Winter Springs commission approves $10 stormwater rate, awards creek debris contract amid heated debate
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Summary
After hours of public comment and a failed effort to postpone, the City of Winter Springs approved a stormwater rate increase to $10 per equivalent residential unit and voted to award a creek debris-removal contract to Zulu Marine Services using NRCS funding.
The City of Winter Springs City Commission voted 3–1 on May 12 to raise the stormwater utility rate to $10 per equivalent residential unit and, separately, approved an intent-to-award for creek debris removal to Zulu Marine Services using a federal NRCS grant.
The rate ordinance (Ordinance 2025‑11) passed after lengthy public testimony and more than an hour of debate among commissioners over timing, oversight and a parallel request from residents and some commissioners to codify annual creek and sediment cleanup. Commissioner Caruso and Commissioners Bruce and Baker voted yes; Commissioner Diaz voted no.
Supporters, including Mayor Kevin McCann and multiple residents who lost property in past storms, said the utility is underfunded and needs a recurring revenue source to pay for maintenance and emergency work. “We cannot put our head in the sand when we know homes continue to struggle,” Mayor McCann said during debate. Opponents and some commissioners urged caution and asked staff to complete an outside rate study and to prioritize guaranteed, recurring maintenance before or alongside any rate change.
Separately the commission approved item 305, the city’s intent to award creek debris removal services to Zulu Marine Services, with staff saying the contract would be funded by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant money. The city manager and staff told the commission Zulu was the lowest responsive bidder after two bids were deemed unresponsive for missing required paperwork. Staff estimated the annual debris‑removal award at just under $400,000; sediment-removal work will be handled under a separate contract brought back to the commission.
Commissioners and residents pressed for a formal policy creating a guaranteed annual creek cleanup program. Commissioner Mark Caruso asked that the city adopt a policy so residents would have a guarantee the creeks would be cleaned yearly; the commission asked staff to draft options for a future agenda item. City Manager Kevin Sweet and staff warned that the enterprise fund has structural shortfalls and that a one‑time infusion will not cover ongoing maintenance without recurring revenue.
Public comment was extensive; residents pressed for immediate action, citing repeated flooding after storms dating back to Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Ian. Several speakers urged the commission to approve the rate increase and start funding cleanups now; others asked the commission to wait for the Kimley‑Horn rate study and a capital prioritization report the city has in progress. City staff said some capital projects (notably two pond repairs and wetland park work) are planned this fiscal year and cited limitations on which funding sources (for example, penny sales tax) may be used for operations vs. capital.
What the actions mean: The new rate is intended to provide recurring revenue to the stormwater enterprise; the debris removal contract moves forward with federal NRCS support but does not cover sediment removal or capital fixes like culvert replacement. The commission directed staff to return with additional materials on implementing periodic creek maintenance and other options for oversight and funding.
Votes and formal actions - Ordinance 2025‑11 (stormwater rate update to $10/ERU): motion to adopt by Commissioner Baker, second Commissioner Bruce; vote recorded in meeting: Caruso — yes; Diaz — no; Bruce — yes; Baker — yes. Motion carried 3–1. - Item 305 (Intent to award creek debris removal services to Zulu Marine Services): motion made and seconded; vote passed. Staff said award is funded through NRCS; estimated award amount “just under $400,000 annually.”
Background and next steps The city is running a rate study and a Kimley‑Horn prioritization project expected to provide more detailed capital recommendations later in the year; staff said it will bring back a draft policy for annual debris/sediment maintenance if the commission directs it. Sediment‑removal procurement will be considered separately at a June meeting.
