Engineering > Stormwater Management Manual Adoption

Adopting the Deparment of Ecology 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (the 2019 Manual)

Proposing amendments to Section 12.02.030 of the Poulsbo Municipal Code in order to adopt the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington and remain in compliance with the current NPDES Permit.

• Stormwater Manual Adoption Package
• Stormwater Manual Adoption Public Participation Plan
• 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington

Introduction

The City of Poulsbo is required to adopt a stormwater design manual with guidelines and technical requirements for new development and redevelopment projects to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) publishes stormwater manuals which comply with regulations.

The DOE issues a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit to the City of Poulsbo, and one of the permit requirements is that the City adopt the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington with an effective date of July 1st, 2022.

One option offered by Ecology allows local jurisdictions to develop their own stormwater manual which is equivalent to the Ecology manual. However, given the scope and technical complexity necessary to develop a stormwater manual, the City opts to adopt the manual as published by Ecology.

The 2019 Manual builds on the work within the previous 2014 Manual with regards to Low Impact Development and LID as a preferred approach. Additionally, the 2019 Manual incorporated text revisions and consolidated sections within the manual to avoid confusion or conflicting information. The 2019 Manual also adds a number of Source Control BMPs in preparation for future permit requirements. The purpose of the code updates is to adopt the 2019 Manual.

The Executive Summary of the 2019 Manual Revisions is available online and provides a detailed breakdown of the changes between the previous manual and the new manual. The majority of jurisdictions in Western Washington will adopt this manual so there is consistency for design engineers and others throughout Western Washington.

Overview

Section 12.02.030 of the Poulsbo Municipal Code needs to be amended to adopt the new manual. In 2016 a thorough and in-depth review of the code was completed to adopt the 2014 Manual with the intention of making future stormwater manual adoptions more streamlined.

Important Note: The proposed amendments to the PMC are presented below. The amendments are represented as bold underline for proposed new language or additions, and strikeouts for deletions. It should also be noted that not all provisions of a specific section of the PMC are presented below; only the pertinent sections proposed to be amended are identified. For full context, please refer to the complete section in the Poulsbo Municipal Code at: http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Poulsbo/ 

Code Amendments – PMC 12.02.030 Stormwater Design Manual Adoption

The City of Poulsbo hereby adopts the following stormwater design and guidance manuals for all new development, redevelopment and construction projects within the City of Poulsbo subject to the minimum requirements, technical thresholds and definitions contained within the manuals as adopted in this section:

A. The 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW) published by Department of Ecology, and as amended in 2019.

B. Low Impact Development: Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, December 2012.

C. The Washington State Department of Transportation Highway Runoff Manual, as determined by the Washington State Department of Ecology to be equivalent to the 2014 2019 Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, may be used when required by state or federal funding requirements.

Public and Agency Participation Goals

• To provide the public with timely information, an understanding of the process, and opportunities to review and comment on the ordinance amendments, and to have these comments forwarded to the City’s decision makers.
• Ensure that information about the process is provided to the public early in the process and at regular intervals thereafter, to maximize public awareness and participation in the process.
• Actively solicit information from citizens, property owners and stakeholders about their concerns, questions and priorities for the process and code section.
• Encourage the public to informally review and comment on the update throughout the process.
• Incorporate public comments into the local government’s review process prior to significant milestones or decision making.
• Provide forums for formal public input at milestones prior to decision making by local officials.
• Consult and consider recommendations from neighboring jurisdictions, federal and state agencies, and Native American tribes.

Information Availability

The draft amendment package and code sections are available for public review. The primary clearinghouse for information related to the update is the city website – www.cityofpoulsbo.com – at the Engineering main page. Meeting dates, official notices, updates on the process, notice of application and environmental review, public hearing notices, and decisions will be posted.

Documents will also be available for review at Poulsbo City Hall 200 NE Moe Street, Poulsbo. Copies will be provided at a reasonable cost. Official notices will be published in the North Kitsap Herald and posted in the Poulsbo Post Office, Poulsbo Library and Poulsbo City Hall notice board. The local news media will be notified of the amendments.

How to Comment

Comments may be provided at any time during the process. Written comments will be taken by the City and forwarded to the recommending and decision making bodies as part of the record. Send written comments to City of Poulsbo Engineering Department, 200 NE Moe Street, Poulsbo, Washington 98370, or fax them to (360) 697-8269. In addition to receiving comments through regular postal mailing and fax comments may be sent to croberts@cityofpoulsbo.com. To ensure consideration, all written comments must be received by the City prior to the close of the City Council public hearing.

Verbal public comments will be taken at Planning Commission and City Council Public Hearings for these who wish to address the recommending and decision-making bodies in person.

Public and Agency Review Timeline

March 18, 2022

Public Release of 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington adoption:  1) post on City’s website; 2) distributed to local, regional and state agencies; 3) distributed to Planning Commission and City Council;

March 23, 2022

Notice of Application published in Seattle Times; distributed to resource agencies, Tribe, other interested parties

April 8, 2022

Notice of Public Hearings

April 26, 2022

Planning Commission Workshop & Public Hearing 7 p.m. | Council Chambers (or virtual – verify prior to meeting on Website.)

May 11, 2022

City Council Workshop & Public Hearing – 7 p.m. | Council Chambers (or virtual – verify prior to meeting at Website.)

*Meetings may be in person or may be held virtually, check website prior to confirm*

Public Notices

The Planning Commission and City Council will conduct at least one public hearing each to gather and consider public testimony on the Stormwater Management Manual adoption. The hearing(s) are anticipated for April 26, 2022 and May 11, 2022 (see above for anticipated timeline). Public notice of hearings will state explicitly the date/time, review and location of the public hearing. The public notices will be published in the Seattle Times, and posted at the City’s public notice locations.