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qAsprih� REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: 12/9/2013 Item No.: 7.j Department Approval Citv Manager Approval Item Description: Approve a Resolution delegating Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District as the Local Government Unit (LGU) administering the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) within the City of Roseville BACKGROUND In 2012, the Cities of Roseville and Shoreview dissolved the Grass Lake Watershed Management Organization with the intent of improving water resource and wetland management in these areas of the cities. Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD as a permitting authority is the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) authority in the other cities in its management area. The transition of the watershed responsibilities is now complete and the City now needs to pass a resolution delegating the authority under the Wetland Conservation Act to the RWMWD. The City of Shoreview passed this resolution at their November 18, 2013 city council meeting. In 1991, the State passed the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). The intent of this act is no net loss of wetlands within the State of Minnesota. This law is implemented by a local governmental unit (LGU). The LGU can be the City, the watershed district, the County, or even the Soil and Water Conservation districts. For more than 20 years, the City served as the LGU for the former Grass Lake Water Management Organization (GLWMO) on behalf of GLWMO. Since the Joint Powers Agreement establishing the GLWMO between the cities of Roseville and Shoreview has now dissolved, jurisdiction for water management has been transferred to the RWMWD by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. it A City Council Resolution is needed to transfer LGU authority and delegate the WCA responsibilities to 19 the RWMWD. After adoption a copy of the Resolution will be sent to the RWMWD for their board 20 approval. Once adopted, the City will no longer serve as the LGU authority and local watershed districts 21 will serve as the LGU to implement the WCA within the City limits. Currently Rice Creek Watershed 22 serves as the LGU for the portion of the City within its boundaries. 2m As part of the Wetland Conservation Act, the LGU will follow a series of steps to assure the no net loss 21 criteria is met for development proposals impacting wetland areas. This consists of avoidance, 2� sequencing, mitigation, and replacement. The watershed responsibility as the LGU is to assure that 26 proper steps are taken and for whichever alternative is selected, that the process is carried through in 27 accordance with the WCA with the intent of preserving the wetland acreage within the City of Roseville. 28 POLICY OBJECTIVE 29 One of the goals of the City's Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan (CSWMP) is to transfer 3o responsibility of WCA administration for the former Grass Lake Watershed District area to RWMWD. Page 1 of 2