Englewood presents 2026 stormwater plan with $1.6 million capital request and continued South Inglewood flood work

Victor Rochelle, Englewood's director of public works, presented the 2026 stormwater plan to the Water and Sewer Board, detailing funding sources, a $1.6 million capital request for 2026 and several multi-year projects.

Victor told the board the stormwater enterprise brings in about $3.4 million annually in user revenue, holds about $10 million in beginning fund balance and previously issued $10 million in enterprise bonds in July 2021; the city also has $2.6 million in a revolving fund and partners with the Mile High Flood District on 50/50-matched projects.

Key projects include completion of the South Inglewood flood-reduction project (a detention pond and reduced discharge into the Oxford pipe), Old Hamden utilities construction (stormwater coordinated with water and sewer work), inventory and condition assessment work, the Harvard/Dry Gulch master drainage-way design through an IGA with Mile High Flood District, small drainage-area improvements such as inlet additions and repairs, and a planned Little Dry Creek basin study to update a 1976 analysis and explore upstream detention and pipe sizing.

Victor said the 2026 capital request totals approximately $1.6 million and that the department does not plan a rate increase for 2026 (stormwater rates were raised in 2025). He said the department will start a rate study to compare to neighboring jurisdictions and to reassess the schedule going forward. Board members asked about location-specific drainage fixes, winter icing concerns and contingency for inflation or tariffs; Victor said the budget includes escalation assumptions and that large projects allow flexibility through IGAs and procurement strategies.

No formal action was taken; the presentation will inform the 2026 budget and future project scheduling.