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RESOLUTION R-1819-87: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, ADOPTING THE CITY OF NORMAN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STORMWATER DIVISION POLICY MANUAL, DATED FEBRUARY 2019, CONTINGENT ON VOTER APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE O-1819-28.
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BACKGROUND: The City of Norman (City) was designated by rule under 40 CFR §122.32(a)(1) as a Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) City subject to the 1999 Phase II Stormwater Final Rule promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On September 9, 1997, EPA delegated responsibility for stormwater discharges associated with construction sites, industrial sites, and Phase I and II MS4s to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Under this delegation authority, DEQ issued General Permit OKR04 for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) in Small Cities, Urbanized Areas, and Other County Areas in the State of Oklahoma on February 8, 2005. On November 29, 2005, the City received Authorization No. OKR040015. This permit expired on February 9, 2010, but was administratively continued until its reauthorization, which became effective on November 1, 2015. A Notice of Intent (NOI) and other permit application material were submitted as part of the OKR04 application on January 29, 2016, and Authorization No. OKR040015 was reissued on March 17, 2017.
The City of Norman (City) is required to meet regulatory requirements as set forth by the Phase II MS4 permit and the Lake Thunderbird Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report. The City has also adopted a Storm Water Master Plan with detailed data maps, analysis of hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, flood-prone soils, and water quality. The Storm Water Master Plan recommended a stormwater utility fee to provide the funding necessary to provide enhanced maintenance of the City’s stormwater system. On January 22, 2019, Council approved Ordinance No. O-1819-28, which calls for a special election to be held on April 2, 2019, for the purpose of approving or rejecting Ordinance No. O-1819-27, which would enact the City’s first stormwater utility rate. The stormwater utility, if approved by the voters, will provide funding for a number of specific stormwater activities and a policy manual has been developed to establish a process for implementation of such stormwater activities.
The City of Norman Stormwater Policy Manual (Manual) is intended for use by City staff in establishing a process for implementation of specific stormwater activities assigned to the Public Works Department, Stormwater Division. The purpose of this Manual is to provide policy and procedure guidance. Many of these operating policies and procedures have been in place for years, but they were not assembled into a single policy manual. As one of a few accredited public works agencies in Oklahoma, staff reviews and updates all policies at least once every four years.
There are five separate sections to this Manual. Each section describes the process by which decisions will be made and/or activities completed within the Stormwater Division, including the Neighborhood Assistance Program and the Stormwater Utility Appeals Process. If Council or staff determines it is necessary to update or alter any of these policies in the future, it can be done quickly and easily by passing a new resolution that amends the policy manual.
DISCUSSION: This Resolution by the City Council adopts the City of Norman Public Works Department Stormwater Division Policy Manual.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Resolution R-1819-87, adopting all elements of the City of Norman Public Works Department Stormwater Division Policy Manual.