City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 9, 2026
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: LEAH RILEY, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing of an Ordinance to amend and reordain Section 5-6-233 (STORMWATER UTILITY FEE) of Chapter 6 (WATER AND SEWER) of Article C (STORMWATER UTILITY) of Title 5 (TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES), of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to increase the stormwater utility fee rate to continue acceleration of storm sewer capacity capital improvement projects as well as operations and maintenance activities related to Flood Action Alexandria.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Introduce the proposed ordinance on first reading,
2. Set the ordinance for public hearing on Saturday, April 18, 2026, and
3. Set it for second reading and final passage on April 29, 2026, with budget adoption.
BACKGROUND: On May 4, 2017, the City Council adopted an ordinance to enact the framework of a Stormwater Utility (SWU) at a rate of $140 per billing unit to provide a dedicated funding source to more equitably distribute the increasing costs of recent state and federal Chesapeake Bay protection mandates that require the implementation of costly infrastructure associated with stormwater management. Over the past several years, more frequent, intense storm events have increased city wide flooding concerns and further exacerbated existing storm sewer capacity issues. In response, the City created the Flood Action Alexandria initiative funded by the Stormwater Utility Fee to address flooding issues.
DISCUSSION: Continuing the City Council’s directive to be more aggressive in funding and constructing storm sewer projects, and consistent with the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group’s recommendation, an increase in the SWU fee from $340.30 per billing unit to $357.40 per billing unit is proposed for FY 2027. This increase in funding would generate approximately $21.9 million annually to fund operating costs and accelerate storm sewer large capacity projects, spot improvements, stream and channel maintenance, and storm sewer maintenance projects.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed increase in the SWU fee would generate additional revenue totaling approximately $1.1 million annually.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Stormwater Utility Fee Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Ordinance
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Jesse E. Maines, Stormwater Management Division Chief, T&ES
Lindsay Dubin, Assistant City Attorney