WATERLOO -- A once controversial storm water management ordinance cruised to approval this week.

Waterloo City Council members voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance, which sets out regulations designed to prevent soil erosion on construction sites.

A similar measure was tabled in August when some developers and representatives of the Homebuilders Association of Northeast Iowa complained the ordinance was too restrictive. The revised ordinance drew no public comments.

"We did make some modifications," said City Engineer Eric Thorson. "We sent it back to the homebuilders with those changes and didn't hear anything back from them."

The new ordinance, which is designed to prevent soil and sediment runoff from construction sites greater than one acre, includes such things as silt fences, more timely seeding of disturbed areas and rock drives to prevent mud from being pulled onto streets by trucks.

Waterloo was required to adopt the rules based on requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, administered in Iowa by the Department of Natural Resources, which are set up to help keep rivers and lakes clean.

While many developers have been required to work under a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan covering construction site issues, the new ordinance puts enforcement power into the city's hands.

In other business, council members unanimously:

-- Tabled indefinitely plans for numerous changes in the city's zoning ordinance. Mayor Tim Hurley said questions about provisions in the ordinance need more discussion before they return for approval.

-- Approved a resolution to apply for a $50,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to construct board portages and signs related to the Park Avenue and Sixth Street Cedar River dams. The Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments will develop the grant applications.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.