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Wheaton council considers raising stormwater fee to cover growing projects and maintenance costs
Summary
City staff told the council the current ERU charge of $5.30 a month covers personnel and outreach but not increasing capital and mitigation needs; staff estimated a full funding rate of about $11.45 per ERU and recommended prioritizing maintenance, outreach and Streams Lake Meander.
City Manager Michael G. Dzugan and Director of Engineering Joseph Tebrugge outlined the city’s stormwater funding shortfall at the Feb. 23 planning session, saying annual utility-fee revenues have remained around $1.7 million while capital projects and expanded mitigation programs have driven expenditures higher.
Director Tebrugge explained the stormwater utility uses Equivalent Runoff Units (ERUs) to charge properties and said, “The current rate per ERU is $5.30 a month.” He told the Council that when interfund transfers, capital projects, and grant-funded expenditures are included, “the effective spending level over the past five years equals approximately $10.16 per ERU per month.” Staff estimated that “to fully fund operations, maintenance, and the Streams Lakes Meander, the rate would need to increase to approximately $11.45 a month.”
Tebrugge presented a staff ranking of stormwater programs that places personnel and resident outreach as the top priority, stormwater capital projects second, existing maintenance third, and an enhanced maintenance program fourth. Staff recommended the Council approve that ranking, prioritize funding for existing maintenance, resident outreach, and the Streams Lake Meander project, and refrain from adding additional projects unless they secure more than 50% grant support.
Councilmembers asked about alternative funding approaches, including phasing in a rate increase, charging higher rates for properties with greater impervious area, and moving away from the City’s pay-as-you-go approach for capital projects. City Manager Dzugan said the proposed $11.45 monthly rate is flexible and staff can evaluate alternative funding options for capital work. The Council directed staff to research the effects of fee increases for discussion at a future planning session.
