Utilities commission accepts Liberty Crossing petition to join private stormwater utility; assessments to be calculated

The Mount Vernon Utilities Commission voted to accept a petition from Liberty Crossing (several developer LLCs) to join the city's private stormwater management utility, a process the commission has used previously for new developments. Commissioners said they will direct engineering to calculate assessments for ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement before finalizing the agreement. Gary Nunn, meeting chair, introduced the petition and said the request is similar to a prior project at Gilchrist Estates. "This is the city's preferred way to do this," he said, noting the city wants a mechanism to ensure post-construction stormwater facilities are maintained rather than rely solely on developers or homeowners. Engineering staff explained the petition requires a customized assessment, because maintenance and replacement costs depend on the specific post-construction best-management practices (BMPs) installed for the development. Staff said the city will compute both ongoing maintenance assessments and replacement-reserve assessments, per the city's stormwater ordinance (codified at the meeting as codified ordinance chapter 9.20/9.24 provisions referenced by staff). Commissioners approved the petition by roll call (Sayers: yes; Platt: yes; Reinhart: yes; Busenberg: yes), and the commission chair said staff will proceed to calculate assessment amounts and contingencies and bring a draft maintenance agreement back for finalization. Commission discussion noted process presentation issues: staff and commissioners flagged that petition letters should clearly show developer letterhead and chain of title so property ownership and assessment responsibilities are obvious. Staff also said assessments will be reviewed on a five-year cycle and budget lines established to track funds dedicated for maintenance and replacement.