City Council Meeting Date: July 2, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Sean M. Simonson, Engineering Manager
Cole Johnson, Water Quality Technician
Title
Consider approving delegation of Wetland Conservation Act Authority to Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District for properties located in Dakota County.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the attached Resolution delegating Wetland Conservation Act Authority to Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for properties within the City municipal boundary located in Dakota County.
Summary Report:
The Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) of 1991 requires local government units (LGU's) to implement this law by adopting the rules and regulations promulgated by the Minnesota Board of Water Resources (BWSR) pertaining to wetland draining, filling, and excavation. The BWSR also has defined metropolitan area cities and townships as LGU's under the WCA.
The City of Northfield accepted the responsibility and delegated the responsibility of the WCA to the Rice County SWCD for all lands contained within Rice County via Resolution #94-355 (Attachment 2). The lands within the City of Northfield that lie within Dakota County did not have responsibility transferred; therefore, the City of Northfield must pass the Resolution in order to accomplish this transfer of responsibility to the Dakota County SWCD.
Staff is supportive of the delegation. If not delegated to the Dakota County SWCD, the City would need to consult for professional services related to wetland reviews and wetland related questions in Dakota County. Minnesota Wetland Rules allow for the City to delegate these responsibilities under Chapter 8420. An excerpt from the rules is below
8420.0200 E.
Implementation of this chapter and the act may be delegated from a county, city, or town, as applicable according to it...
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