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Carrollton council backs plan to advertise new stormwater utility fee after consultant outlines costs
Summary
Council signaled consensus to advertise a proposed stormwater utility ordinance after consultants outlined capital needs (including a ~$24 million dam project) and presented residential/commercial rate options; staff will publish ordinance language for a November public hearing.
Mayor Pro Tem Christopher Axberg opened the council's work session by asking staff to present options for a dedicated stormwater enterprise fund and a proposed fee structure that would pay for operations and capital improvements.
Diana, a city staff presenter, said Carrollton would treat stormwater as an enterprise fund so user fees would cover operations and debt for capital projects. Trey of Friese & Nichols explained the method used to allocate charges: properties are measured for impervious area and commercial sites count more heavily because they represent a larger share of hard surface runoff. "Our average Carrollton residence has about 3,300 square feet of impervious area," Trey said, explaining the ERU (equivalent residential unit) basis used in the study.
The consultant presented three O&M and three CIP service levels and examples of draft monthly charges tied to those levels. Under the committee's recommended mix (O&M level 3; CIP level 2) consultants showed an average residential bill near $7.25 per month and a commercial ERU rate in the $8'$9 range, with the largest residential tier shown at $11.40. The study flagged near-term capital priorities, including an estimated $24 million rebuild for Woodlake Dam.
Council discussed narrow exemptions (religious institutions and school districts were noted as potential exempt categories) and implementation timing. John Louie, the city's director of engineering, described the Woodlake Dam study and said the dam frequently overtops and would benefit from a full overhaul within two to three years if the city programs funding for it.
Council members gave staff a thumbs-up consensus to advertise an ordinance reflecting the Finance Committee's recommendation and to proceed to a public hearing in November; staff said any adopted fee would likely become effective the following October to allow time for billing and communications. The city will present a draft ordinance and formal rate tables for public review and comment ahead of the hearing.
Next steps: staff will prepare ordinance language for advertisement, return to Council for the public hearing in November, and include implementation details for billing and resident notification if Council adopts the ordinance.
