Stormwater plan update maps climate risks, proposes projects and defers rate increases until 2027

Mountlake Terrace staff presented the draft 2025–2031 Stormwater Comprehensive Plan update and supporting rate study, highlighting new Department of Ecology permit requirements, flood-prone areas, prioritized capital projects and a proposed schedule of rate increases that begins in 2027.

Laura Reed, the city’s stormwater program manager, told the council the city’s updated Ecology permit (2024–2029) requires new documentation and policies including tree‑canopy goals, limits on runoff from PFAS/PCBs in some discharges, new technical stormwater requirements for construction and greater consideration for overburdened communities.

Why it matters: the plan identifies climate-related risks (urban-heat islands and larger storms), key flood locations and projects that would reduce flooding and improve fish passage and water quality, and it sets a multi-year capital-improvement program linked to a rate timetable.

Reed described prioritized projects the plan recommends for pursuit and grant matching, including a Hall Creek sheet-pile dam removal (to address a fish passage barrier and upstream flooding), a Wildermere Pond retrofit and several pipe-repair and regional stormwater opportunities. Reed said some projects are large and will rely on grant matches; the city should pair grant-seeking with construction match funding.

On rates the consultant-led rate study recommended the stormwater fund can absorb planned costs through 2026 without a rate increase; the staff proposal begins modest increases in 2027 (approximately 1.5% annually in 2027–2030) to fund capital and reserves. Reed said that schedule balances current fund strength with long-term capital needs and will be presented for public hearing and council action at the Feb. 6 meeting.

Council discussion noted Hall Creek flooding near 216th/68th and asked whether dam removal could increase downstream flooding; Reed said model results show removal would not increase flooding for downstream properties. Councilors also praised the plan’s attention to equity and regional coordination and urged stronger regional engagement to address upstream development and downstream impacts.

Ending: staff asked the council to review the draft plan and said the city will hold a public hearing and return to council on Feb. 6 for a vote to adopt the plan and the recommended rate schedule.