03-1-99 agenda
CITY OF RICHFIELD
•
MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1999
RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
RICHFIELD CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6700 PORTLAND AVENUE
5:00 P.M. (DINNER SERVED)
5:30 P.M. (MEETING BEGINS)
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
1. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
COUNCIL LETTER NO. 52
ADJOURNMENT
AUXILIARY AIDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE AVAILABLE UPON
REQUEST. REQUESTS MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 96 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR AT 612-861-9702.
•
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Council Letter No. 52
• Agenda March 1; 1999
Issue Statement:
Annual meeting of the Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management Organization..
Background:
The Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management District was formed in 1984 to
coordinate storm water management planning as mandated by the State of Minnesota.
In order to maintain local control of storm water in the City of Richfield, primarily in the
southeast portion of the City, Richfield decided to form its own Watershed Management
District with Bloomington rather than join an existing Watershed Management District.
Since the original creation of the Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management
District, the District has been expanded to include a larger portion of the City.
Members of the Richfield City Council and the Bloomington City Council makeup the
Board of Commissioners. The Board is to hold an annual meeting in the first 90 days of
each year. The 16th annual organizational meeting will. be held Monday, March 1, 1999
at 5:30 p.m. at Richfield City Hall. Alight supperwill be served at 5 p.m. The agenda
packet for the meeting is attached.
Recommended Motion:
This Council letter is for transmittal purposes. No formal action is necessary as a City
Council. However, the. attached :agenda packet indicates there is some action .required
of the Board of Commissioners. at the March 1 meeting.
Basis of Recommendation:
1. The Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management District Board of
Commissioners is to hold an annual meeting each year at a time and place
determined by the Chair.
2. The meeting has been scheduled on the first available date for all parties and at a
time to allow all. parties to attend other meetings later in the evening.
Alternative Recommendation:
None.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
The annual .meeting of the Board of Commissioners for the Richfield-Bloomington
Watershed Management Organization will be held at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 1,
1999, at Richfield City Hall. Due to other commitments of the Board of Commissioners,
the meeting_is expected to adjourn at 6:30 p.m.
Respe submitted,
James .Prosser
City Manager
JDP:ds
RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
• ANNUAL MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 1,1999
5:30 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Call to order and introductions
2. Approval of minutes of March 2, 1998 (See attached)
3. Review and approval of agenda
4. Election of officers
1999 Chair: Richfield
1999 Vice-Chair: Bloomington
1999 Secretary: Bloomington
1999 Treasurer: Richfield
5. Appointment of Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director
1999. Executive Director Mike Eastling
• 1999 Assistant Executive Director Jim Gates
6. 1998 Executive Director's Report
7. Old Business
A. I-35W/494 Update
B. Ring Route Update
a) 77th St. Corridor
b) 79th/80th St. Corridor
C. NPDES -Phase II
D. Smith Park/Pond
E. Watershed Management Plans
a) RBWMO -2000
F. Wetland Conservation Act -update
G. Richfield Lake boundary change -possible action (See attached)
8. New Business
9. Annual Report (See attached)
10. Public Notice (See attached)
• 11. Insurance - $2,599 July 1999-June 2000 (each City pay half)
12. Adjournment
RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
Meeting #15
MINUTES
March 2, 1998
Bloomington City Hall
The annual meeting of the Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management Organization was called
to order by Chairman Russ Susag at 5:45 p.m.
Item #1 CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Russ Susag, Chair, Richfield; Vern Wilcox, Vice Chair, Bloomington;
Peggy Ramthun, Secretary, Bloomington; Susan Rosenberg, Treasurer,
Richfield; Kristal Stokes, Richfield; Martin Kirsch, Mayor of
Richfield; Gene Winstead, Bloomington; Alisa Heintzeman,
Bloomington; Coral Houle, Mayor of Bloomington; Ann Lenczewski,
Bloomington; Steve Bianchi, Bloomington; and Michael Sandahl,
Richfield.
