Stormwater advisory board declines recommendation to adopt state buffer minimums after annual report flags E. coli hotspots

La Verne stormwater staff presented an annual stormwater report and E. coli monitoring results and, after debate, the Stormwater Advisory Board voted not to send a recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to amend the local stormwater ordinance to adopt the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) minimum riparian buffer requirements.

The annual report, delivered by stormwater staff member Alex (stormwater staff), summarized public education and outreach events, enforcement actions for illicit discharges, construction-site reinspections and a newly completed inventory of permanent stormwater ponds. On water-quality monitoring, Alex said the five-sample average for E. coli at a study reach on Finch Branch was about 1,250 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters (CFU/100 mL), while the recreational standard cited in the meeting is 121 CFU/100 mL. Alex noted a spring feeding the reach measured about 517 CFU/100 mL.

The findings prompted discussion about possible next steps. Alex said the city intends to send letters to homeowners in the Finch Branch drainage area to explain the monitoring results and recommended best practices, and described dye-tracing studies as a potential—but costly—method to locate upstream sources. At a public-safety question, Alex advised against organizing a community stream cleanup in the Finch Branch reach with elevated bacteria and recommended personal protective steps for any necessary work.

On enforcement and program metrics, staff reported eight public events (including stream cleanups and school presentations) and partnership work with Project WET; preconstruction conferences reached 87 people and pre-application meetings reached 42. All city employees completed the stormwater training released this year. Enforcement activity for the year included four sewer-related enforcement actions, three oil-or-grease dumping actions, four marble-cutting-related enforcement actions, and two sediment violations unrelated to permitted construction. Staff also reported roughly 40 active construction sites citywide at the time of the report and 547 reinspections where inspectors required corrections. A pond inventory of 170 permanent stormwater ponds was completed; staff said all ponds were listed as compliant as of February 2025.

Separately, Mayor Cole proposed a change to the local ordinance to "point directly to the state" language so the city would automatically adopt any changes the state makes to its minimum riparian-buffer rules. Staff and board members discussed differences between the city’s current approach and the TDEC minimums. Staff described La Verne’s existing policy as a 60-foot minimum buffer with limited exceptions for paths, some stormwater controls and linear utilities between 30 and 60 feet. Under the TDEC minimums explained at the meeting, non‑impaired or unassessed waters can be addressed with an average 30-foot buffer that can go down to a 15-foot minimum in places; impaired or higher‑value waters generally require larger averages and minima (for example, a 60-foot average with a 30-foot minimum in some circumstances).

Board members, local engineers and city staff debated tradeoffs. Supporters of retaining the city’s stricter buffer policy said the larger buffer helps with flood attenuation and keeps buildings farther from waterways, which the city lacks other flood‑plain compensation tools to fully address. At least one engineer present said, "the majority of the benefits came with the 60 foot buffers." The mayor framed his proposal as an efficiency measure so that the city would not need to revisit the ordinance each time the state amends its rules.

After discussion the board considered a motion to not send a recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on the proposed ordinance change. The motion passed by roll call; the board chair announced, "We will not be sending a recommendation to the board of mayor and aldermen."