Title
Adopting official City comments on the proposed Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) Rules. (Public hearing held May 18; laid over from June 22)
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WHEREAS, the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (“MRCCA”) was created in 1979 by Governor Al Quie with Executive Order 79-19; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul in 1982 duly adopted a MRCCA zoning ordinance pursuant to and consistent with Executive Order 79-19; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Legislature in 2013 authorized and directed the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) to develop and adopt state rules (“Rules”) to govern the management of the MRCCA; and
WHEREAS, the DNR has solicited informal comment on draft Rules from a variety of stakeholders, including the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Planning Commission on October 31, 2014 held a public hearing on the draft Rules; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Planning Commission on August 21, 2015 provided to the City Council and Mayor a set of recommendations for comments on the draft Rules based on comments received at the Planning Commission public hearing and on analysis of the potential impacts of the Rules on Saint Paul residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, on April 11, 2016, the MNDNR published a Notice of Hearing, signaling intent to adopt the draft proposed rules, initiating the formal rulemaking process, and opening the rulemaking record for public comment; and
WHEREAS, on May 18, 2016, the Saint Paul City Council held a public hearing to gather additional public comments on the Rules and inform official City comments on the Rules to be submitted during the formal DNR rulemaking process; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council recognizes the importance of the Rules to conserve the scenic, environmental, recreational, minerals, economic, cultural, and historic resources and functions of the river corridor, and further recognizes the need to achieve a balance between these objectives while minimizing the impacts to for residents and businesses.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Saint Paul City Council that the recommended comments on the Rules from the Honorable Mayor Coleman and the Saint Paul City Council dated June 17, 2016, provided by the Planning Commission on August 21, 2015, amended as to form and to reflect comments received at the May 18, 2016 public hearing on the Rules before the Saint Paul City Council, which reflect the input received from all stakeholders throughout the process memorialized herein, are hereby adopted as official City comments to be submitted during the formal DNR to the assigned Administrative Law Judge during the formal rulemaking process.