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Commission debates Webster Groves stormwater plan scoring, funding and near-term projects
Summary
Webster Groves commissioners spent their meeting scrutinizing the stormwater master plan's prioritization and benefit–cost scoring, discussed MSD reimbursement rules and OMCI funding mechanics, and agreed to dig into three near-term projects (GC-9, DC-70, MC-7) before selecting the next work list.
Members of the Webster Groves stormwater commission on Monday reviewed the city's stormwater master plan and questioned how projects were scored and prioritized, particularly whether the benefit'cost approach favors channel stabilization over flood mitigation.
The meeting opened with approval of prior minutes, then turned to the master plan; staff and commissioners said most of the plan is project listings and appendices, while the front end explains the prioritization methodology. One commissioner said the scoring produced only seven or eight flood-mitigation projects with a benefit'cost ratio above one, adding that those projects together amount to about $6.5 million.
Commissioners flagged several problems with the scoring matrix, including point assignments that treat maintenance frequency as a proxy for benefit without accounting for maintenance cost. A member offered an example: the matrix awards more points if maintenance occurs yearly than if it occurs more than once per year, but the matrix does not distinguish between a $1,200 quarterly maintenance burden and a $100,000 annual maintenance obligation.
Staff described efforts to align the commission's work with MSD standards while acknowledging that the commission also has an internal checklist. "Use the MSD standard," a commissioner said; staff added that the commission had adopted a modified MSD approach and that the plan itself lists environmental impact as an added factor. On funding, staff explained that Prop S projects are reimbursable grants that generally require the city to front construction costs and then submit documentation for reimbursement. "It's a grant program — it's actually 100% reimbursable grant but we need to come up with the dollars up front," a staff member said.
Members also discussed funding sources available to the city, including OMCI (operations, maintenance and construction improvements) district receipts and occasional state grants. One speaker said the city's annual designated stormwater revenue is about $300,000 and that unspent annual dollars do not accumulate; staff estimated the city holds roughly $1 million in that reserve but stressed that MSD-reimbursed projects still require up-front cash flow.
The commission noted that many of the highest-scoring projects clustered in the Swan/Grove/Lockwood watershed rather than in northern neighborhoods where frequent flooding has been reported; members questioned whether the scoring sufficiently captures different types of flooding (e.g., brief street ponding vs. repeated basement flooding) and urged clarifying how "public benefit" is defined for projects that mainly affect private yards.
Given those concerns, commissioners agreed to revisit the prioritization criteria rather than immediately re-ranking the entire list. They identified three projects already on the work list for closer review (GC-9, DC-70 and MC-7) and proposed one or more work sessions or a subcommittee to examine point assignments, easement needs and updated cost estimates before recommending changes to City Council.
The commission also heard brief updates on outreach and operations: crews plan to install watershed signage this month; staff circulated a draft mission statement; and the design contract for the southwest park project will be considered by City Council on the 16th.
The commission concluded by endorsing further study of the scoring methodology and planning a deeper review of selected projects ahead of the next project-selection cycle. The meeting adjourned; the commission is scheduled to reconvene on July 13.
