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Norwalk hires CDM Smith for expanded stormwater‑utility feasibility study, public outreach and advisory committee planned
Summary
The Common Council authorized an amendment to the CDM Smith contract to proceed to a second phase feasibility study, public outreach and an 18‑month process to evaluate a possible stormwater utility; council emphasized this is exploration, not the creation of a utility.
The Norwalk Common Council on Feb. 11 voted to authorize a second‑phase contract amendment with CDM Smith to expand a preliminary feasibility study into a comprehensive analysis of a possible stormwater utility, including public outreach and an advisory committee.
The contract amendment (described in the meeting as not to exceed $272,710) will fund work to refine impervious‑area mapping, test billing methodologies, model rates and revenues, and organize stakeholder outreach and an appointed stormwater advisory committee. Councilmember Freire moved the authorization; the item passed unanimously.
Why this matters: Norwalk is operating under a Connecticut DEEP municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) regulatory framework that requires municipalities to reduce runoff and improve water quality. A dedicated stormwater utility is one model many municipalities use to fund the work required by MS4 permits; the council’s authorization funds a detailed study and public engagement but does not establish a utility.
CDM Smith’s first‑phase work used GIS mapping and a preliminary rate model to estimate impervious area and potential revenue structures. Public works and sustainability staff told the council the next phase will take approximately 18 months and will include creation of a multi‑stakeholder advisory committee, more precise impervious‑area measurements, analysis of possible credits/deductions (for on‑site stormwater management such as rain gardens), and evaluation of billing system and data needs.
“We are not really close to start considering what type of grants are available there because we do not even know if we're gonna pursue that,” the city’s sustainability/stormwater staff said during the presentation, emphasizing that the study is exploratory. The staff member also said explicitly, “this is not any resolution to create a stormwater utility,” underlining that the council’s action funds further study and outreach, not an immediate policy change.
Councilmembers asked staff to explain MS4 requirements and how a utility would apportion costs. City staff said residential fees are often simpler (flat or tiered residential charges based on typical impervious area), while commercial properties with large parking lots or roof area would typically pay more under an impervious‑area billing approach; the study will model multiple scenarios and equity options.
The council discussed timing and public outreach, and the administration said it will provide regular updates to the council and the public works committee as the study progresses.
