Draft stormwater master plan estimates roughly $39 million in capital needs; council to consider rate study next month

City engineers and Bell Design presented a draft stormwater master plan that updates modeling, documents known problem areas from the 2015 flood, and proposes a prioritized capital improvements program.

Technical approach and findings: consultants described updated hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, subdivision of the city into basins and catchments, and parameters used (soil infiltration, impervious area, slope and surface roughness). The analysis found about 25% of the existing system insufficient for design storms, and it identified roughly 32,000 feet of pipe that would need replacement plus about 13,000 feet of additional piping to provide required conveyance under existing and build‑out conditions. The draft plan lays out 37 projects and an overall conceptual cost estimate of about $39 million for the identified projects (existing-condition priorities and future build-out needs), plus an initial 5-year CIP tranche estimated at roughly $66.5 million for near-term projects linked to pavement replacement and urban-renewal schedules.

Funding and next steps: staff said the next council meeting will include a rate-setting presentation from the consultant FCS (to incorporate capital needs into utility-rate decisions) and that adoption of the plan is expected in 2026. Council members asked how priorities will serve vulnerable neighborhoods, how the plan intersects with the development-code updates, and how project phasing and SDC (system development charge) recommendations will be integrated.

Representative quote: "About 25% of our system was insufficient for capacity under existing conditions," one consultant said, summarizing modeling results.

Ending: The council will receive the consultant's rate and funding recommendations next month before voting on adoption and any rate changes.