Heavy rain exposes drainage gaps; council discusses construction controls and storm‑drain utility

Public works and engineering staff told the council that recent heavy rain overwhelmed parts of the city's stormwater system, producing yard and limited home flooding but limited overall property damage.

Public Works (Speaker 15) said crews and street staff worked round-the-clock to clear debris and help residents; he called the rainfall ‘‘a lot of water’’ and praised the Frog Hollow dam for limiting damage in one corridor. Staff described a specific problem on 1760 West where a developer removed curb-and-gutter for utility installation and installed a berm that the storm overtopped, allowing runoff to flow into downhill properties.

Councilmembers asked whether the city can require temporary erosion and drainage controls during active subdivision construction, especially in steep or hillside areas. ‘‘At a minimum, we ought to have something like that for sloped areas where it's a major issue,’’ one councilmember said. Staff noted such temporary measures add cost and repeated work as construction advances, but agreed there are locations where temporary controls are prudent.

That exchange led to a broader review of the city's storm-drain master planning work and an update that the city is examining whether the existing $4 monthly storm‑drain fee (charged per account) should be restructured using an equivalent-residential-unit (ERU) approach tied to impervious area.

Staff also discussed a construction-site example where berms and basins were inadequate because debris and concentrated runoff filled a basin and storm drains; the council directed staff to evaluate options and consider an ordinance or standards that address interim construction-phase drainage protections.

No formal action was taken during the staff meeting; staff will return with options on construction-phase requirements and with a proposal for storm-drain fee methodology and public outreach.