STAFF PRESENT: Jim Gates, Assistant Executive Director, Bloomington; Michael
Eastling, Assistant Executive Director, Richfield; Mark Bernhardson,
City Manager, Bloomington; Jim Prosser, City Manager, Richfield;
Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer, Richfield; Charlie Honchell,
Director of Public Works, Bloomington; Scott Anderson, Bloomington
Engineering Staff; and Ron Rudrud, City Engineer, Bloomington.
Item #2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 17,1997
M/Susag, S/Houle, and all present voting approve the minutes of March 17 1997 annual
meeting as presented. Approval same. Motion carried 15-0.
Item #3 REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Jim Gates described a brief overview of the agenda which included the election of officers -appointment of
Executive and Assistant Executive Directors, Executive Director's Report, old business, new business,
Annual Report for the RBWMO, review of the public notice, insurance, mutual letter of the law refinements
in conjunction with the regular meeting.
M/Ramthun, S/Wilcox, and all present voting aye to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 15-0.
Item #4 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
M/Wilcox, nominated Gene Winstead for Chair, M/ Susan Rosenberg nominated Kristal Stokes as Vice
• Chair, Mike Sandahl nominated Mayor Martin Kirsch of Richfield as Secretary, and Peggy Ramthun
nominated Ann Lenczewski as Treasurer, and all present voting aye. Motion carried 15-0.
Item #5 APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
M/Susag, S/Sandahl, moved to have Jim Gates of Bloomington continue as Executive .Director;
M/Susag, S/Kriebie moved to have Michael Eastling of Richfield continue as Assistant Executive Director
and all present voting aye. Motion carried 15-0.
Item #6 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Richfield-Bloomington WMO is a joint powers established in 1983 as a requirement of a 1982 Chapter 509
law. The RBWMO covers a land area that wasn't previously covered by watershed districts. Both staffs of
each city form the staff of the Richfield-Bloomington WMO. ,The two cities work together well and both are.
LGU's for the Wetland Conservation Act. Each city handles their own stormwater management issues. If
there is a project that would relate between the two cities, Richfield and Bloomington have been able to work
it out. Example given was the Wilson Pond discharge into the Smith Pond Project whereby the RBWMO
involved MnDOT and a number of other agencies. Each city handles their own monitoring for National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits (NPDES rules). The Richfield-Bloomington Watershed
Management Organization does not have a budget since both cities function as each storm utility for each
city and accommodates the expenses in conjunction with their normal daily routines.
Item #7 OLD BUSINESS
A. RICHFIELD LAKE BOUNDARY CHANGE -STATUS
This discussion included Michael Eastling providing each member two maps showing the areas of Richfield
and Bloomington affected by the boundary change. The maps had not changed a lot in the last year.
RBWMO was not going to address the issue withMinnehaha Creek Watershed District until Richfield had
its plan approved by Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. That approval did not occur until last December
97. The change has not been presented to (BWSR) Board of Water and Soil Resources. Area that drains into
Minnehaha Creek at the present and is still of issue of whether it should become part of Richfield
Bloomington WMO or Minnehaha Creek. Minneapolis area doesn't want to have the Richfield Lake
drainage area part of the Richfield-Bloomington WMO.
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is going through a reappointment or new appointment process for their-
board of managers. RBWMO is waiting until the managers have been appointed to the Minnehaha Creek
board.
Mr. Susag stated the item was a status report and no further action is required on this item.
2
B. 79th/80th Street update -Jim Gates - To bring the Richfield-Bloomington WMO up to date, the
City of Bloomington's parallel arterial to 494 is the 79th/80th Street project. The City is in the process of
reconstructing a couple of segments that are within the Richfield-Bloomington WMO. The segment between
Nicollet and Portland is under construction at the present time and is scheduled to be completed in 1998.
