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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.a. - Rain Garden Policy Recommendation EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Utility Commission Meeting: February 25, 2019 AGENDA SECTION: AGENDA ITEM: Rain Garden Policy Recommendation New Business AGENDA NO. PREPARED BY: Jes Braun, MN GreenCorps Member 7.a ATTACHMENTS: Examples of Similar Programs in APPROVED BY: BLE Minnesota RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion on Rebate Program for Residents who install a Qualifying Rain Garden, Rain Barrel, or Native Plantings On Their Property BACKGROUND: In Minnesota, multiple cities and counties offer cost share or rebate programs to residents, organizations, and businesses that install a qualifying rain garden, rain barrel, or native plantings on their property. These types of programs encourage water reuse, reduce the influx of stormwater on the city’s stormwater system, minimize pollutants in runoff, and replenish aquifers by allowing water to infiltrate into the ground, among many other financial and environmental benefits. Currently, the City of Rosemount provides water efficiency rebates for smart irrigation controllers. Previously, this program was funded through a water efficiency grant awarded by the Metropolitan Council. Currently, the funding for this program is wholly from the Water Utility Fund. This was approved by the City Council at their July 2, 2018 meeting and will run through the end of 2019. This program would be run in a similar manner where the rebates take the form of a credit on the property owner’s utility bill. The size of the rebate and details related to that is something that could be investigated for a future discussion with the Commission. SUMMARY: Staff is requesting that the Utility Commission provide direction regarding the establishment of a rain garden, rain barrel, and native planting rebate program for Rosemount residents. ATTACHMENT: COUNTIES WITH PROGRAMS: Anoka County Anoka Conservation District will award 75% of your expenses for a curb cut rain garden. The garden must direct stormwater into a central basin which should be filled with native plants and proper soil for infiltration. Preference is given to curb-cut rain gardens where there is drainage from the street or parking areas. Anoka Conservation District will award 50% of your expenses for the creation of areas that create habitats in areas where it is beneficial for wildlife. Examples include prairie plantings, pollinator gardens, invasive species removal or prescribed burning. Dakota County Dakota County and Dakota County Soil and Water offer grant assistance on the installation of new gardens that help promote clean soil and water. To receive the grant you need to attend the Landscaping for clean water and design classes. You will need to pre-register for the events through the Dakota County website. Once there, they will teach you the basics on how to landscape your yard to help promote clean water. Hennepin County Hennepin County has a grant program called the Good Steward Grant that is available to homeowners and, “are primarily for smaller projects that improve water quality, enhance natural areas and promote environmental stewardship to the community. A typical grant amount is $5,000 to $15,000, with a maximum amount of $25,000.” Their website states that applications were being taken through November 4th, 2016 but we contacted the city and they let us know that they are expected to open applications up again mid-September 2017 and runs for 6 weeks. Ramsey County Nature Program a program run by the Ramsey County Conservation District to help promote the urban living environment. They will offer free assistance for designing rain gardens and other restoration projects that qualify. Those interested in cost sharing must go through an application process and sign a share contract that agrees to maintain the area for a minimum of 5 years. CITIES WITH PROGRAMS: Apple Valley Has a Water Quality Cost Share Program that provides cost share for raingarden, buffer, and shoreline stabilization projects. They may consider funding other types of projects that use one of the following treatment mechanisms: infiltration, bio-filtration, bio-retention, rainwater/runoff harvest/reuse, and other runoff reduction mechanisms. Austin Offers a $10 rebate for purchasing and using a Rain Barrel Chanhassen The City of Chanhassen offers landscape rebates to residents, organizations, and businesses in Chanhassen who replace a minimum of 200 square feet of irrigated/watered lawn or landscape with a WaterWise landscape. Creating a WaterWise landscape means using plants, shrubs, trees or grasses that are drought-tolerant, native to the area or hardy to planting Zone 4, and will not be irrigated. WaterWise landscapes require very little watering and maintenance when compared to turf grass. Stormwater runoff from your roof can also be re- directed to water these planting areas instead of using irrigation (i.e. creating a rain garden). Rebate will be distributed as funds allow. Cottage Grove Has a Rain Barrel Rebate Program that offers a $20 rebate. They also have a Blue and Green Environmental Challenge program that provides an opportunity to win a $50 credit on a water bill by following some simple water conservation tips. Eden Prairie Eden Prairie will offer rebates for residents who landscape their lawns and yards to help improve water quality. These areas include shoreland buffers planted at lake, wetland or creek shorelines, rain gardens, infiltration basins or pollinator gardens designed, constructed and planted to capture stormwater runoff. The maximum rebate is up to $1,500 and the City must inspect the project before and after installation. 75% or more of the plants that are used must be native plants and be approved. They also have a pervious pavement installation rebate program. Fridley Fridley will award residents with a rebate up to $200 if they have an audit by a WaterSense audit-certified professional. The rebate covers controller replacement with a WaterSense labeled controller, or the replacement of broken or inefficient sprinkler heads. Maplewood They are a 30,000 person city with almost 450 rain gardens built over the past 13 years. Rain gardens have been designed into all new roadway improvement projects. This decreases the cost of infrastructure including curb and gutter and stormwater pipes. Their main goal for the city is to improve water quality Citizens volunteer for a free rain garden during construction. They sign an agreement to maintain that garden. 95% of the homeowners maintain their gardens, even after the sale of the homes. Minneapolis Their Stormwater Credit Program incentives include a 50% Reduction of Water Quality Fee, and a 50 to 100% Reduction of Water Quantity Fee Northfield They have three different incentive programs:  Rain Barrel o Property owners who buy and install a rain barrel can receive a $20 credit on their utility bill after sending in a completed rebate form along with a receipt of purchase and a staff visit to verify installation.  Rain Garden o Participants receive a 50% reimbursement on the cost of rain garden materials and equipment rental up to a $250 maximum reimbursement  Native Planting o Participants who qualify for the Native Plant Rebate can receive a utility bill credit for 33% of the cost of the seeds, up to $75. The rebate will be distributed in the amounts of $25, $50, or $75. Rochester Has cost-share grants that award individuals that meet the criteria with a one- time award that pays 50% of their raingarden costs, up to a maximum of $750 St. Louis Park Partners with Metro Blooms for rain garden installations for up to 10 homeowners per year. The homeowners pay for their consultation, plus the cost of plants and mulch. The city will then reimburse up to 75 percent of the direct costs, including the consultation fee. South St. Paul Participates in 4 grant programs with citizens, 3 out of the 4 are 100% funded (two types of Rain Garden programs and a Conservation Initiative Funding for churches and schools). Rain Barrels are 50% funded.