus on preserving open space, protecting
natural systems, and incorporating existing landscape features such as wetlands
and stream corridors to manage storm water at its source. Other practices include
clustering and concentrating development, minimizing disturbed areas, and
reducing the size of impervious areas.
B. Structural BMP: a physical device that is typically designed and constructed to
trap or filter pollutants from runoff, or reduce runoff velocities.
Subd.2 Citv. The City of Arden Hills.
Subd.3 Clean Water Act. The federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. ' 1251
et seq.), and any subsequent amendments thereta
Subd.4 Construction Activitv. Activities subject to NPDES Construction Permits.
These include construction projects resulting in land disturbance of one acre or more.
Such activities include but are not limited to clearing and grubbing, grading, excavating,
and demolition.
Subd.S Hazardous Materials. Any material, including any substance, waste, or
combination thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical,
or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, a substantial present
or potential hazard to human health, safety, property, or the environment when
improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
Subd.6 Ille�al/Illicit Dischar�e. Any direct or indirect non-storm water discharge to
the storm drain system, except as exempted in this ordinance.
Subd.7 Illicit Connection. An illicit connection is defined as either of the following:
A. Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows an
illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system (including any non-storm water
discharge) including wastewater, process wastewater, and wash water to enter the
storm drain system and any connections to the storm drain system from indoor
drains and sinks, regardless of whether said drain or connection had been
previously allowed, permitted, or approved by the City; or,
B. Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to
the storm drain system which has not been documented in plans, maps, or
equivalent records and approved by the City.
Subd.8 Industrial Activitv. Activities subject to NPDES Industrial Storm Water
Permits as defined in 40 CFR, Section 122.26 (b)(14).
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Subd.9 Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP). A standard for water quality that
applies to all MS4 operators regulated under the NPDES program. Since no precise
definition of MEP exists, it allows for maximum flexibility on the part of MS4 operators
as they develop and implement their programs to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the
maximum extent practicable, including management practices, control techniques and
system, design and engineering methods, and such other provisions as the Administrator
or the State determines appropriate for the control of pollutants.
Subd10 MPCA. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Subd.11 Municipal Se�arate Storm Sewer Svstem (MS4). The system of conveyances
(including sidewalks, roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs,
gutters, ditches, channels, or storm drains) owned and operated by the City and designed
or used for collecting or conveying storm water, and which is not used for collecting or
conveying sewage.
Subd.12 National Pollutant Dischar�e Elimination System PDES) Storm Water
Discharge Permit. A permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the
permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general area-wide basis.
Subd.13 Non-Storm Water Discharge. Any discharge to the storm drain system that is
not composed entirely of storm water.
Subd.14 Person. Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm,
corporation or other entity recognized by law and acting as either the owner or as the
owner's agent.
Subd.15 Pollutant. Any substance which, when discharged has potential to or does any
of the following:
A. Interferes with state designated water uses;
B. Obstructs or causes damage to waters of the state;
C. Changes water color, odor, or usability as a drinking water source through causes
not attributable to natural stream processes affecting surface water or subsurface
processes affecting groundwater;
D. Adds an unnatural surface film on the water;
E. Adversely changes other chemical, biological, thermal, or physical condition, in
any surface water or stream channel;
F. Degrades the quality of groundwater; or
G. Harms huxnan life, aquatic life, or terrestrial plant and wildlife; A Pollutant
includes but is not limited to dredged soil, solid waste, incinerator residue,
garbage, wastewater sludge, chemical waste, biological materials, radioactive
materials, rock, sand, dust, industrial waste, sediment, nutrients, toxic substance,
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pesticide; herbicide, trace metal, automotive fluid, petroleum-based substance,
wastewater, and oxygen-demanding material.
Subd.16 Pollute. To discharge pollutants into waters of the state.
Subd.17 Pollution. The direct or indirect distribution of pollutants into waters of the
state.
Subd.18 Premises. Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land whether
improved or unimproved including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
Subd.19 Storm Sewer System. Publicly-owned facilities by which storm water is
collected and/or conveyed, including but not limited to any roads with drainage systems,
municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, retention
and detention basins, natural and human-made or altered drainage channels, reservoirs,
and other drainage structures.
