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Town council unanimously endorses Strategic Stormwater Program Plan, makes funding and rule changes next steps
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Summary
The Jackson Town Council unanimously endorsed the Strategic Stormwater Program Plan (SSPP), directing staff to pursue a stormwater utility and LDR amendments and to prioritize projects to address Flat Creek’s impairment, while members pressed staff on funding, equity, and timeline questions.
The Jackson Town Council voted unanimously to endorse the town’s Strategic Stormwater Program Plan, a comprehensive framework staff presented to improve water quality, reduce runoff and identify long-term funding and implementation steps.
Public Works project lead Johnny Zine asked the council to "consider endorsement of the strategic stormwater program plan," describing the plan as a three-part effort to review the existing program, develop recommended measures and plan for implementation. Zine said the plan formalizes steering committee input and includes documentation in SSPP Volume 1, Appendix G.
The plan’s stated goals include protecting creek water quality and wildlife habitat, optimizing capital and maintenance costs and, as Zine put it, "probably the most important… removing Flat Creek from the 303(d) list of impaired water bodies." Staff recommended the council endorse the SSPP so that it can proceed to research implementation options and draft LDR (land development regulation) amendments, including Division 5.7 on grading, erosion control and stormwater management.
Council members pressed staff on priorities and timing. A councilor asked how the capital improvement prioritization tool would be used; Zine said the town would start with projects already in the capital improvements plan and use the prioritization tool to sequence additional projects, emphasizing treatment projects that offer immediate protections for Flat Creek. Asked how long it might take to remove Flat Creek from the impaired list, Zine estimated "probably a 10 to 15 year approach" but said that outcome would depend on securing funding and implementing monitoring and treatment at outfalls.
Members also raised equity and affordability concerns tied to the plan’s proposed funding mechanisms. Several councilors urged including broader stakeholder involvement when setting rates and fees, for example considering different treatment of residential and commercial properties and using impervious surface as a potential fee proxy. Zine said staff favors a simple approach that can be expanded over time and proposed a "crawl, walk, run" rollout for creating a stormwater utility fund.
The motion to endorse the SSPP was made from the dais, seconded and approved without opposition. Council direction following the vote included continuing work on implementation methods for a stormwater utility, drafting necessary LDR amendments for future council consideration and returning with additional detail on prioritized capital projects and funding options.
The council accepted the endorsement as a first implementation step; staff will return with more detailed cost and policy options and draft ordinance language as the next procedural steps.
