Under state and federal regulations, the city is required to establish a regulatory mechanism for regulating stormwater quality management. Therefore, the city code is supplemented with this document to include stormwater quality in addition to quantity. The city finds that:
(A) Water bodies, roadways, structures and other property within and downstream of the city are at times subjected to flooding;
(B) Flooding is a danger to the lives and property of the public and is also a danger to the natural resources of the region;
(C) Land development alters the hydrologic response of watersheds, resulting in increased stormwater run-off rates and volumes, increased flooding, increased stream channel erosion and increased sediment transport and deposition;
(D) Soil erosion resulting from land-disturbing activities causes a significant amount of sediment and other pollutants to be transported off-site and deposited in ditches, streams, wetlands, lakes and reservoirs;
(E) Increases of stormwater run-off rates, soil erosion and non-point source pollution have occurred as a result of land development, and have resulted in a deterioration of the water resources of the city;
(F) Increased stormwater run-off rates and volumes, and the sediments and pollutants associated with stormwater run-off from future development projects within the city will, without reasonable regulation and control, adversely affect the city’s water bodies and water resources;
(G) Illicit discharges have occurred as a result of illegal dumping and direct connections of non-stormwater flows, and have resulted in a deterioration of the water resources of the city;
(H) Continued pollutant contributions from illicit discharges within the city will, absent a reasonable regulation, monitoring and enforcement, adversely affect the city’s water bodies and water resources;
(I) Stormwater run-off, soil erosion, non-point source pollution and illicit sources of pollution can be controlled and minimized by regulating stormwater management;
(J) Adopting and implementing the standards, criteria and procedures contained and referenced in this chapter address many of the deleterious effects of stormwater run-off and illicit discharges; and
(K) Adopting this chapter is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare, and for the conservation of our natural resources.
(Ord. 06-15, passed 11-13-2006; Ord. 2015-01, passed 1-26-2015)