City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 4, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: TARRENCE MOORER, INTERIM DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing of an Ordinance to amend Section 5-6-233 (STORMWATER UTILITY FEE) of Article C (STORMWATER UTILITY) of Chapter 6 (WATER AND SEWER) of Title 5 (TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES).
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Consideration of revisions to incorporate the new proposed stormwater utility fee in the local ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, schedule the proposed ordinance for public hearing on Saturday, April 15, 2023, and schedule the proposed ordinance for second reading and adoption on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
BACKGROUND: In continued response to more recent flash flooding events due to climate change-induced severe rain events, the City is using the Stormwater Utility Fee to fund accelerated operating and capital projects to address flooding issues under the Flood Action Alexandria program initiated in FY 2022. The proposed FY 2024 to FY 2033 Stormwater Management Utility 10-Year Plan includes a 5% increase in the fee for the billing due November 15, 2023, and June 15, 2024 to continue funding of accelerated operating and capital projects to address flooding issues.
DISCUSSION: The recommended revisions to the City’s stormwater utility ordinance will reflect the increase in the fee starting in the FY 2024 billing period.
The Stormwater Utility Fee was implemented in the second half of FY 2018 largely to address unfunded state and federal mandates to reduce pollution in urban stormwater runoff to address the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Consistent with the City’s strategy to achieve milestones in advance of regulatory deadlines, the City has made appreciable progress towards the mandates by implementing identified strategies in the City’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan, such as retrofitting Lake Cook and Ben Brenman Pond, and other Action Plan projects remaining to be completed to ensure regulatory compliance.
City Council approved a substantial phased-in increase to the Stormwater Utility Fee in FY 2022 and a smaller 5% increase in FY 2023 consistent with the City’s new 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. The 5% increase to the Stormwater Utility Fee proposed to start in FY 2024 will continue the City’s commitment that includes a focus on funding stormwater capacity and spot improvement capital projects and performing maintenance to address flooding, while maintaining regulatory compliance.
The recommended revision to Sec. 5-6-233 updates the billing unit rate for the Stormwater Utility Fee to reflect a 5% increase starting with the FY 2024 billing due November 15, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact associated with this code revision will generate an additional $1 million in revenue for FY 2024.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Cover
2. Ordinance
STAFF:
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Emily A. Baker, P.E., Deputy City Manager
Kendel Taylor, Director, Finance Administration
Lindsay Dubin, Assistant City Attorney