Title
Resolution authorizing the City Engineer to participate in the development of a watershed based Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) discharge permit for the Menomonee River watershed
Body
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through Ch. NR 216, Wis. Adm. Code and Ch. 283, Wis. Stats., requires municipalities to have a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPEDS) permit for existing and new discharges of storm water to the waters of the state; and
WHEREAS, a significant amount of the City's overall storm water currently flows into the Menomonee River Watershed; and
WHEREAS, a watershed based WPDES permit offers significant efficiencies and opportunities to achieve storm water permit requirements by participating with other municipalities in such areas as public education/involvement/outreach, group projects and partnerships to build projects that will provide the most water quality for the least amount of money; and
WHEREAS, there are currently 11 municipally owned or operated municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) in Wisconsin covered under Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) Permit No. WI-S065404-1 which is also referred to as the Menomonee River Watershed Permit; and
WHEREAS, the current WPDES permit expired on December 1, 2017; and
WHEREAS the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Department) is proposing to reissue the WPDES Permit to continue the coverage of storm water discharges from these 11 MS4s. The 11 Menomonee Watershed Permittees affected by this proposed permit are:
City of Brookfield
Village of Butler
Village of Elm Grove
Village of Germantown
City of Greenfield
Village of Menomonee Falls
City of Milwaukee
Milwaukee County
City of West Allis
Village of West Milwaukee
City of Wauwatosa
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Engineer is hereby authorized and directed to participate in the development of a watershed based Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) discharge permit for the Menomonee River watershed and to develop, implement, and maintain storm water management programs to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the MS4 to waters of the state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Common Council of the City of West Allis supports the concept of watershed based water quality permitting because it will provide for effective improvement in water quality for all area residents with the least amount of funding.