Title
Storm and Surface Water Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Provide information on three major Storm and Surface Water initiatives. Receive Council input on emerging issues, public outreach and scheduling, and program priorities.
Report
Issue:
The Storm and Surface Water Utility is launching three initiatives this year which will have wide-spread implications to our community. The initiatives include updates to the 2003 Storm and Surface Water Management Plan, State-mandated low impact development code revisions, and the Land Acquisition and Stewardship Strategy. Staff will share draft approaches for the initiatives and request Council input.
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, Public Works, 360.753.8475
Presenter(s):
Laura Keehan, Senior Planner
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Engineer
Marcus Goodman, Senior Program Specialist
Background and Analysis:
The City's Storm and Surface Water Utility provides important environmental management services in our community. Primary responsibilities include minimizing flooding, improving water quality, and protecting aquatic habitat. The breadth of these responsibilities, combined with the natural science skills embodied in Utility staff, often places the Utility in the forefront of local environmental decision-making. Our new initiatives reflect this role in the community role.
Storm and Surface Water Management Plan Update
City staff and the Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) revisited the 2003 Management
Plan in 2010-2011. The basic responsibilities and structure of the Utility were affirmed, while goals, objectives, strategies, and priorities were updated and refined.
While the Storm and Surface Water Utility continues to be effective, it's time to better understand and begin responding to the issues that will shape our future. Given the long-term environmental issues faced by the...
Click here for full text