(A) Through the adoption and enforcement of this subchapter, the city shall promote the general health, safety, and welfare of its residents by both conserving and protecting wetlands and requiring sound management practices and mitigation as provided for in the WCA when development occurs in the vicinity of wetlands. Through the implementation of this subchapter, the city seeks to accomplish the following purposes:
(1) To satisfy the requirements of the WCA as it may be amended and, thereby achieve no net loss of wetlands within the city;
(2) To balance the needs to preserve and protect natural resources and systems with both the rights of private property owners and the need to support the efficient use of developable land within the city;
(3) To preserve the natural character of the landscape through the maintenance of wetland ecosystems;
(4) To promote water quality by maintaining the ability of wetlands to recharge ground water and receive the discharge of ground water, to retain sediment and toxicants and filter and strip nutrients from surface water runoff before it discharges into community lakes and streams, thus avoiding the contamination and eutrophication of these water features; and
(5) To provide wildlife habitat and thereby support the maintenance of diversity of both plant and animal species within the city.
(B) To accomplish these purposes, the city or county will:
(1) Maintain an inventory of all wetlands within the city/county;
(2) Maintain a system of classification for wetlands within the city and classify the city’s wetlands based upon their relative values related to floral diversity, wildlife habitat, water quality protection, fishery habitat, flood storage, shoreline protection, and aesthetic, recreational and education benefits;
(3) Prepare and maintain a comprehensive set of official maps identifying the location and classification of all wetlands within the city;
(4) Establish wetland regulations that are coordinated with flood plain and shoreland protection regulations;
(5) Require sound management practices to protect, conserve, maintain, enhance, and improve the quality of wetlands within the community;
(6) Enforce standards for the alteration of wetlands when alteration is allowed, including standards and procedures for the mitigation of the loss of wetland areas and their functions and values, when alteration or destruction occurs;
(7) Obtain protective easements over or acquire fee title to wetlands as appropriate; and
(8) Develop and maintain a program to educate the public about the numerous benefits and features that wetlands provide and the adverse effects of improperly managed urban development on wetlands.
(Ord. 290, passed 7-7-2020)