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Council hears annual stormwater report; staff expect updated MS4 permit this fall
Summary
City staff told the council that the city’s five-year MS4 stormwater permit (effective June 2021) is under federal review and that a new permit is expected this fall; staff said they will update the local Stormwater Management Plan if the permit includes new requirements.
City staff delivered the annual stormwater program presentation and told the City Council the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit that took effect in June 2021 is in federal review and likely to be reissued this fall. "The current permit went into effect in June 2021," Morgan, an engineer on the stormwater team, said, "We're still waiting for the new permit, expecting it sometime this fall."
Staff said the new permit will trigger an update of the local stormwater management plan (SWMP) and could require additional best management practices. Morgan told council members the city is wrapping up the fifth permit year and will begin the next cycle when the permit is issued. The presentation identified the permit as the OKR 4 general permit administered through the Department of Environmental Quality and emphasized that failure to meet permit requirements can expose the city to enforcement actions, although staff said DEQ generally works with municipalities to resolve issues.
Councilors pressed staff on timing and implementation; staff said they will coordinate updates between engineering and operations and assess whether any new permit provisions require policy changes or budget adjustments. No formal action was taken; staff said they will return with any required amendments to the SWMP after the permit is released.