There is an existing ISTEA appropriation for the segment from Chicago Avenue to Old Cedar. This is
basically the area between Wal-Mart and Old Cedar. That segment is also scheduled to be completed by the
end of construction season 1998. The City of Bloomington has recently received information regarding
future appropriations for two additional segments within the corridor. These two segments must be
processed through the Federal Highway Administration yet, but it is 99% sure that these appropriations will
be approved. One appropriation is for the fiscal year 2001 across the Met Center property from T.H. 77 to
24th Avenue. The other segment is also scheduled for 2001 and is the bridge over 35W that connects 79th
and 80th Street on the east and west side of 35W. There is another segment between 24th Avenue and 34th
Avenue that is to be reconstructed as well in 1998. The 1998 construction season will be a busy year since
another segment of the Ring Route in the vicinity of the existing Target store will also be reconstructed. This
reconstruction will be similar to what was done in the Wal-Mart area. Therefore, through this piecemeal
approach, Bloomington is fairly well along in constructing the south side parallel arterial.
The segment that is troublesome in Richfield is the Lyndale Avenue. connection over 494 connecting the
Richfield 77th Street route to the Bloomington 79th/80th Street route. The cities are making a collaborative
effort to put an ISTEA application together for the next round which is approximately a year away for the
next solicitation for ISTEA projects. The City of Richfield is aggressively pursuing other funding options
while still working closely with the .City of Bloomington.
C. NPDES
Jim Gates - An update on NPDES -.Phase 1 cities (cities over 100,000) are already covered by the NPDES
program. Those cities over 100,000 then acquire an amount of money in conjunction with compliance with
Phase 1. Some were in the $500,000 range just for the application.
The cities under 100,000 will be brought into the program under Phase 2 of the stormwater program. The
rules, March of 1999 draft, then comments, implementation in May of 2002 for the program approved by
MPCA. Each permit has afive-year duration.
D. Smith Park/Pond
Jim Gates -Smith Park is a Bloomington neighborhood amenity that is proposed to be enhanced
in conjunction with the storm sewer utilities. It is a piece of the Wilson PondlSmith Pond discharge which
flows into Minnesota River. Bloomington has RFP's out for both the park improvement and the stormwater
management improvement. RFP's will be back to council by April for a decision to bring park concepts for
further direction and implement a stormwater quality project in winter of 1998. A winter project in
conjunction with the stormwater phase of the improvement and look at the park amenities in 1999 pending
City Council approval.
Mike E. -Smith. Pond is the one place where the two cities connect hydraulically = Richfield water leaves
Richfield and connects over to Smith Pond.
3
Jim G. -Smith Park has been an area of concern for many Bloomington residents over the years.
Improvements were made in 1988 after working with MnDOT to allow the use of the additional capacity of
the MnDOT system to handle some of the excess stormwater from the .Smith Pond area and the Richfield
area to go through the MnDOT system after the time the storm has passed through the MnDOT system.
Storm events hit the interstate system fairly quickly because of the imperviousness. As the water gets to the
Wilson Pond and Smith Pond area, it is usually later in the storm event. It has already passed in the MnDOT
storm sewer system and MnDOT has allowed stormwater from the neighborhoods to flow through the
MnDOT system.
E. Wetland Conservation Act -update
Mike E. -The Meridian Crossing project, which is the old Clover Leaf site on 35W and 494, impacted some
wetlands just over an acre in wetland area. The size of the pond was cut down in that area. The area was
completely mitigated by placing that action with the removal of a water sludge pit in conjunction with the
water plant site at the Crosstown and Portland Avenue. The mitigation was completed at a 2-1 ratio per State
rule.
The-Board of Water and Soil Resources went through their emergency rules of 1995. They adopted an
amendment to 1996 and adopted the. whole package rather than calling them the emergency rules; they are
the Wetland Conservation Act rules now, Chapter 8420. These rules govern the Wetland Conservation Act.
F. Watershed Management Plans
Mike E. - Ci lan is still overned b the watershed district. The RBWMO won't be able to complete its
t3' P g Y
plan until Minnehaha completes theirs. Because the City of Richfield has their plan completed, the
Minnehaha Creek is the last watershed district to have their plan completed that actually affects Richfield.
