Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City of Bend advisory group: stormwater master plan expected for mid‑January adoption; plan will inform future rate study
Summary
City staff told the Water Advisory Group the stormwater master plan will go to planning commission and city council with an expected adoption by mid‑January; the plan sets project priorities and will feed a future rate study and implementation work on drainage and density.
Laurie, a city water‑services staff member, told the Water Advisory Group the city’s stormwater master plan should be adopted after review by the planning commission and city council "basically, by mid January" and that the plan will inform future rate studies and program implementation.
The plan reflects months of advisory‑group engagement: staff said the group helped refine project priority criteria that balance water‑quality improvements, flood control and co‑benefits such as recreation or habitat improvements. Laurie said the consultant also prepared level‑of‑service recommendations that the city will use to evaluate future program costs.
Staff emphasized implementation questions remain. The advisory group identified two implementation tracks: neighborhood or subdivision‑scale facilities that could be publicly maintained and smaller infill projects where on‑site treatment or a fee‑in‑lieu approach may be more appropriate. City staff announced plans to convene a small internal cross‑departmental team in January–February to work through the operational and billing implications.
The master plan will be a key input to any proposed changes to stormwater rates, staff said. Laurie cautioned the city will not immediately raise rates; rather, the master plan will feed a future rate study that models service levels and cost implications for customers.
Members flagged groundwater protection and storm characterization data gaps as priorities during implementation. The group recommended additional monitoring and careful sequencing so design standards and potential rate adjustments reflect both updated hydrology data and affordability concerns.
Next steps: staff will take the master plan through planning commission and city council review, pursue additional monitoring station deployment, and return to the advisory group in early 2026 with implementation details and opportunities for further input.
