Water supply planning and reporting requirements clarification

A bill for an act

relating to metropolitan government; clarifying water supply planning and reporting

requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.1565.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.1565, is amended to read:

473.1565 METROPOLITAN AREA WATER SUPPLY PLANNING ACTIVITIES;

ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

Subdivision 1.

Planning activities.

(a) The Metropolitan Council must carry out planning

activities addressing the water supply needs of the metropolitan area as defined in section

473.121, subdivision 2
. The planning activities must include, at a minimum:

(1) development and maintenance of a base of technical information needed for sound

water supply decisions
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,
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including
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but not limited to
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surface and groundwater availability

analyses, water demand projections, water withdrawal and use impact analyses, modeling,

and similar studies;

(2) development and periodic update of a metropolitan area
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master
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water supply plan,

prepared in cooperation with and subject to the approval of the policy advisory committee

established in this section, that:

(i) provides guidance for local water supply systems and future regional investments;

(ii) emphasizes conservation, interjurisdictional cooperation, and long-term sustainability;

and

(iii) addresses the reliability, security, and cost-effectiveness of the metropolitan area

water supply system and its local and subregional components;

(3) recommendations for clarifying the appropriate roles and responsibilities of local,

regional, and state government in metropolitan area water supply;

(4) recommendations for streamlining and consolidating metropolitan area water supply

decision-making and approval processes; and

(5) recommendations for the ongoing and long-term funding of metropolitan area water

supply planning activities and capital investments.

(b) The council must carry out the planning activities in this subdivision in consultation

with the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Policy and Technical Advisory Committees

established in this section.

Subd. 2.

Policy advisory committee.

(a) A Metropolitan Area Water Supply Policy

Advisory Committee is established to assist the council in its planning activities in

subdivision 1. The policy advisory committee has the following membership:

(1) the commissioner of agriculture or the commissioner's designee;

(2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;

(3) the commissioner of natural resources or the commissioner's designee;

(4) the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency or the commissioner's designee;

(5) two officials of counties that are located in the metropolitan area, appointed by the

governor, in consultation with the Association of Minnesota Counties;

(6) five officials of noncounty local governmental units that are located in the

metropolitan area, appointed by the governor, in consultation with the Association of

Metropolitan Municipalities;

(7) the chair of the Metropolitan Council or the chair's designee, who is chair of the

advisory committee;

(8) one official each from the counties of Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Wright,

appointed by
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the governor
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and serving at the pleasure of the respective county administrator

or county manager
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, in consultation with the Association of Minnesota Counties and the

League of Minnesota Cities;
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and
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(9) a representative of the Saint Paul Regional Water Services, appointed by and serving

at the pleasure of the Saint Paul Regional Water Services, and a representative of the

Minneapolis Water Department, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the mayor of

the city of Minneapolis
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.
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; and

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(10) a Tribal representative appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.

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A local government unit in each of the seven counties in the metropolitan area and

Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Wright Counties must be represented in the 11 appointments

made under clauses (5), (6), and (8).

(b) Members of the advisory committee appointed by the governor serve at the pleasure

of the governor. Members of the advisory committee serve without compensation but may

be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses as determined by the Metropolitan Council.

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(c) At the end of a four-year term, a member of the advisory committee may serve until

a successor is appointed and for as long as the member continues to be an elected public

official. Members of the advisory committee may be reappointed and serve without a term

limit.

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(d) If an appointed member of the advisory committee is no longer an elected public

official and thereby loses their qualification to serve on the committee, that member must

resign effective with the termination of their role as an elected public official.

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(c)
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(e)
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The council must consider the work and recommendations of the policy advisory

committee when the council is preparing its regional development framework.

Subd. 2a.

Technical advisory committee.

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(a)
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A Metropolitan Area Water Supply

Technical Advisory Committee is established to inform the policy advisory committee's

work by providing scientific and engineering expertise necessary to provide the region an

adequate and sustainable water supply. The technical advisory committee consists of 15

members appointed by the policy advisory committee, with the majority of members

representing single-city and multicity public water supply systems in the metropolitan area

and including experts in:

(1) water resources analysis and modeling;

(2) hydrology; and

(3) the engineering, planning, design, and construction of water systems or water systems

finance.

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(b) The technical advisory committee may include one member that is a designated

Tribal representative.
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Members of the technical advisory committee serve at the pleasure

of the policy advisory committee, without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their

reasonable expenses as determined by the council.

Subd. 3.

Reports to legislature.

(a) The council must submit reports to the legislature

regarding its findings, recommendations, and continuing planning activities under subdivision

1. These reports shall be included in the "Minnesota Water Plan" required in section

103B.151
, and five-year interim reports may be provided as necessary.

(b) By February 15, 2017, and at least every five years thereafter, the policy advisory

committee shall report to the council
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, the Legislative Water Commission,
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and the chairs

and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and

divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources with the information

required under this section. The policy advisory committee's report and recommendations

must include information provided by the technical advisory committee.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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