Richfield has two more years before we have to redo the City of Richfield plan (local city plan). The
RBWMO will have to change Richfield plan as of 2000. So many agencies' affect surface water management
and wetlands and as those laws change they don't make you update your plans with each one of the changes,
but the agencies will have the City of Richfield redo their plan by the year 2000.
Jim G. -The City of Bloomington is in the process of completing the Watershed Management Plan. Council
recently approved the wetland plan portion of the overall summary plan. A good segment of our overall
stormwater management plan is complete, but we don't have the entire plan at the present time. The
Wetland Protection and Management Plan was approved by the various agencies.
Item #S New Business
Item #9 Annual Report
M/Kirsch, S/Lenczewski approved the annual report. Motion carried 15-0
4
Item #10 PUBLIC NOTICE
Enclosed is the notice for the actual meeting and a report. It outlines who we are and what we do, along with
recent activities. The Annual Report will be published in the Sun Newspaper in late March.
M/Kirsch, S/Sandahl 15-0
Item #11 Insurance
The only question regarding insurance is whether to waive or not to waive the statutory limit. Cities are
given the ability to waive them on $300,000 per individual or $750,000 per incident. The same insurance is
available to the RBWMO. What a waiver does that the $200,000 dollar limit is just too low. To limit their
ability to recover. If you waive that, it allows you to give to an individual up to the `maximum that is allowed
per occurrence. If some single individual gets hurt in one accident, they could only collect $300,000. If
waived, they would be eligible to collect up to $750,000. The reason you don't want to do that is that under.
statutory law, we are not required to. Wouldn't the insurance cost more? In our case, the minimal level
coverage from the League ofMinnesota Cities and the. way it is structured today, it does not cost us more to
waive that lower requirement.
Because of a lack of increased insurance charge in order to increase that,coverage, we should go ahead and
take advantage of the change.
As it stands today, the most an individual could collect is $300,000. The maximum amount for any one
.incident is $750,000. If we waive the lower amount, the individual could receive a maximum of $750,000
but it would still be $750,000 for the incident.
If two people are involved, they would split $750,000. If multiple people recovered on a single incident, this
would still have to be managed by the insurance carriers as to how much they would give to each party
involved. The City of Richfield is not liable... M/Sandahl, S/Houle to waive the limits. 15-0
Item #14 ADJOURN
M/Houle, S/Stokes, moved to adjourn, and all voting ave, to adjourn the meeting at 6:23 p.m. Motion
carried 15-0.
•
5
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this day of , 1999, by and between the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, a Minnesota watershed district organized pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 103D (hereinafter referred to as "MCWD"), the Richfield
Bloomington Watershed. Management Organization, a Minnesota joint powers organization
organized pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 103B.211 (hereinafter referred to as "the
Richfield Bloomington WMO"), the City of Richfield, a Minnesota charter city (hereinafter
referred to as "Richfield"), and the City of Minneapolis, a Minnesota charter city (hereinafter
referred to as "Minneapolis").
I. RECITALS AND BACKGROUND
1.1. The area tributary to Grass Lake as delineated on Attachment One (hereinafter referred to
as the "Grass Lake Subwatershed Area") lies within the boundaries of the MCWD, Minneapolis,
and, to a limited extent, Richfield. Storm water collected in Grass Lake from the Grass Lake
Subwatershed Area, flows by underground conduit to Richfield Lake.
1.2. The area. tributary to Richfield Lake as delineated on Attachment One (hereinafter
referred to as the "Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area") and Richfield Lake lie within the City of
Richfield, and, to a limited extent, Minneapolis and within the boundaries of the MCWD.
1.3. Storm waters collected in Richfield Lake flow by underground conduit to Wood Lake
• which lies within. the City of Richfield and within the boundaries of the Richfield Bloomington
WMO.
1.4. The parties to this Agreement have concluded that it is reasonable, expedient, consistent
with Minnesota State Statutes and in the public interest to modify the boundaries between the
MCWD and the Richfield Bloomington WMO to include the Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area
within the boundaries of the Richfield Bloomington WMO. The reasons for this- conclusion
include the following:
1.4.1. The construction of a conduit from Richfield Lake to Wood Lake in 1996 directed
the course of the flow of storm water runoff so that the water flowing to the Richfield
Lake Subwatershed Area is now tributary to Wood Lake and the Richfield Bloomington
WMO.
