HomeMy Public PortalAboutSept 2014 SAC MinutesStormwater Advisory Committee minutes
September 18, 2014 4:00 pm @ DPW
In attendance: Ernesta Kraczkiewicz, Chris Hayward, Nancy Hammett, Matt Shuman,
Steve Magoon, and Anita Roy Dobbs (taking minutes)
Absent: David Stokes
Discussion of meeting time to accommodate temporary scheduling conflicts.
Next meetings:
• Wednesday October 15, 4pm -- rescheduled to Wednesday October 22, 8:30am
• November 19th, 4pm
I. Minutes
Aug 22 minutes — approved as submitted.
II. Brief Reports
A. Hiring: Update on DPW Hiring for Administration and Finance position -- there
have been interviews, seem to be close to hiring.
B. SAC Website: The "Stormwater as an Issue" page is live on the SAC website and
reachable through the submenu in left navigation bar. (This is the web version of
the Tab article, "What Watertown Needs to Know About Stormwater.")
III. Faire on the Square
A. Clean Water Pledge: Committee approved the pledge as a flyer for the Faire.
Anita will send pdf to Matt for making copies (on blue paper).
B. Charles River's A— Report Card: Nancy will prepare a paper about the A- grade
given the Charles River. She'll send the draft around for feedback.
C. Map of Watertown Outfalls: The presentation -sized map is prepared. Chris will see
if it can be laminated and will get it backed on foam core. We'll use pins for the
map if it can't be laminated; markers if it can be. Matt will get the Suasco
pamphlets purchased by DPW.
D. "Watershed in a Box" kit: Nancy will borrow the kit from CRWA, along with
Newton's display on stormwater from Maria Rose.
E. Sign-up: Committee members signed up for times to man the SAC tables, located
beside the DPW table.
IV. Ordinances
A. The Stormwater Permit: Decision to combine the erosion control and post -
construction ordinances into as single ordinance, perhaps renaming it "The
Stormwater Permit."
B. Update since the last meeting: The Town Staff committee members discussed
coordination of permit implementation and decided that the Stormwater Permit
would be the first one issued -- for example, if an applicant files with the ConCom,
they will be referred to the DPW for a Stormwater Permit and they have to reach a
certain degree of DPW review and approval before receiving final approval from
the ZBA.
C. Revised ordinances: Matt Shuman provided a revised draft of the post -
construction ordinance, including the following elements:
• Reduced the permit threshold to 400 square feet.
• Removed the DPW permit trigger for the permit.
• Performance standard changed to all runoff be retained on -site.
• Added language for redevelopment waiver.
• Added language for off -site mitigation.
D. When standards can't be met: There was a discussion about the relative merits of
allowing waivers and/or provisions for off -site mitigation versus paying a fine when
full compliance with the performance standards is not possible.
E. Regulations: Matt is starting to work on the regulations.
F. Definitions: e.g., new development vs. redevelopment. Matt suggests we complete
the ordinance language and then step back and look again at the definitions.
Working Committee: Steve, Nancy, and Matt will meet and hammer out a full draft for
the Committe to review at the next Committee meeting. They will try to meet with staff
from other towns and DEP to get feedback on past experience with different ordinance
options.
Announcements
The MA Watershed Coalition is having a stormwater workshop on Friday October 17. Runoff
Remedies is the name of the blog.
Environmental Business Council is having a meeting on the anticipated MS4 Stormwater permit
on September 19. Nancy will provide a summary at the next SAC meeting.
Nancy reported on an Environmental Business Council meeting on the new Water Infrastructure
Financing Act.
The legislation has recently passed, making money available in a State Revolving Fund,
to address the gap between needs and funds available.
To qualify, cities and towns must show they are doing asset mgmt and long-term
planning, so there is also a provision for technical assistance to towns for these activities. The
program is being set up now.
We should stay on top of this program and be prepared to apply for technical assistance
and/or funding.
The MA Rivers Alliance is planning to offer workshops for municipalities on the development of
stormwater utilities sometime in the coming year.