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Council sets proposed stormwater fee at $163 per ERU and schedules final hearing
Summary
Staff proposed raising the stormwater fee to $163 per ERU (a $7 increase) to fund drainage improvements and maintenance, and council set the final public hearing for August 26; public commenters asked how reserve funds have been used.
City financial staff presented a proposed stormwater fee increase to $163 per equivalent residential unit for FY2027, a $7 rise from the previous year, and the council set a final hearing for August 26.
Crystal Feas (Financial Services Director) described the stormwater program objectives — operations/maintenance, canal work and capital projects — and listed program investments for FY2027 including $1.8 million for environmental and water-quality improvements, $500,000 for flood prevention and $1.7 million for drainage improvements. She noted specific capital projects (e.g., Trafalgar drainage improvements) and staffing additions for maintenance work. The rate is based on a 2023 rate study covering FY2024–FY2033 and staff recommended the not-to-exceed rate be set so notices can be mailed.
Speakers in the public hearing urged transparency about reserves and how stormwater money is allocated. Charles Crane noted a substantial stormwater reserve and asked whether stormwater funds would subsidize other projects; Tom Shadrach and others asked staff to show historical fund flows and to explain how stormwater contributions have supported the UEP (utility expansion) work.
What’s next: Council approved the proposed not-to-exceed rate and scheduled the final adoption hearing for August 26; staff said it will provide additional details to residents about program spending and reserves.
