* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Pinkett
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Watershed Protection and Restoration Efforts
For the purpose of calling on representatives from the Department of Public Works to appear before the City Council to discuss the annual MS4 report and the City’s progress towards improving the health of Baltimore’s waterways.
body
Recitals
Under the terms of its discharge permit with the Maryland Department of the Environment the City must manage, implement, and enforce a stormwater management program in accordance with the Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations to restrict discharges of pollutants through Baltimore’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) into the 5 watersheds within the City that feed into the Chesapeake Bay.
Each of the City’s watersheds - Back River, Baltimore Harbor, Jones Falls, Gwynns Falls and the Lower North Branch of the Patapsco River - are currently listed as impaired by pollutants in one or more ways. Therefore, the City’s MS4 permit requires the City to take action to reduce the impervious area in each watershed by the equivalent of 20% to improve the health of our waterways and the Bay that they feed into.
Baltimore’s watershed protection and restoration efforts are primarily funded by the City’s State-authorized stormwater restoration fee, with some additional funding provided through both the water & wastewater utility and the General Fund. Together, the City planned to spend roughly $30 million on the mandated goal of reducing impervious area in the watershed by the equivalent of 20%.
Progress towards this goal - as well as the City’s adherence to commitments for specific stormwater infrastructure, education, and mitigation efforts - must be reported to the State in the City’s annual MS4 report, due at the close of each fiscal year. As DPW finalizes the MS4 report for 2017, it is important that the Council be presented with an opportunity to review how effective those millions of dollars in expenditures have been in allowing the City to reach its milestones and make real progress towards healthy and clean waterways in Baltimore.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council calls on representatives from the Department of Public Works to appear before it to discuss the annual MS4 report and the City’s progress towards improving the health of Baltimore’s waterways.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Public Works, the Chief of the Department of Public Works’ Office of Compliance and Laboratories, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.