Council accepts draft MS4 stormwater annual report; staff to finalize packet details

The Eau Claire City Council accepted a draft of the city’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) annual report and asked staff to complete remaining data fields before final submission to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Director Ness (engineering) presented highlights from the MS4 report, noting the city’s work on construction-site erosion control, post-construction best management practices (including rain gardens), public education and outreach with the Rain to Rivers consortium, public involvement events such as the Eau Claire clean-up, and pollution prevention for municipal stormwater ponds (the city maintains 109 public stormwater ponds). She said staff had recently been audited by the DNR and are developing goals and zoning-code updates to comply with current stormwater regulations.

Ness said parts of the packet included draft sections that staff expected to complete before the final filing late in the month; council members asked why the packet contained incomplete draft sections. Ness replied that the city wanted the item on the council agenda early to allow time for comment and to incorporate additional data. The council approved the draft acceptance by roll call with one abstention recorded (Council Member Schoen had left the room and abstained), and staff said they would circulate the completed report when ready.