Minneapolis moves toward commercial stormwater programme
City of Minneapolis Public Works Department, Minnesota · Meeting date: October 15, 2026 · Published: October 16, 2026
Minneapolis City Council has given notice that it will consider an ordinance creating a Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Stormwater Program. The measure has not yet been introduced or adopted, but would add a new Chapter 49 to the city code.
Key points
- Council Members Jason Chavez and Soren Stevenson gave notice of intent to introduce the ordinance at the next regular council meeting.
- The proposed measure would amend Title 3 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, covering Air Pollution and Environmental Protection.
- It would create a new Chapter 49 titled “Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Stormwater Program.”
- The October 15 action was notice only; the council did not consider the ordinance text or approve a programme.
Full report
Minneapolis is preparing to establish a Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Stormwater Program, after City Council members Jason Chavez and Soren Stevenson gave formal notice of an ordinance they intend to introduce at the council’s next regular meeting.
The proposed ordinance would amend Title 3 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, relating to Air Pollution and Environmental Protection, by adding a new Chapter 49 entitled “Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Stormwater Program.” The October 15 council action was limited to notice of intent, initiating the legislative process; no ordinance language, programme requirements, fees, compliance obligations or implementation timetable were presented in the meeting material.
The item is nevertheless a potentially consequential policy development for non-residential property owners and operators, as it signals the city’s intention to create a dedicated stormwater framework for commercial, industrial and institutional premises. Council members will have to introduce the measure formally before it can be referred, debated and adopted.
The stormwater notice was the clearest new water-policy item at the meeting. Elsewhere, the council approved several Public Works water and wastewater actions, including a $1.566m contract with MN Petroleum Inc. for added generator fuel at Pump Station 5; a $346,500 Maintenance Hole Spray Lining Project contract with R&H Painting; and a $124,700 increase to Advanced Sewer and Water Inc.’s Year 3 lead service-line replacement contract, taking that contract’s not-to-exceed value to $544,150.
The council also approved a $109,475 increase and three-year extension, through February 28, 2029, for SUEZ SES North America’s support and maintenance of the city’s water laboratory and operational data-management system. Those approvals, however, were existing procurement actions, while the proposed Chapter 49 marks the start of a new stormwater-policy initiative.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: City Council, City of Minneapolis Public Works Department