Number
040646
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. MURPHY, D'AMATO AND HINES
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to present and urge acceptance of the City of Milwaukee's position relating to the Great Lakes Charter Annex.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to present and urge acceptance of the City of Milwaukee's position relating to the Great Lakes Charter Annex.
Body
Whereas, In 1985, the Great Lakes Charter was developed and signed by the governors of the 8 Great Lakes states and the premiers of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada; and
Whereas, The Charter seeks to conserve the levels and flows of the Great Lakes and protect and conserve the environmental balance of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem; and
Whereas, In 1986, the U. S. Congress enacted the Federal Water Resources Development Act, which prohibits water diversions from the Great Lakes basin unless each diversion is approved by the governor of each Great Lakes state; and
Whereas, In June 2001, the Great Lakes governors and premiers of Ontario and Quebec signed the Great Lakes Annex 2001 (Annex), which is an amendment to the Great Lakes Charter of 1985; and
Whereas, Since the signing of the Annex, the governors' and premiers' staff have been developing agreements to create a management process for regulating water diversions and withdrawals from the Great Lakes basin; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee is encouraged that the governors and premiers have collaborated to produce this draft agreement to guide their management of the world's largest fresh water ecosystem; and
Whereas, The draft agreement is currently undergoing public review; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee express its support for the overall goals of the Annex to protect and improve the Great Lakes ecosystem; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee urges the Great Lakes states and provinces to:
1. Develop and commit to water conservation that will be met by implementation of environmentally and economically sound water conservation measures.
2. Develop and commit to measures, which encourage and facilitate environmentally responsible economic growth.
3. Minimize any out-of-basin diversion or export of water from the Great Lakes basin.
4. Minimize residential, industrial and commercial sprawl, and the accompanying air and water pollution.
5. Require that any water diversion request include an analysis of the impact of such diversion on land use, transportation and economic development, and how comprehensive planning, including conservation programs can mitigate any negative effects.
6. Require that any community which seeks water from the Great Lakes adopt a water conservation plan, a "Smart Growth" comprehensive plan, as well as a comprehensive housing strategy which provides affordable housing opportunities.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee supports the region's leadership in the development of this precedent-setting water management policy; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration is directed to present and urge acceptance of the City of Milwaukee's position relating to the Great Lakes Charter Annex.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB04384-2
TWM/cac
9/21/2004