1.4.2. Water quality and quantity consequences of activities in the Richfield Lake
Subwatershed Area affect the quality and quantity of water downstream in the area of the
Richfield Bloomington WMO.
1.4.3. The Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area lies entirely within the City of Richfield
which is one of the two parties to the Richfield Bloomington WMO Joint Powers
Agreement. Use and development of land is regulated by the City of Richfield in
accordance with its approved local storm water management plan. The City of Richfield
has constructed, maintained and operated the storm sewer system in the area of Richfield
CLL-158009
RC 160-4
Lake at the expense of Richfield taxpayers and rate payers including the owners of
property in the Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area.
1.5. The Grass Lake Subwatershed Area lies within the boundaries of the City of Minneapolis
which is not a party to the Richfield Bloomington WMO Joint Powers Agreement. The City of
Minneapolis has not adopted an approved local storm water management plan for the Grass Lake
Subwatershed Area. A transfer of the Grass Lake Subwatershed Area from the MCWD to the
Richfield Bloomington WMO would necessitate the addition of the City of Minneapolis as a
party to the Richfield Bloomington WMO and would impose additional planning and
administrative burdens on the WMO. Therefore, the parties to this Agreement have concluded
that it is not in the best interest of the public to modify the boundary.between the MCWD and the
Richfield Bloomington WMO to include the Grass Lake Subwatershed Area at this time,
notwithstanding the fact that the Grass Lake Subwatershed Area is tributary to Richfield Lake,
Wood Lake, and the waters of the Richfield Bloomington WMO.
II. PETITION FOR BOUNDARY CHANGE
2.1. The parties agree to make joint petition to the Minnesota Board of Water .and. Soil
Resources (hereinafter referred to as "BWSR") .for a boundary change pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes, Section T03B.215 and to take such steps as are necessary to effect such change and
secure the approval thereof by BWSR. In the event of approval, the parties shall take actions: as
are necessary to accomplish the transfer of statutory responsibility for the Richfield Lake
Subwatershed Area including, but not limited to, those set forth in this Agreement.
• III. PLAN AMENDMENTS AND TRANSFER OF
JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1. Thee MCWD .will take such actions as are necessary to amend its storm water
management plan to reflect the boundary change and obligations set forth in this Agreement.
3.2. The Richfield Bloomington WMO shall make such amendments to its Joint Powers
Agreement as are necessary to accommodate the boundary .change and shall amend its storm
water management plan to reflect the boundary change, incorporate the territory of the Richfield
Lake Subwatershed Area, and assume responsibility for storm water management thereof.
3.3. The City. of Richfield will make such amendments as are necessary to reflect the transfer
of the Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area to the Richfield Bloomington WMO.
IV. RICHFIELD LAKE SUBWATERSHED AREA
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1. Upon and after the effective date of the boundary change, the duties and responsibilities
of the parties with respect to Richfield Lake and the Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area shall be
as follows:
•
CLL-158009 2
RC 160-4
4.1.1. The Richfield Bloomington WMO, or the City of Richfield, as appropriate, shall
take responsibility for the regi~latiori and control of all land use matters and development
within the Richfield Lake Subwatershed Area.
V. GRASS LAKE SUBWATERSHED AREA
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1. The Grass Lake Subwatershed Area shall continue to be within the jurisdiction of the
MCWD. Neither Minneapolis nor the MCWD will undertake any projects or activities or
authorize any project or activities which direct storm water to Grass Lake from any area. outside
of the Grass Lake Subwatershed Area or approve .any project or projects subject to MCWD
regulation which result in a cumulative net increase of more than twenty (20) acres of
impervious surface in the Grass Lake Subwatershed Area without the prior approval of the
Richfield Bloomington WMO.
