Mountlake Terrace adopts updated stormwater plan, schedules modest rate increases beginning 2027

The Mountlake Terrace City Council on Tuesday adopted an updated stormwater comprehensive plan and an associated rate schedule that officials say is designed to meet new state permit requirements and fund capital repairs.

The plan, presented by Stormwater Program Manager Laura Reed, inventories short‑ and long‑term projects, incorporates new 2024 Ecology permit obligations and identifies potential grant‑funded regional projects. “Every 6 years, the city looks in detail at what is going to be happening in the next 6 years and in more general terms, what is going to be happening for the next 20 years in terms of stormwater work,” Reed said.

Why it matters: the plan responds to a 2024 Ecology stormwater permit that adds requirements including tree canopy goals and documentation, new stormwater technical standards, expanded water‑quality treatment triggers for smaller road projects, and measures to address PFAS and other pollutants. Reed told council the plan also prioritizes fish‑passage barrier work and identifies regional stormwater facilities as a possible solution for cumulative impacts from many small developments.

The adopted capital program lists multiple projects across the city, including Main Street Phase 2 stormwater upgrades, a large water‑quality project treating runoff that drains to Hall Creek (the “200th–70th” basin), the Wildermere Pond retrofit and removal of an aging sheet‑pile dam on Hall Creek upstream of 2nd/70th. Reed said the Hall Creek project currently has Ecology design grant funding; an Ecology‑approved design would improve the city’s chances of receiving up to 75% construction funding from the state.

Council and staff repeatedly emphasized inspection and replacement work on aging infrastructure after Reed showed a photo of a corroded corrugated metal culvert discovered during a construction connection. Reed said crews will pothole to assess whether the failure is isolated or indicative of more widespread problems in that area.

On rates, the council approved a schedule that keeps rates flat through 2026 and implements a 1.5% increase beginning in 2027 and continuing at 1.5% through the 2027–2030 planning horizon. Reed said the example impact for a typical single‑family home would be about $5.22 annually in the first rate step in 2027 when billed bimonthly. She said multi‑family and commercial properties would see larger increases because fees are tied to impervious surface coverage (ERUs).

Consultants FCS Group and Jacobs Engineering assisted with the rate study and Comprehensive Plan update; Reed thanked both firms in her presentation.

The council opened and closed the public hearing with no public testimony and then voted to adopt the update. No roll‑call breakdown was recorded in the meeting transcript; the mayor called the motion and the council passed it.

What comes next: Reed said staff will continue permitting and grant work, seek Ecology funding where eligible, and advance the urban forest management plan that is required under the Ecology permit. Several council members urged ongoing public education about stormwater issues such as catch basin care, street sweeping and restrictions on washing cars in driveways to reduce pollutants.

Ending note: Council comments praised Reed’s multi‑year work on the program and noted the plan’s reliance on future state grants for high‑cost projects.