Randy Clark, the city’s stormwater coordinator, presented the five‑year NPDES/MS4 permit update at the March 18 advisory committee meeting and said the permit draft has been on the city website for about three weeks and is scheduled for submission to the Department of Natural Resources in early April.
Clark emphasized the city is one of only five municipalities in the state that write its own stormwater management plan rather than relying solely on state‑issued templates. He summarized 2025 program metrics: staff completed about 438 inspections related to BMPs, logged roughly 218 documented follow‑ups on permits and reported that detention basin inspections and basin reconstructions are ongoing — including a CIP basin project where an unexpectedly rusted 65‑inch pipe increased reconstruction costs.
Clark described operational changes to improve compliance: more rigorous follow‑up tracking on permits and outreach to HOAs; quarterly internal trainings to help staff detect illicit discharges; and continued public outreach (Clean Stream events with school groups and volunteers). He reminded residents of best practices for pool discharges, yard waste and leaf management to avoid blocking inlets and creating drainage problems.
Clark also discussed a 50/50 creek‑bank stabilization program that provides partial city funding for qualifying projects and noted that staff will reexamine which outfalls the city must inspect under MS4 language. He invited public comment via a webpage link and said staff will review submitted comments before finalizing the submittal.
Committee members asked operational questions about landscaper practices, responsibility for leaves that travel into neighbors’ yards, and whether additional enforcement or cameras might help reduce illegal dumping; Clark said the city will continue outreach and follow up with contractors and HOAs as needed.
No votes were taken at the meeting due to lack of quorum.