HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 MCWD Edina MOUMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made between the City of Edina, a Minnesota
municipal corporation ("City"), and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District ("District"), a
watershed district and political subdivision with powers at Minnesota Statutes Chapters 103B
and 103D.
Recitals and Statement of Purpose
WHEREAS the Minnehaha Creek corridor has sustained damage to its water quality, channel
stability, habitat and public use opportunities as the result of development, stormwater
discharges and adjacent urban land uses;
WHEREAS Minnehaha Creek and downstream Lake Hiawatha do not meet State clean water
standards in certain respects and are subject to a federal Total Maximum Daily Load with the
goal of meeting those standards;
WHEREAS market forces, public investments and other external sources are expected to
continue the evolution of current land use, development, redevelopment, infrastructure, and
public land within the corridor;
WHEREAS for several years the District has been working with the City, and with other public
and private stakeholders, to allow each party to achieve its goals and purposes in a manner that
enhances and integrates the environmental, social, and economic value along the corridor;
WHEREAS the District and City recently have collaborated to develop and implement
streambank enhancements and infrastructure improvements around West 54th Street;
WHEREAS the City recognizes and supports the District's efforts within the urban corridor of
Minnehaha Creek between Highway 169 and Excelsior Boulevard, and wishes to explore
opportunities for connection;
WHEREAS the parties seek to build on their history of partnership and express a mutual
commitment to integrating their work and aligning resources to make wise investments in
infrastructure and to protect and improve natural systems in order to develop vibrant, healthy
communities;
WHEREAS the parties acknowledge that in order to achieve these objectives it is necessary to
plan collaboratively and integrate mutual efforts in realms of regulation, land use planning,
transportation, stormwater management, economic development, flood mitigation, parks and
public land management, greenway development and water resource improvements;
THEREFORE this MOU does not state any legally binding responsibilities or obligations but
documents mutual goals and establishes a cooperative framework within which the potential
for beneficial and cost-effective projects and programs may be explored.
Terms of Understanding
1. Sphere of Collaboration. The City and District will continue collaboration in a number of
areas. Specifically, but not exclusively, potential mutual efforts include:
a. Public Education and Outreach. Developing and implementing an education plan for
stormwater pollution prevention that satisfies and exceeds obligations of municipal
separate storm sewer system (MS4) operators, funded in part by the City.
b. Development Oversight. Developing efficient systems, capitalizing on respective
organizational strengths to maximize compliance and administrative effectiveness, to
ensure the coordinated review, permitting, and inspection of construction site erosion
and sediment control and post-construction stormwater management controls, and to
inspect and provide for maintenance of privately owned stormwater management
infrastructure.
c. Integrated Capital Improvements. Integrating planning and capital investment in
water resources, land use, economic development, parks and public land management
and transportation infrastructure, to maximize overall public value. As one example, the
City and District intend to develop a comprehensive plan to integrate land use planning
and infrastructure investment with respect to park improvements, flood reduction, fish
passage and stormwater management within the area surrounding and including Arden
Park.
d. Planning Coordination. Coordinating the development of the District's watershed
management plan and the City's comprehensive land use plan scheduled for completion
in 2017 and 2018, respectively, to integrate land-use and water planning, align capital
investments and programs, and maximize the overall public value of the work.
2. Legally Binding Agreement. When the Watershed and City are prepared to proceed to
implement a specific capital project or program, the parties will establish binding roles,
responsibilities and financial obligations in a written agreement.
3. Primary Contacts. The following individuals will be the primary contacts between the
Watershed and the City. Either party may change the designated contact by notifying the other
party:
City MCWD
Ross Bintner, Environmental Engineer James Wisker, Director of Planning
City of Edina MCWD
7450 Metro Blvd. 15320 Minnetonka Blvd.
Edina, MN 55439 Minnetonka, MN 55345
952-903-5713 952-641-4509
rbintner@edinamn.gov jwisker@minnehahacreek.org
4. Term. Either party may terminate this MOU on thirty (30) days advance written notice to the
other party.
CITY OF EDINA MINNEHAHA CREEK
WATERSHED DISTRICT
By: Ailed/ad By: efr-A-2
Scott Neaf, City Ma ager eff Spartz, Dist dministrator