Subd.20 Storm Water. Any surface flow, runoff, or drainage consisting entirely of
water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation.
Subd.21 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). A document which describes
the Best Management Practices and activities to be implemented by a person or business
to identify sources of pollution or contamination at a site and the actions to eliminate or
reduce pollutant discharges to stormwater, stormwater conveyance systems, and/or
receiving waters to the Maximum Extent Practicable.
Subd.22 Surface Waters. All waters of the state other than ground waters, which
include ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, ditches, and public drainage systems
except those designed and used to collect, convey, or dispose of sanitary sewage.
Subd.23 Wastewater. Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated storm
water, discharged from a facility or the by-product of washing equipment or vehicles.
Subd.24 Watercourse. A ditch, stream, creek, or other defined channel intended for the
conveyance of water, runoff, groundwater discharge or similar hydraulic or hydrologic
purpose.
Subd.25 Waters of the state. All streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses,
waterways, wells, springs, reservoirs, aquifers, irrigation systems, drainage systems and
all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface or underground, natural or artificial,
public or private, which are contained within, flow through, or border upon the state or
any portion thereof.
1600-4
Section 1610 — Applicability and Administration
1610.01 Applicability. This ordinance shall apply to all water entering the storm sewer system
generated on any developed and undeveloped lands unless explicitly exempted by the City.
1610.02 Responsibility for Administration. The City and its authorized representatives are
authorized to administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this ordinance.
Section 1615 — Compatibility with Other Regulations
1615.01 Compatibility. This ordinance is not intended to modify or repeal any other ordinance,
rule, regulation, or other provision of law. The requirements of this ordinance are in addition to
the requirements of any other ordinance, rule, regulation, or other provision of law, and where
any provision of this ordinance imposes restrictions different from those imposed by any other
ordinance, rule, regulation or other provision of law, whichever provision is more restrictive or
imposes higher protective standards for human health or the environment shall control.
Section 1620 — Discharge Prohibitions
1620A1 Illegal Disposal and Dumping.
Subd.l No person shall throw, deposit, place, leave, maintain, or keep any substance
upon any street, alley, sidewalk, storm drain, inlet, catch basin, or other drainage
structure, business place, or upon any public or private land, so that the same might be or
become a pollutant, unless the substance is in containers, recycling bags, or any other
lawfully established waste disposal device.
Subd.2 No person shall intentionally dispose of grass, leaves, dirt, or landscape
material into a water resource, buffer, street, road, alley, catch basin, culvert, curb, gutter,
inlet, ditch, natural watercourse, flood control channel, canal, storm drain or any
fabricated natural conveyance.
1620.02 Illegal/Illicit Discharges.
Subd.l No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause, or allow others
under its control to throw; drain, or otherwise discharge into the municipal storm sewer
system or surface water any materials, pollutants or waters containing any pollutants,
other than storm water. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal
discharge to the storm sewer system is prohibited except as described as follows:
A. The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by
this ordinance: water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape
irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising ground water, ground
water infiltration to storm drains, uncontaminated pumped ground water,
foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering
systems), sump pumps, crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation,
springs, non-commercial washing of vehicles, natural riparian habitat or wetland
1600-5
flows, dechlorinated swimming pools, and any other water source not containing
pollutants.
B. Discharges or flow from fire fighting, or other activities deemed necessary by the
City to protect public health and safety.
C. Consists of dye testing discharge, as long as a verbal notification is made to the
City Public Works Director prior to the time of the test.
D. Consists of non-storm water discharge permitted under a NPDES permit, waiver,
or waste discharge order issued and administered under the authority of the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
1620.03 Illicit Connections.
Subd.l No person shall use any illicit connection to intentionally convey non-storm
water to the City's storm sewer system.
Subd.2 The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit
connections to the storm sewer system is prohibited. This prohibition expressly includes,
without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the
connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of
connection.
Subd.3 A person is considered to be in violation of this ordinance if the person
connects a line conveying wastewater to the storm sewer system, or allows such a
connection to continue.
