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Stormwater coordinator outlines code clarifications, volunteer cleanups and BMP inspection efforts
Summary
Stormwater coordinator Randy Clark told the committee a code change clarifies public vs. private stormwater responsibility, described rescheduled volunteer cleanups and school outreach, and detailed BMP/detention-basin inspection targets under the city's MS4 permit.
Randy Clark, the city’s stormwater coordinator, told the Public Works Advisory Committee on April 16 that a recent tweak to chapter 405 clarifies where the city’s responsibility for stormwater infrastructure ends and private responsibility begins. "We updated one of our codes more or less just to point out more distinctive of private and public stormwater pipes and who is responsible for the maintenance of them," Clark said, describing a transition point the GIS team is mapping so staff can answer resident questions more accurately.
Clark said the annual Mission CleanStream event was canceled this year but volunteer efforts will continue on rescheduled dates and through private cleanups; about 120 volunteers had signed up for cleanup work. He described outreach to schools and scouts — including a creek analysis on Belleau Creek involving Girl Scouts and interns — to monitor oxygen, bacteria and macroinvertebrates; Clark said the tested reach of Belleau Creek "fared very high."
On inspections and permit obligations, Clark said the city tracks roughly 600 BMPs (best management practices) and aims to inspect 60% of basins once in each five-year MS4 permit cycle, while many basins receive more frequent checks. He noted the city owns fewer than 10 detention basins; most basins within neighborhoods are HOA responsibility and the city will inspect and work with HOAs or property managers on repairs.
Clark reminded residents to avoid discharging pool water with high chlorine or sediment to storm drains and described recent illicit discharges the city investigated, including oil dumped to a drain and a pool-rehab discharge; such incidents require cleanup, documentation and reporting under the appropriate state or federal reporting process.
Committee members asked for clearer acronyms in reports (for example, MCM 3 refers to illicit-discharge work under the MS4 permit); Clark agreed to include expanded acronyms in future reports.
The presentation highlighted volunteer recruitment, clearer GIS mapping of jurisdictional responsibility and continued emphasis on outreach as tools to reduce illicit discharges and maintain creek health.
