Title
Resolution on Millers Creek Plan Adoption
Body
Whereas, The Millers Creek Action Team (MCAT), comprised of representatives from Pfizer, City of Ann Arbor, City of Ann Arbor Planning Commission, Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner, University of Michigan, Huron River Watershed Council, Altarum, Pollack Design, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), ALNM/Stantec, Inc., Don Tilton/ECT, Inc, and Orchard Hills-Maplewood Homeowners Association, completed a comprehensive evaluation of the Millers Creek watershed and developed a Millers Creek Watershed (MCW) Improvement Plan in 2004;
Whereas, The MCW Improvement Plan received support from the City of Ann Arbor Environmental Commission on January 26, 2006, and from the City of Ann Arbor Planning Commission on June 6, 2006;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes the long-term benefits of addressing the water quality problems of the creekshed in order to meet the MDEQ mandate to improve the biota of the creekshed and reducte phophorus levels in the Huron River, the city's main source of drinking water; and the City also recognizes the necessity of addressing structural repairs of the creekshed for floodplain restoration and preventing further channel and bank erosion, isolated flooding, and diminished habitat; and
Whereas, Millers Creek is not a designated drain under the auspices of the Washtenaw Water Resources Commission and designating as such could make various recommendations within the MCW Improvement Plan eligible for funding;
Whereas, Millers Creek flows through and drains an area of the City of Ann Arbor with a high concentration of valuable natural features including high quality native forest fragments, wetlands, scenic vistas, and others;
RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor accepts the Millers Creek Watershed (MCW) Improvement Plan submitted by the Millers Creek Action Team as the basic planning documents for restoration of Millers Creek and any development within its creekshed;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and the appropriate City departments will review the MCW Improvement Plan and determine what actions the City of Ann Arbor must take, including costs and sources of funding, to support the recommendations and implementation of the Improvement Plan;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and the appropriate City departments provide whatever City resources and process needed to cause the Millers Creek to be designated by the Washtenaw Water Resources Commissioner as a "County Drain", and thereby allow the implementation of the MCW Improvement Plan to be eligible for funding;
RESOLVED, That any development proposals within the watershed make all efforts to limit potentially adverse impacts of such development on Millers Creek by incorporating the best management practices and other development-related recommendations described in the MCW Improvement Plan;
RESOLVED, That there be coordination with environmental groups like the Huron River Watershed Council and others that can help with public education and implementation of the MCW Improvement Plan; and
RESOLVED, That the volunteer-based Millers Creek Action Team continue to oversee the implementation of the MCW Improvement Plan, assess progress made toward the recommendations contained therein, monitor ongoing data collection and conditions in the Millers Creekshed, and make additional recommendations of new policies and practices that will enhance the water quality, hydrologic function and aquatic biodiversity in the creekshed.
Sponsored by Councilmembers Stephen Rapundalo and Tony Derezinski