5.2. The MCWD will share in the cost of future improvements or replacements' of storm
sewer .systems downstream from the Grass Lake Subwatershed Area on the basis of the
percentage of annual flow directed to the system being improved or replaced. Prior to
undertaking any such project for which the MCWD would be required to contribute>under this
Agreement, Richfield will notify the MCWD of its consideration of the project and will. solicit
and consider the comments of the MCWD in the process of planning and construction of such
improvements.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
6.1. This Agreement shall become effective upon the approval by BWSR of the boundary
change described herein.
6.2. This Agreement shall remain in effect until terminated or amended by the formal written
action of each of the parties hereto.
MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
By
Its
And
Its
•
CLL-158009 3
RC 160-4
RICHFIELD BLOOMINGTON WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
By
Its
By
Its
And
Its
[J
By
Its
And
Its
CLL-158009
RC 160-4
And
Its
CITY OF RICHFIELD -
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
4
RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
1998 ANNUAL REPORT
Table of Contents
I. Financial Report
II. Activity Report (Subsections of this report are lettered to be consistent
with Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) rules 8410.0150 to allow
easy reference.)
A. Membership
B. Staff
C. 1998 Work Plan
D. 1999 Work Plan
E. Permits, Variances and Enforcement
S F. Water Quality Monitoring
G. Local Plans.
H. Information Program
I. Solicitation for Interest for Consultant Services
J. Expenditures
K. Wetland Banking
FINANCIAL REPORT
The RBWMO has not expended or accrued funds during the fiscal year. ending
December 31, 1998. Therefore, no financial or audit reports are necessary. Richfield
and Bloomington budgeted and expended over $0.8 million and $2.0 million in their
respective storm drainage utilities in 1998 to manage and control stormwater.
•
•
•
II. ACTIVITY REPORT
A. MEMBERSHIP
Name
Alisa Heintzeman
Steve Bianchi
Coral Houle
Martin Kirsch, Secretary
Ann Lenczewski, Treasurer
Kristal Stokes, Vice-Chair
Peggy Ramthun
Susan Rosenberg
Michael Sandahl
Russ Susag
Vern Wilcox
Gene Winstead, Chair
1998 Outgoing Members
Ann Lenczewski
1999 Incoming Members
Tom Spies
Richfield members can be contacted at:
Bloomington members can be contacted at:
B. STAFF
Executive Director:
Assistant Executive Director:
Representing
Bloomington
Bloomington
Bloomington
Richfield
Bloomington
Richfield
Bloomington
Richfield
Richfield
Richfield
Bloomington
Bloomington
Bloomington
Bloomington
Richfield City Hall
6700 Portland Avenue So.
Richfield, MN 55423
Phone: 861-9700
Bloomington City Hall
2215 W. Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone:. 948-8700
Jim Gates
Bloomington Deputy Director
of Public Works
2215 W. Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone: 948-8700
Michael Eastling
Richfield Director of Public Works
6700. Portland Avenue South
Richfield, MN 55423
Phone: 861-9792
The City staffs for both cities cooperate to provide necessary staff support for the WMO.
C. 1998 WORK PLAN
Following 1991 Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) approval of the RBWMO
plan and direction that the member cities administer the plan, the. stormwater
management efforts of each City were prepared for and incorporated into the City
code of each municipality. Appropriate elements of the plan are or will be
incorporated in their respective stormwater Management Plans for each City. These
plans will not be finalized until all the WMO's of which each City is a member had
their plans approved by BWSR. State law allows cities two years following the
approval of the last WMO Watershed District Plan within their boundary for each City
to complete their stormwater management plan. Richfield completed their City-wide
stormwater management plan and had it approved by the Richfield City Council on
February 27, 1995. The City of Bloomington is preparing their City-wide stormwater
management plan. Bloomington has received approval of a -major component. of
their City-wide plan. That component is the Wetland Protection and Management
Plan.. Bloomington has retained a consultant to complete the City stormwater Plan.
Both cities have status as Local Government Units (LGU) from BWSR for the
purpose of the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 implementation.
