DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Stormwater Management Planning Committee met on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Here at the minutes as provided by DeKalb County:

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES (January 19, 2017)

The DeKalb County Stormwater Management Planning Committee (SMPC) met of January 19, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. in the DeKalb County Administrative Building, Conference Room – East, in Sycamore, Illinois. In attendance were Committee Members: Kevin Bunge, Mark Bushnell, Derek Hiland, Tim Holdeman, John Laskowski, Joe Misurelli, Donna Prain, Roger Steimel, Paul Stoddard, Tom Thomas, and Pat Vary. Also in attendance were: Dean Johnson, Anita Zurbrugg, and Planning, Zoning, and Building Department Staff Marcellus Anderson.

1. Roll Call – Mr. Hiland noted that Committee members Les Bellah and Nathan Schwartz were absent. Committee member John Laskowski arrived late.

2. Approval of Agenda – Mr. Thomas moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Ms. Vary, and the motion carried unanimously.

3. Approval of Minutes – Mr. Misurelli moved to approve the minutes of the September 29, 2016 meeting, seconded by Ms. Prain, and the motion carried unanimously.

4. Update on IEPA 319 Grant Applications

At the September 29, 2016 meeting of the SMPC, the Committee approved the proposed time table and request to start the process of determining an environmental consulting agency to prepare and submit an application to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) for a Section 319 – Nonpoint Source Pollution grant for a watershed – based plan for the lower south and upper south branch of the Kishwaukee River. Dean Johnson, the DeKalb County Watershed Coordinator, presented an update of these efforts. Mr. Johnson informed the Committee that Request for Qualifications (RFQ) were mailed to 20 consulting firms, to which two responses were received, from: Applied Ecological Services (AES), and Engineering Resource Associates. Mr. Johnson reported that the Watershed Coordinator Advisory Committee reviewed the materials supplied by the two respondents, and formed a recommendation that AES be chosen by the SMPC as the consultant to use to prepare and submit the 319 grant application for a watershed- based plan to the IEPA. Mr. Johnson and Ms. Zurbrugg then elaborated for the Committee those aspects of AES that moved the Advisory Committee to choose to recommend them.

Mr. Thomas moved to accept the recommendation to use AES as the consultant to prepare and submit the 319 grant application for a watershed-based plan to the IEPA, seconded by Mr. Holdeman, and the motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Zurbrugg, of the DeKalb County Community Foundation, explained the overall process and elaborated on what would be expected for the various participants. She also explained that the Community Foundation would be providing the matching local funds and that no monies would be required from the County. Adding that they would expect to capture any “in-kind” commitment from all participating entities, including the County.

Mr. Johnson noted the need for a new Steering Committee to be established, and talked about the stakeholders that should be included on the committee. Mr. Johnson informed the Committee that he would put together a list of potential members for their review by the next meeting. Mr. Holdeman inquired about the number of members anticipated for the Steering Committee. Mr. Johnson responded that approximately nine (9) to Eleven (11) members.

5. Continued Discussion and Recommendation to Changes to the Stormwater Ordinance

Mr. Hiland stated that the Committee had previously been asked to consider changes to the DeKalb County Stormwater Ordinance, which would protect wetlands while providing clear direction of mitigation requirements should wetland impacts be proposed. He noted that at its September 29, 2016 meeting, the Committee reviewed and discussed the proposed changes, with the expectation that the proposed changes would be made to the document and the revised ordinance would be presented at the January meeting. Mr. Hiland indicated that included in the Committee’s packet was a copy of the revised Stormwater Ordinance with the changes included for the Committee’s review. Mr. Bushnell then elaborated on the changes being suggested.

The Committee reviewed and discussed the proposed changes, and made several revisions to the wording and formatting of the proposed changes. Mr. Bushnell compiled these revisions, and he and Mr. Hiland indicated that they would work together to revise the proposed changes to include them. Mr. Thomas suggested that once the revisions were made, that instead of the proposed language being brought back before the Committee once again, it be forwarded onto the County Board instead. The Committee agreed with this proposal.

Ms. Vary moved to approve recommendation of the revised changes to Section 10.8 of the DeKalb County Stormwater Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Misurelli, and the motion carried unanimously. 

Mr. Hiland stated that a copy of the final version of the proposed changes (to include the revisions discussed at the committee meeting) would be forwarded to the Committee members, and that the recommendation would be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Committee of the County Board for review.

6. Next Meeting – The Committee will next meet at 3:00 p.m. on April 20, 2017 in the Conference Room East, DeKalb County Administration Building.

7. Adjournment – Mr. Thomas motioned to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and the motion carried unanimously.