Elie Mortazavi, Environmental Program Manager 3 in the Department of Public Works'Stormwater and Environmental Programs Division, presented the county's Stormwater Maintenance District program and the steps communities must take to enroll.

Mortazavi said the program, approved by New Castle County Council in January 2022, requires the county to perform minor maintenance of stormwater management facilities that fall inside enrolled district boundaries. "Anything that falls within the boundary of the stormwater management facilities will be our responsibility," he said, while adding that associations remain responsible for other open-space areas.

He outlined the enrollment process: a maintenance organization submits a letter of intent with a copy of its maintenance declaration and bylaws; staff review inspection reports; county staff map facilities, calculate maintenance fees and prepare a petition. Petitioning happens annually between July 1 and Sept. 30. Mortazavi said residents vote according to their bylaws (for example 65% or 75% thresholds) and, if the petition passes, the county executes a stormwater management agreement and begins maintenance on Jan. 1 following the petition year.

Mortazavi reported program metrics: "So far, 26 communities have submitted a letter of intent into our office. Seven communities successfully petitioned into the program." He said the average cost for those seven communities was $187.87 for the first year and $129.15 for the second year; Mortazavi explained the first-year amount is higher because it covers an 18-month period.

He noted that new residential developments whose plans were recorded after Jan. 2022 are automatically included in the program and do not need to petition. Two named communities (Meridian Crossing and Green Valley) are in the fee-calculation stage, and the Village of Bayberry South has already been added and is under maintenance. Mortazavi also said the department posts quarterly financial analyses online per code.

On staffing, Mortazavi said the FY budget added an Environmental Program Manager I position for outreach and administrative oversight and that additional staff (inspectors, administrative support and a county maintenance crew) will likely be needed as the program grows.

Councilmembers asked follow-up questions about per-pond county costs and voting mechanics. Councilmember Kaneko sought confirmation that lots owned by developers get votes; Mortazavi confirmed developers'owned lots receive ballots and developers must vote for lots they own. Councilmembers also emphasized the program is not county-funded and that fees are passed through to developers or homeowners rather than paid by taxpayers.

The committee did not take a formal vote on program policy during the meeting; staff said they will return with additional cost-per-pond detail at a later presentation.