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Engineering department gives annual stormwater update; MS4 permit reissued and GIS inventory work under way
Summary
City engineering staff presented the annual stormwater report at the April 7 council meeting, reviewing stormwater fees, recent projects, MS4 permit status and an ongoing GIS inventory of city‑maintained stormwater infrastructure; staff said Zone 1 inventory is complete and Zone 2 was funded.
City engineering staff presented the annual stormwater report to the Hoover City Council on April 7, outlining program activity, fees, budget allocations and regulatory compliance work.
Presentation highlights: City engineer Chris Reeves (presenting the update) said stormwater is a cross‑departmental responsibility and summarized call volumes, staffing changes and project work over the last year. Reeves told the council the city processed 147 stormwater calls in 2024 and about 81 calls so far in 2025; staff noted a lower call volume in 2024 was likely tied to dry weather during part of that year.
Fees, budget and spending: Reeves reviewed the city’s stormwater user fee that supports operations and capital projects: $10 annually per residential property and a commercial rate of one‑half cent per square foot, capped at $3,000 per parcel. He said the combined annual fees from Jefferson and Shelby County properties average about $600,000. The engineering department’s operating and capital allocations for 2024 and 2025 were presented together, with total allocations shown at roughly $2.877 million across capital projects, bridge maintenance and drainage maintenance categories.
Projects and inventory work: Reeves said the department has completed multiple projects in neighborhoods across the city and reported roughly $1.289 million in project expenditures during the previous year. He summarized a Greystone stormwater inventory and condition assessment funded in FY2023 (approved at $80,000) that produced a GIS database with locations, pipe types and condition ratings for Zone 1. Funding for Zone 2 inventory was approved via a budget amendment on March 17, Reeves said, and staff intends to complete additional zones over time to inform a 10‑year stormwater capital improvement master plan.
Regulatory developments: Staff reminded council members that the city’s MS4 permit under ADEM was reissued on Oct. 28, 2024, and that the city submitted the 2024 annual report to ADEM in January 2025. Reeves said the stormwater management plan is being updated to reflect new permit conditions and will be posted on the city website; staff invited public comment on the draft plan before submission to ADEM.
Operations and staffing: Reeves introduced recent additions to the engineering team, including Assistant City Engineer Rosemary (hired from the City of Mobile), civil engineer Hillary Hughes and engineering technician David Largent. Dwayne Smith of Hydro Engineering, the city’s MS4 consultant, was present and answered a council question clarifying that ADEM’s permit references a three‑quarter‑inch rainfall benchmark for the city’s construction standards.
Next steps: Staff will continue the GIS inventory and present a construction request for a priority project in the FY2026 budget as design work completes. Reeves told council the department will present an updated erosion and sediment control ordinance for council review in a forthcoming meeting and will provide follow‑up answers to technical questions raised by council members.
