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Water Policy Plan Amendment Process

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Policies

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Natural and built environments can change quickly, with associated effects on water and water utilities, particularly as the region considers the rapidly evolving and highly variable conditions associated with climate change. Likewise, as new research and regulatory conditions dictate, new technologies are developed, and new understanding is gained, water planners, managers, and service providers need to adapt and incorporate new knowledge into their work and operations. 

Regional plans and policies must also be able to adapt to new conditions and learning. Therefore, the Met Council has a process in place to either amend or add policies, as needed. The Met Council will engage, consult, and collaborate with Tribal governments, federal and state agencies, local government units, watershed organizations, water utilities and service providers, and residents of the metro region in the amendment process. 

The Met Council will amend the 2050 Water Policy Plan, including the Wastewater System Plan and the Metro Area Water Supply Plan, only for a substantial revision. A substantial revision is defined by the Met Council as (1) a proposed revision that is intended to or could have the effect of changing the direction or intent of adopted Met Council policy, (2) addition or deletion of a policy, or (3) addition or deletion of any Wastewater System Plan component or a Metro Area Water Supply Plan action plan element. 

The policy amendment process is as follows: 

  1. To begin the amendment process, there must be some interest or issue in current policy that may warrant an amendment. An issue or gap within the current adopted policies must first be identified, with the associated water sustainability issue defined.
  2. Once a policy issue or gap is identified, a task force may be assembled.
    • The Met Council should authorize the establishment of a task force and charge the task force to investigate the question at hand. The task force should consist of a diverse set of stakeholders (community size, geographic coverage, history of interest or experience in the policy area, etc.).
    • For water supply-related elements, the existing Metro Area Water Supply Advisory Committee (MAWSAC) and their Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) may fill this role.
    • If the task force makes recommendations or suggests actions, those are to be presented to the Environment Committee for recommendation to be sent to the full Met Council for approval to be released for public hearing.
  3. If policy changes are approved or adopted by the Met Council, the Met Council will authorize a public hearing regarding the proposed changes. 
  4. After a public hearing, the comments are brought to the Environment Committee and MAWSAC (in the case of the Metro Area Water Supply Plan) for review. The Environment Committee will review comments and any changes and send the revised plan section to the full Met Council for approval.
  5. Next, the Met Council reviews the policy recommendations and public comment summary. 
  6. Assuming no adverse public comments and recommended approval of language by the Environment Committee and by MAWSAC (in the case of the Metro Area Water Supply Plan), the Met Council can adopt the changes to the policy in the Water Policy Plan.
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