14.24.020 Purpose.
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A. It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent harm to the health or safety of the public, and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by providing for the minimization of erosion from land development and land-disturbing activities, in order to:
1. Prevent erosion and sedimentation of creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands, and other water bodies;
2. Prevent damage to property from increased erosion rates and volumes;
3. Protect the quality of land for recreation, fishing and other beneficial use;
4. Establish sound development policies which protect and preserve the city’s land resources;
5. Protect roads and rights-of-way from damage due to inadequately controlled erosion;
6. Preserve and enhance the aesthetic quality of land resources; and
7. Protect the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the city.
B. It is the purpose of the 2009 amendments to this chapter to adopt ordinances and other enforceable mechanisms required for compliance with the most current version of the City of Vancouver’s January 17, 2007 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, and for compliance with the federal Underground Injection Control (UIC) program, through application of best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management. The regulatory basis requiring the 2009 amendments is as follows:
1. To meet requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act, the State of Washington Department of Ecology has been given the authority to issue municipal stormwater permits to designated communities throughout the state that discharge stormwater into surface water bodies. On January 17, 2007, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued the City of Vancouver a Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The permit requires that the City of Vancouver adopt low impact development principles and best management practices, stormwater control and pollution prevention measures, with the goal of improving waters of the state. (Ord. M-4179 § 22, 2016; Ord. M-3920 § 2, 2009)