City staff and outside consultants told the Laramie City Council work session that the city has begun billing a newly formed surface water drainage utility after a multi‑year feasibility study that quantified a large backlog of stormwater capital needs.

Consultants from WSP said the city’s 2010–2022 master planning work identified roughly $130,000,000 in stormwater capital projects, about $30,000,000 of which was labeled “high priority.” Aaron Murray of WSP described the effort as “establishing, was there a need? What would be the level of service that the city would want to provide?” and outlined a 10‑year program that pairs asset management, operations and maintenance, and a capital program with a billing model based on measured impervious area.

The fee uses a 500‑square‑foot “billing unit.” WSP showed how aerial imagery and parcel overlays produced an impervious area data layer at the lot level; the consultant gave an example calculation for a 3,700‑square‑foot impervious parcel (3,700 ÷ 500 ≈ 7 billing units) and said the adopted per‑unit charge is $1.67 per billing unit. Elizabeth Treadway of WSP said the adopted financial policy smooths capital spending by establishing a capital reserve so rates are more predictable rather than “letting the rate float.”

Why it matters: city officials say the change moves stormwater costs out of the general fund and into a dedicated utility so the city can perform proactive maintenance, fund street sweeping and pipe lining, and begin the prioritized capital projects identified in multiple master plans. Presenters warned that, if left unaddressed, the Laramie River’s impaired status could lead to regulatory requirements for stormwater monitoring and discharge limits.

Council and staff emphasized transparency and the ability for property owners to appeal or seek credits. The ordinance adopted by the council in December sets an appeals process (review of impervious area calculations) and a credit policy that, if criteria are met, can reduce a bill by up to 50 percent. Staff said an online GIS map and an appeals/credit application were available on the city’s website and that the billing had “just begun in the last few days.”

Public reaction: more than two dozen residents and local business owners spoke during an extended public‑comment period. Common themes were (1) concerns about the accuracy of the impervious‑area mapping (decks, rock landscaping and other surfaces picked up incorrectly), (2) affordability—residents and small businesses said the new monthly charges would be significant for some households and for certain commercial operations, and (3) process and legal questions, with several speakers asking why the city relied on Wyoming’s Title 15 authority rather than Title 16 and whether voter approval should have been required.

City staff and the city attorney told the council that two statutory paths exist and that Laramie moved forward under the Title 15 authority; staff also described the difference between an equivalent residential unit approach and the chosen fixed 500‑sq‑ft billing unit tied to measured impervious area. Council members asked for quicker remedies for residential credits and for more public outreach on calculations and the appeals timeline.

Numbers and policy details reported at the meeting

- Backlog identified in stormwater master plans (2010–2022): approximately $130,000,000 total, about $30,000,000 identified as the highest‑priority projects.
- Current piping rehabilitation: about $150,000 per year in lining work.
- Billing unit: 500 square feet of impervious area; per‑unit charge adopted at $1.67 per billing unit at the time of the presentation.
- Credit program: up to a 50% reduction is possible for qualifying non‑residential properties (residential credit process under discussion); an appeal process is available for contested impervious calculations via an online GIS map.

What the council directed and next steps

Councilors pressed staff for faster residential credit processing and clearer public communication. Staff said they will continue to refine parcel reviews flagged before billing, to publish detailed FAQs and to process appeals submitted through the online map. Consultants said the utility is designed to be eligible to support bonds and grant matches so the fund can be used to finance the high‑priority capital projects as they move into construction.

Ending: Councilors and staff said they expect rates and program details to evolve as capital projects are scheduled and as credit/appeal workloads are processed; residents were urged to check the city’s “Notify Me/City Flash” sign‑up and the GIS map on the City of Laramie website to view parcel calculations and file appeals.