In addition to the regular review and permitting afforded the cities, both cities have
stormwater utilities which provide a reliable funding source for stormwater
management activities.
During 1996, the City of Bloomington revised the fee structure for their stormwater
Utility to include a water quality component as well as a water quantity component.
Rate control remains a requirement. for Bloomington and Richfield development.
There is also an incentive for development to incorporate ponds into their design.
The rates for each component vary depending on land use. Bloomington reviewed
the City Code pertaining to the stormwater Utility and implemented these revisions
the second quarter of 1996 and was used throughout 1997 and 1998. Depending on
the design of the pond and how it works with the public infrastructure, there is the
possibility of a 50% reduction in the stormwater utility fee.
During 1997, the City of Bloomington completed the Bloomington Comprehensive
Wetland Management Plan. The plan has been approved by the appropriate review
agencies. The plan identifies, types and provides management criteria for each
wetland in the City. Bloomington is in the process of implementing the wetland
management plan. The City of Richfield codified the erosion control and stormwater
management requirements of their stormwater plan in early 1998.
Discussions with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD), the City of
Minneapolis, .the Board of Water and Soil Resources continued to finalize the
petition to move the Richfield Lake watershed from the MCWD to RBWMO. The
petition for a watershed boundary is still pending. The Grass Lake basin in
Minneapolis is tributary to Richfield Lake and could be included in the proposed
boundary change. However, the City of Minneapolis has expressed a desire to
leave the Grass Lake basin in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. The City of
Minneapolis and the City of Richfield (on behalf of the RBWMO) are negotiating an
agreement for the continued use of the pipe connecting Grass and Richfield Lakes..
D. 1999 WORK PLAN
The City of Richfield continues the. dredging of Wood Lake in the winter of 1998-
1999. The project was designed to re-create the environmental features that attract
a wider variety of habitat than now present, as well as to provide for increased
stormwater storage capacity. In addition to achieving these goals, the project
creates new .treatment basins that will pre-treat stormwater entering the Nature
Center, remove .sediment and storm that sediment in such a way as to make it
easier to clean in the future. The City of Richfield has negotiated with the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for the treatment of stormwater from the I-
35W project. A treatment pond adjacent to Richfield Lake is to be completed as part
of the I-35W reconstruction project.
The City of Bloomington continues to work on the Comprehensive stormwater
Management Plan of which the Wetland Management Plan being a large part. Staff
is in the process of implementing the educational component of the Plan. This
includes educational brochures and materials for schools.
Water quality monitoring will continue at a number of sites in the.. City of
Bloomington. Analysis of the ...samples collected will be completed by the EPA
certified Bloomington Lab located at the City Water Treatment Plant.
The City of Bloomington is implementing the study of the Smith Pond drainage basin
completed in August of 1998. This pond. is a major component of the RBWMO
drainage area. The project :includes provisions for water quality as well as
enhancement to the pond. and park amenities in the adjacent area..
E. PERMITS, VARIANCES AND ENFORCEMENT
Bloomington had 16 actions pursuant to their status as an LGU for administration of
the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). One Technical Evaluation Panel convened
during 1998.
F. WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Bloomington and Richfield will continue to monitor stormwater quality in 1999 with in-
house sampling equipment. RBWMO agreed by resolution to cooperate with Met
Council and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in their efforts to meet their
commitment to the EPA to reduce non-point pollution to the Minnesota River. Both
cities continue to work toward that goal
•
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G. LOCAL PLANS
• Richfield's plan is complete and being reviewed.. by the affected watershed
management organizations. Bloomington's local plans will be finalized upon
approval of the remaining Watershed Management Plans for the watershed districts
and watershed management organizations in Bloomington.
H. INFORMATION PROGRAM
A copy of the publication in the Bloomington and Richfield Sun is attached.
I. SOLICITATION FOR INTEREST FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES
No consultant services were used by the RBWMO in 1998.
J. EXPENDITURES
There were no RBWMO expenditures in 1998.
