HF3883

Purpose

Clarify and strengthen planning for the metropolitan area’s water supply by defining the roles of local, regional, and state government, improving the quality and use of information for decisions, and promoting conservation, cooperation, and long-term sustainability.

What the bill does (main provisions)

• Replaces and updates the water planning framework for the metropolitan area, requiring the Metropolitan Council to carry out specified planning activities addressing water supply needs for the region.
• Requires development and ongoing maintenance of a base of technical information to support sound water supply decisions, including data on surface and groundwater availability, water demand projections, withdrawal and use impact analyses, and modeling.
• Requires development and periodic updating of a metropolitan area master water supply plan in cooperation with and subject to approval by a Policy Advisory Committee. The master plan must:
  • Provide guidance for local water systems and future regional investments.
  • Emphasize water conservation, interjurisdictional cooperation, and long-term sustainability.
  • Address the reliability, security, and cost-effectiveness of the metropolitan water supply system and its local and subregional components.
  • Include recommendations for clarifying the roles and responsibilities of local, regional, and state government in metropolitan water supply.
  • Recommend ways to streamline and consolidate metropolitan area water supply decision-making and approval processes.
  • Recommend ongoing and long-term funding for planning activities and capital investments.
• Establish two advisory committees to guide the Metropolitan Council:
  • Policy Advisory Committee: Advises on planning activities and has broad membership including state agency representatives, county officials, noncounty local government officials, the Metropolitan Council chair (or designee), representatives from major city water departments, and tribal representation. The committee must be representative of the seven counties in the metropolitan area, with specific appointments from certain counties and agencies.
  • Technical Advisory Committee: Provides scientific and engineering expertise to support the policy advisory committee, with up to 15 members, mostly from public water systems, and specialists in water resources analysis, hydrology, and engineering of water systems. May include one tribal member.
• Require reports to the Legislature on findings and planning activities under the framework, integrated into the Minnesota Water Plan (Section 103B.151). The policy advisory committee must report by February 15, 2017 and at least every five years thereafter, including information from the technical advisory committee.

Planning framework and requirements

• Metropolitan Council must plan for water supply needs of the metropolitan area as defined in the statute, including prioritizing conservation and regional investments.
• The planning process should streamline decision-making and clarify who is responsible for decisions at local, regional, and state levels.
• Reports and updates are tied to the Minnesota Water Plan and its five-year cycle, ensuring ongoing accountability and alignment with state water planning.

Advisory committees and membership

• Policy Advisory Committee:
  • Members include the commissioner of Agriculture (or designee), Health (or designee), Natural Resources (or designee), Pollution Control Agency (or designee); two county officials; five local government officials from the metropolitan area; the Metropolitan Council chair (or designee); representatives from Saint Paul Regional Water Services and Minneapolis Water Department; and a tribal representative.
  • Represents all seven counties in the metropolitan area; specific appointments include county officials and city water entities.
  • Members serve at the governor’s pleasure, without compensation (reimbursed for reasonable expenses), with four-year terms or until a successor is appointed; no term limit.
• Technical Advisory Committee:
  • Consists of up to 15 members appointed by the Policy Advisory Committee, with a majority from single-city or multi-city public water systems.
  • Includes experts in water resources analysis and modeling, hydrology, and engineering of water systems.
  • May include one tribal representative.
  • Members serve at the pleasure of the Policy Advisory Committee and may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses; no compensation.

Reports and accountability

• The Metropolitan Council must incorporate the advisory committees’ work and recommendations into its regional development framework.
• The Council must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature and relevant legislative committees and divisions, with five-year interim updates as needed.
• The policy advisory committee must report by a specified date (February 15, 2017) and every five years thereafter, including input from the technical advisory committee.

Significant changes to existing law

• Creates formal, structured advisory bodies (Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee) to guide metropolitan water supply planning.
• Codifies required information base (technical data, analyses, and modeling) and a formal master water supply plan with defined goals (conservation, cooperation, sustainability, reliability, security, and cost-effectiveness).
• Clarifies and potentially streamlines roles and responsibilities among local, regional, and state government in water supply decisions.
• Establishes a formal reporting framework to the Legislature and integrates planning findings with the Minnesota Water Plan (Section 103B.151).
• Adds specific representation requirements for committee membership, ensuring broader regional and local government participation, including tribal representation.

Potential impacts

• A more coordinated, data-driven approach to water supply planning across municipalities and counties.
• Increased emphasis on conservation and regional investments, with clearer accountability and funding considerations.
• Enhanced involvement of state agencies, local governments, and tribal entities in metropolitan water planning decisions.
• Regular, structured reporting to the Legislature to inform state water policy and funding priorities.

Relevant Terms - Metropolitan Council - Metropolitan Area Water Supply - Policy Advisory Committee - Technical Advisory Committee - master water supply plan - base of technical information - water demand projections - withdrawal and use impact analyses - modeling - reliability - security - cost-effectiveness - conservation - interjurisdictional cooperation - long-term sustainability - regional development framework - funding (planning activities and capital investments) - Minnesota Water Plan - Section 103B.151 - Legislative Water Commission - Saint Paul Regional Water Services - Minneapolis Water Department - tribal representative - Minnesota Indian Affairs Council - counties in the metropolitan area (seven counties) - Association of Minnesota Counties - League of Minnesota Cities - local governmental units (noncounty) - governor appointment - appointed members serving at pleasure - reimbursement for expenses