City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 6, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration of Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to increase the Stormwater Utility Fee by amending Article C (STORMWATER UTILITY) to Chapter 6 (WATER AND SEWER) of Title 5 (TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES). [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of measures to urgently enhance City flooding response efforts including a phased in increase in the stormwater utility fee rate to $280 from $140 per billing unit to accelerate delivery of storm sewer capacity capital improvement projects.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Indicate its commitment to an aggressive approach to addressing flood mitigation on an accelerated basis through increased system maintenance and a substantial additional capital investment in stormwater capacity infrastructure;
2. Adopt the proposed ordinance on first reading which phases in a two-step increase in the current stormwater utility fee of $140 per billing unit by $70 to $210 in June of 2021 and by another $70 to $280 in November of 2021, and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final adoption on January 23, 2021; and
3. Provide guidance to the City Manager to reflect this aggressive approach in the forthcoming FY 2022 Proposed Operating Budget and the FY 2022 to FY 2031 Capital Improvement Program.
BACKGROUND: In September 2020, in response to three flash flooding events (July 8, 2019; July 23, 2020; and largely September 2, 2020) as a result of climate change-induced severe rain events, the City Manager established an Interdepartmental Strike Team Flooding Management Task Force to urgently develop plans to address flooding-related policy, planning, and funding issues. The team included representation from 11 City departments. The Task Force has now submitt...
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