AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY

Consider First Reading of an ordinance revising the current regulations found in the Code of Griffin at Chapter 94, Environment, Art. IV, Stormwater Management, Div. 2, Post-Development Regulations, to comply with requirements of the City's 2012 General Phase II NPDES Permit for Small MS4's relating to permit design standards and performance criteria. Brant D. Keller, PhD, Director of Stormwater and City Attorney Drew Whalen will address.   Approved

This revision will adopt the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual as guidance for design of stormwater management systems. Adoption of the Manual required some change in terminology, but the permitting system remains essentially the same. The 2012 permit requires enforceable design standards and performance criteria in our ordinance; previously these were found in the City's design manual and not in the actual Code. This change should facilitate enforcement of these regulations.

Staff recommends approval. 

Under the NPDES permitting program, cities now have an important role as regulators of stormwater management, which comes at a cost, which many consider an "unfunded mandate". However, the City has no legal option but to implement and enforce a program, as required by law and permit. By adopting the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual, rather than continuing under a local equivalent manual, the City can avoid the cost of revising the local manual.