Stormwater manager Elizabeth briefed council on Nov. 25 about scoping work and capital priorities for the stormwater enterprise fund. She said the program — created in 2009 and funded through a tiered fee — has been used to build staff and equipment and that current scoping is focused on underground inlet and pipe inventories and above‑ground basins.

Elizabeth said staff are currently at about 22% completion for inlet scoping and 8% for piping inspections, but that crews are frequently uncovering paved‑over manholes that require excavation before cameras can be deployed. She told council that specialized manhole locks and some manhole reconstructions could cost roughly $25,000–$50,000 per item and that such unexpected repairs increase project duration and cost.

She reiterated the fee structure for residential customers, saying the stormwater charge is a flat fee based on impervious area and that residential rates fall between $1.85 and $2.25 per month depending on coverage. She also listed two large future items not included in the current scoping budget: Tanglewood Bridge (around $1,000,000) and the joint county drainage study (about $375,000). With those additions, she said projected 2026 stormwater expenditures could rise to about $5,000,000 with a conservative revenue estimate leaving roughly $3.6 million next year.

Councilmembers asked for photographs and visual materials to justify any future rate increases; staff said photos are being collected and that the fee schedule review is ongoing.

Why it matters: the enterprise fund supports maintenance and capital repairs tied to public safety and property protection; sticker‑shock from expensive manhole work and bridges could influence fee discussions.

Next steps: staff will continue scoping, gather photos for council and the public, and return with fee schedule options if adjustments are needed.