Subd.4 Improper connections in violation of this division must be disconnected and
redirected, if necessary, to an approved onsite wastewater management system or the
sanitary sewer system upon approval of the City.
Subd.S Any drain or conveyance that has not been documented in plans, maps or
equivalent, and which may be connected to the storm sewer system, shall be located by
the owner or occupant of that property upon receipt of written notice of violation from
the City requiring that such locating be completed. Such notice will specify a reasonable
time period within which the location of the drain or conveyance is to be determined, that
the drain or conveyance be identified as storm sewer, sanitary sewer or other, and that the
outfall location or point of connection to the storm sewer system, sanitary sewer system
or other discharge point be identified. Results of these investigations are to be
documented and provided to the City.
Section 1625 — Industrial or Construction Activity Discharges
1625.01 Industrial or Construction Activity Discharges. Any person subject to an industrial or
construction activity NPDES storm water discharge permit shall comply with all provisions of
such permit. Proof of compliance with said permit may be required in a form acceptable to the
City prior to the allowing of discharges to the MS4. Any person responsible for a property or
premise, who is, or may be, the source of an illicit discharge, may be required to implement, at
1600-6
said person's expense, additional structural and non-structural BMPs to prevent the further
discharge of pollutants to the storm sewer system. These BMPs shall be part of a storm water
pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) as necessary for compliance with requirements of the
NPDES permit.
Section 1630 — Access to Facilities
1630.01 Access to Facilities.
Subd.l When the City has determined that there is a danger to the health, safety or
welfare of the public, City representatives shall be permitted to enter and inspect facilities
subject to regulation under this ordinance as often as may be necessary to determine
compliance with this ordinance. If a discharger has security measures in force which
require proper identification and clearance before entry into its premises, the discharger
shall make the necessary arrangements to allow access to City representatives.
Subd.2 Unreasonable delays in allowing the City access to a permitted facility is a
violation of a storm water discharge permit and of this ordinance.
Subd.3 The City may seek issuance of a search warrant for the following reasons:
A. If city representatives are refused access to any part of the premises from which
storm water is discharged, and there is probable cause to believe that there may be
a violation of this ordinance; or
B. there is a need to inspect and/or sample as part of a routine inspection and
sampling program designed to verify compliance with this ordinance or any order
issued hereunder; or
C. to protect the overall public health, safety, and welfare of the community.
Section 1635 Watercourse Protection
1635.01 Watercourse Protection. Every person, or such person's lessee, owning property through
which a watercourse passes or is directly adjacent to a watercourse, shall keep and maintain that
part of the watercourse free of trash, debris, excessive vegetation, and other obstacles that would
pollute, contaminate, or retard the flow of water through the watercourse. In addition, the owner
or lessee shall maintain existing privately owned structures within or adjacent to a watercourse,
so that such structures will not become a hazard to the use, function, or physical integrity of the
watercourse.
Section 1640 Notification of Spills
1640.01 Notification of Spills. Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person
responsible for a facility or operation, or responsible for emergency response for a facility or
operation has information of any known or suspected release of materials which are resulting or
may result in illegal discharges or pollutants discharging into storm water, the storm sewer
1600-7
system, or water of the state, said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery,
containment, and cleanup of such release according to state and federal laws.
Section 1645 — Suspension of MS4 Access
1645.01 Suspension due to Illicit Discharges in Emergency Situations. The City may, without
prior notice, suspend MS4 discharge access to a person when such suspension is necessary to
stop an actual or threatened discharge which presents or may present imminent and substantial
danger to the environxnent, or to the health or welfare of persons, or to the MS4 or Waters of the
United States. If the violator fails to comply with a suspension order issued in an emergency, the
City may take such steps as deemed necessary to prevent or minimize damage to the MS4 or
Waters of the United States, or to minimize danger to persons.
1645.02 Suspension due to the Detection of Illicit Discharge. Any person discharging to the MS4
in violation of this ordinance may have their MS4 access terminated if such termination would
abate or reduce an illicit discharge. The City will notify a violator of the proposed termination of
its MS4 access. The violator may petition the authorized enforcement agency for a
reconsideration and hearing.
