STORMWATER MANAGEMENT USING ONSITE SURFACE VEGETATED FACILITIES
Binding City Policy
BCP-ENN-7.03
PURPOSE
WHEREAS, the Portland Watershed Management Plan, endorsed by Resolution No. 36384 on March 6, 2006 by City Council (ENN-8.02, Actions for Watershed Health, 2005 Portland Watershed Management Plan Implementation), which implements the Portland Clean River Plan (published in 2000) includes a stormwater management strategy that recommends actions such as construction of green infrastructure facilities to protect and improve watershed conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City is required by state and federal government, through its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and its Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit, to reduce stormwater pollution, protect groundwater, and develop and manage programs that respond to water quality requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City is required by City Policy ENN-3.01- Sustainable City Principles, to find more sustainable and cost effective approaches that protect the quality of air, water, land and other natural resources; and
WHEREAS, Portland Parks and Recreation encourages, supports, and contributes to the development of greenspaces, greenways and urban treescapes that directly enhance the City's environment and residents' quality of life; and
WHEREAS, City Council and the Portland Development Commission have adopted Green Building Policies which support incorporating sustainable and green building practices in all projects with specific requirements for City-owned buildings and projects receiving public funding or financial incentives; and
WHEREAS, the City's Stormwater Management Manual ranks onsite infiltration of stormwater with a surface infiltration facility at the top of the stormwater destination/disposal hierarchy, where soil conditions allow; and
to help manage stormwater volume and water quality; and
POLICY
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council affirms the City Council's intent to manage stormwater as a resource through the use of green infrastructure techniques using onsite surface vegetated facilities to the greatest extent possible.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to support the intent and application of Portland's Stormwater Management Manual, City capital improvement projects other than construction or replacement of underground sewer and water system infrastructure shall manage stormwater through an onsite surface vegetated facility as a first priority. Any City of Portland project that a City bureau or department intends to construct outside the right-of-way without using this approach must receive approval for an alternative method of stormwater management through City Council action unless it is within an established exemption category specified by the Stormwater Manual or City Council. Projects in which PDC contributes $300,000 or more for capital improvements are subject to this policy.
Surface vegetated facilities should also be used in the right-of-way whenever technically feasible, in accordance with the Stormwater Management Manual's stormwater hierarchy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this the policy contained in this resolution shall be binding City policy and filed in the Portland Policy Documents Repository as such.
HISTORY
Resolution No. 36593, adopted by City Council March 19, 2008.