Winter Springs commission directs deeper review of stormwater pond maintenance program, delays rate decision

Winter Springs — City staff and consultants told the Winter Springs City Commission on Jan. 9 that the city’s inventory includes roughly 360–368 stormwater ponds and outlined three options for adding a pond‑maintenance program to the upcoming stormwater utility rate study.

Public Works and Utilities Director Clete Saunier and Kimley‑Horn consultant Julia Felter detailed the categories staff used — “public” ponds on city property, “hybrid” ponds that receive roadway drainage but may sit on private or HOA land, and “private” ponds that serve only private developments. Felter said staff identified 48 public ponds and 95 hybrid ponds, of which 55 have recorded maintenance responsibilities and 40 do not. “There happen to be over 360 ponds in the boundaries of the city of Winter Springs,” Saunier told the commission.

Why it matters: The classification determines whether the city can legally and equitably spend public dollars to maintain a pond and whether its costs should be rolled into a monthly stormwater…