A person commits an offense if the person reinstates MS4 access to premises terminated
pursuant to this Section, without the prior approval of the City.
Section 1650 Enforcement
1650.01 Notice of Violation. A violation of this ordinance is a Public Nuisance. Whenever the
City finds that a person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement of this
Ordinance, the City may order compliance by written notice of violation to the responsible
person. Such notice may require without limitation:
A. The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
B. The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
C. That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease and desist;
D. The abatement or remediation of storm water pollution or contamination hazards
and the restoration of any affected property; and
E. Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs; and
F. The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property is required, the notice shall set
forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said notice
shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the established
deadline, the work will be done by a designated governmental agency or a contractor and the
expense thereof shall be charged to the violator.
1650.02 Appeal of Notice of Violation. Any person receiving a Notice of Violation may appeal
the determination of the City. The notice of appeal must be received within 7 days from the date
1600-8
of the Notice of Violation. Hearing on the appeal before the City Administrator or his/her
designee shall take place within 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The
decision of the municipal authority or their designee shall be final.
1650.03 Enforcement Measures After Appeal. If the violation has not been corrected pursuant to
the requirements set forth in the Notice of Violation, or, in the event of an appeal, within 7 days
of the decision of the City Administrator upholding the decision of the City, then representatives
of the City shall enter upon the subject private property and are authorized to take any and all
measures necessary to.abate the violation and/or restore the property. It shall be unlawful for any
person, owner, agent or person in possession of any premises to refuse to allow the government
agency or designated contractor to enter upon the premises for the purposes set forth above.
1650.04 Cost of Abatement of the Violation. Within 15 days after abatement of the violation, the
owner of the property will be notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs.
The property owner may file a written protest objecting to the amount of the assessment within 7
days. If the amount due is not paid within a timely ma�uier as determined by the decision of the
municipal authority or by the expiration of the time in which to file an appeal, the charges shall
become a special assessment against the property and shall constitute a lien upon the property,
and the City shall have the right to assess such cost against the property owned by such
violator(s) pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 429.101.
1650.05 Injunctive Relief. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to
comply with any of the requirements of this ordinance. If a person has violated or continues to
violate the provisions of this ordinance, the City may petition for a preliminary or permanent
injunction restraining the person from activities which would create further violations or
compelling the person to perform abatement or remediation of the violation.
1650.06 Compensatory Action. In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties, and remedies
authorized by this ordinance, the City may impose upon a violator alternative compensatory
actions, such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops, creek cleanup, etc.
1650.07 Criminal Prosecution. A violation of this ordinance is a misdemeanor.
1650.08 Costs and Expenses. The City may recover all attorney's fees court costs and other
expenses associated with enforcement of this ordinance, including sampling and monitoring
expenses.
1650.09 Remedies Not Exclusive. The remedies listed in this ordinance are not exclusive of any
other remedies available under any applicable federal, state or local law and it is within the
discretion of the authorized enforcement agency to seek cumulative remedies.
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Effective Date.
publication.
Adoption Date
David Grant, Mayor
ATTEST:
This ordinance will take effect and be in force after its passage and official
Passed by the Arden Hills City Council this 12th day of December, 2011.
Patrick Klaers, City Administrator
1600-10
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 2011-014
On the 12th day of December, 201 l, the Arden Hills City Council adopted Ordinance No.
2011-014, and by at least four/fifths affirmative votes pursuant to Minn. Stat. §412.191, Subd. 4,
directed that a summary of Ordinance 2011-014 be published.
Chapter 16 and its Subdivisions are collectively known as Ordinance 2011-014, entitled
"Illicit Discharge and Connections Ordinance". The primary purpose of the amendment is to add
regulations relating to storm water illicit discharges and connections to the City Code. The
amended regulations will go into effect on December 22, 201 l.
A full copy of Ordinance 2011-014 is available for inspection by any person during
regular business hours at the office of the City Administrator, 1245 West Highway 96, Arden
Hills, Minnesota 55112.