West Linn staff propose city-specific stormwater manual, council backs ordinance path to adoption

Clark Hyde and Jameson Lumpkin of West Linn’s engineering department presented a draft Stormwater Management Manual the council would adopt to meet Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements under the NPDES/MS4 permit and to make post-construction best-management practices explicit for local development reviews. "It was only 200 pages, which is significantly less than the one we're using currently," Clark Hyde said, explaining the city’s intent to tailor standards to West Linn terrain, soils and infrastructure rather than rely on the City of Portland’s manual.

Jameson Lumpkin said the consultant Brown and Caldwell performed a gap analysis and recommended a city-specific manual that clarifies submittal requirements and streamlines staff reviews. Staff noted the manual would not fundamentally change facility standards but would make the submittal process clearer, which they expect will reduce back-and-forth and speed reviews. City staff also proposed a short ordinance to give express authority to adopt and enforce the manual, delegate revision authority to the city engineer, and require 30 days’ notice before changes take effect. Council signaled consensus to bring the ordinance to a March 17 meeting and then post the manual for public comment before returning in April with a resolution to adopt it.