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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-061 CCR1 Member Celia Scott introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 87 -61 RESOLUTION RELATING TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR A METROPOLITAN GROUND WATER STUDY AND PLAN WHEREAS, the Hennepin Soil and Water Conservation District has previously had two bills drafted and introduced in the 1987 Minnesota Legislature; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission has studied and reviewed the early legislation relating to erosion and sediment control and ground water and has taken a strong position in opposition to the bills as drafted and introduced in the Legislature; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission is now advised that the original legislation has been withdrawn or at least the authors, Senator Tad Jude and Representative Darby Nelson, have indicated that they will revise House File 373 and will not be pursuing House File 360 and have proposed to make extensive changes in House File 373 which in effect allows but does not require metropolitan area ground water plans; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission has just been presented with the draft of the proposed revision as obtained at a meeting on March 17, 1987, with the authors being Senator Tad Jude and Representative Darby Nelson, and the individual Commissioners and their member cities have not had an opportunity to review the proposed legislation; and WHEREAS, the individual member cities of the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and other agencies including water management organizations and watersheds all have strenuous regulations concerning water quantity and the underground water supply; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission and each of its individual members is firmly committed to improving water quantity, controlling pollution, and promoting ground water recharge by putting waters back into the soil which are as free of pollution as possible and commend the authors of the proposed legislation and others interested in clean water; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission strongly believes that if it is deemed necessary to enact additional legislation as it relates to ground water or water quantity, that the water management organizations, watersheds, cities, and consulting engineers and other technical experts all have expertise which could aid and assist the Legislature in drafting and adopting a well thought out piece of legislation which would be beneficial to all the 1 RESOLUTION NO. 87 -61 residents of the metropolitan area who now reside therein as well as to future generations; and WHEREAS, the incorporation of a ground water bill into the surface water management act may confuse both the process and the existing legislation and to rush into such legislation at this time on the premise that it will be included in the original plans is not consistent with the existing statutes or the water management plan preparation process; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission does believe there is no way that a ground water plan per se could be included in the plan without delaying the process for several years, and therefore any effort to rush such a requirement into the law will only confuse the existing planning process which is taking place throughout the seven county metropolitan area; and WHEREAS, the Shingle Creek Water Management Commission desires to aid and assist the Minnesota Legislature, the County of Hennepin, the Hennepin County Soil and Water Conservation District, and all others who are interested in preserving, protecting, and improving the ground water quantity and supply. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center that: 1. The authors of the proposed ground water management program are commended for their concern in protecting the area's aquifiers, supplying water to residents of Minnesota and /or other states which might draw water from the soil which is a part of the recharging process within this state's boundaries. 2. We sincerely believe that the watershed districts, water management organizations, cities, counties, and other persons having expertise in the field of water, including consultants hired by all of these agencies, have a great deal of experience, both technical and practical, to offer to the legislators and to others drafting legislation or promoting laws to improve and protect the ground water quantity and quality. We believe that the legislators would be well advised to seek the consultation of the Commission and others who have worked in the field of water for a long period of time, and the Commission has offered their complete and total cooperation to Senator Jude and Representative Nelson and /or other legislators working on drafting legislation in this field. 3. We hereby request that each legislator representing areas within the Shingle Creek Water Management 1 1 1 RESOLUTION NO. 87 -61 Commission boundaries use their best efforts to delay legislation in this field until the Commission and other watersheds and water management organizations, along with their member cities, have an opportunity to study the proposed legislation. The enactment of legislation which mandates the expenditure of public funds by the Commission and /or member municipalities should be well thought out, and there is no emergency situation that the legislation is designed to correct. There are already a large number of agencies working in the field to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare, and any additional studies and /or reports or requirements should be designed to avoid duplication and waste of public funds. We further believe that if any legislation is to go forward at this time, it should relate basically to to the collection of data which will eventually be necessary to promulgate a ground water plan. We do encourage all agencies working in this field to continue to prepare and collect data, and we urge them to cooperate with any central agency collecting such data for review and study. 4. We hereby recommend to our legislators that any legislation or action be delayed until a task force has been created and has studied the subject. We recommend that persons appointed to such advisory board or task force be selected from cities, water management organizations, consulting engineers, and others who are working daily to manage and improve water quantity and water quality, both on the surface and underground. Date May ATTEST: ?LIL Clerk March 23, 1987 The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Gene Lhotka and upon vote being taken thereon the following voted in favor thereof: Dean Nyquist, Gene Lhotka, Celia Scott, Bill Hawes, and Rich Theis; and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.