K. 1NETLAND BANKING
Richfield has started one wetland banking. project. Bloomington had no wetland
banking projects in 1998.
•
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PUBLIC NOTICE CONCERNING THE RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
The Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management Organization (RBWMO) is a result of a
joint powers agreement between the cities of Richfield and Bloomington. The organization was
established to manage natural water drainage, retention, and stormwater management
occurring in approximately a 6.8 square mile, contiguous area that comprises portions of
eastern Bloomington and southeastern Richfield. A map of the area is shown below:.
•
PORTIANQ
RICHFIELD-BLOOMINGTON
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
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1
1-35
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XEPoCES AVE.
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KEY
LEGAL 90UNDAli1(
There is a petition pending regarding the Richfield Lake drainage area becoming part of the
RBWMO.
The intent of the organization is to address water drainage issues and stormwater management
within the watershed that are inter-governmental, rather than local (specific to one community
or the other), in scope. Goals of the organization include the following:
• Protecting, preserving, and using natural surface and groundwater storage and retention
systems;
• Minimizing public capital expenditures. needed to correct flooding and water quality
problems;
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• Identifying and planning for opportunities to effectively protect and improve surface and
groundwater quality;
• Establishing more uniform local policies and official controls for surface and groundwater
management;
• Preventing erosion of soil into surface water systems;
• Protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat and water recreational facilities; and
• Securing the other benefits associated v/ith the proper management of surface and
groundwater within the Richfield-Bloomington Watershed.
The RBWMO meets at least once a year in the first 90 days of each year, at which time the
Board elects officers and conducts necessary business. The annual meeting is open to the
public.
Commissioners of the RBWMO Board are all members of the Richfield and Bloomington City
Councils. Current members of the RBWMO Board -are as follows:
Name Representing
Steve Bianchi Bloomington
Alisa Heintzeman Bloomington
Coral Houle Bloomington
Martin Kirsch Richfield
Tom Spies Bloomington
Kristal Stokes Richfield
Peggy Ramthun Bloomington
Susan Rosenberg Richfield
Michael Sandahl Richfield
Russ Susag Richfield
Vern Wilcox Bloomington
Gene Winstead Bloomington
Michael Eastling, Director of Public Works for Richfield, is the current (1999) Executive Director
of the RBWMO. Jim Gates, .Deputy Director of Public Works for Bloomington, is the 1999
Assistant Executive Director.
The RBWMO has no direct expenses. Each city budgets and expends funds in their respective
storm drainage utilities to cover costs associated with watershed stormwater management.
The RBWMO's Watershed Management Plan was approved by the Board of Water and Soil
Resources (BWSR) in 1991. Since the plan has been approved by the RBWMO Board of
Commissioners, the Plan will remain effective through 1999. The plan discusses the physical
environment, land use and development in the RBWMO area; discusses geologic and
hydrologic features of .the watershed district; sets forth a management plan for the district,
including the water qualities that will be sought and opportunities for improvement; describes
the objectives and policies of the RBWMO; and sets forth an implementation program
consistent with the management plan.
Both cities serve as the Local Government Unit in their respective communities for enforcement
of the regulations of the State Wetland Conservation Act.
Richfield completed their City-wide stormwater management plan and had it approved by the
Richfield City Council in February of 1995. The City of Bloomington is working toward the
completion of their stormwater management plan.
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Both cities have implemented water quality monitoring programs. This information will be used
in conjunction with the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
compliance. Richfield's petition fora Richfield Lake boundary change is still. pending.
Richfield and Bloomington residents can obtain additional information about the RBWMO, view.
the Watershed Management Plan, and/or contact their RBWMO commissioner by calling their
city halls. Addresses and phone numbers for both locations are listed below:
Richfield City Hall
6700 Portland Avenue South
Richfield, MN 55423
612-861-9700
Bloomington City Hall
2215 W. Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington, MN 55431
612-948-8700
For publication in the. Richfield Sun-Current March 10, 1.999
For publication in the Bloomington Sun-Current March 10, 1999
s
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